Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Odysseus has had a series of good days recently and been happier in the last few months than he’s been in years, but he does not honestly think he will ever lose that sense that had kept him safe a few times through his 20 years of travel. So, when just under 2 years after he returns, he feels a presence moments before the world goes black, he is not panicked or fearful, for it does not feel malicious in any way.

Penelope has faced a lot on her own, 20 years of loneliness aside from a few maids and staff, along with her son and family, and she’s only just recently recalled what it’s like to laugh and love and smile the way she did when she was young still, with her husband back at her side and their son close constantly, though he’s been more willing to leave recently given how much time has passed. So when her husband is late returning to bed, she is worried, especially as she feels a gentle, almost wind-like hand cover her eyes and the world goes black.

Telemachus can not say he is entirely certain what to think, given he has lived over 20 years without his father and a good chunk of those he was forced to act certain ways to both keep in to rules of Xenia and to not have the suitors acting out before they had anyone to help them defend themselves. He knows he’s still working on his confidence and strength, but there’s just something about having his father back that helps with that immensely, not that he doesn’t love his mother and sher certainly trained him as best she could on the chance the suitors ever attacked them first, but there’s something about his dad that just makes it easier to see himself as strong, especially after the man has been here almost 2 years to dote on him. So, when he feels a presence, he barely manages to turn before he’s out, the world black.

The rest should be far easier. A voice with no body mutters, the wind carrying the words to no one, though there is a note on the door of the King and Queen’s chambers on the off chance this goes longer than it should that reads : They should be back within a few days, sorry if they aren’t, that means there’s been a problem, but it’ll be no more than a week.

______________________________________________

Odysseus had truly not thought that anyone would be stupid enough to take Helen, not after all the suitors going for her hand said the oath that said they’d fight for her husband. He had not ever thought someone could be that stupid, had not been able to think or comprehend that, so when he gets the summons - and desperately tries to avoid it as well - he is still trying to decide whether Paris of Troy is just a true idiot or if he thinks his actions will have no consequences and still hasn’t decided by the time he’s getting ready to get on his ship, saying his goodbyes to his wife and son, while also giving his brothers the chance to say goodbye as well, to their parents, spouses and children, aware that once he officially steps on the boat, they will be forced to get on as well or be considered desserts after a certain time.

He has known Athena’s presence in the war for a while, given he can feel her pretty often in the back of his head, her irritation coming and going in waves without much context to him, at least not yet. He can only imagine the headaches and sleep he’s going to lose if his patron is this angry though. He goes to hand his son back, when he freezes, a sort of power he’s not ever quite felt tickling at his senses, that has him thrusting his son at his wife and turning quickly, sword drawn in a single movement, which has his citizens moving backwards and his brothers coming to his side, looking for what has caught his attention.

For a moment everything is still, and then Odysseus’ world goes dark, and the last thing many of the army and his family see is him collapsing, before their world’s too go dark. Time freezes in place, as well as wiping the last few moments from the citizens memories, wanting the return to be as smooth as possible, still uncertain exactly how much they are going to leave, all the memories, just something the soul and instincts will remember ro some mix of the two, but they’ll have to be skillful and smart about it, to do it under the gods noses.

Wish I could’ve frozen time for both, but it was too risky to try that, not without potentially raising some attention, not that kidnapping was much better, but still the better option. The voice grumbles, before it drifts away, leaving things as they are.

____________________________

Penelope is the first to awaken, glancing around for her husband and son, hand rising to find her dagger - which is gone but something she can worry about later - spotting both on the ground near her. She sighs, relaxing the slightest bit, seeing both of them breathing, before looking around. They’re in a large room, many klines and a few beds settled in it, though she sees a doorway that obviously leads to more rooms, but she’s not leaving her family defenseless, so she’ll have to wake one of them and let them check while she wakes the other. With but a moment’s thought, she gently touches her husband’s shoulder, shaking him the slightest bit as she calls his name.

However, unlike usually, he does not react, not immediately anyways, which has her concerned, especially as she starts to shake him harder, getting no response from her battle hardened man at all, despite that working even during the throes of nightmares and the occasional flashback, though she usually saves it as a last resort instead of a second. However, with him not waking, she turns a bit panicked to her son and calls his name, watching as he starts to rouse almost immediately. So, then maybe whatever brought them here hit Odysseus harder than them? She knows not, but as Telemachus joins her at the man’s side, looking just as worried, she can’t help but be grateful.

“Mom?” Telemachus knows not where they are currently, his weapons are gone as well, but he knows his mother had called for her, had sounded the slightest bit panicked, and honestly from how his dad looks a bit disheveled, he gets the feeling the man is not waking, which worries him as well. Penelope sighs, gently cupping her child’s cheek. “I want you to go check the rooms there, see what they are and if they might have anything to help.” He nods and gently presses a kiss to her forehead, before hurrying towards the doorway, moving through it carefully, a bit surprised by how many bedrooms there appear to be, but not a one has anything that looks helpful, most are in fact more empty than not.

“There’s not really anything in there, just a lot of bedrooms.’ Telemachus tells her as he returns, though he spots a door she might’ve missed from where they had woken, not quite right behind them, but still definitely in the darker side of the room. ‘I’ll check in there, something tells me I’ll have more luck.” Penelople follows her son’s movement, hand on Odysseus’ neck to keep track of his pulse, the other gently running through his hair - which they had cut short recently - to calm herself. The bedroom here proves more useful, the bed there being big enough for all three of them, and a bottle with a glowing liquid - silver in color - resting on the nightstand. He carefully picks it up, before bringing it with him. “This was the only thing in there.” Telemachus crouches down next to his parents as he hands it over, gently resting a few fingers on his dad’s wrist to feel his pulse, a habit he’d picked up from his mom.

“I don’t know what this is, so I hope we are told.” Penelope frowns, and then a loud clatter has her shifting slightly, her son as well, both getting defensive, especially with a member of their family down and unable to protect himself, but they blink in surprise at what they see. There is a group of people - a good chunk of them in fact, at least a few hundred - all of them appearing to be unconscious, just as the two of them were. However, among them, Penelope spots something that has her breath leaving her, because that certainly looks like herself, 20 years prior, as well as her husband and their son, a babe currently floating in the air to not be crushed or injured, likely. “Well, this just got interesting. Go grab the babe, my son. We do not want them to accidentally hurt it while waking.” Telemachus doesn’t question it, merely gently as well as awkwardly grabs the baby, heading back to his parents side carefully, not wanting to step on anyone.

“Who are they?” He asks once he’s back into the area they have, sitting with one arm gently curled around the baby, the other again on his dad, this time his chest since it’s easier for him. “If I am right… I believe we have been brought here by a god, one who wishes us to see something, because that looks a whole lot like your father and I 20 years ago, likely around the time he was leaving, and that is you.” Penelope points a gentle finger at the baby in his arms, which has him starting. She can’t quite help her laugh, least of all since he now has a confused, interested and yet scared look on his face. The sound must wake the others though, as she hears movement back with them.

__________

Eurylochus is the first to wake, rising quickly, head moving around as he tries to find out where they are, but other than a doorway with more doors, all his brothers, and an area of darkness he can not see in, they’re simply in a room with a bunch of klines and beds, an interesting choice in his opinion, but he forces himself to focus, attention returning to his brothers. He wakes those closest, setting them to wake others, until they have most of them awake, and active, before turning his focus to their King and Queen, not quite certain what to think of the lack of their baby and not wanting to focus on it. He beckons Polites forward, the man will handle this better than he can.

Polites gives Eurylochus a look at that, but moves forward deciding Penelope will be the easier one to wake, as well as the better one. She wakes quickly, looking panicked as she can not find Telemachus, before her attention turns to Odysseus, who she shakes, causing him to sit upright quickly, attention turning to her immediately at the sight of her tears, hands rising to gently wipe them away. “Penelope, my love, what is wrong?” She sobs, the sound almost smothered but not quite, hands shaking as she cradles them to her chest. “I can’t find Telemachus.” Those words have him rising as well, gaze scanning the room, noting everything, but he also can not see their son, and perhaps more worrying, his connection with Athena is extremely dull, so much so he would almost call it dead. He turns to his brothers but they both shake their heads, neither had seen him either.

A scuffle grabs almost all of their attention, causing them to jerk around and fall into stances, which has them realizing they don’t have their weapons, making them grateful when the figure that steps out - covered completely in a dark cloak - is not all that strong looking, they could easily take them, if not for the bundle their arms. The panic that strikes Penelope and Odysseus is strong, but neither acts on it, cautious of what this stranger wants. They don’t stop walking, moving until they hit the wall of brothers, who do not move. A second cloaked stranger emerges from the dark area, which has them all tensing, because this one is definitely a bit more dangerous. “We were not certain how long the being that brought us here would have your child floating, so we decided to grab them before they dropped. I apologize for the panic. If you could let my son through, he’ll hand you the babe and come right back.” The voice is definitely a woman, though it’s low and threatening.

The men shift, but eventually part, letting the first figure through, who merely heads straight for the King and Queen, not faltering once, before softly - awkwardly as well, to most of their amusement - offering the baby, letting out a small choking sound when Telemachus won’t let go of his clothes. There’s a few chuckles, before Penelope takes the boy, tears falling in relief, her husband at her side to keep an eye on both and check them over, while the figure retreats back to the dark spot, which has the second one doing the same.

“Alright, now that that’s over, does anyone know why we’re here?” Polites asks as he claps his hand, voice still cheery though his gaze is a bit dark as he looks over the men because they would somehow piss off a god before they’d even set off, the damn children. A noise erupts from behind them, and they all jump, whirling to a strange thing on the wall.

All attention is on it as words appear, thankfully they can read them.

I have brought you here to share both past and future, but how much you all will remember has yet to be decided, your actions will affect the outcome. Now, for those who need to know, the potion will wake someone for a certain amount of time, but don’t use more than a mouthful, so use it only when you either desperately need them or want to hear their opinion.

Otherwise, this dark device will show you the future. It will pause for breaks and such, as well as when it is time for you to go to sleep, since I get the feeling the emotional toll will have you watching less and less each time. Are you ready?

There’s a grumble and murmurs, but the army slowly settles on klines and anything else nearby, leaving the beds for the moment, though Penelope and Odysseus settle on one, settling against the headboard, their son cuddled between them. Eurylochus and Polites settle on the closest kline.

_____

Pen and Tele work between the two of them to get Ody on the bed, settling him under the covers, before curling up against his side, though making sure they can still see this device, as well as set the potion aside for the moment, uncertain if they need to use it yet. Though both have a sinking feeling they know what this might be about.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Before anything happens, a good chunk of the men that were there disappear, leaving only Eurylochus, Penelope, Odysseus, Polities and baby Telemachus, making the room much smaller as well, a good chunk of the bedrooms disappearing alongside that, which startles all of them.

Apologies, but they were no longer required, so things have shifted a bit.

A giant horse within the walls of a city, tied down to not move. 2 men appear on top and throw ropes down the sides. Odysseus is shown.

“Oh boy…” Tele can already tell this is going to be rough, and spares a look towards his mom, who’s clearly thinking the same thing, but now it becomes, is it worth it to wake up Ody yet? They decide to wait to see more, before ultimately deciding, though they scoot closer to each other and him, always willing to be close even after all this time.

Odysseus seems confused, this has not happened, but how far into the future is this as well? “This war seems like it’s going to be rough.”

“Hey, we’re all working together for this.” Eurylochus mutters, almost seeming amused by this plan, though he has a bad feeling in his gut.

“This’ll certainly be interesting.” Penelope muses, gently rocking baby telemachus in her arms.

“Ody, that seems like a plan you would’ve thought of. But, I get the feeling it was a desperate one.” Polites mutters the last sentence to himself because he knows the guilt and shame and hatred his friend bears at himself for things anyone would’ve done.

O
Alright my brothers, listen closely
A group of men hit the ground, armed with weapons.
Tonight we make the Trojans pay
Odysseus sits in front of more men, also armed, who are watching him. The shadow of two guards, with men approaching them at a quick speed.
Ten years of war, they killed us slowly
All the men watch Odysseus, who appears to be sitting on something, men around and near him crammed in close enough they likely can’t move yet.
But now we’ll be the ones to slay

“Ten years?” Odysseus demands in disbelief, sitting further upright, because surely they could’ve handled this faster? The Trojans were really giving them that much trouble?

“Where the hell are we?” Eurylochus leans forward, because they appear to be inside of something, and then it hits him, they’re in the damned horse.

“Oh my god, this plan…” Polites gets the plan, understands why it’s necessary even, but the guilt and self-hatred that will swamp his friend for making it and then offering it as an option, he can’t imagine.

“Ten years?” Penelope whispers in disbelief, because they’d known the war would take time, likely years, but 10? Their son will be 10 and know nothing but stories and portraits of his father.

Tele winces, because the thought of being in the horse, crammed that close to other men in armor, after being in there for hours, he can’t even imagine how his father dealt with the boredom, the stench, anything in there really.

“Ody…” Pen gently touches her husband’s face, cupping his face as she sees how tired and exhausted he appears on the device, despite telling the two of them he slept pretty much the entire time until they were ready.

The men who left, more men joining them on the ground, O holding a sword in his hand, his reflection on it, before he lifts it in front of his face, the edge out, closing his eyes. He opens his eyes, standing now, outside, sword held out to the side, as he moves.

Think of your wives and your children
He holds his arms out to the side. A scout in the city, who is quickly dragged into an alley.
Your families wonder where you’ve been
2 soldiers come out, one with a bloodied sword, peering around for anymore. Two of the soldiers with O, who look older and ready as well, gaze locked on him.

“At least we’re not being killed right off the bat, but this strategy…” Odysseus would recognize something of his own mind well, but for him to go for this? What had war done to him?

“It’s smart, and I have a feeling this was necessary, not something you wanted to do, dear.” Penelope soothes, scooting a bit closer, careful of Telemachus who stirs and blinks at his father.

“To think we’d be forced to try and do all this while remaining quiet.” Eurylochus is honestly surprised they’re managing that, this is a plan that was long in the making.

“A horse was the important choice here as well, cause they really couldn’t afford to not bring it into their city.” Polites loves his friend, but sometimes the way his mind works is extremely scary. At least they’re surviving, though the consequences are ones he’s certain they’ll see soon.

“Mother…” Tele has only ever seen the massacre of the suitors, but at least they were awake, aware and capable of somewhat fighting back, so he gets why his dad has been suffering from guilt over this for so long.

“Remember, love, this is only one of the things he did to return to us. We know of this, this is just us seeing it now.” Pen is aware of the things her husband did to return to them, as their son is, but she was trained for things like these, and honestly she is just glad he returned to them.

Ody shifts a bit between the two of them, pulling them both closer, which has both of them smiling slightly.

They’re growing old, and yet you’re still here
He meets their gaze for a moment before facing forward, moving through the soldiers.
Do what I say and you’ll see them again
He continues to move forward, ready and braced.
S
Yes sir!

“Alright, let’s see the rest of this plan.” Eurylochus straightens, cause there’s no way in hell this was all they were doing, this is too real, too serious for them to not be doing more.

“Is this our final try to end this war, maybe?” Polites tilts his head, because he could definitely see them being willing to try something this daring and underhanded - he knows it’s just a survival trick, but other soldiers and kings would think it a dirty trick - during the final battle.

“Here’s hoping everything goes to plan mostly, or else we’ll likely get killed.” Odysseus mutters, face hard as he tries to swallow the guilt because his men and others are doing something horrible, as is he, in order to return home.

“Please be safe, all of you.” Penelope gazes at all three of them, because damnit, Polites is her friend too, and while she and Eurylochus don’t always get along, she still cares for them. She knows her husband will fight to return as long as he breathes.

“I can’t tell if I’m excited or scared. I know they had to use this strategy, but still, seeing it is amazing.” Tele watches because seeing it is completely different from just hearing about it, though it also makes it seem all the more real for that.

“Oh, Ody, I wonder which of these we are going to have to wake you for, hmm?” Pen is extremely worried and concerned on what the screen thinks they’ll need his support for, but also, given everything, she gets it as well.

O
Diomedes will lead the charge
A different man, Diomedes presumably, holding his sword out in front of him, as men race past.
Agamemnon will flank the guards
The gates of the city, which slowly open, torches on top, as well as several people, before it’s shown to be Greeks, one who must be Agamemnon and the other a soldier wearing a helmet.

Menelaus will let our mates through the gates
A horde of soldiers led through the open gate, one with his sword raised high over his head.
To take the whole city at large
Two guards who look scared and nervous.

“Holy shit…” Polites breathes, surprised that this plan is working so well, but also that they’re working this well together under his best friend’s orders.

“You always were an amazing leader, love.” Penelope coos, watching her husband give orders that leave her breathless, because damnit, him taking charge is hot.

“Here’s hoping there’s less death than we would all prefer.” Eurylochus hopes they don’t lose too many men in this war, but also, it’s war, there’s no way to really stop it.

“Wonder how much more different we’ll be after all of this.” Odysseus mutters, hand tightening a bit where it’s wrapped around his beloved, pulling her closer, because he’s already seeing changes in himself he’s uncertain how to feel about.

“He is doing so well, and it’s a great plan, but so many people forget he hates the plan.” Tele sighs, because he gets how his dad feels, curling up so his head rests on the man’s chest, enjoying and appreciating the steady rise and fall under him, as well as the soothing sound of his heart.

“He might not act like it, but your father hated most of his own plans, especially ones like that, he never liked hurting others in that way.” Pen has seen her husband spiral and falter one too many times from a plan that was necessary but he hated because it killed so many innocents, to not understand him.

Teucer will shoot any ambush attacks
One goes down as an arrow slits his throat, the other taking better cover, as the archer - Teucer likely - relaxes the slightest bit, before turning to spot his ally.
And Little Ajax will stay back
This ally is shorter and much younger, an almost innocent smile on his face, even as he pulls two heads from behind his back, which has Teucer making a face at him.

“...Why?” Eurylochus buries his head in his hands, unable to even say anything else to the sight of someone so young holding beheaded heads like it’s nothing.

“That’s one way to get through war, I suppose.” Odysseus states dryly, though he’s a bit concerned on how that person will grow up, given the way they act.

“I rather like Telemachus’ name, I think I’d like to keep it the way it is.” Penelope curls his baby closer, which also pushes herself further into her warm, real husband.

“To think we’d be so used to things like that he does nothing but make a face.” Polites is sad, because this is not the life any of them wanted, and he doesn’t think it should be necessary to do so much violence, but he understands it.

“...Some of your father’s humor makes sense now.” Pen mutters wryly, because she had thought that developed later in his journey home, but if this is what the war was like, she realizes it was just compounded on him to make light of his trauma and laugh at it or else he might break.

“Well shit, this is going to be just as bad as the suitors, isn’t it?” Telemachus had rather enjoyed them being slaughtered, because he doesn’t like fighting, but he also was so tired of them threatening him and his mom, they deserved it in his opinion.

Nestor, secure Helen and protect her
An older man, a hand on his shoulder, before it shows O giving him the order at that moment, the two amidst a large group of soldiers themselves.
Neo, avenge your father, kill the brothers of Hector
With little to no pause, O turns to a man on his other side, young as well, who looks startled and then determined.

“Damn, we’ve lost people then? But they don’t sound like they’re from our lands, so must be a friend we made.” Eurylochus sighs, upset because 10 years with someone as a brother, or any number really, is a lot, but to lose them?

“At least their son will get to avenge their death, though I don’t know what all that will do.” Penelope gets why the boy would want revenge for his father’s death, and this is the perfect time as well given they’re already invading the city.

Telemachus shifts in her arms, drawing her attention as well as Odysseus’ which makes his next words hit harder. “I can’t say I wouldn’t be moved and feel loved if Telemachus would go to the same length for me, but I can’t say I’d want him to actually do it either.” He gently runs a finger along his son’s cheek, eyes soft with love and warmth.

“I’m honestly more surprised none of us have hit him yet, he looks like he’s barely slept, and I imagine he’s whined about his family the entire time. Honestly, more worried about how tired you look though, Cap.” Polites hums, crossing his arms, not surprised but extremely unimpressed nonetheless.

“Mom…’ Tele chokes, because he had caught the look on the younger version of his dad’s face, had seen the love and affection in his eyes as he looked at his baby son, and honestly, it doesn’t even compare to the love, the warmth and affection and kindness that had been in his dad’s when saw him for the first time in years. ‘He really just loved me more every year, didn’t he?” The boy can’t even try to stop the tears gathering in his eyes.

Gentle, calloused fingers rub them away. “No, my darling, your father never stopped loving us. Every year he was away, I can only imagine how much stronger that ache of loneliness got, never mind how much that love grew with nowhere to go.” Pen responds easily, because she knows her husband hates himself, though they’ve certainly got him to love himself a lot more in the last 2 years or so, but he still loves them far more than he likely ever will himself.

S
Yes sir!
Neo takes off and the other soldiers start to move.

O
Find that inner strength now (huh)
O turns to check on the soldiers, before turning completely, looking startled for a moment.
Use that well of pride (huh)
He had spotted someone on some nearby stairs and races after them, soldiers passing him by.

“Be careful Ody.” Penelope frets, carefully tilting her head to rest it on his neck, her ear just able to feel his pulse under it.

“I mean, I feel like I’d certainly try to be careful, but who the hell knows? It’ll have been 10 years with neither of you by my side.” Odysseus can’t even imagine how much that’s going to hurt him.

“I don’t know why anyone doubts your love for your family.” Polites rolls his eyes, he can already see all the injuries, sleepless nights and badgering his Captain to eat that he’s going to do to get the man through the war.

“The men are doing exactly as they were ordered, good. I’m glad we managed to get enough trust that they’ll listen without hesitation.” Eurylochus can’t say he’s happy it took them living pretty much together for 10 years to get that, but he understands not everyone is willing to trust Odysseus because of his reputation.

“He really didn’t hesitate the slightest bit because he wanted to get home to us.” Tele knows how much his Dad didn’t want to be in the war, and is well aware of it now, but he still sometimes can’t believe it.

“Oh, I’m not surprised in the slightest, Ody has always hated being away from me, and then us once you were born. You should’ve seen him, he was such a worrywart when we found out I was pregnant. He doted on me, which I’m grateful for because I love you, but you were a very demanding baby.” Pen knows some of the cravings she had, had definitely worried and stressed out her poor husband, never mind how often he had joyfully and without a bit of hesitation offered to help her walk, gave her massages when and where she needed them, let alone the way she had almost broke his hand during labor.

Fight through every pain now (huh)
The enemy soldier moves further up the stairs, O turning the corner and hurrying after him -
Ask yourself inside
- though he slows as he climbs further up, in case the enemy tries to ambush him, sword held in front of him.

“Good, be cautious, they know this city better than we do.” Eurylochus had been worried when he first saw the pace his brother and Captain was moving, but it seems he was merely trying to not lose sight of the man.

“Why is he there though? An ambush?” Polites tilts his head, trying to determine if they’re about to lose the man or if they’re going to watch him kick ass.

“Well, to be fair, with his helmet on, Ody looks like any other soldier, just a bit short, so most likely don’t realize who he is, this enemy probably thought he got an easy target.” Penelope is well aware her husband’s height gets him a lot of slack, but she loves her short man. Especially since he’s a lot stronger than most people know, nevermind flexible.

“I think this is the enemy’s goal, he was luring people up the stairs and ambushing them at some point, though why he thinks it’ll work for a while is not something I can get. A group would’ve eventually gone through there.” Odysseus shakes his head, careful to not move his wife too much or hit her, well aware of what she might do in a counter. She’s way too close to his side for him to even try.

Pen laughs lightly, because of her man would take the only enemy that might kill more of his men because they’re idiots who would definitely fall for that like children, never mind that she is well aware of what her younger husband is thinking, because her husband still tries to avoid giving her a reason to mess with him and his sensitive sides - which only got more sensitive with all the scars to her amusement.

“He really cared for them…” Tele had heard in his dad’s voice several times the grief for his men whenever he talked about them, even for Eurylochus and the other men who betrayed him later, but to see how much he cares for them and realize none of them live? It hurts in a way he hadn’t expected, and has him scooting closer to his parents for their warmth.

What do you live for? What do you try for?
He comes out into an open area, sword first, before following afterwards.
What do you wish for? What do you fight for?
The enemy comes from the side, the two locking swords as O gets pushed back towards a balcony edge.

“Odysseus!” Eurylochus tightens his grip on the Kline, scooting closer to Polites, worried and scared because the man is alone, and while he might have a goddess’ blessing, might be cunning, might be one of their better fighters, he’s still his brother.

“You had better not do stupid things like this throughout the war.” Penelope scolds him, giving him a sharp look as well as gently jabbing at his side, a hint towards one thing she’ll do as a scolding.

“The things I’m going to have to save you from.” Polites winces, already wanting to pull his hair out, because there's few things that make him want to resort to violence, but his brothers are one of them, especially when they don’t take care of themselves.

“Hey, I’m sure I’ll be fine, I wouldn’t have survived 10 years just to die at the end of the war before I can see my men home and my family again.” Odysseus a hand in the air in surrender, the other unwilling to move away from his family, clutched close to him, because he’s going to have to be away for 10 years, he’s going to miss a good chunk of his boy’s first.. Everything. Words, steps, hunt, weapon, lessons, complaints, injury, everything.

“He really wanted to be there, and he was trying so hard, I can’t believe I thought he abandoned us.” Tele shakes his head, well aware that he can’t be blamed for having those thoughts, and he feels no shame from them anymore after talking with his dad, but he still can’t believe he never realized how much the man loved him.

“Honestly, I’m not surprised, you had no actual memories of him, for all you knew his scent, vaguely remembered his warmth and arms, you had nothing but my stories, as well as the occasional one from Hermes and the newer ones from Athena.” Pen gently runs her fingers through his hair, always amused that despite the fact he has her hair, dark as the night, he has his father’s skin and eyes, one a dark blue, like the sky during sunset, and the other a green as bright as freshly grown grass. (Unlike his father, who has an eye as blue as the ocean and an eye as green as the underside of a leaf.)

Ody shifts between the two of them, which has the two of them giggling at each other, though they spare a worried glance at the potion nearby when it also moves, not wanting it to break or spill.

S
What do you live for? What do you try for?
O moves, shifts to the side and lets his opponent fall forward, while he moves behind them, calmly slicing through the back of their neck as they lean against the rail, unable to react fast enough to stop him.
What do you wish for? What do you fight for?
He looks sad and weary for a moment as he looks at the dead body, another enemy he had killed, more blood on his hands, before looking up with slightly hopeful eyes.

“Oh…” Penelope lets out a small sound, not quite a sob, but close, because that is the man she married, who she loves, looking like the world is on his shoulders, and she’s not there to help.

“Captain, you don’t have to take everything on alone, ya know?” Polites sighs, he’s not surprised the man had chosen to go about the war and its effects this way, but he still wishes he was wrong.

“Any choice you made, any plan you offered, there was definitely the option for others to reject it or change it, so none of the guilt should weigh completely on you, Odysseus.” Eurylochus throws out there, knows there’s more to it than that, but it’s not wrong either.

“Maybe so, but I imagine I was the one with the strongest say, since I was likely made the damn strategist, considering everything.” Odysseus wouldn’t trust that damned Agamemnon with any of the logistics behind the war.

“That was so quick and smooth.” Tele awes, watching with wide eyes, well aware that’s not really something he should be gushing over, excited and amazed, but this is his father and he loves the man, every part of him, even the ones he despises.

“I really can’t say that surprises me, he was always taking on the world, every burden and weight and he could handle it, at least for a short while, but usually he would eventually give in and come to me in order to rest, let himself feel human again, usually cuddled up with the two of us once you were born.” Pen shifts and adjusts Ody, making him more comfortable, trying to make sure his sleep is peaceful for as long as it can be, before they decide something is important enough to wake him or whatever force brought them here wakes him forcibly.

O
Penelope, Penelope
He sees his wife, a baby held in her arms, clearly remembering her from years before. She shifts and gives a small grin at the baby whom she’s brought closer to her face.
And Telemachus
The baby stares at her with wide eyes, before glancing to the side, a small fist resting near his chin.

“I’m glad you’re still thinking of us.” Penelope knows he would never choose not to, but she had not thought how much he must long to be with them, because while it hurts, she at least has his palace, his image and their boy, he has nothing to remember her and their boy by.

“Damn right, and don’t you worry Ody, we’re gonna get you home to them.” Polites exclaims, though he remains quiet in order to not wake the baby up, honestly surprised the kid’s still out.

“I hope so, but my job is to get you all home to your families.” Odysseus responds easily, because he might be a father and a husband, but he is also a king, and as long as he is given no reason not to, he’s getting his crew home, all 600 of them.

“Oh boy, if you’re thinking of them at a time like this, I can only imagine how bad you must be in the camps between battles, when you’re not sleeping, eating or planning.” Eurylochus groans, but he’s looking forward to it at least, because those will be the times they all get closer, sharing pieces of themselves.

“He really didn’t have anything from us?” Tele turns to his mom, because he’d thought for certain his dad would’ve taken a portrait, something that had them so he wouldn’t run the risk of forgetting them.

“No, we had each other, his stories, his image and his palace that he built for us, but he had nothing but his memories, he had no time to get a portrait or anything done with us before the call came out and he would’ve never taken anything so precious with him off his boat either.” Pen just knows it, it’s something she had regretted not having to give to him, something to remember them by, despite all the things he’d left for them.

I fight for us, I fight for us
O is reaching his arm out, wanting desperately to grasp them despite knowing it's a memory. Penelope turns and starts to walk away, the man lowering his arm.

S
What do you live for?

Eurylochus and Polites at least try to be polite by muffling their giggles into their hands and turning away from the man and his wife, but given the indignant noise from behind them, they’re not doing too well.

“Aww, don’t you worry, I live for you too.” Penelope coos at her husband, who turns red and gives her a small kiss, cuddling into her neck, gently placing a hand under her arms to take some of Telemachus’ weight.

“It’s not wrong, but do they have to call me out?” Odysseus pouts, because damnit, he knows he would live and die for his family, as long as they got to live happy lives.

“He waited 20 long years, faced who knows what before and still fought the suitors immediately so we’d be safe despite likely being exhausted and weakened.” Tele had known it, but he hadn’t really known it, because it hadn’t really registered that his dad was starved, underweight and likely not entirely ok since it was the first time he’d seen him and he had been a bit shocked.

“That’s just who your father is. Honestly, as much as it frightens me, he’d kill even himself if it meant we would get happy lives, if he thought he was in the way. It’s part of why I was surprised he got home, because if the gods or monsters had somehow threatened us, he would’ve easily killed himself in order to get to us.” Pen had never liked to think that, but her husband loves her and their boy, their darling son so much, that he would in fact kill himself if it meant they’d get a future, and she had worried a lot for those 10 years after war that it might’ve happened.

O
Penelope
He starts to move with more determination now, heading somewhere.
S
What do you try for?

O
Telemachus
He gets to and then climbs onto the banister of the balcony, watching the battle below him.

“What are you doing?” Eurylochus really hopes the man doesn’t do what he thinks he’s gonna do, but it would be something he does.

“He’s gonna jump down.” Polites sighs in exasperation, because part of the only reason their brother can get away with that shit - besides his mind - is because he’s slightly reinforced by being a Goddess’ chosen one.

“This really doesn’t look like you being careful and safe, dear.” Penelope raises a brow at her husband, who she had made promise get back to her however he needed to, and that he needed to be safe and careful.

“Uhh…well…?” Odysseus really isn’t certain exactly how to defend himself, given he hasn’t done that yet, but he likely will and has done so many times, as well as other equally stupid, dangerous things.

“He always wanted to reach us.” Tele can’t help the wonder and awe in his voice, because even knowing the man fought for 20 years for them, and he’s had the chance to know his dad for almost 2 years now, it still amazes him and catches him by surprise sometimes, the things his dad mentions. (Whether that’s his breath catching in surprise, anger or sadness, only he’ll know… for now.)

“Yes, I don’t doubt that in the slightest. I can only hope this will clear up some of the things he’s been having a harder time talking about.” Pen spares a worried glance at her husband, discreetly looking over her son too, because she knows they’re safe - well as they can be under an unknown’s hand - but she still has to check for herself.

S
What do you wish for?

O
I’m on my way
He closes his eyes, sword moving and raises it in front of him, similar to how he had done so earlier, edges facing him.
S
What do you fight for?

O
Attack!
He opens his eyes and steels himself, before jumping into the battle, blade at his side, before he shifts, both hands on the grip, as he kills an enemy, using them to cushion his fall. He rises quickly, before ducking under another blow, swinging his blade to take out their knees, and then turns. He starts to move quickly through the fighting, and then there’s a flash.
Aargh
He hunches and then collapses to his knees in pain, clutching at his chest, as if he had been struck. His blade is on the ground.
Who was that?
He looks around as if trying to find the enemy. An eagle cries out as if flies overhead, O’s sight on it.

“Shit.” Odysseus would know the meaning of that anywhere, given how often Athena sends owls to signal her arrival, that’s a god, likely Zues, which means nothing good.

“Damn gods, think of no one but themselves.” Eurylochus growls, arms crossing over his chest, because that one had hit his Captain with something and left him vulnerable in the middle of a battle. Probably on purpose too.

“Shit, that better not have done damage that we can’t see, because I’m willing to bet you’re not gonna mention that or let me check you over.” Polites buries his head in his hands, ignoring the way his headband flows over his fingers and tickles them the slightest bit.

“Love…” Penelope reaches out, resting her hand on her husband, worried and fearful, because gods intervening is never a good thing, least of all the King of the Gods.

“He didn’t mention that he was in battle when the vision struck! He could’ve easily been killed by the enemy or hit by accident by an ally.” Pen frets, starting to run her fingers through Ody’s hair as a sort of self-soothing gesture for herself, to calm herself down.

“That hurt him too, or at least appeared to, which he didn’t mention either.” Tele frowns, wondering exactly how much suffering his father had left out of his explanations, by choice or simply because it was overpowered by whatever followed, neither of which really reassures him.

Z
A vision of what is to come
An eagle, snake in its grasp, before the reptile lashes out and is dropped.
Cannot be outrun
Another flash of lightning reveals the form of a god within the clouds as the eagle flies by.
Can only be dealt with right here and now
O rises from the ground, sword in his hand again, looking determined.

“Zeus?! This is going to be horrible and you're gonna face it alone.” Polites hisses, angry and upset, because the gods seem to have a thing against his best friend.

“I mean, we’re all in battle, he’s not really being given a choice to grab us, because he doesn't know where we are.” Eurylochus points out, hates that that might be something the gods had done to make their friend choose something alone with no support or other opinions.

“I don’t know how I’m gonna get out of this one, but I have a bad feeling about this.” Odysseus might not know much, but there are likely gods upset about losing the war, so he can only imagine this must be how they’re choosing to retaliate.

“Gods, they’re such petty beings, honestly. They started this war for all intents and purposes, they should deal with this like fucking responsible beings, considering they’re all deathless.” Penelope growls, feeling her anger settle in her chest, ready to be used and aimed at whoever it must be in order to protect her husband.

“Oh no…” Tele winces, because he can finally tell what this will be about, watching the battle he’d kind of forgotten his dad telling them what Zues had wanted him to do. ( A horrible choice, foreign his dad to choose between his soul and his humanity, but not the worst one.)

“Zues is a dick and I’m gonna get Athena’s help to get back at so many gods, they’re not gonna know what hit them.” Pen snarls, because her husband had been through so much, there had been so many gods, goddesses and other beings who had a hand in his suffering, she was going to enjoy fist fighting them. (They would lose, obviously.)

O
Tell me how
He looks to the sky as he replies.

Z
I don’t think you’re ready
An eagle lands on the top of a building. O’s wide gaze before he hides it behind a mask and starts to move.
A mission to kill someone's son,
He’s in a hall, corpses collapsed as he moves through with his sword raised, starting up some stairs.
A foe who won’t run
He pauses on the top few, looking at a portrait of a happy family, a father, wife and baby son.
Unlike anyone you’ve faced before
O stares at it, likely feeling sympathy and empathy, because he had also been called away from his family. The eagle flies past him.

“Odysseus…” Eurylochus isn’t certain what to say, because his wife and daughters awaited them too, but at least he had gotten a good amount of time with them, his brother had barely been able to be with them a year before the war called on him.

“I still can’t wait to see how you get back at him for that.” Polites knows damn well there’s no way in fuck that man is going to get away with putting his nephew in danger, not in the slightest.

“I hope you got his ass killed, he deserves it. I hope Hades gives him a good punishment too.” Penelope mutters, well aware that it might seem extreme, but their baby had not been all that old, and the man had ripped him from her arms, had others hold her back and placed him in danger, could’ve gotten him killed, even by accident.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m certain he’s dead already, and I have a good idea how I did it too.” Odysseus grins, but it’s more wicked and malicious than nice and kind, which has them all grinning at him in return, amused and content with that.

“Oh, he definitely got what he deserved and then some.” Pen cackles to herself, glad the others seem to have forgotten about her and her son for the moment, though she’s curious as to why the being is having them keep their identities hidden for the time - she had noticed the cloaks and the way that area seemed brighter, but was currently thankful for it.

“I still can’t believe my father managed that.” Tele is honestly amazed, but then again it was war and not one could really blame the main strategist and best known family man for it.

O
Say no more, I know that I’m ready
He turns and follows after the bird at a jog, weapon still in front just in case.
Z
I don’t think you're ready
The faint outline of a person, perhaps, as well as a bright light. A crib, some cloth trailing out of it.

Pen and Tele inhale sharply, bracing themselves for what’s to come, because they had known, but they’re not going to look away, not a chance in hades. If their dad/husband could face it head on and tell them, make the choice, then the least they could do was watch and take some of the pain.

“Wait…” Polites breathes, hands shaking already, eyes wide in horror because surely not...?

“Odysseus would never…” Eurylochus stares as well, but he knows there’s only one way that their brother would kill a baby, only one way and the gods would definitely not be above using such tactics, so he already has a feeling how this is gonna go.

“Please, no…” Odysseus begs, a part of him, in his chest, freezing and starting to shatter, because he knows damn well the gods are about to give him a choice he would never want to make, should not have to but they’re gonna force him to.

“How fucking dare they!” Penelope snarls, grip tightening on their baby, before promptly plopping into Odysseus’ arms, knowing she might need the hand space soon, while he needs something to soothe him at the moment.

He takes Telemachus without a word, gently rocking the baby when he gives a whine at the movement, calming him down, though the kid is definitely awake for the moment, blinking tired, sleepy eyes up at his dad.

O approaches looking cautious and then horrified as he looks inside.
O
It’s just an infant; it’s just a boy
In the crib lies a baby that can’t be too old, sleeping soundly, and then it shifts a bit, facing more towards O.
What sort of imminent threat does he pose
O looks disturbed, as well as horrified, before it switches to confusion.
That I can not avoid?
The curtains blow in the wind from the open window, the eagle landing there.

“Damn them.” Eurylochus bows his head, not certain he can watch his friend break himself this way, not certain he wants to.

“I think the Gods and I need to have a talk.” Polites glares at the screen, because this, this is no choice, this is a threat barely disguised as a choice.

“Noo…” Odysseus moans, lowering his head to gently rest his forehead on his sons, unable to handle the weight, the burden, the disgusting horrible choice being thrown at him.

“He was not wrong, I don’t think you're ready, but who the hades would be ready for something like this?” Penelope hisses, because what sort of war preparation are the gods planning? This is a child, an innocent for all intents and purposes, the babe has no place in war.

“He looks so small, no older than the baby me currently here with us…” Tele is horrified that the gods would use a baby so young, so tiny, so innocent in their petty desire to get revenge on the Greeks for winning.

“He probably isn’t. Zeus is going to be black and blue at the very least once I’m through with him.” Pen grins widely at the thought, because she knows damn well Hermes, Athena and perhaps even Hera will help her out. She’s never going to let the gods take her husband from her, not until both of them are going to hades place together.

Z
This is the son of none other
Than Troy’s very own prince Hector,
Behind the eagle a flash of light, which highlights a god, his finger pointing at the baby, before the lightning fades and takes the shape away again.
Know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger
The light highlights a side of the crib and most of the sleeping baby.
One fumed with rage as you’re consumed by age
Odysseus’ focus is still on the baby as he listens, his sword down at his waist.

“No…” Penelope breathes, she has an idea where Zeus might be going with this, but that’s such a cruel and disgusting thing to ask of someone, though it’s really more tell than ask.

“A baby…?” Odysseus mutters, having come to a similar conclusion, uncertain how he’s going to get himself out of this one.

“I’m honestly not certain how this is going to go, neither of us are there to offer opinions.” Polites bites his nails, a bad habit of his, because there’s no way for them to communicate in any way with a god right there.

“We’ll figure something out somehow; don’t you worry about it.” Eurylochus counters, because he knows they have their own language and trusts that their brother, their king will figure something out somehow.

“They really are hoping he’ll manage, but they’re forgetting he is human as well.” Tele had never met his uncles, but given the way Eurylochus was speaking, he can’t much say he likes the man so far, though Polites is growing on him.

“That’s why Eury was Ody’s second and Polites was just his best friend, because the SIC has to help the king make hard, horrible decisions, while his best friend can comfort him, offer other solutions and better understand him.” Pen had loved Polites for being there for her husband, because the man had done his best, while Eurylochus has a special place in her heart full of anger and hate, with the little love she had for him overwhelmed by most of that.

Z+gods
If you don’t end him now, you’ll have no one left to save
He gently reaches out and rests a finger on the boy’s face, who leans into it and gives a sleepy grin.
Z
You can say goodbye to
A more divine hand, one outlined solely in white, touches the babe from the other side, drawing O’s attention, he looks terrified.
G
Penelope
Penelope is shown, smiling and happy, almost as if she is looking at the baby, before turning to give him a gentle, loving smile.

“No!” Polites yells, almost rising to his feet in anger and disbelief at the God’s tricks.

“That’s so fucking wrong given they’re likely bitchin at my underhanded tactics.” Odysseus breathes shakily, surprised it’s not gotten to his body yet, but at least that means he’s not rattling Telemachus.

“So, they can do anything they want, but a mortal does it and they take insult? Typical.” Eurylochus just can't with the Gods most days, it’s why he will pray but usually there’s not much faith there.

“Honestly, if Zues wasn’t the King, we might be better off, because he’s a large part of the problem. Athena, Hera or even Hermes would make better leaders, but they would have to potentially team up to win.” Penelope observes her hands; can already feel the sword she will use against any god that tries to take her husband from her after the war and his return.

“They put him in between a rock and a hard place, with no way to escape without killing himself somehow. He either kills his soul by killing the baby, or he kills us, his family, the only thing he lives for, which would kill him as well. Gods.” Pen rolls her eyes, because she has already faced down a few gods - Hermes and Athena have free passes to visit, the others are either met with her sword or formality, but Artemis is on her good side - that might’ve tried to take her husband.

“Dad sure runs into a lot of gods, doesn’t he?” Tele can’t believe that is simply coincidence but thinking that his father’s 20 years of suffering where merely his fate, a sort of bad luck that was no fault of his own (After all, mortals cannot alter the work of the Fates, only follow them) and forced him to remain away from them.

Z
You can say goodbye to
O and P when they were younger, moving through the woods, kissing, before it comes back to now, O staring horrified at the god.
G
Penelope
He still looks horrified, but a bit of steel enters his eyes.
O (Z +G)
I could raise him as my own (He will burn your house and throne)
He offers desperately, even as the illusion of his wife and child crouches to be closer to the baby in the crib.
Or send him far away from home (he’ll find you wherever you go)
The eagle still remains in the window, even as O holds his hands out as he offers this solution.

“They’re not giving another choice.” Eurylochus gets it now, they just want to watch his Captain suffer over this choice and they all know what he’ll choose.

“To think they’d go this far.” Penelope had known the gods are like this, but she had never experienced it like this, and it has her wondering where Athena is.

“Why hasn’t Athena interfered or something?” Polites demands, well aware that it’s not very fair, but his best friend is her favorite, her champion, so should she not at least try and keep him in a good headspace?

“If even Athena isn’t stopping him, she must know this is not something that can be changed…that or she knows something we don’t. I’m not certain.” Odysseus isn’t certain anymore, because he had not ever thought the gods would force such a choice on him, they’re not even offering the chance for him to kill himself or someone else instead, just the babe. His grip tightens the slightest bit around Telemachus, who reaches out and clumsily grabs one of his fingers.

“I had not thought he would mean it quite so literally, when he said the gods gave him no other choice here, but I suppose I should’ve.” Tele knows his dad is clever and cunning, so to see him forced to make a choice like that…it hurts, despite already knowing.

"Oh, Ody. You tried, sweetheart, which is more than most of the other men in the war could likely say.” Pen knows from his stories that there are quite a few men, some of their own even, who’d have never tried to argue with the Gods, who would’ve already killed the child and left.

Make sure his past is never known (the gods will make it known)
He switches tactics quickly, lowering his arm and swiping the right one to the side as he speaks to emphasize his words.
I’d rather bleed for ya, down on my knees for ya (we’re bringing you down on your knees for ya)
He impales his sword in the ground in front of him as he falls to his knees, the eagle and illusion of his family seeming to stare down on him.
I’m begging please (Oh this is the will of the gods)
He looks up, desperate and weary and tired, as a strike of lightning highlights the form of the god still within the clouds.

“Damnit.” Polites buries his head in his hands, tears streaming down his face, because this is going to destroy their brother, break something in him he’s not certain they can help with.

“Fuckin Gods…” Eurylochus would usually be more careful, but something says they’re safe here and he believes it, so may as well take advantage.

“Oh, honey. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, Odysseus.” Penelope will not begrudge him his choice, not when she told him to get home in any way he could, no matter what.

“But still, to kill a baby?” Odysseus feels like there must be more here, because one of the gods has to have the domain for children, so why are they not interfering or trying to? Plus, a baby, months old at best, being so dangerous there’s a prophecy?

“Damn them.” Pen sighs, because they had her husband begging for a different choice, another option, to spare a baby, and they were not giving it at all.

“Not even a slight bit of hesitation or mercy for a child?” Tele is not certain how he feels about the gods after knowing that, given he would’ve loved to be an older brother, surely, they could’ve figured something out? He wants to think the fates would not be so cruel to write that as a baby’s future, but his dad had done no real wrong and was forced to fight and suffer for 20 long years to get home, so they are.

O
Please don’t make me do this, don’t make me do this
O stares at the ground, horrified and terrified at the options given to him, before raising his head as he shakes it side to side, desperate. He rises to his feet and reaches out as if to touch his wife’s cheek, looking devastated and torn in a way he hadn’t before as he gazes into the crib at the babe.

“Oh, love…” Penelope breathes, scooting closer and gently nuzzling his head, amused the slightest bit despite everything, that he is shorter than her.

“You tried, Cap, which is more than most. I don’t think you can change this though.” Eurylochus winces at the very words, but there really doesn’t seem to be anything else he can do.

“Why Odysseus? There are so many other men who could’ve and would’ve done this, no hesitation, so why him?” Polites almost begs, but he thinks he gets it, it was likely his friend’s strategy that led them to win.

“What a damn mess this will be.” Odysseus mutters as he hangs his head, already feeling something inside crack and start to splinter, he can only imagine how this would be in real life.

“It sounds wrong, but I wonder exactly how much this broke him, considering how much he seemed tired and weary and already breaking from the war…” Tele cuddles closer to his dad, burying his face against his chest to feel his breathing, worried at how they might best help him heal.

“Oh, darling, I’m certain we’re already helping him, don’t you worry. He just wants us safe, and to be safe himself, it’s why he has you sleeping closer to us, I’m pretty sure the only reason he hasn’t asked you to just sleep in our bed is because he’s trying to not overstep.” Pen gently runs her fingers through their son’s hair, grinning at the excited, awed look that he gains when she mentions him sleeping between them.

Z
The blood on your hands
The boy is still asleep somehow, despite everything, looking peaceful, while O stares down, looking torn, hopeful and yet hurting, clearly uncertain still.
Is something you won’t lose
A hand touches his cheek, startling him, drawing his head up, showing it’s the illusion of Penelope, smiling at him.
Z+G
All you can choose is whose
The illusion fades into the clouds it always was when he tries to reach back, left with this impossible decision as he stares into the crib. He has hands on either side of it, clutching at them, the window still open, but the eagle is gone, the choice entirely his own in that it's also not.

“That’s how they’re going to leave it, huh?” Penelope murmurs, a sharp look in her eyes from the suffering they’re forcing her husband through, despite his already shattering and broken soul.

“I’m going to help Penelope kick some godly ass when we get back.” Polites decides then and there, she likely doesn’t need the help, but he wants to get his own two bits in as well.

“I’d help, but someone has to keep Odysseus and Telemachus safe while you two do that, so I’ll be their guard. Won’t be too different.” Eurylochus snorts, because it truly won’t be.

“There’s no need to do that, we are not going to potentially anger the gods by fighting them, however much we might want to.” Odysseus would be flailing if his child was not in his arms, but he is so he just wiggles the slightest bit.

“They left him with that choice and those words, as if he is being given any other option here, how cruel they truly are.” Tele shakes his head as best he can without moving, refusing to be any further than he has to be.

“They’ll regret it, don’t you worry. I’m certain your father will have done something to get back at them and if he hasn’t, we can more than do it for him.” Pen offers, because he had been fighting for the two of them for years, and while they fought their own battles as well, she doubts they need the rest near half as bad as he goes, she’ll willingly face down more gods, no hesitation, to protect her husband and she knows Tele feels the same.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Men outside fighting, a window, through which Odysseus is sitting on the floor, helmet at his side, back against the crib, baby in his lap, a small smile on his face.
O
I look into your eyes and I
The baby has a bit of snot which he carefully wipes away with his shirt. He lifts the tiny baby up, holding them in front of his face.

“This is just too cruel to ask from anyone, much less a father and King.” Polites hisses, because he thinks he’s finally got his answer as to whether Gods truly have emotions or not. (They do, their morals are the damned problem.)

“You’re getting attached.” Penelope coos, sad that her husband is going to miss so much of Telemachus’ childhood, though she loves that he has so much love to give he is offering it - despite the hurt it will cause him - to this newborn.

“Odysseus…” Eurylochus isn’t certain there’s another choice, because the gods really hadn’t given one and for sure seemed determined to break his friend one way or another.

“I don’t think it’s all the gods fault, because Athena never would have approved of this, so it must solely be the gods who were fighting on Troy’s side. Meaning this is their way of getting back at me for helping the Greeks win.” Odysseus swallows, trying so hard to determine if he’s ever going to sleep again after the war.

“Oh, love…” Pen sighs softly, because he used to do that with Tele when he was a babe, make him laugh and just hold him to observe him and get a good look at him. She loved to watch the two together, both then and now.

“He loved us so much, that he had nowhere to go with it during those 10 years at war, with no real way to send letters and with us not nearby, he had no one to give it to but his crew, and even then he still had more to give.” Tele would’ve loved to have had the chance to be the child’s big brother, he just knows it, but the prophecy had been too high a risk for his dad - which he gets - so he just watches for now.

Think back to the son of mine
A younger Odysseus, cradling a baby, looking happy and carefree, before he carefully blows a raspberry on the babe’s stomach, causing them to laugh, before the memory fades to present.
You're as old as he was when I left for war
The baby reaches out, grabbing a bit of his hair and pulling. He moves with the tugs to stop the ache, before pulling his hair free, looking anguished and devastated.

Polites lets out a muffled, hurt sound, not quite able to even put into words the hurt and hate and anger and pain in his chest, so instead he just curls into Eury’s side, but refuses to take his gaze off the viewing, because if his King, his Captain, but most importantly his brother can face this choice and make it, the least he can do is watch.

“Damn them…” Eurylochus sighs tiredly as he pulls Polites closer, making sure he can still see, because this is their best friend, the one who has a plan or can make one quickly, who always offers a hand to anyone he can in order to make sure things go well. The man who taught all the orphans and brought them into his palace so they wouldn’t be homeless, who helped his own people with harvests and the father who had loved so strongly he made it a title to hold onto, and they’re making him kill an innocent.

“The gods are going to get a fist fight the likes of which they’ve never seen or had, and I’m going to make certain they get the message.” Penelope growls, pulling Odysseus closer to her and gently petting through Telemachus’ hair, amused when she gets a soft coo in response, though it barely cools her anger.

Odysseus gently nuzzles into her neck, slumped against her as he is, adjusting their son so he’s in no danger even as he tries to come to terms with the choice and decision he’s going to make, because damnit, that’s his home, his people, his family most importantly, being threatened by the King of Gods, he can’t not go through with it as much as he might want to.

“They truly have no sense or morals.” Tele had known it was true, given the way Athena could sometimes get during training, especially when she went into stories of the other gods and what to do if he encountered certain ones, but seeing it like this really makes it hit home.

Pen huddles closer to her husband, amused and thankful that for all that he is shorter than her, he always makes her feel safe, as his arms come up to gently pull her closer, even as he continues to sleep. “I am expecting more gods to bother us after this, though personally Hades and Persephone are always welcome, they’re such sweethearts, and so are Hermes and Athena, they’ve proven themselves.” Personally, she lets Ares come as well, but the rest have to give her a damn good reason or she is gonna kick their asses. (Again.)

Will these actions haunt my days
He gets up and turns towards the crib.
Every man I’ve slain?
His helmet is still on the ground.
Is the price I pay endless pain?
He leans over and gently sets the baby down.

“Not alone if you would just talk to us.” Polites scoffs, because he doubts their brother had wanted to burden or trouble them, though it might also just be he was so busy he barely had the time to even think of talking to them, not counting the times he would be forced to rest.

“I mean, dealing with Agamemnon is more than a good enough reason to need to rest and recover.” Penelope sneers, because she had never much liked the man, but he is going to be the one helping the most unfortunately, which means her darling is going to deal with him quite a bit.

“Oh, gods no… Penelope, why’d you have to remind meeee?” Odysseus whines, because he had actually forgotten for a moment that he was gonna be the one to have to deal with the asshole the most, given he’s one of the strategists of the army. Silently, he wonders how many people - both of his army and others - he’s had to talk into staying under Helios’ light after battles or just on bad days.

“Things are just going to get worse, I can feel it.” Eurylochus mutters, because there’s no way in hell just killing a single baby is going to be enough to sate the angry gods, he just knows it, for all they might have agreed to this, he doubts it will be enough.

“I wonder exactly how many gods he’s pissed off…” Pen is almost curious enough to ask him once they wake him, but decides that he might not even know the answer, given he tends to forget which gods were responsible for which action and what plan he made to counter it. The answer is probably a lot though.

“I’m glad I never had to go to war, I can only imagine how horrible it would’ve been.” Tele whispers softly, well aware that might make him a coward and selfish, but just seeing it is enough to let him know he’d never manage to survive in a place like that, which makes him curious as to how his dad managed.

Close your eyes and spare yourself the view
He covers their eyes, looking tired and worn, a portrait of Hector and his family on the wall behind him.
How could I hurt you?
He grabs his sword, but drops it almost immediately, unable to go through with it. He turns and puts his face in his hands, torn. He quickly lowers his hand so he’s hugging himself.
I’m just a man who's trying to go home
He moves towards the balcony, looking down over the rail.

Polites makes a small noise, not really pained or angry or any emotion, more just a sound to get his emotions out, something to express how he’s feeling without conveying anything, because he isn’t certain how much more he can take, for fuck’s sake.

“Darling…” Penelope murmurs, gently tugging her husband closer despite there being no real space between them anyways, because 10 long years to reunite with him, she’s going to take advantage of every extra moment she gets with him.

“We’re all going to need so much rest after this.” Eurylochus sounds tired and worn already, a hand dragging down his face as he tries to best figure out how they might go about that.

“Things are going to get worse than…” Odysseus had known that Athena likely wouldn’t be able to help with his emotional and mental wellbeing, but for him to be this bad after 10 years? Actually, yeah, he can definitely see it.

“If this is just the end of the war…” Tele doesn’t even bother to finish the sentence, refusing to put the words into being, because his dad was struggling already at that point, to then go through 10 more years of suffering… It's unfair.

Ody shifts between the two of them, not enough to dislodge either of them, but more than enough to grab their attention in case he wakes up. He doesn’t but they both keep watching him for a bit, unable to help themselves.

“I can see how he reached the point where he was when he saw us, but not completely.” Pen is curious if this is when he started seeing himself as a monster - which he’s not, but they’re working on it still - or if it was later on.

Even after all the years away from what I’ve known,
He waves a hand over the men below battling, before clenching it into a fist.
I’m just a man who’s fighting for his life
He looks tired, guilty, worn, the light from the fires reflecting in his eyes.
Deep down I would trade the world to see my son and wife
The fighting men and the wooden horse, before it shifts to a younger Odysseus, Penelope and baby Telemachus, posing for a drawing, the painter already at their canvas.

Eurylochus snorts, because he can only imagine how done they all are with his damned stories and likely poems and other shit - if they got him drunk which they surely did - that he would wax about his family.

“You are such a family man, it’s almost too much sometimes.” Polites grins, so glad his best friend has such a big heart, enough to share his love with what is likely all 600 of their men and some of the men from the other armies.

“How many of them are going to visit us I wonder.” Penelope knows how much her dearest loves to interact and talk with his friends, when he’s not doing his duties - which is a lot rarer than people think - and there’s no way he didn’t make some during the war.

“As long as it’s not fucking Agamemnon, I don’t give a shit if they visit, though he’ll likely get a pass cause of his brother, they’re all going to get open invites.” Odysseus scoffs at the thought of dealing with that man again so soon, but he would manage, especially if his family are at his side.

“I still can’t believe how many of them died after the war…” Tele mutters, because it’s like they used up all the luck they had in the war and the Fates decided they’d lived long enough.

“I’m really just glad your father didn’t, because he got home to us somehow, even if he was broken and worn and tattered, he was still more the same man than not, for all his protests.” Pen would’ve waited the rest of her life for him, is need be, but she’s glad to get to spend it with him, especially since she gets to help the man who fought for them heal from everything.

I’m just a man
He’s gone inside, his shadow on the ground in front of him stretching far.
But when does a comet become a meteor?
His gaze is on the crib -
When does a candle become a blaze?
-as he moves closer, his shadow shifts and changes. Becoming a sort of shadow monster, with only the eyes being white, the edges of it sharp and jagged, but clearly still a man.
When does a man become a monster?
He leans and grabs his sword, bringing it flat to his forehead as he closes his eyes, before opening them as he makes his decision.

“You are not a monster for this, you were given no real choice, simply dropped into this with only one clear path that’s disgusting, but will return you to us, so take it.” Penelope knows that morally, it is not right at all, but as long as her husband returns to the two of them, she couldn’t care less, because she can help him heal afterwards as long as he’s there.

“Cap, you know me, I’m a pacifist as best I can be, but I agree, they’ve really only given you one path, so take it, we’ll try and mitigate the effects and everything as best we can.” Polites knows damn well killing the kid will kill his brother, so he’ll just have to catch the little brat and make sure that he lives, though he won’t immediately tell his best friend, just so the gods won’t know.

“Fuck the gods, we’ll make sure that you aren’t the only one facing this, somehow.” Eurylochus agrees with Polites for once, because this is not a path any of them would want to take, but the Gods are forcing his brother, his king into it, so he’ll follow along on a side path, just in case he needs to help.

“I’m glad I've got you guys at my side. I don’t know what I’d do without either of you.” Odysseus is really grateful that they’ve survived the war with him, though he gets this horrible feeling in his gut that that won’t last much longer, but there’s no reason to feel like that, so he ignores it.

“If only they’d been able to do that.” Pen swallows harshly, because from what she understands, Polites died not too soon after this, meaning that Odysseus and Eurylochus were left alone, which is usually fine, but after everything they had fallen apart and neither was there for the other the way they needed to be, forced to remain intact so the rest of their men could mourn.

“I honestly still don’t know how he managed to keep going afterwards, I don’t think I’d have managed it, even with training.” Tele has listened intently at parts like that, and the anger he felt at the cyclops, the hatred was strong, but he understands why his dad hadn’t killed the creature, not with others there, they’d barely survived what was a young one, they couldn’t possibly handle an additional 10, with at least a few of them having to be adults.

When does a ripple become a tidal wave?
He sheathes the sword at his hip and heads towards the crib.
When does the reason become the blame?
He crouches and grabs his helmet -
When does a man become a monster?
- Standing as he puts it on and grabs the baby by the cloth around it.

“I can’t say I’ve ever really thought of those questions, at least not in this kind of context…” Tele admits to his mom, though he has thought of them in other ones, but in a way like this? Never.

“I can’t say I disagree with any of that, though it certainly will seem like an excuse to others, I know that’s just you trying to make sure this doesn’t kill you.” Polites soothes their brother, because how the hell else would anyone get past something like this?

“I get the feeling this will not be the only time they have you making some sort of choice like this, so we had better brace ourselves.” Eurylochus just knows that somehow, the gods are going to kill potentially all of them, he doesn’t know why or how, but if they’d make his brother kill an infant, they’d have no issues making him choose between horrible deaths for the crew and go with the less evil one.

“He’s going to get through this, but it’s going to break a part of him that I'm not sure even we can fix.” Pen hates that there are places where she can’t help her husband be better, not think of himself as a monster, but even she can only do so much.

“Damn them, there had to have been another way.” Odysseus growls, because there are so many other ways the gods could’ve chosen to have him end the war, but to kill an innocent and an infant at that?

“The Gods are not going to like the things I have to say to them when next I offer a prayer, but something tells me things are going to get worse.” Penelope hisses, eyes narrowed, already planning how she’s going to chew out and tear into each of them, regardless of how she’s connected to them.

S
When does a comet become a meteor?
O has gone out on the balcony, baby held out away from him.
When does a candle become a blaze?
O
(Forgive me)
The men below, standing around are the survivors, no more fighting to be seen.
S
When does a man become a monster?

“At least he’s trying to make it quick, unlike some people I can think of.” Polites rolls his eyes, honestly the things this war is going to bring out in people.

“Was this really the best way, Mom?” Tele turns to her, wanting an honest answer, because he’s always thought a sword would’ve been much nicer to the babe.

“Yes, Tele, it certainly was. A sword might not have killed fast enough and he wanted the baby to feel no pain. A drop like that would kill pretty much anyone instantly.” Pen responds, because she knows damn well if the option had been given that someone had to die, not just the infant, her husband would’ve guaranteed his people’s return home and thrown himself off.

“At least you’re trying to be gentle about it.” Penelope tries to soothe her husband, despite the tears in her eyes at the way he’s trying so hard to not comfort the child over the wall.

“What a mess you’re going to be after this.” Eurylcohus runs a hand over his head and hair, trying to figure out how they’re going to comfort their brother because this will be rough on him.

“I wish I could make it faster if I really have to kill the poor babe. At least he’ll die pretty quickly, though I don’t know if that’s much better.” Odysseus isn’t certain how a baby will interact with the underworld or anything, but he hopes they get to move on.

O
(Forgive me)
Some of them look up shocked and even off put at the sight, as a woman comes into view, crying and screaming, hands behind her back. She hunches over in despair as more tears fall.
S
When does a man become a monster?
O
Forgive me
He is crying as well, eyes and most of his face hidden in the shadows of his helmet.
I’m just a man
The baby starts to tear up and then cry, which draws more tears from O, who stills for a moment, the last thing seen is his hand opening, dropping the baby.

“Damn this, the mother was there, shit!” Eurylochus growls, roughly scrubbing at the tears falling from his eyes, because his brother was crying, didn’t want to do it, but did it for his family.

“At least she knows his death was quick?” Penelope knows that wouldn’t necessarily make her happy to know about her child’s death, especially after a war like this, but it is a comfort of some sort. She wipes absentmindedly at the tears on her cheeks.

“That is just too cruel.” Tele sniffs, burying his face against his mother and father, so glad they had propped him up a bit more, tears soaking the man’s shirt.

“I am going to fist fight the Gods and fucking win.” Polites states, like it’s a revelation he’s just had and knows it will in fact happen at some point. The words would usually not be taken seriously, but he never lies about things like that, and the tears streaming down his face don’t take from it either.

“Shit.” Odysseus isn’t certain what else to say to that, he’d really been hoping, at least a little, that his mentor or someone else might step in and help him save the child. He cuddles Telemachus closer to him, smiling softly at the tiny, chubby hands wiping at his beard.

“Well, this is just going to be horrible.” Pen had known it was, but still, something about seeing it and its effect on her beloved, she’s now certain this will hurt her far more than she had originally assumed.

Between them, as if sensing their sadness, Ody shifts, pulling them closer and letting out a vague humming noise, trying to soothe them when his body won’t wake up as he usually does at this point.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Several boats, rowing out to sea, and at the front of one of them, Odysseus stands, gaze outward.
O
Six hundred men,
He places a hand on the rail and then turns to look at his men.
Six hundred men under my command
With only one goal in mind
He looks tired and weary as he faces his men, back to the sea.

“Holy shit…” Eurylochus can’t believe it, that their captain and brother, for all his clever words and strength, somehow managed to keep all 600 of them alive for ten years of war.

“You have to have so many scars due to your efforts, I hope you know I had to treat those wounds.” Polites loves their brother, but sometimes he just wants to snake him upside the head and bundle him away in blankets somewhere.

“As long as you return alive and well, I don’t care what you look like or what you had to do. Not when I know these are choices I would likely have made as well.” Penelope knows some people would think that makes her or him a horrible person, but when you love someone, you can look past a lot of things, especially when they’re put in between a hard place and a rock for those.

“At least you all are ok.” Odysseus sighs, feels a weight fall from his shoulders, which has them sinking the slightest bit, though he easily shuffles a bit to get Telemachus more comfortable when the boy whines, shifting him so his head is closer to his heart.

“I still don’t understand why they lost so much faith in him because he lost to a monster and a god, everyone knows monsters are hard to beat, and gods we rarely stand against, not without consequence, so what were they expecting?” Tele can’t even begin with his Dad’s crew, which is made so much worse by how close they all seem at the moment. He cradles the warmth in his chest at seeing the younger dad shift his baby self to have a comforting sound to listen to. (Tele knows damn well he likely got that habit from his Dad now, anytime he’s seeking comfort, he always goes for a heartbeat to listen to. Usually his mom or dads.)

“Yes, he really loved them and wanted to get them home, so desperately, I can’t say I understand what they were thinking either, but then again, as much as I love your father, his crew was a bit of an odd group. They never forgot he was King, but they forgot he was king, so they never questioned him or offered suggestions, but they would turn against him for his choices.” Pen isn’t certain she ever really liked anyone but Polites amongst her husband’s crew, with Eurylochus being the exception, because he was her in law as well, but she had expected him to look after her husband, not be stupid.

S
Make it back alive to our homeland
Glimpses of Ithaca, the last thing shown an olive tree carved as a bed.

O
Six hundred men, six hundred miles of open sea
He turns to the railing again, facing the ocean, both hands on the rail.
But the problem’s not the distance
He looks determined as he stares ahead.

“Yeah, we need to be careful.” Polites mutters, trying hard to recall what could potentially get in their way on the trip home.

“This is why you’re King, my dear.” Penelope coos, amused and filled with love because her husband loves his people, already thinking about the things they’ll run into and stressing about it.

“Stressing about what’s ahead already, huh? It’s gonna be so hard to get you to talk about that though, much less relax or anything.” Eurylochus knows he also isn’t the best at getting their captain to relax, since they were both raised as princes they have training and manners that they fall back on that don’t actually relax them.

“Getting back is probably going to be harder than I want it to be.” Odysseus loves his people and his crew, he does, but sometimes his crew are just a bunch of really big children - which he gets given most where just barely teenagers when they were dragged to war - but they drive him fuckin insane sometimes.

“I’m not surprised in the slightest he was already stressing himself at that point, that’s something he would do, stress himself and overwork to the point he collapses if it meant others were safe and healthy.” Pen is so glad they’ve managed to get him to a better weight and schedule, because watching him do this when he was already close to just collapsing would’ve hurt.

“Yeah, he’s tried really hard to push his recovery back at times, hasn't he?” Tele wants to grin, but he really hadn’t liked watching his dad so weak, not because he was weak, but because it meant he was still suffering and in pain usually.

S
It’s what lies in between
A gaping maw of teeth, a figure with multiple heads and a single huge eye.

O
And Ithaca’s waiting
He takes a step closer to the front of the boat.

S
Ithaca’s waiting

O
My kingdom is waiting
He takes another, shifting his hands to make sure he doesn’t fall nor is uncomfortable.

“You're damn right they’re waiting.” Penelope would not have let anyone believe her husband dead or gone until they gave her proof, so his kingdom will be waiting.

“We’re gonna be lucky to return alive.” Polites murmurs to himself, because the glimpses of monsters tell him they’re going to be making some difficult decisions.

“We might be screwed.” Eurylochus groans lightly, slumping backwards, because with their crew and the way they act sometimes, they’ll be lucky to get anywhere without one of them doing something stupid.

“I don’t think we’re all gonna get home.” Odysseus isn’t certain what it is, but something inside of him says that they are going to end up doing something stupid or wrong on the way home.

“He was so excited…” Tele grieves, tears forming in his eyes that he tries to blink away, because he was likely just as excited, but at least he had ideas of his dad, what he looked like, what he was like, his dad had nothing.

“Oh, darling…” Pen mutters, gently running her fingers through his shorter hair, so glad they’d finally cut it - not because he didn't look hot with long hair - because he’d seemed to hate it. Maybe she’ll finally get to see who she’ll need to hunt down in order to further test the bounds of immortality.

S
The kingdom is waiting

O
Penelope’s waiting for me
He fully moves against the front of the boat, one hand on the ram on the front, the other on the rail, as he leans forward. He leans back a bit shortly after to not fall off.
So full speed ahead, full speed ahead
He rests his arms, crossed, on the railing as he watches forward, smiling softly and leaning his head into the wind.

“You’re so damn adorable, I can’t wait to see who Telemachus takes after.” Penelope grins widely, love filling her chest, especially at the red on her beloved's face.

“You two are so sweet, sometimes I worry how that will affect the kingdom, and then I recall how scary Ody is during battles.” Polites shudders, because their brother can be quite scary when he wants and he doesn’t doubt his brother’s wife can be just as scary.

“Talk about different sides of a person.” Eurylochus mutters to the man beside him, because they would be the ones to most notice the difference between Captain, King, Tactician, Commander and Odysseus, since they’d spend so much time with him.

“Penelope…” Odysseus grumbles, burying his red face into his wife’s hair, refusing to just give her free entertainment, though he doesn’t bother forcing down the warmth in his chest from the words.

“He really always was that easy to fluster…” Tele can’t quite believe it, he'd thought his mom and dad were fucking with him, but no, the man really had such low self-esteem - even before everything he’d done - to blush at complements. Though he can’t quite blame his father, he knows he suffers from the same, largely because of the suitors and some because he can’t tell when it’s someone sucking up or being genuine.

“Oh, Ody… You sweet idiot.” Pen coos, gently curling her fingers through one of his limp hands, amused when he squeezes it softly out of habit, which has him gently squeezing Tele too, drawing a soft smile on the boy’s face.

A figure approaches, taller than O, with short hair.
E
Captain
He rests an arm on the railing for a moment, rising as O does, before crossing his arms behind his back. O places his hand on the rail.

S
Eurylochus

E
Six hundred men

S
Six hundred men

E
Six hundred men with big mouths to feed,
He finally moves, his right arm coming out with his hand open as if to say look at this.
And we’ve out of supplies to eat
He turns to face towards the deck of the ship.

“Dad really got the short end with height, didn’t he?” Tele can’t quite help himself, because he had known the man was short, but meeting him face to face had been the first time he’d realized how short the man was.

“You look thinner than before…” Penelope frets, because they’d been at war and likely had to raid for food, and she knows her husband would’ve given his men his share before taking his own, even if it meant he got nothing.

“Captain…” Polites frowns, wondering how long and often their friend starved before they forced him to eat something, if they even let him get away with it.

Eurylochus snorts, because he’s heard one too many jokes about how Odysseus is short so he must not be able to satisfy his wife, or he was weaker, feminine - those always got his blood roaring in anger - but he also knows damn well the shorter man makes that work to his advantage as much as it makes him pout. "Kust so you know, we're limiting you to one 'I'll starve for before my soldiers' speech and you likely used it during the first few months of the war, so don't count of us helping you with this."

“I still can’t believe that after everything, I’ve retained so much weight.” Odysseus is not overweight or anything at all, but he was really expecting to lose a good amount of weight due to moving more often and eating less, but maybe not.

“Yeah, your darling father got the short end with height, but everything else he more than uses to make up for it.” Pen snorts at the look her son gives her, because he’s almost walked in on them more than once, so he knows she’s not wrong, though given he takes after Odysseus so much, she’s not sure why he thought otherwise.

S
Curse the war,
our food stores depleted
One of the men kicks over a barrel, which has next to nothing in it.

E
Six hundred men

S
Six hundred men

E
Six hundred reasons to take what we can
He lifts his arm again, hand raised towards the men, before he makes it a fist, shifting towards O.
So Captain, what's the plan?
He turns completely towards the other looking tired but determined as well.

S
Captain, what’s the plan?
O looks just as tired and weary, but he knows he has to give them a plan, so he gives a smile and turns towards the sea.

“Always working, rarely a chance to relax and take in everything you’ve had to do.” Penelope frowns, because she knows her husband is king, as well as Captain, but as second in command, Eurylochus should be able to take charge for a short time without issue and give Odysseus a break.

“Surely there was no reason to ask our brother for a plan?” Polites squints, tilting his head at the taller man next to him, because why the hell wouldn’t he come up with something first? Had the war taken that from him as well?

“We’re such a mess.” Odysseus huffs, tired and already hating the ten years that are about to come his way.

“Hmm…” Eurylochus really doesn’t haven’t an answer for Polites, because why did he not offer a plan or something?

“They trusted him and cared for him at this point, so when did it change?” Tele sits up, still leaving a hand on his dad’s chest, because he wants to see if he can spot the exact moment when the crew started to turn on his father.

“They all seemed like good people too.” Pen sighs, wondering if the war had truly changed them that much or if she hadn’t known them that well before they left, something she isn’t sure she wants the answer to, especially since she had trusted Eury to get her husband home.

O (S)
Watch where the birds fly (Watch where the birds fly)
He lifts a hand to gesture towards a nearby bird.
They will lead us to land ( They will lead us to land)
The bird takes off towards the sun.
There we’ll hunt for food my second in command
O gently taps Eurylochus on the chest with his knuckles, both looking amused and content for the moment.
Now full speed ahead
O returns to the front, hands on the rail.

E
We’re up, we’re off and away we go
E turns and raises an arm to the men, giving the command.

“This makes it worse somehow since I never met them…” Tele can’t help it, because there’s a place inside him that will never not hate this man, nor forgive him, but he is also aware that he would’ve liked this man as an uncle if they’d made it back within the first few years after Troy.

“I can’t wait to see our little nephew all grown up!” Polites coos at the baby, because it’s been 10 years, Telemachus has to look adorable, he can't wait to get a glimpse of the boy.

“Honestly, I can't wait to see my family again after all that time.” Eurylochus sighs, slumping on the kline, already able to tell he’s going to hate a lot of this because he’s away from them, but at least he got time with his children, as well as a memento of some sort, unlike their brother.

“At least the men will be excited and hopefully work hard.” Odysseus knows sometimes the men can hate rowing duty, but it’s required when the winds won’t blow. (he refuses to think on who might’ve come up with this song, because honestly it could’ve been either him or Polites.)

“I wonder what our darling boy will look like after everything.” Penelope sighs softly, gentle smile on her face, trying not to think of the fact that means Odysseus missed everything - his first words, first steps, first friends, weapon, everything - because of a war started by the damned gods.

“You know, honey, for all that your father was never with us those first ten years, and then ten later, you looked at his portrait often enough and listened to my stories so often, that your first word was actually papa.” Pen gives a watery smile at her son, gently cupping his cheek, who looks awed at learning this information.

O
Full speed ahead

S
We’re up, we’re off and away we go
We’re up, we’re off and away we go
The designated rowers start to row. Birds fly by the sail and wind catches it.

P
Captain
A young man appears, wearing glasses and a headband, smiling and looking amused.

O
Polites!
O looks surprised for a moment, before he turns with a wide grin.

“Someone had to get you out of your thoughts.” Polites grins widely because their brother had looked far too tired and soul exhausted in a way he had not liked.

“At least one of us can.” Eurylcohus knows he’s never been the best at helping with things like that, so having Polites has helped them both immensely.

“Honey, you are taking on way too much…” Penelope frowns, gently cupping her husband’s cheek, because he has a capable second in command he should trust enough to take over so he can rest, think things through more or even just get a break,

“I can rest and set my burden aside when I get back home to you two, my love.” Odysseus mutters in response, still tucked against her hair, enjoying this extra time he’s getting with his wife.

“You two really were just always like this, huh.” Tele murmurs dryly, because watching his parents flirt always gives him conflicting feelings, because he’s so happy to be able to see something he never thought he’d get to see, but also could they not in front of him?

“Oh dear, if you think this is bad, this is nothing. We were definitely much worse when we were younger, we toned it down quite a bit after you were born though, so what you’ve seen is nothing.” Pen laughs softly at the boy’s disgusted face, always amused by him, which draws the younger group’s attention.

“Oh yeah, I forgot there were others here. Is there a reason we can’t see them yet?” Polites asks, not really expecting an answer.

It’s not time yet. Don’t worry, you’ll understand eventually.

P
Look!
He places a hand on the rail, pointing out into the sea, drawing O’s attention to something.
There in the distance,
P lowers his arm as O’s eyes narrow, both looking the same way.
I see an island
I see a light that faintly glows
There is an island, with trees and some mountains, a bird flying towards it, a distance away.

Maybe there people lighting a fire
P looks happy and content for the moment.
Maybe they’ll share some food,
Who knows?
He gives a small, excited grin.

“Polites, you always are such an optimistic person, I love that for you. But this might be the time for some caution.” Penelope grins at the pout the man gives her, because she is aware that her friend can be a bit too optimistic.

“Yeah, chill out. I doubt that the people would just give us their food.” Eurylochus can already see the fighting they’ll have to do to get some food, even though he can tell they’re all tired of it.

“I mean, I guess that’s true…” Polites crosses his arm and pouts further, slouching a little bit, though he is curious as to why his counterpart seems so optimistic still.

Odysseus shoots an amused look at his friends, but quickly gets lost in thought again, trying to recall any islands between Ithaca and Troy, but he knows that the map is not entirely accurate.

“They really just got the short straw with this.” Tele isn’t certain he wants to see the death of so many people, because to go from 600 to 1, seems too cruel, but he is also aware the gods don’t give a shit. (Well, except for a few.)

“You know, I can honestly say I’m not surprised Polites was still so happy and optimistic, he always was able to deal with things better than your father or Eurylochus.” Pen had watched all of them deal with things, but while Ody and Eury had princely training and other things to fall back on that essentially had them shove those emotions aside, Polites worked through it.

O
Something feels off here
I see fire but there's no smoke
O is serious, gaze thoughtful as he tries to figure it out.

E
I say we strike first, we don’t have time to waste
P shifts to an annoyed face, before shifting to face the other two, shoulders up in tension.
So let’s raid the place and -
Polites has his hands on his head, looking annoyed and frustrated and angry, but O still looks thoughtful, gaze narrowed and down, E facing the captain.

O
No
Polites gear up, you and I’ll go ahead
O turns and moves away from the rail, P looking curious and then happy as he gets behind the idea.

“Eurylochus, must you always be so quick to action?” Penelope teases, amused at the deadpan look she gets in return.

“After 10 years with these two fools? I just want to get the hell away from them most likely, as much as I love them.” Eurylochus responds easily, which he can’t even really blame himself for because 10 years in the same space as 600 other men means he wants to get home quick.

“We’ve already killed more than enough, there’s no need to kill more!” Polites protests, wondering how exactly their captain will work this out because he always finds a mix of their ideas to apply so they’re both happy.

“ Yeah, let’s try not to kill more if we don’t have to, but if we must we’ll do so. I’m sure we can find something to hunt or fruit on the island.” Odysseus muses, wondering how much they’ll need to gather, already trying to work it out in his head.

“This must be the Lotus eater’s home then…” Pen inhales slowly, trying to calm herself and brace as well, because nothing good comes after this, she recalls well the things her husband told her.

“No, this is where things started to turn for the worst, after this island, right?” Tele bites his lip, before shifting a bit, so his lower body from foot to hip is right against his father’s, letting him feel the heat radiating from him to remind him he’s alive despite what they might see.

P
You and I’ll go ahead

O
We should try to find a way no one ends up dead
O has a hand on his chin as he thinks, clearly tired of killing and bloodshed after ten years of war.

E
We don’t know what’s ahead
Eurylochus looks worried and a tad angry as he counters.

“Down, Eury, I’m certain we’ll be fine.” Polites calms, gently taking his brother’s hand into his and squeezing it to reassure him.

“As long as you two are careful, love.” Penelope gently presses a kiss to Odysseus' cheek, watching with amusement as a small flush spreads across his face. She gently takes Telemachus back in order to cuddle up to her husband without affecting the babe too much, amused as he looks at her with wide eyes.

“You two had better be, because I’m not certain how I’d handle losing either of you, let alone both.” Eurylochus loves both of them and like hell is he going to be able to move forward after losing both of them. He’s not sure he could handle one of them either, honestly.

“I hope we’re careful, we should be at least, given it’s an unknown island and we’re trespassing on an area with potential enemies.” Odysseus gets the feeling they’ll at least be alert and aware, after 10 years of war and trying their hardest to return home.

“So tired by that point, I don’t want to just see him grow more tired…” Tele is well aware that his dad has trouble sleeping, moments where he’s not with them and they have to help him back to them, and while he won’t look away, he’s not certain he’d have chosen to watch this.

“Ody, I'd have gladly taken some of the burden from you, like Eury was supposed to. I know for damn certain Polites did his best but he’s a healer, he can only be there for so long before questions start flying.” Pen knows that had often upset her husband, just as much as them making the citizens fight a king’s war, but he’d at least managed to work it out on Ithaca, but on the shores of Troy, they’d have had to deal with it.

O
Give me till sunrise
O sets a hand on E’s shoulder.
And if we don’t return
He gives him a wide grin.
Then six hundred men can make this
whole place burn
He moves further on the deck; his arms open wide to gesture towards the entire crew.
Now full speed ahead
He jumps down a small set of stairs, heading away from the other two.

S
Full speed ahead
P and E look at each other, before P shrugs and follows after, leaving E to run a hand down his face in exasperation, before he trails after tiredly.

“You’re so done with both of them, I’m sorry we couldn’t send someone else to help you wrangle the two of them.” Penelope offers a wicked grin to Eurylochus, who cackles because he can barely manage the two of them, if there was someone else, it would be the other of the duo.

“Hey!” Polites cries out in protest, because he’s not that bad, is he?

“Penelope!” Odysseus pouts, there’s no need for her to poke fun at him like that, but he refuses to move away from her, as much as that joke was unnecessary.

“My queen, if they could be tamed and wrangled that easily, Ithaca would be far less prosperous. Besides, Captain, that’s a pretty good plan at least somewhat, I’d still prefer more than just the two of you go.” Eurylochus sighs, but he gets it, they can’t risk a larger party on a new island either.

“You reminded me of him so much when you were younger, the things you would do and get into, it was refreshing.” Pen smiles at Tele who blushes, ducking to hide himself in his dad, unaware he’d been that bad at any point.

“He was not necessarily ruthless, but he could and would do as he had to in order to make sure the rest of his crew would survive, if not himself and Polites. He’s so cool.” tele knows maybe he shouldn’t still be in awe of his father after so long in his presence, but he continues to learn new things every day, and his awe builds each time.

O
Full speed ahead

S
Full speed ahead

O
We’re up, we’re off and away we go
O grabs two spears from a rack and tosses the second one to P -

S
We’re up, we’re off and away we go
- Who catches it with a grin, E has a small grin too.

“You two…” Eurylochus shakes his head in exasperation, because he’s had to deal with these menaces on his own, on a ship and on shore.

“You love us, and you know it.” Odysseus teases with a sly grin, laughing at the dead look he gets in response from one of his oldest friends.

“If you weren’t the second in command, we’d bring you two, but you have to stay behind so the children don’t misbehave.” Polites grins because as much as they all know the men, they also know the men are basically giant children - some because Odysseus was the only father figure they had since they were taken so young - and got in trouble easily.

“I can at least be assured you’ll have little issue with our little Teleamchus once he gets older given all the practice you got from your men.” Penelope cackles at the look on her beloved's face, because she sure isn’t going to do much more, she likely already had to teach him things she didn’t know well or only knew through her darling’s words.

“He really did put it to good use too, keeps on putting it to good use.” Tele had so many questions for his dad once he got past some of his awe and they all worked through some of their issues, most of which he’s so glad he never had to ask his mom.

“Oh? So that’s what those little talks of yours are about.” Pen laughs as her son turns bright red and starts to stutter, her dear Ody had already told her what they were doing, but there was no way she was telling him that.

Ody shifts between the two of them, gently leaning into them both a bit more, which has them both resting a hand on his chest to feel his breathing, Tele under Pen’s, and watch him for a moment. (A part of that is because he had gotten sick not too long after returning - to no one’s surprise given what shape he was in - and he had gotten a horrible, hacking cough that left him wheezing for weeks after he was more or less recovered, which neither of them liked.)

O
Full speed ahead
E and P move forward, both settling on either side of O, who’s facing forward. P is on his left, back largely facing the screen, while E is on his right, all facing forward.
S
We’re up, we’re off and away we go
We’re up, we’re off a-

A
Full speed ahead
All 12 boats, rowing towards the island, staying close and moving as much together as they can.

“Damn, we really left with all 600 alive.” Eurylochus can’t believe it, because he loves his brother, but getting all 600 of the damned men, some of whom are young at this point, through 10 years of war, he can only imagine how much of a struggle it’s going to be.

“I’m so glad I’m the healer, because I’ll have all the ways to keep all of you idiots alive.” Polites puts his head in his hands, already trying to fight the dread he just knows of some of the injuries because they’re going to be for stupid reasons.

“At least we know I can likely talk most of them into living for one reason or another, long enough to get them through the war and home.” Odysseus is honestly not sure if that counts towards him being a snake, given he’s using his words to ensure his brothers, his people, remember why they must live. (To his wife’s amusement, and other’s confusion, he’s always been extremely good at getting others to want to remain under Helios’ light.)

“I just hope someone was there for you three at those times, because you might be strong, but even you’ll need breaks.” Penelope is well aware of how much the three of them will push until they collapse, regardless of the fact one is a medic who should know better.

“At least we know what to brace for… Those poor bastards down there are in for some trauma.” Pen sings songs, well aware that’s not necessarily healthy, but she got some of her love’s humor after he returned, and there’s nothing to be done about it now.

Tele says nothing, but he squirms around, pressing his hand a bit firmer to his dad’s chest, glad that they know this doesn’t hurt him, and that they can do this without potentially making him uncomfortable. (It had taken far too long for them to get out what Calypso had done to him, but they’re extremely glad that he rarely flinched from there touches, because Tele’s hands were rough and calloused, nothing like the goddess’, and Pen’s had more calluses and were slightly thinner, cooler too, easily different from that bitch’s.)

Chapter Text

3rd pov

A bird flying over a forest, a river running through it, the sounds of animals all around. Odysseus walks past, Polites trailing after him. Polites jogs to reach O’s side, who has a hand on the hilt of his sword.
P
You can relax, my friend
O relaxes the slightest bit, hand falling from his sword.

O
Huh?
He looks confused as well.

“Ah, so that means we heard rumors and I’m trying to help, or you haven’t said anything, but I can tell you’re tense.” Polites isn’t certain which he’d prefer, because seeing his friend do that had hurt something inside him, but he could help better, or knowing his friend was keeping the entire thing close to his chest and hurting quietly alone. (Nevermind, he’d prefer seeing it because at least then he could help shoulder the burden.)

“What a way to start exploring an island.” Eurylochus notes dryly, crossing his arms as he watches Polites try to get Odysseus to relax and perhaps open up to them about things weighing him down.

“Honey…” Penelope frowns, because she understands he was raised to never show weakness - though he happily does so around her, which she is grateful for - but even at times like this with his best friend? It hurts to see him like this.

“Can’t really say I’m all that surprised, if we’re being honest.” Odysseus mutters in response, gently shifting Telemachus in order to make sure he’s comfortable, having stolen him back from Penelope recently.

“He really didn’t want to kill that infant, but for us…” Tele had always known it, knows it still weighs on his dad even now, but still, to see it more raw back then…

“Oh, it’s perhaps time to finally wake him, this might be one of the last times he sees Polites..” Pen mutters to herself, gently reaching over Tele for the potion and opening it, gently pouring some into her sleeping husband’s mouth, before closing it and setting it to the side again, watching patiently.

For a moment there’s nothing, then as always, he furrows his brow, arms tightening around the two of them - to their amusement and joy - before he grumbles, shifting a bit. He opens his eyes, blinking tiredly at the curtain above his head, before glancing to his sides and spotting his family.

“Penelope? Telemachus? What’s going on?” Ody sits up, shifting a bit but not moving far from either of them, noting but not commenting on the hands that fall from his chest to his wrists, taking a quick glance around and feeling his breath stutter, not sure if it’s the image on the device or the sight of himself, Penelope and Telemachus years younger, or Eurylochus and Polites also years younger, but alive.

“Well dear, we appear to have been summoned here by a divine being, and they wished for us to view this, your journey for 20 years to get home to us. You have slept through the first few, but I thought you would perhaps want to see this, however much it might hurt.” Pen murmurs softly, scotting closer as he settles himself against the headboard, her head resting to fall on his shoulder. Tele doesn’t even bother with that, instead letting his head rest in his dad’s lap, letting out a happy noise when his fingers start moving through his hair.

It takes him a few long, deep breaths, heart stuttering and breaking in his chest, tears gathering and falling with no hesitation as he gazes upon those he once cared for, who he’d long forgotten the voices of, some of their features blurred from memory despite his best attempts otherwise, gaze locked on the two of them so much, that he’s unaware when his breath picks up, memories threatening to drown him, both good and bad.

It takes several long, blurry, uncertain moments for the gentle murmuring of his child and wife to hit his ears, drawing him from bloodied memories full of death, bright flashes of light not much better, given the lightning scar all along his arm and along his collarbone, licking his neck, mixing and filling him with remorse, even as he recalls happiness, during and before the war.

It takes him several long moments and deep breaths, but Ody accepts the situation and the pain he’s about to be put through, as well as the knowledge that he will potentially sleep through more of these images.

P
I can tell you’re getting nervous
Polites throws an arm around O’s shoulders, pulling him into a side hug.
So do yourself a service
He tugs at the neck of his clothes, then places a hand on O’s chest.
And try to relax my friend
He gives him a grin.

O
I’m fine, Polites
O gently pushes his friend's arms aside, before walking away.

“Oh dear, you really weren’t ok then.” Pen murmurs, gently leaning against her husband’s chest, relishing in having his heartbeat right at her fingertips, and that he is awake now.

“No, I most certainly was not, but there was no time for me to not be ok, with every responsibility for me to take care of.” Ody admits easily, something he has been working on with his family because they had hated not being able to help him because he struggled to admit he needed help.

“Dad…” Tele can’t even begin to imagine how much it must’ve hurt to lose Polites, given how the man is with his dad, and the fact the closest thing he’s likely had to that feeling was Argos, who he always knew would die before him because he was a pretty old dog.

“Odysseus, you are so not ok.” Polites groans, tilting his head back and wondering if they might yet be able to get out of this war so he doesn’t have to deal with his friend like this for the next 10 years at least.

“I can’t disagree with him. You two are both not ok, I really don’t think any of us are, but the three of us really can’t afford to be weak or let lose too much without worrying the crew.” Eurylochus knows he could’ve broken down with either of the other two, but with the way the ship is, there's very little privacy.

“My love, you are so far from any form of ok, that I do believe Polites might be in the right for once, and his position as Medic overrules yours as both his best friend and King.” Penelope counters with a look at her husband, already preparing for how he’ll be once he arrives home.

“There’s no time or space for a breakdown of any sort, let alone the kind I’d need after everything.” Odysseus responds easily, nuzzling his child’s smooth hair and grunting in amusement when tiny fingers catch some of his hair, even as they yank and pull, letting Telemachus get away with it for a moment, before gently untangling his hair, offering a finger in compensation.

P
Think of all that we have been through
P rushes after, turning to face O and blocking his path.
We’ll survive what we get into
P places his hand behind O’s back and gently turns him, before lowering it back to his side.

I know you’re tired of the war and bloodshed
He hurries forward a few steps, putting his arms out to his side as he gazes forward. O averts his eyes to the side, gaze downwards.
Tell me, is this how we’re supposed to live?
O reaches P’s side, who shifts to face him the slightest bit.
Look at how you grip your sword enough said
He turns to face him entirely, which has O tensing and his hand falling to the hilt, which Polites stops and gently lowers his arm.
Why should we take when we could give?
P moves to O’s side, gesturing towards the area around them with one arm, his other side completely pressed against him. Both are smiling the slightest bit, though O’s is more amused.

“Can you really blame him? It’s only been a couple of months, likely, since the war ended. Wait until you get home first before trying to relax.” Penelope frowns because she loves Polites and gets what he’s trying to do, but that’s really not the time or place.

“I think I’m desperate, because there’s really nowhere on the ships for me to talk to him alone without potentially being overheard, but at least here I can.” Polites knows he would in fact usually wait until they’re safer, but his friend needs something.

“I probably had a hand in him trying this, we both know Ody needs some damned help but won’t ask for it, so I likely encouraged him at least a little bit.” Eurylochus adds on, because he’d normally not do that, but they could both see the weight crushing theri captain and brother.

“Polites, Eurylochus, as much as I appreciate this, this is definitely not the time for it. Maybe at least wait until we’re closer to home, islands we somewhat know instead of an unknown, random island.” Odysseus really does appreciate it, but there should still be a line and trying to get him to let his guard down on an unknown island with unknown hostels is one of them.

“God, I really would’ve loved to have been able to do what he asked, but I really don’t think there was ever a choice.” Ody laughs lightly, blinking the tears in his vision away, because after Pol’s death he’d tried so hard to follow his teachings, but it never worked.

“I like his optimism and even the motto he seems to live by, but I don’t think it’s exactly the best one for you to live by, Dad. You’ve always loved us fiercely, I can say now that I’ve known you for a few years and you would never be able to just let in people who might hurt us.” Tele mutters, because his dad would sooner greet everyone with a sword to their neck on the off chance they came to hurt or kill him or his mother than open arms.

“Oh darling, I’m certain at any other time and place, you would’ve been able to stick to it at least a bit, but that most certainly was not it.” Pen gently rubs her husband’s arm, because she knows he’d struggled for a long time between Athena’s words and Pol’s, but he still found a way to strike some level of balance after 20 years.

You could show a person that you trust them
P grabs his hand and pulls him along after him.
When you stop and lower your guard
He stops, raising his free hand to his chest near his heart, O watching closely.
Here we have a chance for some adjustment
Polites sees something he likes, a wide grin on his face, while Odysseus is a bit further back.
Give it a try, it’s not that hard
P turns and places his hands on O’s upper arms, before tossing him into a river that’s in front of them.
I’m telling you
O looks completely unsurprised, sitting with his upper body and knees out of the river but soaked.

“Polites, his health!” Penelope protests immediately, because her husband is the worst at taking care of himself, he’s far more likely to get sick due to that fact, getting soaked in a river isn’t going to help.

“Yeah, not quite sure what I was thinking with that.” Polites frowns, wondering if he’d really thought his friend's mental health more important than his physical, or if he’d thought it through at all.

Eurylochus has his head in his hands, already regretting encouraging Polites and wondering if he should’ve perhaps sent someone else with the two of them, but that would’ve had the Captain keeping everything to himself and he’d needed the help.

“Relax, Penny, I’m sure I’ll be fine. He might’ve thrown me in the river, but I’m sure he’ll force me into dry clothes as soon as possible and likely make me drink something warm as well, if not outright ban me from leaving my room.” Odysseus grumbles, because he’s likely going to spend far more time in his room than he’d like, or his tent, doing damned paperwork.

“Yeah, sorry about that…” Ody looks away at the gentle look his family give him, because they had loved being able to care for him after his return, from his trauma, his starvation, and the chest cold he caught from being more or less drowned but a few days beforehand by the god of the sea.

“Don’t be, we were happy to take care of you, and I’m certain it helped you and Tele skip some of the otherwise awkward little fumbles that I’d have loved to see you struggle through, but at least this way you got past them.” Pen grins wickedly, because she would’ve loved to see them fumble through it, after pushing past the heartache because he should’ve known his son ten years earlier, or preferably even 20, with no war coming for them. She gently pets his thigh, feeling the thick scar from the boar, hoping it causes no trouble while they’re here.

“I can’t say she’s wrong either, dad. I certainly enjoyed being able to snuggle with you and helping with everything, because you definitely needed it and it meant I got to spend time with you.” Tele snuggles further into the hand in his hair, grinning as it gently tugs at some of them, before soothing through almost immediately.

This life is amazing when you greet the world with open arms
P has his arms stretched out wide, before he opens them more, a switch showing O is between his arms, still in the river but standing up, water dripping from him.
Whatever we face, we’ll be fine if we’re leading from the heart
P opens his arms and then makes a sidestep, before turning to face forward, lifting his right arm to grasp his chest over his heart.
No matter the place, we can light up the world
He approaches O, who hesitates, but P does not, taking the other’s hands in his. He spins them and then starts walking backwards, O following along.
Here’s how to start: greet the world with open arms
Polites continues moving, as Odysseus wrings his clothes as dry as he can, P stretching his arms wide out.
Greet the world with open arms

“At least you tried to get dry…” Eurylochus mutters dryly, amused despite himself because he knows damn well the most likely reason for that is because he could hear his wife’s voice chiding him.

“I don’t like that we’ve not yet seen any food, no berries or fruits or anything, not even wild animals.” Odysseus frowns because they’d gone looking for food and found nothing at all yet, for how far they’ve traveled.

“Honey, I don’t think you’re going to find food there, unfortunately. Are you avoiding fishing to not upset Poseidon given he already gave you passage to Troy?” Penelope murmurs gently, rubbing a finger along Telemachus’ brown, amused when he gives a mewl and squirms, which has her husband tightening his grip the slightest bit.

“I’m just really hoping you take some of what I’m saying to heart, especially since I know it has to go against some of Athena’s teachings, but as much as she is a deathless Goddess, she also has faults, one being not understanding human emotions and vulnerability.” Polites has always hated the way Athena seems to expect his friend to be perfect, not weaknesses, no moments to just be himself.

“I rather like him, I wish I had gotten the chance to meet him.” Tele gently rubs his fingers along the wrist in his grasp, always thankful to feel the pulse under his thumb, to tell him it’s not a lie or hallucination.

“At least you didn’t trip getting out of the river.” Pen chuckles, because she knows exactly how clumsy her husband is and he would’ve done that, if he was not as alert as he was, the war letting him drive some of it from his body, but not all.

“Yeah, don’t even go there. I was banned from so many places within the first year of the war just because I was still clumsy as hell.” Ody chuckles as he winces, recalling the numerous incidents that had led to him getting a few scars, as well as being banned from most armory tents, anything with a larger fire and even a few of the King’s tents.( He’s so happy this is almost 2 years after his journey, because he’s more or less worked through most of it, otherwise the words ‘Open arms’ might’ve sent him into a panic attack, like it tends to do when the words catch him off guard.)

Lotus
Welcome
P startles, but O moves forward from behind, shoving the other behind him as he draws his sword.

O
Stay back!
Little two-legged creatures, no more than 3 feet tall, with flowers sprouting from their heads, have surrounded the two.

L
Stay back

P
My friend, greet the world with open arms
Polites turns, looking over his shoulder, O catching his gaze with a grimace.

O
We’re only here for food
O glances in the direction of some of the closer creatures.

“They’re cute but they don’t seem to fit the entire island, somethings off with them.” Tele tilts his head, wondering what exactly it is about them that raises every single instinct he has and screams ‘danger!’ despite their appearance.

“The men are not going to believe us.” Odysseus groans, already imagining the trouble they’re going to have with whatever the creatures are, because they are setting his instincts off, but also because his crew are going to demand answers - the nosy bastards - and won’t believe him or Polites.

“I mean, can you really blame them? They’re Lotus Eaters, most people believe them to be fairy tales.” Pen can easily see how her husband would’ve killed those creatures, they don’t sit right with her either, for all that they are adorable looking.

“Well, good luck on that one Captain.” Polites cackles, because how the hell is he going to get the crew to believe that at all? Polites himself would have a hard time believing it, expect not only will he be there, but they’re seeing it now.

“Cap, I hope you have a good plan for this, because they likely don’t need much food, so there won’t be much on the island, not unless anyone else lives there to grow it.” Eurylochus doubts with every fiber of his being that those creatures can care for or grow anything beyond basic fruits, if even that.

“Why did they only appear now? Did you perhaps wander near wherever these creatures live?” Penelope jolts at their appearance, because they’re cute - not as cute as her child, but cute - but they are also a danger, they could be any number of monster.

“Well, we kind of deserve all the doubt we got from the crew, though the fact that one stayed with Polites certainly helped sway them to our way. Didn't stop some of the idiots from eating the damn flowers and forcing us to watch over them as we sailed.” Ody grumbles, trying his hardest to not close himself off at the painfully happy sound of his best friend laughing or his brother grumbling at his counterpart, knows damn well he’ll never have that again.

L
Food

O
Six hundred friends are waiting for us to show our faces
Odysseus still has his sword in front of his chest, but he makes a gesture that lowers it towards his side, still out and perfectly usable, but less defensive, more offensive

L
Food

O
Stay back, I’m warning you
He points his sword towards a group that he moved a bit, P following the action with a bit of a frown, setting a hand on his shoulder. He glances back at the touch.
If we don’t get back safely, my men will turn this palace into blazes
Odysseus faces the creatures again, taking a step forward, then raises his sword in front of him, pointing it at the creatures.

“Yes, don’t just let your guard don’t, as much as Polites would have you do so. Things that are cute tend to be the most dangerous ones.” Eurylochus doesn’t necessarily believe in most of the stories of monsters and such, though he’ll pray to the gods as a necessity to live, but from what he recalls, most of the cute, adorable, or hot creatures were the most dangerous.

“Yeah, they are practically designed to get you to let your guard down. Don’t do that, and Polites, I appreciate that you don’t want him to kill again, but given these are monsters of some sort, really not the time.” Penelope scolds the man, because he doesn’t get to scold her beloved for trying to protect him and his crew.

“But are they really monsters?” Polites demands, a bit embarrassed and largely ashamed because they are certainly right and he somewhat gets why his counterpart isn’t happy, but he should still at least be trying, sword out in case they attack, or change their tune, he doesn’t completely understand why he doesn’t.

“I should’ve sent more men with you, just in case. Though too many and they for certain would’ve just killed without asking and done more damage as well. They’re such a damn pain in the neck.” Eurylochus bemoans, head falling to his hands, because he and his brothers have been dealing with these men for ages already, taking them to war will only make it worse, he can’t imagine how childish some of them act in response to being taken to war so young and just wanting to act as a child for some of the childhood they missed.

“Ody, dear, I am so glad you were not listening to him, he certainly had your mental wellbeing in mind, but sometimes Polites seems to forget that while open arms are great, it only works for those willing or capable of meeting you halfway.” Pen gently strokes her husband’s scars, a mix of hits he’d taken to protect his men during war and hits from his men who were idiots.

“Dad, I still don’t quite understand Uncle. Maybe it’s because I grew up with the suitors as a constant presence, but surely he had to know how dangerous his approach was?” tele asks, not wanting to bad mouth his dad’s friend and his dead uncle, but he can’t get why the man would not at least bring his sword out for possible self defense or the worst case scenario.

“That’s just how your uncle Polites was, dearheart. If we’re being honest, I think he was born during the wrong year, these last several have been filled with blood, and war, he’d have been better off being born during a more peaceful time. Yes, darling, he always liked to believe that everyone and everything we interacted with was willing to meet us halfway, but most were not willing to even try.” Ody knows he should perhaps have tried to be easier talking about Polites, but he’s already done that, talked about all the good things from their childhood and during the war, all the way up to his death, made sure they remembered the good - as he’d done for all his men - and he still can’t understand his best friends way, even now.

L
Here you go
Baskets of fruit are pushed forward; some being held individually by the creatures.

P
See?
O startles backwards, while P grins and places a hand on his shoulder.
This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms
He rushes forward, picking up one of the creatures and heading towards a group of them, taking a fruit with a grin, O in the back startling as one shouts.
Whatever we face, we’ll be fine if we’re leading from the heart
One of the creatures grabs O’s clothing, gently tugging at it and offering him a fruit, which he takes. He peers closely at it and tenses, seeing something he doesn’t like.
No matter the place, we can light up the world
P walks through a group, a basket of fruit and another being offered, his arms wide open.
Here’s how to start: greet the world with open arms
He falls backwards, landing on the ground amongst the creatures, a hand lifted up.
Greet the world with open arms
He grins at one of the creatures, as a shadow falls over him.

“Is something wrong with the fruit?” Penelope sits upright at the look on her husband’s face, because he doesn’t overreact to anything unless it potentially threatens them, his family.

“Shit, there had better not be, given we don’t know where the closest island is and this was the first one we came to. We might starve before the next one.” Eurylochus can already feel his stomach aching in sympathy at how empty it’ll be at that point, but there’s nothing he can do but hope they find something.

“They really startled you, huh?” Tele grins up at his dad, amused at the indignant look he gets in response, drinking it in even though he’s seen it numerous times in the last several years, he just can’t help himself.

“I don’t think we’re gonna get that lucky.” Polites grumbles as he rubs the back of his neck, flicking the ends of his headband away from it because they’re tickling him, damnit.

“I mean, given how soft spoken they’d been and the fact they just gave them fruit, one of them shouting at me would’ve had me impaling the poor bastard. So, can’t say I blame your father.” Pen mutters dryly, already able to see exactly how Polites would react if she were to do that. Well, she won’t lie, for all she loves her husband’s best friend, she doesn’t listen to him nearly half as often as her beloved.

“I sincerely hope that if the fruit can’t be eaten, they at least know where fresh water or different food is, because we’re gonna need it, or else we’ll all starve before we reach Ithaca.” Odysseus can already tell he’s gonna need to do some research, whatever he can on the islands near Troy, maybe get his mentor’s help in that.

“God, I forgot how young I was during the trip home. I was such a moron too at times, I’m not entirely certain what made my men continue to follow me after everything.” Ody rolls his eyes, because he gets that they’d spent ten years together fighting side by side, and most of them were his citizens that he knew before the war as well, but for them to still trust him at that point, he wonders when they stopped.

O
My friend, I wish that I could say that I agree
O offers him a hand up from the ground, looking serious.
But look at the way this fruit is glowing and filled with glowing seeds
He offers up the fruit he was given, and splits it in half, showing the seeds.
It took me a while to notice just what kind of fruit they eat
O looks up from the fruit to P, before shifting his gaze away, gesturing nearby.
It’s a lotus, it controls your mind and never lets you free
A pond with lily pads, the creatures gathered around chewing on the fruits. O clenches the hand he had used to gesture, making it a fist.
That’s what we’d get with open arms
He turns and shoves the fruit into P’s chest, walking away.

“Yeah, no recovering from that Polites.” Eurylochus says dryly, crossing his arms and gazing at his brother with half lidded, deadpan eyes, daring him to try and find the good in that.

“They’re under the fruit's control, they couldn’t help it!” Polites exclaims in the Lotus Eaters defense, because he doubts they really understand or remember much, though the fact they still chose to offer them those doesn’t bode well for them.

“I’m so glad I was looking for that, however much I hate that means I was still on guard, because I can’t imagine losing Polites to a damn fruit.” Odysseus leans his head back a bit, amused when he hears a confused gurgle from his tiny boy, who gently pats at his neck with tiny, soft hands.

“Can’t say I’m too surprised, there’s no way in hell that any gods would just let you go free, even if the war was something they started.” Penelope frowns, wondering which god or gods it might be that are fucking with her husband, gently scooping their son back to her amusement, so he can lower his head and shift a bit, looking for a more comfortable position.

“Wow, they really just straight up tried to give you the fruit…” Tele doesn’t know why, but he had honestly thought the Lotus Eaters would be more subtle, more relaxed about it, not just offer it up the way they had, but then again, most people assumed fruit was safe and didn’t assume it could be Lotus, so that makes sense.

“They’re so cute and adorable, but they’re also complete menaces. Sounds like someone I know.” Pen eyes her husband and her son, both of whom are cute and adorable, but also complete brats when they want to be, especially her husband. (She also finds him hot as hell though, so she really can’t say anything.)

“Penny!” Ody pouts at being called out like that, ignoring the continued ache from hearing and seeing his brothers, younger and freer than they had ever been the last he saw them, focusing instead on his family who he knows will still be there after this is all over.

P
Lotus eaters, I’d like to show my friend that kindness is brave
P heads towards the creatures, crouching down to their level, holding a hand out at his side.
Could you tell me where there’s other food to eat?
He grins, almost looking mischievous as he asks.

L
The cave (scary cave)
The creatures respond, all opening their arms.

P
A cave! You’re saying there’s a cave where we could feast?
P shoves upwards, spreading his arms, and nudging O with his elbow, who raises his eyebrows in an ‘Oh, really?’ sort of way.
And where do we sail to find this food filled cave?
P has a hand raised near his shoulder as he speaks.

Tele doesn’t even say anything, just snorts before laughing to himself, unable to help himself because he’s seen his dad make the same motion at him and his mother, as well as a couple of the servants, which means that for all he’s changed, there are parts of him that still remain - however much his dad might protests or argue that.

“You are so done with him and I can’t even blame you.” Eurylochus buries his head in his hands, wondering if he can get away with just shoving Polites in a damn crate or something and gagging him for a few days to get some quiet. (None of them would do that, they can’t bear the complete silence anymore, not that Eurylochus knows this.)

“Honestly, if this weren’t such a potentially dangerous situation, I would be more surprised.” Penelope sighs in amusement, because if her husband and his best friends weren’t joking and making fun of each other as they were potentially being tricked, then who would?

“Hey, I was being more on guard and cautious at least! I only relaxed the slightest bit once they became an obvious not threat.” Odysseus purses his lips at the look his wife gives him, looking to his son for support, who instead gives him a gummy smile and waves his hands, which has him softening, gently offering a finger to the babe.

“It almost sounded like one of them said something different…” Polites is usually all for believing in the kindness of others, but he’s got a really bad feeling in his gut, which is why he had not said the words loud enough for anyone else to truly hear, not wanting them to worry as well.

“See, even our dear son agrees you are not all that different, if he can laugh at a motion I know I’ve certainly seen you make since you have returned to us.” Pen gently puts her hand on beloved’s cheek, amused and saddened by the erd across his face, as she always is, but they’re still working on that.

“You two aren’t allowed to team up on me with this.” Ody gently tugs his son’s hair in retaliation, ignoring the half hearted whine he gets, fingers already moving through it, while gently tapping his wife’s nose, chuckling when she watches his finger, before she grins at him.

L
East, that way!
The creatures raise their arms and then point in a single direction. O walks off, P giving him a frown.

P
Thank you!
Polites sets a hand on one of the creature’s heads.

L
Welcome
They all grin at him.

P
This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms
P joins Odysseus on a cliff, opening his arms wide, gesturing towards the view in front of them.
I see in your face, there is so much guilt inside your heart
P turns towards O, who’s already looking at him, looking weary, tired and burdened.

Pen gasps and grips her husband tighter at seeing him near a cliff, unable to help herself, because they had a few close calls during the first year he was with him, his mind having a hard time telling anyone from Calypso, reassuring herself he is ok and this was before all of that, or at least before it got even half as bad as it would.

“Dad…” Tele wiggles, shifting so he’s laying parallel to his dad’s leg instead of horizontal to it, pressing more of his body against the warmth, gently seeking out his heartbeat to remind himself the man had made it back to them and they had saved him once he returned.

“Easy, you two. This was before the thoughts ever got that bad and certainly there was no one in hell Polites would’ve ever let me do that with him right there. You guys have saved me already, and I know you will continue to be there in order to save me should I relapse that far again.” Ody gently soothes them, letting the hand resting in his son’s hair fall to the boy’s chest, letting him use that to find his pulse, while gently pressing kisses to his wife’s face. (He’d offer his arm, but she’s already slid down to rest her ear right over his heart.)

“Honestly, I’m more disappointed that the rest of us either didn’t notice, ignored it or were so busy we had no time to help you.” Eurylochus knows that usually he would at least try to make time, but with them running low on food, as well as trying to get home, he must’ve been unable to.

“There really seems to be something working against you here.” Penelope frowns because why the hell couldn’t the Gods be less fickle? Her husband did not deserve to suffer for 10 years just to run into trouble on his way back.

“I wonder if we somehow pissed one of the Gods off before we left for Troy, beyond winning the war.” Odysseus is trying to figure out what they could’ve done, cause he’s got 600 men, but if the God who was slighted was on Troy’s side, they’d have cursed all the Greeks for a single one's actions, so it also could’ve been any man in the army.

“Open up to at least someone, Captain, holding it in like that is not going to do you any good, least of all when we still have a while yet to go before, we reach Ithaca and Penelope, who will be able to sooth you better than I can.” Polites frowns, wondering exactly how often and how much his friend had pushed down, emotions, needs, desires in order to keep his men alive.

So why not replace it and light up the world
P pulls the split fruit from earlier out, placing it in O’s two cupped hands, and covering it with both of his own. O looks concerned and worried and torn, despite P’s smile.
Here’s how to start: greet the world with open arms
P shifts, placing his arm around Odysseus’s shoulder and gesturing out with the other.
Greet the world with open arms
He pulls that arm to his torso, before spreading it out to the side, both gazing at an island they can see that does have a giant cave.

O
Greet the world with opens arms
O looks as tentative and uncertain as he sounds, but there’s a small smile there.

P
You can relax, my friend
Polites shifts his arm, putting around O’s neck and pulling him closer for a moment, but not moving his arm afterwards.

“At least you finally relaxed a little bit, though I bet the moment we get back to the ship that all goes away.” Polites grumbles, crossing his arms, because the men likely did something stupid while they were gone, given its Eury vs 600 of them, even with the Commanders of the other ships being more experienced, typically mature people, they still were only about 13 vs 600, not good odds.

“I can only imagine the chaos the ships have become with you two being gone so long.” Eurylochus almost doesn’t even want to actually know, but he’d bet a good chunk of money they had to put out several fires - both literally and metaphorically - in the few hours the two were gone.

“I would apologize, but it certainly wasn’t my choice to go to war in Troy or be there for 10 years, making us the three parents figures of most of the men on the island, at least the boys, while the others would treat us as either brothers or the roles we have, meaning we are supporting all 600 men between the three of us, without a break, not counting the soldiers potentially from other armies joining us.” Odysseus grimaces at the mere thought, already hating it, but he will bear it all as long as he gets to return to his family.

Penelope laughs, little Telemachus giggling at the sound, before turning to her husband with a steely glint in her eyes that kind of scares him. “You had better find a way for the three of you to rely on each other more, because I can tell all of you are stressed, pushed past your limits, it’s just worse for some of you than others, and definitely too much in certain areas.”

“She’s certainly not wrong, you could’ve worked that better but given how quickly you were pulled into the war and how often they sent you to get people afterwards, I can’t blame you for having to choose and apply a quick command chain.” Pen tightens a hand into a fist, unhappy that she had not been there for her husband, at his side, taking some of the burden, her eyes lingering on the sight of him near the cliff, even with his best friend at his side, almost a horrible vision of the future.

“Dad, were the three of you really the ones taking on everything for your 600 men?’ at the hesitant nod Tele gets, he squeezes closer to his dad, unable to help the trembling, because he can’t even imagine the pressure that must’ve put on them. ‘You are so strong to be able to shoulder that, the burdens of your friends and the other soldiers, without having any one to completely rely on yourself…”

“Oh son, I had some friends among the kings who I could relax and be myself around, who would take the burden for a little bit so I could rest, get some food, sleep, maybe make a plan, get any wounds taken care of that needed them, and all that. It was tough, especially since I could rarely do that. None of us could afford to be out of commission for long, but we managed for 10 years.” Ody reassures the boy, gently resting his hand over his boy’s neck, covering it out of habit from being in a similar position with many of his men on the battlefield and refusing to let them get sniped by an archer. Pen notices the motion and gently reaches out, moving his hand from the boy’s neck to his shoulder, a bit more of an awkward hold and move, but less of one that might potentially trigger her beloved or dearest.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Ody’s eyes start to flutter as the next video loads, sleep pulling at him all of a sudden, as if he’s gone several sleepless nights. Pen and Tele jolt in panic as he starts to slump and go limp, the two exchanging fond, worried looks as they realize he's starting to fall asleep again. She gently rests a hand on his chest, grabbing his attention. “Ody, do you want to be here for the next bit? I think we all know what it is.”

Ody shifts, fighting sleep as best he can - pretty well - and thinks it over, but he would in fact like to at least see a glimpse of how his bond used to be with Athena, wants to see if they’re really doing as good as he thinks they are, so he nods tiredly, slumping a bit more.

Tele grabs the bottle with the potion, helping gently coax his dad to drink a sip of it, sparing a worried glance with his mom as they realize it only has a sip or 2 left, neither certain if he’ll remain awake or asleep after the potion is empty, but putting that aside for the moment as they settle back in.

Polites smiling and laughing, Odysseus watching him over his left shoulder, as an owl lands on O’s other shoulder, Quick Thought appearing as P disappears.
Athena
Have you forgotten the lessons I taught you?

“She sounds a lot different…” Tele says worriedly, because he knows that Athena has changed and is still working to be better than she was, but she sounds so harsh and cold, something he rarely saw from her.

“She’s still the same as ever.” Odysseus sighs, not sure why he had even slightly hoped she might have softened or anything during the war, given she hadn’t in the years before that.

“Is that a good thing or..?” Eurylochus eyes his brother, because that certainly sounded fond, but there was also a level of tired and resigned he hadn’t liked there.

“Athena, she appears to have some of the worst timing, I finally got you to relax.” Polites pouts and crosses his arms, looking upset and angry, because he gets that she wants Odysseus to be her warrior, but he’s still a person.

“I forget often that you used to tell me what she was like, especially since we’ve seen the change, but for her to be that cold after being your mentor for years… She’s trying.” Pen can safely say that because Athena had never sounded that cold, rough or uninterestedly angry at their son.

“She certainly needs to relax. You won their damn war and everything, so there’s no reason for her to be so angry, least of all for you allowing yourself to be human.” Penelope growls at the words thrown at her husband, because he is still a human, beneath the legends and rumors and everything, he still is human and even Athena seems to be ignoring this, unlike everyone else who merely forgets.

“Yeah, she was a lot quicker to anger over anything that went against what she thought was right, especially with me.” Ody grimaces, trying to ignore that he had flinched at that tone of voice from her, he hasn’t heard it since she came back and thus has not had any way to brace himself for hearing it again. He can at least say so far that they seem to be better off.

O
Athena!
The owl takes off and O follows its path. Where it lands on Athena’s forearm. She has her helmet and armor on.
A
Have you forgotten to turn off your heart?
This is not you
I see you changing from how I’ve designed you
O grits his teeth, even before A reaches out and grabs his cheeks with clawed hands, careful to not scratch him. She’s glaring down at him, while he looks startled. She puts a hand on his chest.
Have you forgotten your purpose?
He falls further into the Quick Thought.
Let me remind you
A stares down at him with her arm still outstretched.

“She really is different. Does going into Quick Thought like that hurt? That was so cold and single minded.” Tele had known his father would not lie to him, but still, to see his friend like this, to realize she can be this cold, it hurts.

“Yeah, she was a different god back then, but she’s doing better now. I know she is and we’re working on ourselves as well. Don’t you worry my son, it doesn’t hurt, it’s merely a bit uncomfortable. Besides, it was Athena, I trust her.” Ody gently soothes his child, gently running his fingers through black hair, amused that it’s his wife’s color but his curls.

“Athena…” Pen finds it really hard to figure out where she stands, because the Goddess had freed her husband from his prison, had helped him somewhat during the war, and protected their son, but she also abandoned her husband when he needed someone there and left him to 10 years of suffering. However, she has forgiven the god, but this might give her more information.

“What the hell did she just do?” Polites jolts in alarm, because that is his brother who just got shoved into a space made or used by a Goddess and that doesn’t seem like a good thing.

“Cap, you gonna be ok?” Eurylochus also looks worried, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at the screen, because his brother won’t say if it hurts or anything, but he’ll at least let them know if it potentially disables him for a time.

“Oh, she’s angry, huh?’ Odysseus mutters to himself bitterly, having heard that tone many times when he was following himself or someone’s methods instead of hers. ‘I’ll be fine, she’s not hurting me.” He says louder, to soothe his brothers, gently rocking his tiny babe in his arms.

“She had better not do anything else.” Penelope smiles, but it's a cold, empty smile almost, because the Goddess is touching and threatening her husband, her beloved and had better be ready for the consequences of that.

A huge hourglass, an owl flying past it.
Goddess of wisdom, Master of war
Athena from behind, her hair tied with a band, an owl pin resting in the back, spear in her right hand. Her armor on, wings spreading from a circle on her stomach.
My life has one mission, create the greatest warrior
Houses, with Athena looking at them from above on a cliff.
I had a challenge, a test of skill
An owl flying through a forest -
A magic boar only the best could kill
- landing on a branch near a boar.

“You got that horrible scar that only just barely missed making you move with a limp.” Polites grumbles, always angry because if he had just moved, his brother would not have to deal with the pain he does during storms or on seemingly random days where it acts up.

“Hey, how are we going to deal with those days during the war?” Eurylochus asks, a sudden dread filling him as he turns to look at Polites, who looks just as horrified, realizing they’ll have to help cover for their King, however they can in order to keep him alive.

“Oh, darling. That boar was so interesting, but was she always watching or just when she saw someone challenge it?” Penelope gently rubs her fingers across her husband’s thigh, feeling the raised skin on his thigh that she knows they talk about.

“I’m willing to bet some small amount of her focus was always on the boar and she only paid more attention when someone challenged it. As for my leg, we’ll have to play it by ear, but I’ll probably have to perform worse on days where it acts up - which won’t be too hard - or figure something out, an herb or mixture that makes it so I can ignore it.” Odysseus would honestly lean more towards the herb because he hates the idea of sending his men out without him leading, given he dragged them into this war.

“Oh? And which of those did you do, my love?” Pen raises a brow at the words of the younger Odysseus, before turning to her Ody, already having a feeling which he chose to use during his ten years at war.

“Ahh… Well there were a few days where I had not the time to take the mixture and had to underperform, but largely I just ate a mixture we discovered that lessened the pain enough for me to walk and move on it, fight as well, just meant Pol, Dio, or Eury had to be near me in case I got hit since I was less likely to notice.” Ody admits, unwilling to lie to his family, even as they give him upset, sad eyes at the words, because they’d have preferred he underperform every day then force himself to fight.

“Dad, you need to rest on those days.” Tele states, because he recalls how worried he’d been the first time his dad’s scar had acted up, how his leg had practically buckled under him when he tried to use it, the way his face had screwed up in pain, the cry that had escaped him, followed by the way he’d grabbed at the scar, trying to lessen the pain with shaky fingers digging into it.

One day a boy came for the thrill
A younger O, wielding a spear and facing the boar.
A boy whose mind rivalled the boar’s own will
O from behind, a younger P hiding behind some bushes watching.

O
Let’s go!
Odysseus faces the boar, looking excited and prepared.

“I regret not being there to help, maybe it would’ve been easier with me there, or we could’ve avoided such a serious injury…” Eurylochus had felt so bad when Polites had come into view that day, having been busy, with Odysseus’ arm draped over his shoulders and the man in question limping on a leg that was bleeding.

I don't think you could’ve changed it too much, we would’ve used a different trap with you there, we would’ve likely all been injured at that point.” Polites can already tell that the scar is just something Odysseus would always have, without a doubt, but he can imagine they easily could’ve gotten scars as well.

“He’s not wrong, brother. We’d have used another plan and likely all of us would've been injured, instead of just me. Besides, at least this way there was someone to relay what I had to say since father was already losing his mind.” Odysseus hates recalling that, but even at that point, he’d been running more of the kingdom than his father had, so someone had to be able to stay with him to tend to his wound, the fever he’d gotten and anything else, while also delivering his orders.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Penelope can already see how this is going to play out, because her husband has always protected what’s his in a way most people can’t understand, especially King’s from richer kingdoms.

“Ah, yes, the boar.” Pen deadpans, amused at the way her husband turns to pout at her, because she had once told him that him being so short is what saved him from being injured worse. (She had learned the hard way that his leg, and the scar itself, hurt her husband, had woken one day expecting him gone only to find him curled up around his leg, eyes screwed close in pain and shaking in pain. She had learned quickly how to massage his leg, as well as a cream that worked to soothe the pain.)

“Athena told me about this, she was not too clear on it or anything, but I know you killed it and got that scar. Mom told me about it as well, said you protected Uncle Pol and that’s why you have the scar.” Tele had remembered wanting to know more, curious about where the scar was, how rough it was, if it hurt his dad, how much of his leg it took up, things like that because he’d had nothing to work with.

“Yeah, not my finest day, but certainly one that changed my future. She was such a dick too. Could’ve been far less obvious than a boar hard to kill in the traditional sense, but no, she’s Athena, it’s got to be something that fits her domains.” Ody gripes, shifting to pull his family closer, because he definitely does not want to think of the way she had softened on him during their years together, before the fight they had, at least.

A
Maybe one day he’ll follow me
Athena on a cliff overlooking the two nothing but shapes from where she is.
And we’ll make a greater tomorrow, then they’ll see
O and P celebrating, O with his spear lifted high and a foot on the boar, P with his hands raised by his chest.
I know he’ll change the world
P is kneeling on the ground, O turned towards him with a fist raised in celebration, both smiling and happy. An owl flies by.
Cause he is a warrior of the mind
A just barely smiling from where she was watching.

“Of course, you two are idiots about that. At least tell me you checked it was dead first.” Eurylochus almost wishes he had been there because he’d have loved to help them or at least witness that, never mind help get Odysseus back to the kingdom sooner.

“Of course we did!” Polites protests the accusation leveled at them, poking Eury in the cheek, amused at the dead look he gets in return for doing so.

“I mean, we really didn’t, but he can lie all he wants. Besides which, it was a magic boar, we were just happy it was down and at least pretending to be dead given we kind of thought it might just heal.” Ody mutters still amused because he can’t even recall the number of lies Pol had fed Eury to make sure he was never too stressed, for all that others called him a snake or silver tongue, Pol was just sneakier about it.

“Odysseus darling, I am still pretty certain you cut yourself on its tusk after killing it, rather than it goring you as you killed it.” Penelope teases, because she knows how clumsy her husband is, for all he can fight and is an excellent king, working with his people, he is clumsy as all hell, and she knows it, as does he for his protests.

“Penelope, love of my life, my brightest star, the only thing I need, are you saying I'm clumsy?” Odysseus stares her down, wanting to see her answer, even as she merely gives him a wicked grin and uses Telemachus against him, her hand gently grasping around one of the babe’s and using it to poke him in the cheek, which has him melting, though he still pouts as his love for a moment, before adjusting the boy.

“Oh, so that is not something new? You were always clumsy?” Tele asks curiously and with amusement, knowing full well his dad is in fact clumsy for all his years fighting, something he finds hilarious, since he can now gang up on his dad with his mother, something he had always wanted to do, though he had also learned a lot about his mom since the man had gotten home, embarrassing stories she’d been unwilling to tell him, which she had retaliated with embarrassing ones of him, meaning Tele got so much new information he loved.

“Oh no, it’s not. I used to worry he would trip while holding you, especially when he snuck over during the night through that secret passage in your room once we moved you in there in order to snuggle with you.’ Pen softens at the words, a warm, fond grin on her face, though there's some mischief there as well. ‘You were so hard to get to sleep through the night after he left, used to his warmth and hold as you were, it took me months to get you to sleep through the night. Not that I blamed you, it meant the bed wasn’t too empty those nights.” She had used to bring the screaming, crying baby into their wedding bed, gently resting him where his father usually laid, and the boy would calm, the scent and feel of the sheets enough for him. (She is amused still that once he got older, the boy had taken some of his dad’s clothes to sleep with, whether in or just for the scent, it had not mattered.)

Maybe one day I’ll reach him
O’s smile fades as he spots the owl flying past.
And we can build his skills as I teach him
Despite the potential dangers and everything, O follows after the owl without any hesitation.
If there’s a problem, he’ll have the answer
The moon high in the sky.
He is a warrior of the mind
O looking at it, seeming confused and interested at the same time.

“Oh? So you really could sense her and were not just joking about that part?” Polites tilts his head curiously, because he had honestly thought his brother was fucking with him when he said that he could sense Divinity.

“You didn’t even wait or anything. Just followed the owl.” Penelope is exasperated, because she gets a glimpse at what their son might be like later in life and it honestly terrifies her, as much as it amuses her.

“I mean, it was a God or Goddess, I could sense something there, if I had ignored that, I could’ve given them offense and no thank you.” Odysseus shudders at the very thought of bringing a God’s wrath down on his family, or his island, they do not deserve it.

“At least you were smart about it, went alone and everything, no back up and no weapon either.” Eurylochus remarks dryly, watching and wondering silently how the hell his brother had survived the war and everything before it.

“I mean, he’s not wrong, I'm still not entirely certain how I actually survived the war and everything, by all right’s I shouldn’t have, but here we are.” Ody shrugs at the worried, sharp looks he gets, because he’s not being suicidal at that, merely honest, because he had gotten extremely lucky to survive the war.

“I think Athena and perhaps even other Gods were watching out for you more than they so wished to, because there had to be something there, even after you won. I mean, Aphrodite is the Goddess of love, she had to have felt something for us to not sever the love between us, or mess with it in any way.” Pen knows that might not be what her husband wants to hear, that even now Gods might yet be watching over them, at least when they’re home, but it’s likely true. (Besides they already knew that and she had set boundaries, because if one more of them sent her husband into a panic attack because they got angry or had hurt him previously, she was going to start attacking them, with their own weapons at that.)

“At least this way we can say for certain that while you had some of the worst luck getting home, and with the enemies you faced there, at least you had luck to survive the war, which I’m thankful for. I’m also extremely glad I got to meet you and get to know you, so I won’t begrudge some Gods having paid you a bit more attention.” Tele snuggles closer into their warmth, enjoying it, welcoming it as he has for the last 2 years. (He is equally as protective as his mother of his father, had promised a revenge and grudge 100x worse than Poseidon’s if they dared do anything to his family and they had all looked scared, which good.)

O
Show yourself
He stops by a tree he hasn’t quite passed, looking over his shoulder.
I know you’re watching me
He places a hand on the tree.
Show yourself
O jolts and turns as a vague shadowed, cloaked form is seen, though he has to look over his left shoulder.
I can see you
The being stops moving.

Polites and Eurylochus both burst into laughter, more than recognizing the look on their brother’s face, already anticipating how this will go, given they know damn well how Athena acts around him, from what little they see.

Penelope turns and levels an unimpressed look at her husband, who merely gives her a sheepish grin. “You really lied to a Goddess the first time you met her?” Her tone is equally unimpressed.

“I told you that I did this, so I don’t know what you were expecting.” Odysseus grumbles, lifting little Telemachus higher up and half heartedly hiding behind his small form, though mostly just cuddling close to him, well aware now that the war will take ten years and he’s going to miss all his boy’s firsts.

“I sometimes still can’t believe how well Athena treated you given you lied to her your first meeting.” Pen shakes her head in exasperation, because she knows the two of them have gotten better at least somewhat from where they were, especially since he’s gotten home and managed to start healing.

“Hey, if it works, it works. Besides, she’s not the only one I lied to. Just the first.” Ody shrugs his shoulders in amusement at the looks he gets, because he knows his family are now thinking through the stories he’d told them, and realizing exactly how many Gods and Goddess’ he’d lied to.

“Sometimes, I think there is simply one God or Goddess, who’s older than the others, so mayhaps a Titan or something, or simply a forgotten elder, who really likes you and that’s the only reason you’ve not been killed yet.” Tele is kind of torn between impressed, worried and outright exasperated, though fear is pretty strong over all of them.

A
How can you see through my spell?
The cloaked person, A, much clearer looking than she was.

O
Haha!
He has his eyes closed and his hands on his hips.
I was lying and you fell for my bluff
He raises his right hand, thumb resting on the corner of his mouth and pointer finger barely following the curve of his jaw.
Hahahaha
He crosses his arms over his chest.

A
Well done, enlighten me, what’s your name?
A moves past him, pulling her hood down as she goes, nothing to really show she’s a goddess, her gaze remaining on him as she moves past.

“She congratulated you on lying to her.” Eurylochus can’t believe it, his brother and king had lied to a Goddess, the Goddess of war and knowledge at that, and she had been amused and happy about it, so it seems.

“You have such a silver tongue and she loved that from the start.” Polites cackles, because of course Athena would like their brother for besting her boar with knowledge and then lying to her.

“Are any of us really surprised that you are a snake and she likes that? No.” Penelope would know, after all, she had married the snake after all, fallen in love with him for who he is beyond the lies.

“I’m not a snake! Besides, she knows tricks and the mind are sometimes your best weapon, that’s why she was happy to have me lie to her, because it is a trick that would certainly work on mortals if it worked on her.” Odysseus protests the words, pouting at his wife who merely pokes his nose and gives him a wicked grin, made both worse and better by Telemachus giggling and grabbing at his hair.

“Yeah, that makes sense actually, she would get a kick out of being tricked.” Tele can 100% see why Athena had taken his dad as a student, given the man had without question lied to a divine being knowing it was a divine being, and then told them that.

“I really wonder how you made it through all those years sometimes, with the way you act.” Pen sighs in exasperation and amusement, because her snake has not changed too much for all he claimed he was not the same person, still lies and tricks others because it will help others.

“I feel ganged up on.” Ody pouts at this, because this is just so evil, he might still lie and he definitely does it perhaps too often to divine beings, but if they fall for a lie, that’s their own fault.

O
You first, and maybe I’ll do the same
His arms are still crossed and he is looking over his right shoulder, A’s back seen only cloaked.

A
Nice try, but two can play this game
She smirks as she looks over her shoulder, the owl pin in her hair reflecting some light.

O
Nah, don’t be modest
I know you’re a Goddess
A turns around, right hand falling on her hip, though she still looks more human and mortal then not, cloak revealing simple clothes underneath.
So let’s be honest
You are Athena
A flash of light and she changes, hair still the same, but her armor is now there, shoulder pads, forearm bracers, shin coverings, torso protection, all of it.

“Was it the owl?” Penelope watches the way her husband twitches, amused because that could mean she’s entirely right, or she’s only got part of the answer and she’s honestly not certain which it is.

“Don’t you dare.” Odysseus narrows his gaze on the love of his life, already able to see plans going through her head to get more information, as if he hasn’t already told her this and made sure to keep it subtle enough, she had apparently not noted it.

“You are such a mess, but at least she was willing to accept that you discovered her.” Polites sighs in resignation that this is somehow his brother, an older one at that, or at least he acts like one.

“Are any of us really surprised at this?” Eurylochus asks dryly as he shifts, debating laying down and sprawling across his brother, and then just doing it, not giving a damn at the squawk he gets as he settles his head in his brother’s lap.

“You really figured her out with very few clues, but I guess they were also pretty important ones too,huh.” Tele had not exactly been in a situation to identify the Goddess helping him out, at least not until the fight aws over.

“I almost feel bad for her, she’s had to deal with your antics and everything since you were like 10, I don’t know how she did it, you’re such a brat sometimes.” Pen rolls her eyes, can’t even imagine how much trouble her husband managed to get himself into when he was younger, given all the stories he’d told her.

“Yeah, she really did put up with a lot of things… and you knew damn well I was a brat when you married me, were you expecting that to just go away?” Ody asks curious and amused, he’d not hidden anything from her before he proposed, she knew exactly who she'd fallen in love with and agreed to marry.

Ensemble
Athena

O
Badass in the arena
She raises her left hand as she approaches, spear materializing there, clawed fingers grasping it easily.
Unmatched, witty and queen of
The best strategies we’ve seen
He throws both arms in the air and then points at her despite this being a goddess who could kill him.

A
If you’re looking for a mentor, I’ll make
A approaches, getting closer to him.
Sure your time’s well spent
She leans over the slightest bit but does not truly bend over.

Pen bursts into laughter, startling the ones below, since they continue to forget there are others here since they remain in darkness, wondering what had started one on laughing like that.

“Well, at least someone is enjoying this. I don’t get how you have been smited by a god yet.” Eurylochus stares at Polites, daring the man to try and defend their brother, but he also has no defense beyond that the man is charming.

“I’m not defending him from that; he can get himself out of it at that point. I’m as surprised as you some days.” Polites grumbles, uncertain how exactly his friend had ever gotten used to the presence of divinity in the way he has.

“There’s no need to laugh that hard.” Ody pouts at his wife, who’s still chuckling under her breath, well aware she’s likely going to make fun of him about this later, which is why he had not told her all the truth, just shifted it the slightest bit. (He’s glad to see they truly are doing better in the friendship now than they were then.)

Telemachus giggles and grabs his dad’s hair, squealing as he tugs at it, which has Odysseus wincing, gently using his finger to free his hair even as he offers the appendage in exchange, before glancing at his wife to see her reaction.

Penelope heaves a tired, put out sigh, because she loves her husband and knows that having a Goddess as a patron is definitely a good thing, but there must’ve been some downsides to that and she’s waiting to see what those are.

“You really did not seem bothered by the fact she could’ve killed you without a bit of effort. I see what she was talking about.” Tele muses, recalling how Athena had described meeting her old friend before he’d know she was talking about his father, especially as he realizes - with an amused grin - that she had also downplayed it.

O
Sounds like a plan
Goddess and man
Bestest of friends
O looks excited, a fist clenched in front of his face, before A walks away with her right arm held out to the side, further into the trees.

A
We’ll see where it ends

O
Okay
He turns to face the direction she went.

A
Maybe one day they’ll follow me and we’ll
A walks alone for a moment, before an older O comes along, king now, given the crown on his brow but not quite as old as he is now. Likely during his time as King alone.

“Before you met Penelope, huh? I forget sometimes that there was such a time.” Polites teases, because he knows that his friend loves his wife and there’s nothing else to it, but he’s still his brother, he can tease him.

“Oh yes,however did he manage to exist before Penelope?” Eurylochus stares deadpan at the ceiling, ignoring the offended, indignant look he’s getting from Odysseus, well aware it’s aimed at both of them, but they’re not wrong so he can’t argue.

“I wasn’t that bad…” Odysseus grumbles, burying his face in Telemachus’ stomach, amused when the boy uses that as a chance to grab at more of his hair, before setting to work to gently detangle the tiny fingers, still in awe at the size and wondering how big they’ll be by the time he returns.

“For all that it sounds like she was offering to work alongside you, it also sounds very much like she planned to be above you, which makes sense, but won’t work for friendship.” Penelope frowns, because her husband had mentioned his relationship with Athena, but never like this.

“She really was far more detached and less emotional back then, huh?” Tele is extremely disconcerted and bothered by it, because he can only imagine how it would be to be trained by someone like that, who would only care to an extent.

“Yeah, she was rough on me, but she’s gotten better, promise. Besides which, we are definitely doing better in general now, not just in our sparring.” Ody promises easily, because they are as this is showing him, they’re doing much, much better, actually friends this time instead of Mentor and student, both careful about how they thought of the other, never being honest.

“You certainly are, but I still wish you had managed this from the beginning, but I get it, she was changing you as much as you were changing her. You were one of her favorites which means she spent more time with you than most others and you are so… you, she couldn’t help but change and care, even if she thought she shouldn’t have.” Pen can definitely see how they might have ruined their relationship, especially if emotions were as high as they sounded they were.

Both
Make a greater tomorrow, then they’ll see
O turns to her with a grin on his face, looking happy.
I know we’ll change the world
Cause we are the warriors of the mind
An owl flies past, taking them from the forest to O looking older, crown still on his head, facing forward on a boat.

Maybe one day we’ll reach them
He looks far less happy now, cloak flowing in the wind, his hands crossing on the railing, as he watches the owl.
And we can build their skills as we teach them
He shifts, hands remaining on the rail, but facing forward yet again.
If there’s a problem, we’ll have the answer
He takes a hand off the rail, shifting to face forward even more, looking slightly more determined.
We are the warriors of the mind
O finally takes his other hand off the rail as he turns to look at the owl again.

“So she is with us even then.” Eurylochus looks relieved because he may not trust the Gods as much as his brothers or others, he might not even like them as much, much less pray to them all that often, but at least his brother’s will be safe.

“‘Thena…” Odysseus grins softly, because he had not thought his patron goddess would follow them to the war in this way, but he is glad she is there with them in that way.

“I hope she will protect you all as much as she can, because I know there’s a limit, but please, please…” Penelope pleads, would in fact beg, but honestly she would love to threaten and demand, but the Gods never listen to those.

“You really don’t like this and trust me, neither do we. We'd have happily left you at home with your family, but that damned Agamemnon…” Polites growls, still so damn angry about what the other King had pulled, neither him or Eurylochus had been close enough to stop anything, though the bigger had tried and he had checked the babe over for injuries.

“He really did that?” Tele had not thought his mother a liar, but he had honestly not ever thought - is still learning in fact - that he is precious enough his father would risk his own life before ever hurting him.

“He did, but don’t you worry, I got revenge for this move he pulled against the person who did it. Especially since I learned that it was his choice to do it that way, Agamemnon just wanted me there, but even he didn’t approve of putting an infant at risk.” Ody grins widely, slightly unhinged and definitely angry.

Pen grabs his chin and pulls his head towards her, searching for the truth in his eyes, and then lighting up herself with a wicked, downright chilling grin, pulling him into a ruthless kiss, before gently pressing a kiss to Tele’s forehead, because the fear, the anger, the hatred in her heart for that man had never faded, she can’t believe her beloved forgot to mention that sooner.

A
I still intend to make sure you don’t fall behind
Athena’s hand grasping Odysseus’ forearm, pulling him out of the Quick Thought’s depths.
Don’t forget that you’re a warrior of a very special kind
O lifts his head the slightest bit from where he’d been looking at the ground, taking in everything she’s saying.
You are a warrior of the mind
A looks serious, her armor still on and gaze narrowed.
Don’t disappoint me
The helmet dematerializes, revealing her stern face. O is crying, even as the Quick Thought disappears from around him, P looking concerned and startled.

“You’re so tired and weary…” Penelope knows her darling has always been more sentimental than most other men, something she has always loved, but for him to be so weary and tired as to cry because his Goddess had told him to not disappoint her, placing more weight on his shoulders… She’d need to have a talk with the Goddess,

“Captain, you’ll need to rest. So much rest. I’ll make it head medic’s orders, if I have to.” Polites points at his brother, angry and brows furrowed, because no way in hell is he going to let the man reach that point.

“To think we had not noticed before then that you were that tired and in need of a break, to the point she had brought you to tears… Ody, the entire crew is gonna know you cried when you get back.” Eurylochus isn’t certain how they're gonna cover that or let him get a break given he’s still the King and has to lead to a degree.

“Can’t say I'm surprised honestly.” Odysseus knows exactly how he reacts to certain situations and disappointing Athena had always been something that brought him close to tears, given she was more of a mother than his own at times, though he loved them both equally, gently patting Telemachus’ back as the baby latches onto a finger.

“I can’t really say I’m all that surprised either. You always were someone more in touch with your heart than other men and willing to show it.” Pen gently runs fingers through her husband’s hair, soothing him and wondering when they’d get a break from this, given the emotional toll it’s taking.

“I hope we get a chance to eat and actually sleep, because not all of us can be like father and sleep for hours on end or go all night with no sleep and get a nap that’ll work for the entire day.” Tele pokes fun at the man next to him, though it’s also a worry since they’ve still not entirely managed to get him back on a normal sleep schedule, though they’re working on it and it’s definitely much better than it was.

“Something tells me we’ll get a break very soon. Plus, at that point, I was always so tired, my soul and body heavy from the deaths and blood and decisions that I had had to make in order to get home, before I limited my kindness.” Ody knows that’s not necessarily a good way of doing things, but it’s what he had to do.

They wait a few moments, but when the next video doesn’t start, the groups both start moving. Odysseus is the first to move, heading off towards a door none of them had opened or checked, a kitchen, where he hopes to find something to feed the babe in his arms, Penelope following, sticking close, hand resting on his lower back. Eurylochus sighs and heads to find a room to rest in and set his stuff aside, his sword and armor unnecessary for this and not wanting to wear it longer.

Polites debates and rises, heading instead towards the kitchen, feeling hungry himself, and noting - well after the other two already in there - that just like how a section of the room is covered in shadows they can’t see into, the kitchen is as well, meaning that must be for the guests they still don’t know.

Ody isn’t entirely hungry, knows his wife and son will grab bits for him to have, still working on gaining his weight and appetite back after years of starving, so he heads back into the door behind the bed they rested on, settling on the bed there, waiting for them to return. Tele debates, then follows his mom, wanting to make sure she doesn’t need help carrying everything, well aware she likely will simply for not having enough hands. Pen heads for the kitchen with long strides, wanting to grab her darling's food and something to drink before they sleep, thankful when she turns to her find her light there, gently offering him the drinks, before grabbing the tray with the fruits, meats, breads and everything else she’d grabbed, heading into the bedroom easily.

All of them eat and relax as they will, Penelope, Odysseus and Telemachus making sure the baby is fed before feeding themselves, then relaxing in the room they’d chosen for themselves, the baby kept between the two of them. Polites and Eurylochus had grabbed the rooms closest on either side, wanting to make sure they could help should something happen. Ody, Pen and Tele settle further on the bed, covering themselves and shedding heavier robes and clothes until they’re in light clothing. They all fall asleep easily and quickly.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Pen is the one to wake first the next morning, though maybe not necessarily, given she wakes because Tele is shifting and gently getting up from the bed, heading for the bathroom. She blinks a few times, shifting closer to Ody, but the mere fact that he hadn’t woken when their boy had left the bed meant he was probably back into the sleep the god had put him into, so he won’t wake. She’s not certain if she’s happy about that, given he needs to eat, but it’s fine for the moment. They’ll have to remember to feed him when they wake him next.

With very little struggle - both because Ody is still working on regaining his weight and because they both are trained and can lift pretty heavy things - they manage to get him settled on the bed in the main room, making sure he’s comfortable before they get themselves breakfast, eating on the bed next to him.

This gives them the pleasure of watching a young Odysseus walk out of the hallway and almost into the doorway, barely jolting to avoid it, an awake Telemachus in his arms, as he stumbles into the kitchen, the faint sound of things clattering and a few falling to the floor has them sharing an amused glance. The fact that Penelope walks out looking a bit more put together but just as tired makes it clear that the stumbling and clumsiness is just how he is in the mornings.

Eurylochus and Polites both walk out normally, both natural early risers compared to their two friends who have a child, urging the man - who had finally got the food for himself on a plate, but just barely - out of the kitchen, Polites taking the plate and Eurylochus making plates for the rest of them. Odysseus settles on the bed, Penelope draping herself across his back as he yawns, before she snatches the baby from him, grinning gently. Polites heads for the kline nearby, while Eurylochus brings out the 3 plates he prepared, setting one next to Penelope and the other two he carries with him to the kline.

“So, he really is just naturally that clumsy in the mornings. I really thought you might’ve been messing with me when you said he was never an early riser since he was a king, but no, he really wasn’t.” Tele chuckles, keeping the sound softer as he watches the mess his dad used to be - and still is in the mornings - as well as the others.

Once everyone has eaten and is awake - who needs to be - and they are all comfortable, the screen flickers, grabbing their attention.

A cave, sheep baaing inside of it, one sniffing at the ground, a darker hole further in. The sheep exhales and then spots something, a sound ringing out and then an arrow in its neck, the sheep collapsing with a sound as the others move away. O walks up, bow still in hand.
O
Over here
He’s grinning as he says it, both Polites and Eurylochus moving in at the words. P looks amazed while E is impressed.

“You really got to the other island already? It can’t have been far then.” Penelope doesn’t like the idea of her husband starving, going so hungry he starts losing weight, but she is also aware he would give his rations to others without a second thought.

“We’re gonna have to watch the Captain, make sure he eats at least some of his food.” Eurylochus can already feel a headache forming at the thought of keeping track of their brother in order to ensure he eats some of his food and doesn’t give it all away to others.

“Oh, god. You’re right. Why are you like this?” Polites whines as he curls up in the place next to Eury, already aware what the answer is but refusing to even have to imagine their brother without that trait.

Odysseus makes an indignant sound of protest at that, but Telemachus has his hand splayed open over his mouth and so he can’t actually speak any words, unable to refuse his son anything, even this.

“He really loves me.” Tele has known this for years at this point, but still seeing it is something else, always brings a warmth to his chest and he’s trying desperately to ignore the fact that his parents are both getting later into their years and he’ll soon be alone in a way he never was before. (He’s honestly not sure how he’ll deal with having only one parent again, but with the knowledge that the other is dead, or how he’ll deal with the grieving parent left behind.)

“At least we know he’s not going to want to be awake for these ones, I’m certain of that much.” Pen gently eases herself closer to Ody, because she’s not going to be the one to wake him and send him back to the moment his best friend was murdered, no one will if she’s got a say in it.

P
Look at all this food!
He has his hands grasping at his hair, before he gestures at boxes of food.
Look at all these sheep!
He then turns to the sheep, giving them a look, before lifting his hands in the air.
I can’t believe this cave has all this for us to keep!
O puts the bow over his shoulder, adjusting it to fit snugly, then looks up as P approaches, a smile on both their faces. A hand petting one of the sheep.

“A cave?” Penelope sits up at the words, because that has to be someone’s home or something, why else would there be sheep in a cave when it’s not raining or something? They’re not seeking shelter, they live there.

“Well, shit we’re gonna get fucked by someone for accidentally breaking into their home. I hope we can talk it out at least.” Odysseus also sees the problem, is curious if his counterpart didn’t because he is so stressed, excited to be going home or too hungry to notice.

“Surely there was some sign we saw to suggest this was a bad idea?” Eurylochus has no issues with small spaces, darkness or anything, but entering with only the sunlight and a few torches seems like a bad thing, they can’t see too well.

“We are not gonna have an easy time getting those sheep out, if we can bargain for any of the sheep and food.” Polites signs, already trying to decide how and where they would keep the creatures but coming up pretty empty. Then again, they’ll likely eat them pretty quickly.

“He was so determined to get home and stressed about the 600 lives, plus weary from 10 years of war that he didn’t see any of the signs saying this is someone’s home.” Tele whines, because he gets it, his dad was so happy to be getting back home, but the weariness from 10 years of fighting had left him tired and blind to what he needed to see.

“Yeah. I can’t blame him either. 10 years of war is a long time, especially for your dad who’s always had a strong but soft heart, not even to mention he had no one but his friends who he loves but aren’t always the best at supporting him.” Pen loved her husband’s friends, Eury had tried so hard, but emotional things and blame he never handled well and Polites was always a tad too trusting for her.

E
I have to hand it to your both
E crouched down, showing he was the one petting a sheep.
This is quite the treat
He gives them both a look from where he is, P grinning widely, but O still has his back to both of them, attention elsewhere.
There are enough sheep here to
He rises to his feet.
Feed the entire fleet
Some of the crew are further back, though it’s clear he also means the ones outside left one the ships. E looks happy at the thought of feeding everyone.

“That should be more alarming.” Polites jolts upright at the words, because enough random sheep inside a cave to feed 600 men? That’s someone’s herd.

“Shit, how long have we been hungry to have missed these signs?” Eurylochus groans, already preparing himself as best he can for whatever shit they’re about to land themselves in.

“Food, sheep, all in a cave… We almost breached Xenia without knowing it…” Odysseus breathes out in horror, hoping he can talk to this person and work something out with them to forgive this.

“Something tells me this won’t get much better. A cave but no signs of footsteps or nothing. I don’t know if this is a human.” Penelope murmurs, almost too softly, not certain if she wants to let the others hear or not, cause that seems like a bad position to be in.

“The cyclops.” Tele mutters, uncertain whether he wants to see it or not, because he had wanted to fight things like his father, be legendary, but he’s not certain he could handle any of them either.

“Oh, Polites…” Pen tears up, because her husband’s friends are so happy, both are people he had needed in order to keep going, but the one both her husband and Eury had relied on most was likely Pol, since he was best for emotional things, given the they were taught to push it aside or down.

O has his hands on his hips as he stares at the dead sheep, seeming unnerved.
O
It’s almost too perfect
He starts to move -
Too good to be true
- And then stops in front of the darker hole in the cave, though whether he can see that is debatable.
Why would the lotus eaters pass up on all this food?
He turns to face the both of them, still looking disturbed, before he lifts both his hands up near his shoulder, back to the hole.

“There’s something dangerous there…” Eurylochus breathes, because the only thing stopping the lotus eaters would be something that eats them and potentially humans as well.

“Shit, if it’s a monster, we might be able to handle it, but we’ll have to be careful because some are children of the gods.” Polites is already thinking, trying to recall everything he knows, but it also depends on if the monster bothers to introduce itself.

“We’re gonna have to tread very carefully, especially since we’ve already killed a sheep.” Odysseus exhales sharply, already trying to plan a way around this, despite not knowing the monster, he has a bad feeling in his gut, something is going to go wrong.

“Darling…” Penelope takes Telemachus and cuddles him tightly to her chest, careful not to hurt him, before leaning against her husband, unable to think he might die there.

“To think they would have no idea simply because they had no way of truly knowing…” Pen sighs heavily, especially because Athena definitely could have stepped in and informed Ody, they were treading somewhere unsafe, but she had not, and the woman is uncertain how to see that.

“At least Athena will protect them, right? Or at least help?” Tele is certain his friend would, but he is also aware that both his father and Goddess have admitted they were different people 10 years ago, when they had their argument.

Polyphemus
Who are you?
A voice echoes out, a large yellow and red eye opening behind O’s back, who already looks startled and perhaps a bit frightened. He turns and looks more scared, both P and E look terrified as well. Some of the crew flinch back, others look confused. The eye shifts, focusing on the dead sheep, arrow still in its neck, blood leaking from its mouth onto the ground.

O
Hey there!
Odysseus leans into view, waving his hand, looking nervous. The eye shifts to look at him. E and P looking nervously at each other, sweat on their faces.
We’re just travelers
O looks just as nervous, gazing up at the eye.
We come in peace
It’s clear he’s trying to not upset this creature but isn’t certain how to do so. The eye has looked away from him.

“Shit.” Penelope hisses, eyes wide in panic despite how calm she sounds, scooting closer to her beloved, because that is a cyclops, and if he handles this wrong, it’ll be Poseidon after them.

Eurylochus and Polites share panicked, concerned looks, because that is their captain facing off against a creature that appears to be far larger than all of them, with no back up but them and they’re not all that close currently, definitely not if the creature moves quickly despite its size.

“How the hell do we fight that?” Odysseus breathes, because it’s size and speed are not going to work well against them, but it’s still an intelligent creature - to some degree - which means it could take them by surprise.

“Things are about to get a lot worse, aren’t they?” Tele had never not believed his father, but honestly, after seeing the man forced into a corner, forced to choose between his family or his kindness, and him choosing his family without hesitation, he hadn’t thought it could get worse.

“It certainly will darling, a lot worse. In all sorts of ways.” Pen grimaces, hopes that some of these are at least a bit kinder with the more serious topics, or at least as kind as they can be… or maybe she doesn’t, Tele is more than old enough, their younger selves can handle it, and she wants to see what that Goddess and others had done so she can properly plan her revenge.

Poly
You killed my sheep
A large, pale hand reaches out of the darkness, claws and everything, just passing O who looks confused and terrified, keeping an eye on it. O turns to look at the sheep, seemingly to realize something.
My favorite sheep
The claws just reach the sheep, but they don't pierce or slice, merely hover, as if wanting to touch it gently but not certain they can, uncertain if it’s real. A finger gently caresses the sheep, similar to E had done.
What gives you the right to deal a pain so deep
The eye sheds a tear as it gazes on its dead sheep.
Don’t you know that pain you sow is pain you reap?
The sheep gently cradled in the hand, as it retreats and brings the dead creature into the darkness where it resides.

“It’s favorite sheep? Out of all of those?” Eurylochus sometimes can’t believe the luck his Captain has, he's also been subject to it many times - though he’d really only had to be hit by lighting together with the bastard to know that.

“We shouldn't have let Ody come with us.” Polites folds over and puts his face in his hands, already able to tell they might’ve had better luck leaving the Captain on the ship so they could have more luck, though they’d be screwed without him there to either talk them out of this or lead them if needed, so maybe bringing him was smart.

“Odysseus, my love, the other half of my soul, your luck really is something else sometimes darling.” Penelope teases him, though she’s still worried, because that is still something that can easily, for the slight her husband had unintentionally dealt, kill him.

“Wonder how I’m going to get us out of that.” Odysseus himself is curious, because he knows how he would do it, but this is himself after being in ten years of war and torn from Penelope and Telemachus’ arms.

“Yeah, can’t even really blame them, I can’t believe his luck sometimes and he’s been back with us for a while now.” Tele mutters in amusement, because he has watched his dad do amazing things, fire a bow with unnerving accuracy, slaughter 108 people, help the citizens with the farming and things like that, and then trip over a rock placed just wrong, or accidentally talk himself into a corner he can’t get out of.

“Oh Ody, I wish this had gone the way you had hoped it would.” Pen murmurs gently, though she gently tugs at their boy's hand for the words aimed at his father, deserved and right as they are, laughing softly at the giggle she gets.

Time to drink
It’s clawed hand grasps at the edge of the hole it’s been hiding in.
Your blood over where you stand
O tilts his head, as the creature stands or shifts it’s uncertain.
Your life now is in my hand
E and P both stare in horror, still further back.
Before I’m done
A mouth filled with teeth, saliva dripping from it, tongue moving within it.

Not a one of them says anything, holding their breath as they start to understand - or better grasp - the situation the men are in, in this cave with this creature they had slighted without meaning to, though that likely won’t mean much.

You will learn that it’s not so fun to take
O’s eyes moving upwards, as the creature seems to actually stand, still looking horrified. The beast is huge, head almost horse shaped, looking to be made of bone or such, long hair flowing off its head, two clawed hands resting on the edges of the hole, one ear missing a part of it. It’s huge. A cyclops.
You came to my home to steal
The cyclops lowers its head to stare at O.
But now you’ll become my meal
It opens its mouth as if to show how excited and happy it’ll be to eat him.
A trade, you see?
He shifts and leaves a palm down, fisted hand in front of O, who leans back the slightest bit.
Take from you like you took from me
O’s focus is completely on the claw hovering merely centimeters from his nose.

“Holy shit…” Tele breathes, unable to ignore the way his hands tremble in fear at the very sight of the cyclops, he isn’t certain how his dad had managed to remain calm enough to face it and talk with it, never mind fight it.

“It’s huge…” Penelope breathes, horrified, because that is potentially going to kill her husband and make the rest of her life miserable, something she will only withstand for theri darling boy.

“Oh Gods…” Polites has heard stories, just as much as other people have, but seeing something like that in person, facing it even, he’s terrified, uncertain if he wants to actually go to this island.

“Ok, I don’t care if we have to take more food from Troy or if we have to go a completely different direction, we’re not going there. I don’t give a shit.” Eurylochus is not having them face down a cyclops just for some food, no matter what anyone else says, no fucking way in Hades.

“I agree, we’re gonna have to work on that and remember that near the end of the war, hope things work out.” Odysseus has a feeling they might not, but he is still going to at least try and change this, because he doesn’t like their odds. Baby Telemachus seems to agree as he grasps his father’s chiton in his hands, unwilling to let it go.

“He survives this, maybe not with his entire crew intact, definitely not in as good a shape as when he entered, but he survives.” Pen soothes herself, even as she gently grasps at a wrist in order to feel his gentle, calm, constant pulse against her fingers.

O
There’s been a misunderstanding
Odysseus tilts his head to look at the creature instead of its hand. The cyclops tilts its head at the words.
We never came here to steal
Its hair shifts to the side as well, its gaze never leaving the man who is small in comparison to it.
But now that I see we’ve done some damage
It tilts its head the other way, O has his hands raised in front of his chest in a surrender or calm gesture. The blood of the sheep is still on the ground.
Maybe you and I can make a deal
Without moving his attention away from the cyclops, he reaches behind him and makes grabbing motions out of its sight, P jolting and looking surprised for a moment.

“Oh god, he’s got the beginning of an idea, but not a full one. He’s hoping we’re getting the hints he’s giving, which are not ones I’m currently following.” Eurylochus groans, wondering if they might yet get out of this, but he’s already planning for how this will go wrong.

“I hope we get the plan and work it correctly, or we’re able to get so damn fucked.” Polites wants to bite at his nails, but knows he needs to stop that habit so he can wield his sword as best he can, but he hasn’t figured out another one yet.

“Hm…” Odysseus hums without any real intention, trying to follow his future self’s thoughts and ideas, working out the plan that he might need to work over depending on how this turns out.

“You guys are so lucky you know each other so well or else this would not work this well, you dumbasses.” Penelope shakes her head, already well aware that is something the three of them use to their advantage, and she’s for once thankful that this is one of the times it’s working to their advantage.

“He was still trying for peace and no fighting and talking it out, even at that point.” Tele isn’t certain he would’ve been able to do that, partially because he doesn’t have his parents' skill for lying - yet they’re working on it - and largely because the cyclops scares him so bad he isn’t certain he’d have been able to speak if he was facing it.

“To think you were able to face that with nothing but your wit, sheer determination and the weight of the world on your shoulders… Ody, you continue to worry and impress me at the same time.” Pen gently runs her hand over his chest, happy to feel it rise and fall with each breath, though she’s also aware he’s had to carry it for years, even before she had met him. (Really, that just impresses her more, especially once she realized he got out there with his people, went to the market, worked the fields and the sheep and everything with them.)

I’ll give you our finest treasure
P hands him a wine bag, looking nervous and uncertain, but they really don’t have anything else.
So long as we leave alive
O lifts it in front of himself, gesturing at it with his other hand, looking extremely terrified and uncertain, despite there being a grin on his face. There is worry under all of that.
You can keep the world’s best tasting wine
He offers the tiny bag to the cyclops, who has a hand on the ground and appears to be leaning down to see what he has.

“Is that going to be enough?” Polites asks, unable to help himself because they really likely don’t have anything else to offer the creature besides themselves and that’s not an option.

“I should’ve just had you push us forwards to Ithaca, instead of letting you decide to put the men above that. We can handle a few days with less food, but this might get us killed.” Eurylochus knows exactly what he’s gonna do and say if they ever reach that point.

“Honey, I love that you actually care for your men and don’t want them to suffer for your mistake, but that doesn’t mean you should take risks like this.” Penelope frowns because she understands, she really does, at least to some degree, but there’s no reason for her husband to cater to the men anymore, he got them through 10 years of war alive.

“I can’t say I’m surprised, not with the way things are going, though here’s hoping that works, cause I don’t think Athena will help us all that much.” Odysseus can already feel the pressure from her expectations, especially after the song with her, he can only imagine how much worse she’s gotten after years of war.

“To think that’s why they were reduced to trying…” Pen tries really hard not to cackle, because her husband lives but others do not and that’s not appropriate, but for them to be offering wine because they are truly out of everything else is a bit much.

“He’s putting his all into his words to convince it to actually accept that or else they might end up dead.” Tele isn’t certain he would’ve been able to come up with a plan like that, much less done what Pol had and given it to his father, though it’s certainly a show of how much they trusted his dad at the time.

Poly
Wine?
It opens its mouth, sounding almost excited.

O
Have a drink
O seems less nervous now that he knows the creature likes wine and this might work.
One sip and you’ll understand
Its entire focus is on the tiny bag, body leaning sideways.
The power that’s in your hand
His hands don’t shake despite the situation, even as the creature’s clawed fingers move closer.
A wine so fresh
The cyclops lifts the bag up to its eye, gazing at it, clawed fingers gently grasping the thing from the top.
You’d never wanna eat human flesh again
O is grinning now, far more certain that this plan might work and they can get out of here.

“It accepted.” Eurylochus sighs, deflating a bit onto the kline, though he’s still not certain they’re going to be getting out of there alive and completely well, given this is still a monster.

“I somehow doubt that that wine is going to be enough for the sheep you killed.” Penelope wonders what exactly the cyclops is playing at, given that her husband and his crew should’ve fallen under the rule of Xenia. Sure they killed the sheep, but they’re offering a trade so if the beast accepts it, they are even and they’re under his Xenia.

“I’m hoping he works with Xenia as he should, given that even Zues himself protects it and he likely won’t want to piss him off, but something tells me that’s not how this will work out.” Odysseus groans, slumping a bit more against the bed, shifting Telemachus to make sure he’s still comfortable, amused by the tiny babe chewing on his fingers.

“We should fall under Xenia if everything goes well, but we’re working under the assumption it’s a monster that knows what Xenia is and that’s likely not a good idea.” Polites wonders though if that’s true, given it seems pretty smart all things considered.

“It knew and still decided to do what it did? So, Poseidon's thing was entirely because Father did not kill the cyclops, but why did he not teach it Xenia then?” Tele hisses, angry because he still worships the god, they live on an island after all, but he has anger and hatred in a place in his chest, near his heart for him as well.

“I can not say, but the cyclops definitely broke it, and the fact that Zues overlooked it says this was supposed to happen or it was never brought to his attention, and given that your father and his crew were grieving, it surprises me not that they did not think to call upon him.” Pen does not really have any love in her heart for Zues or Poseidon, but to think this would’ve been solved so possibly simply, if only the Fates had not deemed it otherwise.

Ody shifts between the two, seeming to notice their anger, and draws them closer as he tries to comfort them or perhaps protect them, they’re not sure which, maybe even both, but the two share fond looks over his chest as they are pulled closer.

Then we shall be on our way
He starts to slowly move backwards.
No bloodshed in here today
He runs into E and P, both looking nervous and scared, E placing a hand on O’s shoulder. O still looks nervous and scared as well, though he’s a bit better at dealing with it.
A trade, you see?
The cyclops has its head shifted, focus entirely on the bag of wine that it has lifted over a shoulder, still clasped between its claws.
A gift from you and a gift from me
O gestures an open palm at the creature and then shifts to rest it against his own chest, though it’s clear he’s only hoping this plan will work despite everything. The rest of the crew they brought is further back still, but E, P and O are only a few feet in front of them. The creature swallows the wine.

“Of course, you three are the closest, like hell would Odysseus ever be near the back when he brought you into this, and you two are not going to leave him there alone if it might mean he dies.” Penlope rubs at her head, wondering how the hell she had gotten so lucky with these three. She takes Telemachus from Odysseus to make a point, that she cuddles against his shoulder.

“Well, I’m their King, Captain and Commander, like Hades am I gonna not be right there in the front risking life and limb right beside them.” Odysseus if well aware that the way he chooses to fight with his men is not something most Kings do, but he also doesn’t give a fuck since he’s from a small island and this is how he was raised.

“Well of course we’re gonna be right there by his side, he does even stupider things there when neither of us is there to stop him.” Polites jabs at his friend easily, because there’s nothing he can do to retaliate, given he speaks only the truth.

“He’s not even wrong at that, given some of the things you’ve told us after coming back from your little solo trips, so you can’t deny that.” Eurylochus easily counters Odysseus before he protests, sharing an amused, exasperated look with Penelope.

“He really always led right in front of them, walking the path so they could follow.” Tele is amazed, because he knows his dad had told them, but seeing it makes it so much more amazing… and heartbreaking, given the crew still chose to betray him despite that fact.

“I feel like there is more at play than even we know.” Pen may not be a god, may not really have all that much divine blood in her, but she is more than able to tell that her husband had not taken 20 years to come home - from a 7-day trip, maybe more if they encountered a storm - simply because of bad luck.

Poly
Ah, I’d like to thank you
The cyclops opens its mouth in enjoyment, gaze focusing on the man who’d handed him the wine as a trade.
Stranger, what’s your name?
His tongue comes out of his mouth to lick at the sides, though what exactly for is unclear.

O
My name is Nobody, Nobody, Nobody
O is reflected in the cyclops’ eye, looking calmer and a tad smug, though largely just relieved. He looks far calmer now as well, the grin on his face more natural and the sweat on his face gone, though why is unknown.

“I really don’t think Poseidon cared about his son, he’s not taught the cyclops anything, not what names are, not Xenia, nothing.” Tele shakes his head, because who the hell names their kid Nothing? But for the cyclops to believe that, that’s almost worse.

“Shit, if he’s a God’s kid, do you think Xenia will still apply given they don’t typically like when their kids are injured?” Polites throws out there, because there’s no way they’re really going to get out of this unscathed, so they’ll likely have to hurt the creature.

“I mean, they do have the whole, unspoken rule where you’re not supposed to hurt their kids…” Eurylochus mutters, gently rubbing at his face, trying to figure out if they are truly screwed here or not. (He’s leaning towards yes.)

“I mean, they’re not wrong, this does go completely wrong and neither Xenia or anything else if followed, except for the one that punishes the person who wronged a God’s child.” Pen can’t even begin, because she had prayed to that God for years to get her husband back from sea, and he had not only ignored her, but actively continued to stop her beloved.

“I have a bad feeling about who that cyclops parents might be…” Odysseus has nothing to tell him who they are, but he has a gut feeling, one that’s always helped him, but his current counterpart is probably unable to feel it with the fear and responsibility weighing his shoulders down.

“Odysseus, my beloved, you are going to take such a break when you get back, I don’t give a fuck what you think or say." Penelope is not above using her title and the power it gives her with her king at her side to make sure he gets the break and care he is going to both need and serve after his journey.

Poly
Nobody, for your gift I’ve one to reply
The creature’s eye is half lidded, the crew shown for a moment as it moves through the cave and appears to be heading somewhere with something in mind, though given it lives in a cave with sheep, who knows what it's thinking.

O
I’m so glad we see eye to eye
O follows the cyclops path as he turns his head, though he could also be looking over his shoulder to check on the rest of his men. The cyclops pupil shrinks.

“Shit, did that piss it off?” Odysseus groans, because he knows damn well that was not entirely a joke, just a really bad choice of words at the worst possible time.

“And there’s the luck we’ve been waiting for kicking in.” Eurylochus bemoans, because running into a cyclops is not impossible, not unheard of either, so that was worrying and terrifying but not really on par with their Captain’s luck.

“Should’ve just left it alone there, darling.” Penelope shakes her head, though she can’t really blame him, that was more his nerves and fear talking then him since he was relaxing the slightest bit after thinking they were all going to die.

“Yeah, you know, Cap, I usually go along with you and put the men first, but this time I’m with Eurylochus, fuck that, we’re just going straight on to Ithaca, we can handle some hunger.” Polites is not dealing with this kind of thing in real life, no thank you, not today, not in ten years, never.

“One sentence, misspoke due to nerves and fear, him relaxing enough to let those slip out while his attention was elsewhere and it decided to kill them.” Tele is not certain he will ever understand the cyclops, not completely, at least, which he is ok with.

“It feels like such a small thing as well, the life of a sheep, against at least 7 or more of Ody’s men, it’s ridiculous and stupid. Sure they’re his pets, maybe his friends, but the crew took all of one of them, the cyclops in return took almost all of them down with it.” Pen is pretty certain the cyclops took its own revenge there at that moment, since it took enough blood of the crew to cover the sheep and then some.

Poly
Yes, you shall be the final man to die
His mouth open, saliva dripping within, before it seems to stretch into a grin, then he tilts his head back for a moment, bringing it down to emphasize the last words, as though the fact it's hunched over, hands placed on the ground, don’t already make that clear.

O
What?
O’s eyes shrink in realization and horror as the words sink in. The cyclops licks its lips.
Watch out!
O dives forward, shoving some of the crew out of the way as the cyclops snaps its mouth shut where they had previously been standing, clearly intending to have eaten them.

“Shit…” Eurylochus exhales shakily, because he’s not certain if their Captain had avoided the mouth as well, but he had to have, right?

“My beloved, if you get hurt protecting the crew, I will not be very happy with you, alright? I know you feel responsible as their King and because you think you dragged them into this, but they are all still adults that have been at war for 10 years.” Penelope grasps at his chest with her free hand, shifting telemachus so he’s cradled in the arm against her husband, letting him feel both of their warmth, as well as makes hands at his father.

“It really went straight to killing us…” Polites had thought that was a good deal, everyone got something, and they all left alive, but the creature had obviously disagreed, and so the man steels himself, it had rejected open arms, now it’s time to counter and protect themselves.

“Damn it all to Hades…” Odysseus hisses, free hand grasping the sheets of the bed in his worry, but he also can’t help but grin down at his son, who is grabbing at his face, being delightfully adorable.

“They were so close, but his care of his men both led them there and got them killed, but I still love that he cared for them at all, given how most Kings treat their men.” Tele isn’t certain if he should feel guilty for that or not, given they all end up dead in the end, so he doesn’t bother with that, instead resolving to work harder to get his dad to stop blaming himself for all of their deaths.

“It’s gonna take a bit to convince him as well, given he still blames himself for taking them to the war, because of that Oath he proposed, but we are going to make sure he understands.” Pen is not going to let her husband be any sort of shell of himself, no matter how hard he tries, and they’ve been working on it for years at this point, but at least this way they’ll know a bit better where to work.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Not a single one of them is entirely certain they’re prepared for this, so they all move closer, Eurylochus and Polites physically lifting the Kline closer, so they could easily reach out to touch the family on the bed just in case, while Pen and Tele shift closer to Ody, well aware he survives, but still not ready for the damage they’re about to see him take.

Ensemble
Po-ly-phe-mus
The cyclops rears back his head in a roar, revealing his sharp teeth.
Po-ly-phe-mus
He’s tilting back as he roars, claws curled in anger and preparation, O small in comparison looking at him, a Lotus eater on his shoulder.

“Shit, this is gonna take some actual tactic and hoping the men will listen.” Eurylochus groans, because they already all know that the men have some issues listening, at least at the moment.

“I hope 10 years at war would make it so they listen.” Polites responds easily, even as he curls up a bit in fear, because there’s a difference between both fighting a man and a monster, as well as seeing if versus facing it in life.

“We’re gonna lose people…” Odysseus just knows it. It would take a luck he knows he doesn’t have to get everyone out alive, so he pulls Telemachus closer, wanting to hold one of the most precious people to him close, cuddling into Penelope easily.

“You used a lot of luck in that ten years of war, darling…” Penelope isn’t certain if she wants to watch this, because this is going to hurt… but she steels herself, because she doubts her husband will get the choice of looking away.

“We are not waking him for this one. Not a chance in hell.” Pen refuses to force her husband through this again, given how strong the emotions and such still are after all these years, she will not have him face it again, he’s not ready.

“No, leave him asleep, he deserves it. I don’t know how he kept going after losing so many, with his best friend benign among them, especially since they are his first casualties from his men, so it must’ve hit harder. I won’t be surprised when things go wrong.” Tele already takes it back, he doesn’t want to fight a cyclops or anything, he would really rather just have a tame, normal journey across the sea.

O
My brothers
O turns to face what is likely his crew, cape moving with him.
The rest of our fleet
He has his arms over Polites and Eurylochus’ shoulders, P on his left and E on his right, the Lotus resting on his head, O facing E.
They wait at the beach
He lowers his arms, grasping at the hilt of his sword.

“Shit.’ Polites pauses for a moment and then turns to face his brothers. ‘Was there a reason we didn’t just run?”

“I mean, do you really want to try and run past the cyclops when the entrance is that small and leave a few guys distracting it, potentially without success?” Eurylochus counters, because he can see how that would go and he already gets the feeling they aren’t all going to survive.

“Fuck, who the hell are we going to lose? How many? Damnit, this is not going to do any of us good.” Odysseus bites his lips, already dreading things that haven't happened because they could still happen, if the Fates are so determined to have him on this path - Gods he hopes they aren’t - which means he can at least brace himself for this.

“You’re still all so close, closer even, then when you left, I don’t think you would cope well with any of the men being lost, but if you lose a part of your trio, that might break you.” Penelope hates to even think it, but if either Eurylochus or Polites die to the cyclops, she will be forced to watch her beloved shatter in a way she can’t heal. Both because her counterpart won’t be there and because death is not something you can heal, only soothe.

“Damn cyclops, making them fight for their lives, instead of just accepting the offer and abiding by the rules of Xenia, why the hell can’t the gods teach their kids about it, they literally enforce it on us.” Tele growls, after all, he had spent a good 10+ years with suitors vying for his mother’s hand and not able to kick them out or raise a hand against them due to the rules of Xenia, while they followed the barest minimum of their side of the deal.

“You would think so, especially since Zues is not officially the strongest, but he definitely is one of the more dangerous Gods and he is the one it was placed under due to importance, they would at least try and teach their kids it to not draw his attention too much when they break it, but no.” Pen stares at the screen with half-lidded eyes, entirely done with some of the bullshit the Gods do.

And if we’re defeated,
He turns and aims his sword at the cyclops. E stares in the same direction with determined, dark eyes, while P seems concerned, side eyeing their captain.
They’re good as dead
Straight ahead,
O has his sword in front of his face, the thin sharp side shown easily, his gaze determined with part of a sneer on his face.
That is who we’re fighting
He turns the sword, the flat of it showing the Cyclops' single, glowing red eye, O’s visible glowing as well, a sort of mask, the calm, cold general coming over him.

“I get you don’t want to fight Polites, but we already tried to have open arms, already apologized and everything, he is the one who chose to take it and then attack us anyways, we are in this instance, defending ourselves and trying to escape.” Odysseus is aware how his best friend thinks, and that he hates fighting, but this is not on them, the cyclops started it.

“You be careful not to fucking cut yousrelf with that sword, we don’t need you more scarred, especially since most of those are likely from taking hits for us and the men.” Eurylochus growls, because their brother might be an archer, but he can use a sword pretty damn well too, and a spear as well when he wants to, he just prefers archery.

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest bit if that were true, especially since we all know he feels guilty for it.” Penelope can’t even say when he slept before the journey, given she had seen him doing as much as he could to make her life easier while he was at war, as well as trying to accommodate the families being left behind with no able bodied men to help them.

“Oh shit, it better not be too many, there are only so many we can possibly heal or help, especially since I am so close in this fight given how small the cave is and everything, there’s no way for me to completely avoid the conflict if it gets close to me.” Polites is well aware his lack of desire to fight is going to get him in trouble and his gut says this will be the moment it does, though he desperately hopes not for a few reasons, one being he really doesn't want to die, he would also really like to not die right in front of his friends and another being he’s the best medic they have, as well as one of the few Odysseus will listen to.

“It’s no surprise they must’ve gotten battered and injured after that, but here’s hoping some of the medics at least could treat them.” Pen knows that might seem cold and all, given that these are men her husband cared for, but they had chosen to betray him and ignore his orders when they could’ve saved them, so she is more or less neutral towards all of them, except for Pol, who merely died, so she still loves and mourns him, and a burning anger at Eury, who while dead she hopes understands the repercussions of his actions.

“This is going to be tough, he’s so big and his hits must be so strong, even just being clipped by his hands could break something. I know losing his best friend probably hurt him, but I’m still really glad he got out of this ok.” Tele glances down at Ody, worried and feeling a bit bad, but he had never really known his uncles or the men who’d gone with his dad, so he really doesn't much care for them, only his dad.

En
Po-ly-phe-mus
The dead sheep with the arrow in it, the cyclops standing tall, stalactites around him, the group of men standing several feet away from him, O on a rock or slightly higher area, sword in one hand and lotus in the other.

O
No backup,
The men are gathered in front of him, the cyclops hoofed feet in the background.
No chance for support
The horde of still living sheep.
So draw out your swords
All of the crew are looking up to O, who is indeed on a higher area, his sword in his right hand pointed out and the lotus still held in the left, the flower on its head crumpled.
Our foe must be thwarted right here and now
Polites, a glare over his glasses, before he tilts his head down, revealing he’s serious and locked in, looking less playful and happy for once.
Show me how
Odysseus jumps from the higher ground, lotus left behind, sword out in front. P and E both turn to face him, P reaching out with a hand, while E is drawing his own sword, other crewmates doing the same.
Great is your will to survive

“Polites, I get you aren’t much for fighting, but you already tried open arms and he rather firmly rejected that, and then tried to kill some of you, this is the time to fight.” Penelope chides the man, though she’s also worried because if he doesn’t fight, he might get killed and that’ll break her beloved and brother-in-law.

“You’re right, so I'm not quite certain why I’m not joining in. I might be a medic, but I’ll fight for my patient, and this is definitely a moment where they should all be my patients in my head, given how much damage a single blow could do.” Polites frowns, uncertain why his counterpart is trying to stop their brother.

“The war and fighting must mean you are unable to see now when fighting or open arms are an option. You want to stop fighting, so you’re trying to stop, but we are all aware that there will potentially be enemies along the way, so we’re trying the peaceful and attacking when that fails, while you want to try the peaceful until it works.” Eurylochus gets it, even though they haven’t done it yet, he can only imagine how tiring 10 years of war are, but there is time for peace and time for fighting.

“I really hope you at least draw your sword to protect yourself, even if you don’t agree with the fight, you should at least protect yourself and those around you from any hits.” Odysseus prays his brother is not going to get himself killed during this because he wants to show they can be peaceful with an opponent who’s already shown they don’t want peace.

“I think, after living with the suitors, I can get why he wants to try a more welcoming approach, but this is already past that, there was never a chance after it attacked that they could talk it down, so trying to stop them is only going to get someone hurt. I can see how he died, though I also get why he didn’t want to fight.” Tele isn’t happy that the man was trying to be so peaceful he got himself killed and hurt his father, but he also understands that Pol was just trying to make it so fighting was not the first choice.

“He was already trying to adjust to not fighting as often, and was hoping to help the others do so as well, but it was not that long a trip to Ithaca, he really should’ve just waited until they were home.” Pen had loved Pol, and his way of doing things as well, which is why she also still holds some love for Eury, because they kept her husband in rein, but trying to stop fighting on the way home was not the right choice, in her opinion.

Six hundred lives at stake
The ship still docked nearby.
It’s just one life to take
Hands holding two sides of a blanket, a tiny hand outstretched, an infant in a blanket, held over a far drop.
And when we kill him then our journey’s over
A blink and the cyclops is in front of him, down on his hands, drool dripping from his mouth. O looks determined, a small grin appearing on his face as his eyes glow.

“The infant at that moment?” Penelope can’t blame her husband, he had essentially said what the gods were unwilling to speak clearly, that it was either the baby or her beloved’s family and island, perhaps even his bloodline.

“Better not do anything too stupid, it’s still a cyclops, but as long as we have a plan and handle this calmly, we should be fine.” Eurylochus can only hope that nothing goes too wrong in whatever plan they make, especially since the lighting is still poor for them.

“I wish we had something to make it brighter, that cyclops has the advantage in the dark since he lives in it compared to us.” Polites is equally unhappy about their disadvantage, given that will make treating any injuries harder as well increase the likelihood of injury.

“I really hope there’s something we can do at least about the rest. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to change the prophecy with the baby, but I can at least stop any more pain and suffering we or others might suffer from us by having us push forward.” Odysseus clutches Telemachus closer to himself, wanting to feel his warm, tiny body close to remind himself why his counterpart is doing what he is.

“They barely had a chance to begin with, but there was also no way to avoid the fight.” Tele grumbles, annoyed that the cyclops had managed to so successfully trap his dad and the man’s crew in a cave where they are not going to have an easy time getting out.

“At least we know who all gets out, unlike our poor past selves, they don’t know a damn thing and have to watch this assuming they could all die at any moment in this and any that follow.” Pen isn't certain she could handle that, not during the second decade where her husband had been lost at sea instead of just in Troy, where she at least knew he could get help if he needed it.

No dying on me now
The rest of the crew rush forward with him, swords drawn and ready.
Defeat is not allowed
O is right in the front, E at his side, though there is another sword in a sheath on E’s hip, further from O, that still has a sword in it.
We must live through this day so
The cyclops, still drooling and almost waiting for them.
Fight,fight, fight
The reflection of some of the crew on the flat of a blade, P standing slumped a bit sideways, glare on his glasses blocking any emotion from being seen. O looking over his shoulder, encouraging any of them - or perhaps even specifically aiming that at P.

“Polites, please don’t be stupid right now.” Odysseus almost begs, because he can’t handle any of his support, let alone one of his two main pillars, but he’s also more than aware that they’re not getting out of this unscathed.

“I really can’t say what I’ll do.” Polites frowns, he had always thought he’d known himself better than anyone else, would in fact be the easiest to predict, but he is finding that the ten years of war had changed him more than he had thought they would.

“You really should listen to him, or at least try, because he is both your King and your Captain, telling you to fight to survive.” Penelope isn’t certain if she likes how Polites is not listening, not because she wants him to always follow commands, but because he might start others into doubting her darling’s orders because he doesn’t follow them.

“We’re about to get fucked so damn hard, I’m not sure we’re ready to handle it at all. We have nothing to help us, not that won’t take men out of the battle that we really need, or making them targets…” Eurylochus is trying to figure out the plan they might use in order to avoid losing anyone, at least to start because he agrees with Odysseus, though the man hadn’t said it out loud : there’s no way in hell they’re all getting out alive.

“I’m still not entirely certain how he managed to keep going after Polites, because I don’t know if I’ve ever suffered a blow like that, except for the desperate ache of loneliness while your father was away.” Pen tries to think, to even imagine the pain her love is going through, but nothing really seems to compare quite right, and she’s certain it will always be that way.

“I might know…” Tele is hesitant to say that, but losing Argos is something he thinks comes pretty close. Pol reminds him a lot of the dog, because they were both bright, happy beings in life, and while the dog couldn’t talk, he was silent support in the way Pol was speaking support for his dad. It’s probably still not quite the same, but the closest he’ll get for the moment.

The crew rush in with yells, the cyclops returning with a roar that doesn’t deter them a bit, standing upright, hands ready to swipe.
O(S)
Surround him (surround him)
O gestures with the sword he has drawn to a side, the same one E is on, as he draws a second one from a sheath previously unseen behind his back, more of the crew at their side.
Attack from behind,
O jumps, both swords in hand, as he slides between the cyclops feet.
Keep distance in mind
He turns as the cyclops makes a grab for him, digging his swords into the cave to stop his momentum.
And stay in his blind spot and strike his heels (strike the heels)
He looks grim, determined, focused, eyes still glowing as he gives his orders out. The crew lifting their swords to show they have the order.
Show him that we’re deadly
O’s back, his swords sticking up over each shoulder, before he swings them down, a single as E jumps from somewhere and hurls a spear.

“At least we are working together. I was worried not even 10 years at war would be enough to get the men to get their acts together at some point.” Eurylochus sighs in relief, maybe it was a bit mean, especially since some of those men are still more boy than anything at this point, but it needed to be said. (If his stretch to get more comfortable has him putting an arm over Polites and a hand on the bed close enough to feel Odysseus’s ankle to feel his heat, reach out for his pulse if needed, then that’s his own business.)

“It’s a good plan, but with the lighting the way it is, it’s extremely hard to tell if he’s got any other weapons or potential backup as well, I really don’t like that.” Penelope bites her lips, sure her husband doesn’t like it either, but he’s working with what he has, which is not much, as always.

“We are going to damn well at least try and keep most of the men alive, but not even I can guarantee how many will make it out of the cave, and something tells me that might shake their faith and trust in me, because they didn’t face the cyclops, don’t understand that we never really stood much of a chance.” Odysseus grimaces at the thought, wondering exactly how he might stow off the mutiny that could lead to, especially given the other tasks he has to do to keep the ships going.

“Ody, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on me during the war, see where I start leaning too hard on my words, because I should be there fighting at your side, to at least make certain no injuries are as bad as they could be by defending you, but instead I’m nowhere in sight.” Polites says lowly, upset and angry at his counterpart, because he hasn’t faced 10 years of war yet, but he knows that he should still have the conviction and determination to stand at his best friend’s side and protect him.

“He’s angry at himself?” Tele asks in confusion, because the mans’ reaction seems somewhat normal to him, after years of fighting - he had had a similar one after all, though his fight had been a different kind, with the suitors and everything but still - and he had expected the man to agree with his counterpart, not be angry at himself for whatever reason.

“Oh Tele…’ Pen sighs gently, cupping his cheek to get his attention. ‘Pol was Ody’s best friend, fought at his side and helped him with any and all injuries, assassination attempts or just from rough playing, as they grew up. He swore to fight to protect his patients, his best friends and his king, by making sure he could at least be there to fight at their sides to limit the injuries or circumvent them from happening at all. He must be angry that he is not sticking to that at the moment.” Honestly, she can sort of get it as well, tired after tricking suitors for years on end, but she had also immediately taken her place at Ody’s side the moment she was able, so she knows she will never fully under as well and she’s ok with that.

Exhaust him, (exhaust him)
The cyclops hunched over, the crew running around him, staying out of reach.
Don’t let him get close,
A crewman jumps out of the way of a grab, the cyclops attention solely on him.
He’s strong but he’s slow
It rears back a fist, preparing to try and smash or swipe at others, attention shifting.
He can’t land a blow if we’re out of reach
O has a hand outstretched in front of him, as it to highlight his point, his eyes still glowing that eerie red.
Find a breach
He turns and stabs his swords into the wall, turning to pay attention to the fight for a moment as he gives that order.
Stand up and fight for you lives
O lifts one of the swords out of the wall to point it up, likely making a point, while P finally moves, throwing his sword aside and racing forward.

“Polites!” Odysseus cries, because that is one of his friends, one of his best friends, running into battle against a monster, unarmed and seeming with no care for that, his grip tightening on Penelope and Telemachus drawing them closer and turn a look on his friends, one that won’t take no for an answer, that has them both climbing onto the bed, Polites at Odysseus’ free side, Eurylochus on the pacifists other side.

“What the hell are you two doing the moment I take my eyes off of you?” Eurylochus growls, angry and scared and so damn worried, hand wrapping around Polites closer wrist, while he wraps an arm around his shoulders, letting him set his other hand on Odysseus’ shoulder.

“What the actual hell are we doing? We fought in a war for 10 years. I’m throwing my sword away to do something, who the hell knows what, and Odysseus is using his swords to climb the fucking cave, shit, things are not going to go well.’ Polites can’t deny that he’s panicking the slightest bit, both on what his counterpart is doing running into battle unarmed against a monster that could kill them with a glancing blow, never mind a direct one, and his king deciding to climb a wall and leave his back open to a potential hit is not helping. ‘No offense Eurylochus, I’m sure you can lead the men well, but damnit.” He adds on because who else would take command with their Captain off doing his own thing but their best friend?

“This is not going to end well. Someone is going to die, but who?” Penelope whispers to herself, because her love is putting an awful lot of trust in his men to protect his back from a monster, while one of his best friends is running around unarmed and the other is too distracted giving orders to the men and protecting all of them to notice either of these things and help or stop them.

“To turn his back to it in order to climb…” Tele stares in awe, there is fear there too, but the awe is stronger, because he can only imagine the strength and speed he had to use to climb wherever he’s going without injuring himself or losing track of either the opponent or his men.

“Ody, please be safe…” Pen mutters softly, gently squeezing a shoulder under her hand, because he had mentioned getting away safely and losing Pol, but his definition of safely is different from her own, because his allows for injuries while hers would prefer to know about the injuries or not have them at all.

S
Six hundred lives at stake
The lotus eater, sitting despondently and nervously where it was left, the flower still crumpled.
It’s just one life to take
The cyclops from a higher view, standing again, O on a ledge of some sort, stalactites easy to be seen.
And when we kill him then our journey’s over
The crew all look determined as well, their eyes glowing with the desire to live and get out of there, to return home to their loved ones.

“Well shit, you're going to break something.” Eurylochus wonders what kind of things he had to do to be born and deal with the shit he does simply by knowing Odysseus, though he can also say he never regrets becoming his friend.

“He fucking better not! I already had to fix quite a few bones and some of them still aren’t quite right.” Polites hisses, pinching his best friend and enjoying the flinch he gets at it, because damnit, the man is lucky he can walk and use his hands and arms given how he’s broken them.

“I mean, if we’re being honest, I probably wouldn’t try that without godly intervention or something, so at least we know Athena’s probably there keeping an eye on us?” Odysseus throws out there, not certain if that’s actually comforting or not for them to hear, in comparison to him, who definitely finds that comforting.

“If you get hurt too much on this journey, I’m going to be really angry with you, dear.” Penelope smiles sweetly at Odysseus, who jolts at the words, looking the slightest bit guilty and worried now, because he’s the captain of course he’s gonna get hurt, but what the hell does that mean? (Penelope is already planning how to keep her husband in bed, to rest and just be for a time, because he’s gonna need it when they return home.)

“It’s so weird to see you two when you were younger, but also, you haven’t really changed, have you?” Tele grins in amusement, recalling how his mother had practically squished his father under her in order to get him to sleep and rest, relax and not get out of bed when he first returned, before the chest cold even, easily dragging him onto the bed, all of them talking, though sometimes they were in silence, often when one or more fell asleep.

“Well, I’m just glad you can finally realize how much like your father you look like. He was a few years older than you, but he went to war pretty damn young for you, because he loves you enough to die for you, though he would still rather not. Besides, I am extremely protective of you two, given you two are my family, my everything. Like hell was I gonna let him work himself to the bone immediately after 10 years of being lost at sea.” Pen tightens her grip on her tiny husband, gaze narrowing in a dare for anyone to test her. She then decides she doesn’t like their placement and starts to move, settling against the headboard and gently taking Ody from Tele, resting him against her chest, before guiding the boy to rest against his father’s chest, who even asleep, gently raises an arm to cover him.

O
Push forward
O jumps from the ledge, swords raised high, and turns it into a spin, slicing open the cyclops' back with the hit, blood spraying the ground.

S
No dying on us now
Defeat is not allowed
We must live through this day so
P is there to offer his hand to his kneeled friend, his glasses covered with a glare, O still holding both swords, covered in blood now.
Fight, fight, fight
O grabs it, P pulling him to his feet, the crew still determined and ready, all gathered around the cyclops, P and O’s clasped hands. They rush in with yells, P with his back turned, glasses still with their glare. The cyclops roars. Two hands smacking together, a high five or signal, who knows. E and O giving each other looks as they move, both looking faintly amused and impressed. Poly roaring. P turns his head, the glare fading from one lens to reveal his eyes, scared and small.

“No…” Odysseus breathes, gently passing Telemachus off to his wife before turning to bury his head in his friend’s shoulder, arms wrapping tight around man’s waist, because he gets the feeling he knows exactly where this is going and he’s not ready for that, damn the gods.

“Polites, move!” Eurylochus yells, his own grip getting tighter, fear and panic and worry all surging inside him like a wave, twisting and turning and making him wonder if he might yet throw up, uncertain if he’ll be able to handle this.

“Oh, dear…” Penelope frowns, because she had hoped it really wouldn’t be him, but the other two are in the battle, paying attention and more than able to dodge, it would be poor Polites who’s not actively fighting and thus his attention is not completely on the cyclops who would get in trouble. She gently rests a hand on her husband’s trembling back. Telemachus lets out a gentle coo, but its soft and sad sounding.

“Oh.” Polites exhales, not bothered in the slightest by his friends tight grips or their words, because he had honestly not expected to survive the war, but to go out like this? He is going to hate it, his best friends’ are going to blame themselves, given they were both right there and neither are likely to be able to stop whatever's coming.

“I really don’t like that look on his face..” Pen mutters, because she knows that her husband and his friends and men had to be scared at times during the war, but to see it so plainly painted across one of their faces is disturbing and heartbreaking, especially since she had tried to not think about it in order to not hurt herself more while they were away.

Tele doesn’t know what to say, can only imagine what would have the man looking so scared, but he had never truly known him and so while he feels sympathy and a gripping panic for his father, he also can’t say he understands the grief on his mother’s face or his past father’s reaction.

There’s a smack and then a thud, before a hand, covered in blood just barely seen. O and the crew, hesitating and staring in horror further back.
P
Captain…
Glasses, shattered and broken clatter to the ground.

Poly
Enough
There’s another thud, with a squishing sound, even as O’s gaze doesn’t move from P’s corpse. He’s panting, almost closer to hyperventilating, except he hasn’t reached that stage yet.

Eurylochus jerks and flinches at the words and sound, knows inside himself that was the sound of another person dying, though he’s not entirely certain he’s registered that Polites has died, not yet, despite how tense his body is and the agony in his chest.

Polites swallows, his throat thigh and his hands shaking, uncertain of exactly how to feel as he watches himself die on screen, his last word being one not even he understood, not certain if it was a plea, a beg or simply him wanting to warn them, but he hates it. The guilt he’s just placed on his best friend.

“Polites…” Odysseus exhales sharply, can feel his breathing start to speed up at the sound and sight, barely registering the sound of another person being killed, the cyclops having ended them with no mercy or remorse.

“Darling…” Penelope coos, gently rubbing at his back, trying to get his breathing to calm because he’s gonna start to spiral soon and then getting him to breathe, out of his thoughts, and aware enough to listen will be extremely hard, especially since there’s no danger here with them. Telemachus lets out a gurgle from her arms, something she treasures with her aching heart, because that is the death of one of her friends.

“And even after that, they could not bury them or even leave behind coins, because they could not risk the lives of more men…” Tele can’t even imagine how horrifying and painful it must’ve been, to leave their bodies behind and not give them coins or a burial the way they deserved.

“Oh, Ody…” Pen sighs softly, tightening her grip around him, letting her chin rest on his shoulder, enjoying his warmth and the feel of his heartbeat, because that could have easily been him and she’s not certain she’d have survived getting the rest of the crew back but not her husband.

S
He’s got a club
Several of the crew staring at the cyclops in horror and surprise.
He’s got a club!
Several of the crew turn to run as another thud rings out, blood splattering against O’s face as he continues to pant and stare in horror.
What are our orders?
More of the crew on his other side, all leaning back as if they want to flee.
Captain?
One turns to face him, clearly trying to get through to O, who’s still panting, eyes unfocused and yet focused only on one thing.
Captain!
He turns as he yells again but does not move. More blood splatters on O’s face, but from the other side, a single strand drips mockingly in the form of a tear further down his cheek. O finally reacts, hands rising to try and cover his mouth as he throws up, E watching from the side. Another thud rings out. And another, as O reaches his hand out, shaking, towards the corpse of P.

Eurylochus swallows harshly, swallowing his own bile, but gives up quickly, snatching a bucket that appears near him and throwing up in it, because those are men that had worked and lived beside him for ten long years, and they had failed to get them home, had lost them because they were hungry and couldn’t wait for a few days in order to get home before eating.

“We’re not stopping. Not a chance in hell.” Polites decides right then and there, because he’s not going to bear the death of those men, given he was the one to get the information from the Lotus eaters and they don’t deserve blame, that’s on him for taking them at their word and not being suspicious. (He’s not entirely certain he’s processing his emotions right now, feeling sort of numb and frozen, but he’s trying.) He also rubs at Eury’s back as he throws up, muttering calming things as he does so.

Odysseus says nothing, simply wraps his arms tighter around his best friend and swallows any bile he wants to throw up, refusing to let go of his living, breathing, here best friend, not for anything, not even himself.

Penelope gently shifts his grip on Telemachus, moving closer to press as much of herself against her husband as possible to help him know this is reality, this is real, this is happening, or else he’ll get lost in the actions and decision of his counterpart and panic more than he already is.

“Damn.” Tele grimaces at the brutality and gore, because that is just so wrong, to kill his dad’s men and leave him splattered in their blood, how horrible. (He also wonders why not a single other person took charge once they realized his dad was not there completely.)

“Damnit, Eury, that would’ve been your cue or even the 3rd in command, there’s no way they didn’t have someone else who could have taken charge once Ody checked out, so for those men to continue to die… that’s kind of their fault, as bad as it sounds. If they had thought for themselves, they could’ve easily had more people get out alive.” Pen knows it might be disrespectful to some of the dead, but if they had not relied so much on her beloved, they could’ve easily taken charge of themselves and any one nearby in order to get out alive, but they choose to beg her traumatized, stressed, hurting husband for help instead.

Poly
You’ve hurt me enough
The cyclops, kneeling down with a bloodied club in its hands.
Six hundred lives I’ll take
Another thud, two crew men sprawled across the cave floor, one over a rock and another facing one, stomach to it, blood seeping from both.
Six hundred lives I’ll break
The cyclops stands, crewmen running away from him now.
And when I kill you then my pain is over
Another thud rings out as E pulls O back, one hand on his upper right arm, the other grasping along his left just above his elbow, clearly yelling at him, trying to snap him out of it, but his gaze is downwards, completely out of it. Another thud, as the long gash across the cyclops back, still bleeding, is shown.

“He’s never suffered that blow, at least not the death of anyone he was close to, not in the ten years of war, he’s unprepared for that kind of shock…” Tele squirms closer to his dad, burying his ear closer to the man's heart, taking warmth and joy in listening to it beat softly and gently under him.

“I’m sure the fact that your dad’s always been softer with matters of the heart doesn’t help, he’s always been more willing to cry and be gentle and soft where others would not let themselves be, so he got close to his men, even knowing they might die, and losing Pol and then more men hit him hard.” Pen loves that about her husband, his soft heart, and she will never regret marrying and loving him. (One of her fondest memories is of Tele’s birth, because it had taken themes o long to get with child, yes, but also because her husband had held her hand the entire time, despite the things she’d said about him and the pain - she had broken some of his fingers she found out later - and then cried tears of joy while holding their darling boy the first time.)

“Oh, De, I never meant to hurt you like this, and I know it’ll sound insensitive, especially with your soft heart, but please snap out of it, your need to get out alive, you and Eury, both of you and whatever men you can.” Polites knows his voice is a mix of wrecked and numb, can feel as well as hear it, but he needs his best friends to live through this, and doesn't want them to join him so soon.

“I’ll figure something out, I promise. We won’t be joining you for a bit, as long as I can manage.” Eurylochus promises, because while they’ll try to change this, there’s no way of knowing what is already in the Fate’s design, so he’s going to honor that promise if this happens.

“I will not let this happen, I don’t care what I have to do… but on the chance this cannot be changed or shifted or anything, I will ensure as many of the man as well as the two of us survive and get home, so we can pass on your stories, and you will never die.” Odysseus swears, refusing to let go of his friends, clutching at both of them now, an arm still around Polites waist, but the other is looped behind his shoulders to clutch at Eurylochus’ shoulder.

“Darling, your soft heart is going to be the thing to get you killed one of these days, but I still hope you can keep it despite everything.” Penelope murmurs softly, because she cannot say she would recognize him half as well if his heart changes so much that it’s no longer soft.

You’re dying here and now
A thud, crewmates arcing in pain as they’re impaled by falling stalactites.
Escape is not allowed
Another thud as he crushes a crewman under his fist, blood splattered across it and the ground, only a single arm left untouched aside from the blood.
You won’t live through this day now die
Another thud as blood splatters against a wall. E yelling as O yanks out of his grasp, running to P’s corpse, where he seems to almost slide to a stop.
Die…
O has fallen to his knees at P’s side, pulling the dead’s upper body against him similar to a hug, the cyclops standing over him, club still in hand, and then it drops the club and collapses at almost the same time, kicking up a bit of a dust cloud.

“What? What the hell happened?” Odysseus finally looks up and pays the screen his full attention instead of just partial, because the cyclops collapsing like that is an important piece of information, especially as it means he might’ve had a plan, it just took too long to work.

“Odysseus, you didn’t even know that he was going to collapse, you’re not allowed to get yourself killed at my side, you hear me?” Polites snaps, gently yanking his best friend’s ear, because the man had run to his side and left himself both defenseless and vulnerable to an easy hit, and for a second his heart had stopped at seeing the monsters with its club raised over his best friend.

“You two are going to be the death of me, it’s not even the rest of the crew I have to worry about, it’s you two fuckers.” Eurylochus tilts his head back, staring up at the ceiling as he heaves a tired, deep sigh, trying to work through his emotions since he’s being given the chance, already aware of the tears sliding down his face, but already knowing his counterpart won’t get the chance yet and this is going to break something between him and Odysseus that won’t get the time to be fixed.

“Odysseus…” Penelope exhales sharply, so damn happy to see him alive and well, because the raised club had led her to believe firmly she was about to watch her husband be crushed due to his soft heart, something she could not fault him for, give how she had felt when Helen was taken, but still relieved and happy, gently pulling him closer and snuggling into his shoulder to feel his pulse in his neck, amused when Telemachus grasps at his father’s shirt and fists it as if not wanting to let go. (It sends a pang through her as well, given he’d done the same thing not that long ago, except with his father’s hand, before they were pulled into the room.)

“He really almost…” Tele doesn’t blame his dad for not informing them that he almost died to the cyclops as well, given he was grieving and might not have even now he was in that kind of danger - oh, who’s he kidding, the man was so upset and into his grieving he likely still knew there was a possibility, but he could not bring himself to care at the time, which hurts, but he gets it.

“Ody, you’re gonna have so much to answer for, after this, I feel.” Pen huffs, her heart had raced even knowing he lived through it as seeing the club raised high over her husband and his dead friend, but she can already tell this will reveal far more than he had told them, meaning the details he’d left out to spare them from feeling the full weight of his years without them.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Honestly, Pen debates it, talking to Tele too, and they ultimately decide that the man deserves to see his best friend get whatever peace eh can get from whatever they end up doing to the cyclops, so they carefully shift in order to help him drink the last of the potion, despite being uncertain of what it will mean.

Ody shifts and lets out a whining groan almost, burrowing more into his family as he starts to blink his eyes, arms already moving to wrap gently around his son while he leans further into his wife, getting comfortable for whatever they’re about to see, especially since he gets the feeling he’s gonna be awake a lot more often now.

None of them talk about the way the potion bottle proceeds to disappear without a sound, instead the two work to get Ody caught up on everything they’ve watched and settle in patiently to see what will happen.

O staring at the cyclops collapsed body, sword in his right hand, facing the ground, appearing to be down, hurt, sad despite nothing but his back being shown. He’s panting, taking uneven breaths, slow but fast at the same time, still covered in the men’s blood. A figure appears further back.
E
Captain!
It moves around from what appears to be a rock, moving closer.
Captain!
They pause for a moment and then move closer again, revealing it’s Eurylochus, hand starting to reach out for Odysseus’ shoulder.
Captain!
He grabs O’s left arm, just above the elbow, the man moving easily with the movement, looking shocked and hurt and sad.

“Shit, you really need to both process what happened, but also get the hell out of there…” Polites hates, hates, hates watching his friends push their emotions aside in order to do anything, but this is one of the times where it is going to be useful.

“I’ll snap him out of it enough for him to handle getting us out of the cave at the very least, but beyond that we’ll have to see.” Eurylochus is worried because Polites had always been the emotionally knowledgeable one between the three of them, without him, things are potentially going to fall apart.

“Is there where they started to lose hope and faith and trust in him?” Tele murmurs softly, trying to figure it out in his head, because he really doesn’t get why his dad’s men had lost faith in him, not over something like fighting against a cyclops, so either something else happens or they haven’t gotten that far yet.

“I froze, pretty hard at that, and at such a time as well…” Odysseus isn’t certain on what to think of that, isn’t sure if it’s his experience of 10 years at war or something else that had him freezing instead of reacting but he doesn’t like it.

“Darling…” Penelope wishes she could be there, to wrap him in a hug, to take charge for him, to do something other than force him to push aside his emotions and bury his heart - as Eurylochus is doing, he could’ve easily taken charge as second in command and gotten them out without bothering Odysseus - to move forward. That’ll have negative effects on him.

“Things are just going to get worse from here, I'm almost certain… Though I’m starting to wonder if Eury ever really trusted him, because he had an opportunity there to take command, let your father rest and recover, take a moment to breathe, like he obviously got, but instead he is leaving your father in command despite his clearly bad shape and asking him to give more orders.” Pen isn’t impressed so far, because Ody had chosen Eury as his second in command specifically so he would have someone he could trust at his side to take command if he fell in battle, was unavailable or otherwise busy, but the man doesn’t seem to have done his duties right.

“I was wondering that too, but there’s no longer a way to ask him anymore.” Ody wishes he’d had the chance to ask his brother that before his death, but it had just never come up at any point, at least not until the mutiny and at that point it was far too late.

O
We must move quickly,
E lets go of his arm and he lets it fall to his side, as he turns his body to face his SIC, steeling himself together in order to get the rest of his men out alive.
We don’t have much time
His gaze gets darker, almost colder, like he’s closing his emotions off even as he talks to E, in order to get through this.
He didn’t notice I mixed lotus in his wine
O looks tired, blood still splattered across his face, everything still so fresh.

“Don’t do that.” Penelope hates watching her husband do that, hates watching him push the hurting, broken, aching parts down and hide them in order to continue forward, even though she knows he has to sometimes, she hates watching it any time.

“I hate that I don’t understand my counterpart. Why the hell am I not taking over for you?” Eurylochus is so confused, because they’ve run drills and other things to ensure he could lead well enough to get himself and any men with him alive if he’s in command, so why is he not doing exactly that so Odysseus can recover even the slightest bit?

“Both of you are idiots, grief is already affecting you both and neither of you is taking it well.” Polites chokes out, tears gathering in his eyes, because damnit he had never wanted to die, but he had definitely never wanted to see the effect it would have on his best friends either.

“I can only be glad there was some plan, though obviously I didn’t use nearly enough lotus if he was still able to attack and move like that before it affected him. We’re either avoiding this island or using more lotus.” Odysseus isn’t certain how things will og, how much or little they can afford to change, but he’s damn well going to try. Telemachus coos and squirms in his father’s arms, which has the man shifting his gaze to the bundle in his arms, which brings his face close enough for the baby to place a hand on, patting him several times.

“How much Lotus did he even use, for it to not have worked until that moment?” Tele isn’t certain whether to be amazed or saddened that his father’s plan had worked just not soon enough, not for the men he lost and the blow he was just dealt.

“I’m more worried about how the hell they’re gonna get out of here now. The cyclops might be down, but there could be other things in that cave yet, and he’s blocking the path they came in through, so they’ll have to move him or do something to make him move.” Pen knows some of it, but she also knows Ody left some things out in an attempt to not worry her.

Ody refrains from saying anything, that he’s not exactly happy to see his best friends’ reactions to either of their choices, or his own, especially since they are still before the war that changed all three of them for all they stayed the same as well.

Mark my words now
O starts to move past E in order to do something, pausing at the others shoulder.
This is not the end
He goes to continue moving, clearly already trying to work through his grief despite everything.

“It better not be, you all have to get home.” Polites injects immediately, because he might be dead, as well as a few additional men - a good 10 or so at a guess - but the rest of the 600 deserve a chance to get home alive and well.

“What are we going to do though? We won’t have time to bury them.” Eurylochus hates even having to say it, but some had nothing left to bury and they couldn’t afford the cyclops waking up while they were digging and who knows when they’d next reach land, so they couldn’t take the bodies either.

“I hope those men will forgive me.” Odysseus mutters softly, already looking tired and weary at the very thought of what the men might think, given he made the choice to take them to that island in the first palace, based on directions from creatures that had eaten lotus.

“Darling, there were 600 men to think of, you couldn’t really afford to just pass by an island, not when it could have food.” Penelope hates having to be the voice of reason here, but they really could not afford to pass by anything that might have food for them to eat, given Odysseus can only be in so many places at once and 600 men are only going to be loyal if they can see their leader making the best decisions for them.

“I still hate that we didn’t get the chance to bury them or anything, just had to leave them there in that damned cave..” Ody can only imagine how much worse that might’ve made the ghosts that he met in the underworld, that they had been left where they were murdered.

“It’s not really like there was much choice there, beloved.” Pen might be a bit selfish for saying it, but she would rather her husband not bury them and escape, then have risked burying them and being eaten by the cyclops or anything else that might be lurking in the cave.

“Do cyclops live alone or is this one just really a lone wolf kind of cyclops?” Tele is trying to recall everything he knows, but it can be a bit hard sometimes to find information on the monsters like this, especially since so many of them tend to be children of gods - though not always.

E
But captain,
E grasps him by his shoulder again.
what’ll we do with our fallen friends?
He looks equally as tired, but less sad and torn, like he had already grieved them at some point and is already moving past it. O’s eyes are wide, tears gathering in them.

“Eurylochus!” Penelope cries, shocked and disturbed, because she gets the feeling the man had just been waiting for some of them to die, and while he cherished their time together, he was also mourning them at the same time, so he’s already moved past it, but her husband had not.

“Eury… We both know Ody has had a harder time with his heart and emotion, there was no need to make him say it out loud.” Polites frowns as well, because he understands grief hits everyone differently, but for his friends to be at such odds already like this, one openly still grieving and the other seemingly already moved past it.

Odysseus sucks in a harsh breath, because even though he’s not yet dealt with this, having his remaining best friend ask that question, feels an awful lot like someone had just punched him in the chest, which hurts and yet doesn’t. He tightens his grip the slightest bit on Telemachus, unashamed to be using him to get some comfort.

“What the hell?” Eurylochus is just as lost as his friends, because that was almost cruel on him, and forcing his captain, his king, his best friend to confirm that they’re going to have to leave the bodies behind without funeral rights, is almost like questioning his authority. What is he doing?

“There it is, the first real crack, huh?” Tele can see it now, the grief had hit them both differently, which had likely meant they couldn’t go to each other for comfort. But he’s also fairly certain his dad never really got time to grief, as the king and captain, he had to make sure everyone else was ok and the ships were going the right way and check supplies.

“He really was already doubting you and everything you had done at that point, with no Pol there to keep him in check.” Pen hates that the man is already doubting her husband, and at such a time as well, when emotions are high and not in a good place.

“Yeah, that was probably it, though at the time with my grief so overwhelming still, I didn’t see it at all.” Ody can freely admit that, scooting closer to his wife and pulling his son closer to him, appreciating their warmth and letting it ground him to the here and now, since that grief still feels so strong at times.

O
Remember them
A tear trails down his cheek, bypassing the blood completely. His hair blocks his eyes in the shadows.
When the fire begins to fade
He shifts and leans forward more, likely wanting to clutch at his chest where the pain resides most, but unwilling and unable to do so until they are out of danger.
For the fallen and afraid
The last of the tear falls from his chin.
We are not to let them die in vain
His eyes are still covered with his hair, like he’s trying to gather himself after the question had destroyed his meek, weak shields he had created to get through the moment, as he works out his answer.

Odysseus doesn’t even say anything, something in him finally cracking and breaking at the sight, merely hands his son to his wife, wiggles free from the others grips and starts towards the hall that holds the bedrooms, likely wanting to be alone for a few moments to process his emotions, or perhaps to put himself back together. Ody has a different idea, gently nudging his son and moves, striding out of the shadows - unaware of the fact that he has no hood or that they fade away behind him, revealing his family - as he moves towards his younger self, knows this should perhaps feel awkward, but his son looks like him so he can work with this.

Odysseus is blinking the tears from his eyes, trying so damn hard to process his emotions and understand why he’s feeling this way over men he hasn’t quite bonded with yet - aside from Polites - and whether it’s the deaths, the betrayal, however small over his brother looking to him instead of taking command, or any of the other small emotions he’s dealing with, and raises a hand to wipe them away harshly, only to blink as his wrist is grasped by a rough, calloused hand, covered in scars, which he doesn’t recognize, which has him looking up, only to blink in shock. It’s… himself, a good couple years older, covered in more scars and looking both rough but put together.

“I understand this is hard for you, but running and hiding at this moment is not the way to go, not when we all know this is still something that could happen and you won’t be able to run or hide at that time, you’ll have to face it. It’s going to hurt, but you have people who are worrying for you and care, go be with them, however much this might smart.” Ody gently nods towards the three still on the bed, plus the babe, two of whom are tangled together and with the sheets, from trying to scramble after him, the third who had made no such moves because she has a baby to cradle now.

“But…” Odysseus trails off, both distracted by some of the scars he can see, but also uncertain if he can face them right now, as he is, without breaking in a way he’s uncertain can be fixed.

“You will break on this journey, if nothing changes, in a way you had never thought possible, but you will never regret it.” Ody makes sure he’s firm with it, even as he releases the other’s wrist and turns him, pushing him back towards the others. He gives them a nod once he notices them looking at him, then promptly walks back to the bed where his son and wife wait, looking amused despite everything.

Penelope grabs her husband’s arm once he’s close enough, yanking him close enough, ignoring his stumble, to clutch him to her, letting her heart melt as he brings an arm to cradle her own holding Telemachus, even as he returns the hug. “You know as well as we do that there’s no looking away right now.” She says softly, well aware how much looking away at this point would hurt him.

Polites finally manages to untangle himself, lunging forward to join the hug, careful not to jostle any of them too much given the babe – though he notes Telemachus is also clinging to his father’s clothes – and pulls them close. “I might be dead and things might be falling apart, but you know damn well I want you to remember me as I was and return the hell home, to your wife and child.”

Eurylochus joins the hug as well, desperate and confused, hurt as well, but needing to add his piece. “I don’t know why I am not supporting you as I should be but know that I will never let this happen in this way as long as I remember this, not a chance in hell. I want to let you rest, given you had to have pushed yourself during the war.”

The group huddle together in the hug, comforting and protecting each other, ignoring for now the group the shadows have shifted to reveal, focusing instead on being there for each other.

“I’m glad they got this.” Ody says with soft eyes as he settles against the headboard, letting his wife cuddle against his side and rest her head on his shoulder, a soft chuckle leaving her, while Tele takes this chance to squirm until he’s across both their laps, his head on his dad’s, giving him pleading eyes. The man rolls his eyes fondly but starts to run the fingers of his free hand through the soft hair.

“Spoiled.” Pen teases softly, tapping her son on his nose, amused at the tongue she gets in response.

“I am going to be as spoiled as I want.” Tele gives them a wide grin at the words, refusing to be shy or ashamed of the affection from his parents, not when his father had not been there to give it to him for 20 years and his mother could only do so rarely, with the suitors there.

“Ok, we’ve got to address this now though, because I can’t ignore it.’ Polites turns from where the huddle had turned into a cuddle pile, Odysseus on the bottom, Eurylochus on his left and Penelope on his right. Polites is sprawled across their legs and Telemachus is on Odysseus’ chest. ‘Who the hell are you?” He would normally be kinder, but he’s currently under a lot of stress and thinks he can be forgiven for the moment.

For a moment, there’s a pause as the three figures glance between each other, two getting slightly deadpan looks on their faces while the last, sprawled across them, looks downright giddy, gleeful almost. “I can’t believe we really thought this would be as simple as seeing us.” The woman sighs. The young man giggles.

“I thought they had this figured out, at least one of them does at least, given the look he has.” The older man responds easily, chuckling slightly, eyes locked on someone in the group.

They all follow his gaze to Odysseus, who does seem to know them, but he’s observing something none of them understand yet. He seems to be figuring something out, but he says nothing to that, instead blinking and responding far too casually with, “That would be myself, Penelope and Telemachus quite a few years later.”

There’s a bit of an uproar as they all take a closer look and realize it’s true, none of them bothering to be surprised that can happen given they’re pretty sure a god had brought them here but still shocked they hadn’t realized sooner.

“As much as this definitely needs to be discussed, I don’t think we’re gonna get a chance till a bit later, but feel free to talk to us now that you can interact with us.” Ody gently throws out; glad they had already told the three they could be referred to as nicknames in order to keep the three of them separated.

There are grumbles, but they all know he’s likely right, so they turn back to the device.

O(S)
Remember them (Remember them)
He finally looks up at his remaining crewmates in the cave with him, E just behind him and at his side, the cyclops behind him. There are tears fathered in O’s eyes, though he also looks an equal mix of angry and tired. He’s the only one with his sword still drawn, resting in his left hand.
We’re the ones who carry on
O shifts, his right arm rising the slightest bit as if to gesture to all of the crew, though his palm and hand remain outstretched to his side.
The flames of those who’ve gone
There’s blood splattered on his clothes as well, none of it dry but not so fresh as to easily be removed either.
And our comrades will not die in vain
He fists his right hand and brings it almost in front of his heart for a moment, before flinging that hand out to the side again, as if to make a point.

“You scare me sometimes with how quickly you recover or at least pretend you do, father.” Tele has often worried about what that must mean about his dad’s state, not just his physical but his mental one.

“It’s proven useful a couple of times during times I really wish it hadn’t, but at least here it means the rest of the men should get out alive.” Ody is certain they should not spoil more than they already had with their existence – which points to him at least surviving and getting back after a few years, though anything more is hard to tell.

“You use it far too often, dear.” Pen chides him easily, resting a hand on his chest over his heart, as if soothing it from the gesture he had made over 10 years prior.

“I still wish we could’ve given them at least fare or something.” Eurylochus sighs tiredly, getting why they can’t but still wishing they had had the opportunity.

“I can’t say I’m surprised honestly. We’d want you guys to survive more than anything anyways, at least I’d hope so.” Polites frowns, uncertain if the men would all want them to get out alive now or if the men would blame Odysseus for getting them killed.

“They had better, given it’s their own faults they died. They’ve been at war ten years, they could’ve easily chosen a plan or something, but instead turned to their Captain, usually a good move except when in battle against a mostly unknown enemy.” Penelope has little remorse to give those men, given they were trying to put more stress on her husband.

“At least we know this now and maybe we can avoid this completely. I would love to honestly. Just got to figure out where we went wrong.” Odysseus is already working it out, wondering if they had taken enough from Troy, if they had feasted or something but nothing comes to mind.

O walks to the side, heading towards the club.
I need all our hands on his club
He casually, without hesitation or worry for injury, switches the hand his sword is in, pointing at the club with his sword now, gaze serious and determined.
This is how we’re getting out of here
It’s clear he’s done with everything at the moment, a bit of a sneer on his face as he continues.
Use your swords to sharpen the stub
He lifts his sword up, as if preparing to strike at an enemy.
And turn it to a giant spear
And then runs it along the club, removing a section of wood in the same way one would with a smaller knife while carving. He’s angry and upset and a mix of emotion, but he’s holding it together for his crew.

“It’s really sad that they rely on him so much that he’s used to forcing himself to keep going despite his own emotions.” Tele mutters, pouting at his dad who gives him a soft, slightly chiding look, ignoring it because he’s upset and angry at them.

“Trust me, we’ve tried our hardest to change that, but most of the men will still turn to Odysseus before they even think of coming to either of us.” Polites sighs, running a hand through his hair, because they had wanted to lessen the burden on their friend at least a bit, but the men just didn’t get it.

“They trust him in a way and about things they don’t think they can trust the two of you, which means it’s either his personality or the fact he’s king and captain, general as well that they’re using against him.” Penelope isn’t certain of any of that, but those are the only reasons she can think of and she has a bit of anger in her for each of the men for that.

“Well, Ody always was a pretty calming presence and seemed to have or think up an answer pretty quickly, it doesn’t surprise me as much as I hate it.” Pen sighs roughly, almost wishing she had been at his side to help, but then who the hell would’ve been there to raise their son?

“I can’t believe they’ve made me wear a mask and stuff my emotions down for years, that’s not going to end well.” Odysseus runs a hand down his face, already able to see the cracks and gaps where he’d usually be able to hide his emotions better, but this is both the death of his best friend and a mask he’d had to wear so often it’s getting thin.

“Oh, trust me, war and death and that will tire you just as quickly, I assure you.” Ody decides to give a warning as best he can about the war, because he’s not going to actually say anything, unwilling to risk angering the being that brought them here.

“At least we might be able to best learn your tells so we can get you a break, or at least just some time to yourself, something, since you won’t last 10 years at war with masks if they keep pushing you.” Eurylochus is already devising plans for that in his head, because if they do this wrong, they might yet still lose Polites or any other man and that just doesn’t sit well with him.

S
Let’s kill him!
The crew all gathered around the club, swords drawn and some smiling as they suggest it, even as they continue to work.

O
His body is blocking the path
Odysseus just looks tired as he refuses them.
If we kill him we'll be stuck inside
The cyclops body, still downed and out for the count for the time being, blocking the path they came in through.

E
Captain, where do we attack him?
E facing towards the view, left hand outstretched at his side and right one clutching a sword, the club just barely past the tip of the blade.

“You had better be quick with that or he might yet wake up.” Polites frets, already worried because they can’t afford to have any men watching the cyclops for signs of waking if they want to get the club usable.

“I think Odysseus is watching the cyclops actually, given he’s both an archer and the captain, we wouldn’t let him help.” Eurylochus immediately counters, because like hell he’s gonna let them put more stress on their captain and his brother at this time.

“At least something was done right at that point.” Penelope gently shifts, moving closer to her beloved, resting a hand on baby Telemachus’ head, amused when he gurgles and shifts, but does not let go of his father’s clothes.

“Hopefully we manage to finish the spear before it wakes up or we’re in trouble.” Odysseus is honestly surprised that it’s still out given how long the lotus took to take effect, but it’s working in their favor, so he’ll take this bit of luck.

“What a bunch of idiots, killing him wouldn’t have helped us at that point.” Ody sighs, because he does wish he had killed the damn thing then, but he also doesn’t regret still trying his friend’s approach.

“It’s not like it was the wrong decision either, how the hell are you gonna move his body if he’s dead? He’ll be covered in blood and a lot heavier than when he was alive, if you have no chance now, then you’d have 0 chance with him dead.” Pen soothes her darling, gently petting his chest, clearly able to see he still regrets this.

“I’m honestly just impressed they went straight for killing and didn’t try to torture him or something.” Tele shrugs his shoulders at the looks he gets for that, but that seems more like something those men would do in his opinion, given the way they treat his dad more as a shield than the person he really is.

O
We gotta stab him in the eye
O already looks tired and determined as he lifts his head, shifting his hair enough to show his own as if to demonstrate where he wants them to hit.

S
Yes sir!
Remember them
The crew lift the club onto their shoulders.
When the fire begins to fade
They start to move it.
For the fallen and afraid
They had in fact managed to make one side a large spike. O watches them as they go, behind them all as he moves. His gaze is sharp and calculated.
We are not to let them die in vain
Then he glances to the side and falters, emotion seeping back in, sadness and grief and little bits of emotion that are hard to name.

“What the hell are you looking at that has you faltering like that after 10 years of war?” Eurylochus narrows his eyes, trying to decide if they might get answers from the older counterparts, before deciding it’s not likely, as well as trying to figure out what has his brother like that.

“I do believe he’s looking at my corpse.” Polites decides to be blunt about it, because he had honestly not even really expected to live through the war, so to get that far is already more than he expected.

“You really did love him, he was one of your pillars and his death broke something in you, huh…” Tele is curious because he can’t say he had anything like that until his dad came back, his dad and mom becoming his pillars, which has him shivering because he can’t imagine losing either of them.

“We messed up going to this cave, but we are going to get revenge as well as escape.” Odysseus usually isn’t one for revenge, but knowing this cyclops has killed his best friend and many others as well, his to protect and care for, makes him quite a bit vindictive.

“You had better kill him afterwards dear, if you can pull yourself together or gather enough men.” Penelope knows that might seem rude or insensitive, but she knows her husband would regret letting it live after it killed his men.

“That’s not a great idea.” Pen knows only the bare minimum from what her Ody’s told her, but that doesn’t seem like a great idea given they still don’t know if there’s anything else in the cave, given there’s nothing to suggest the cyclops sleeps in that main area, meaning the cave goes deeper.

“You’re not wrong, I’m glad we didn’t kill him, but I do regret what I did after that.” Ody sighs, already feeling resignation and guilt settling in his chest like they belong, because he had made the choice to do what he had done, no one else.

O+S
Remember them
O turns completely away from the crew and their path now, as he lets the grief show through on his face.
We’re the one who carry on
He crouches down with a pinched look on his face, worried and hurt and just… unable to process at the moment.
The flames of those who’ve gone
O gently closes Polites eyes, blood splattered around his head, glasses cracked not too far from him, as he grasps his headband.
And our comrades will not die in vain
He starts to wrap it around his right wrist as he rises, tightening it to make sure it doesn’t fall.

“Odysseus… You don’t have to carry all of us with you. That’s gonna add so much weight to your already heavy shoulders.” Polites loves the idea and the thought behind it, but his brother already has so much going on, he needs to take a break.

“I don’t think the men would let him not carry you all home somehow, given we can’t bury the bodies and I’m willing to bet they’ll blame him for this.” Eurylochus runs a hand over his face, already working through it in his head how he’ll mitigate that if it comes down to it.

“You’ll have to be extremely careful to make sure not to let them become so heavy they drown you, darling.” Pen gently pets her husband because she knows he still struggles with that, even all these years later.

“Yeah, dad. Don’t let them drown you after everything, we still want you here and once we die, they can get there turn.” Tele pouts at even the thought of having to share his dad, especially after death, but he won’t die for a while after his parents – hopefully – so it should be done by the time he joins them.

“To think you would take the headband and close his eyes knowing you won’t be able to do more…” Penelope worries on how this is affecting her husband, given he is not being given the time to process those he has lost in a way no one ever deserves.

“Damnit.” Odysseus closes his eyes with a sigh, shifting his head down to rest against Telemachus’, amused when the baby gently pushes back, pressing a kiss to the soft hair on his head, before getting a bit more comfortable.

“You know I’m trying love, and they usually don’t win given I have you two, but there’s only so much even you and time can do. We’ll see, ok?” Ody gently presses kisses to both his wife and son’s foreheads in promise because he really can’t offer more than that.

O
Now!
He turns to face the crew and yells this, but there doesn’t seem to be anything but determination in his tone. The crew stand on a rock above the cyclops head, heaving the spear into his eye, causing him to wake with a roar, most of them running out of the way. The cyclops removes the spear and tosses it aside.
Scatter!
O and E are in the middle of the crew, O watching the cyclops and E with a hand on his shoulder to pull him along, the rest of the crew streaming past them. The cyclops roars as the crew run, O and E the last two there, the creature falling to his knees in front of the dark spot of the cave and curling up.O glances back and then turns forward to keep moving. An eye opens in the middle of the darkness.

“Shit.” Penelope swallows hard, because just cyclops had destroyed most of her husband’s little search party, more would kill them and the entire fleet, no hesitation or doubt in her mind.

“What the hell?” Polites could understand one cyclops living there, but more? Had they stumbled into a family of cyclops or something?

“We are so screwed.” Eurylochus buries his face in his hands, uncertain how they’re gonna get out of this one, though he’s at least glad they’d managed to actually get the original cyclops to move so they could leave.

“Well, this is gonna require some quick thinking and hope past actions paid off.” Odysseus is not exactly sure how much he likes that there’s very little he can now do to save his crew or himself, can only hope his own actions in the past would save them.

“This was pure luck.” Pen sighs softly, because she knows her husband is smart, but the cyclops had the chance and opportunity to say so many things and chose the phrasing he did poorly.

“You really just can’t catch a break, huh?” Tele can’t help his pout, but honestly what had his dad even done to deserve something like this on his journey home?

“I’m still not certain if I did something to deserve this or if it was just my place in life, but I am glad it eventually led me back to you.” Ody tugs his family closer, because he would’ve fought for years, anything and everything if he had to, to get back to them. He’s just glad it was only a total of 20 years he was gone, and that he got to see them alive.

Cyclops
Who hurts you?
O and E both freeze at the words, looking horrified as they realize what it must mean.

E
There are more of them?
O is partially behind some rocks, hand on his sword and looking both scared and calm, while E is a bit more in the open, staring horrified at the new eye that’s popped up.

C
Who hurts who?
3 more eyes pop up, signaling 3 more cyclops hidden within the cave.

O
Hide!
O turns the slightest bit towards E, but doesn’t look away from the cyclops, waits until E is behind the rocks, before he moves, both of them pressing their backs to it and remaining hidden.

“Shit, at least 4 more?” Eurylochus desperately wants to fight and run, because they can’t die like this, but also how the hell are they gonna survive more cyclops?

“Just leave, not now, but don’t try to kill him, just leave.” Polites had been a scout sometimes when there weren’t many people to heal, and he is well aware they can’t afford to move or the cyclops further in might see them.

“How on earth did you survive this?” Tele muses, already trying to figure out what plan or trick his father had used, because he always likes to figure them out before they happen in anything he’s told.

“How the hell am I supposed to fight more than 1 cyclops, much less get all 600 men out of the way without potentially drawing them out?” Odysseus can’t think of a single plan that might let them fight those things if they decide to come after them, they’ll have to flee, but if they stay hidden they might not be seen.

“Dear, how the hell is your luck so bad?” Penelope has always known the other half of her soul had some of the worst luck out there in certain situations, this is certainly not one where it needs to be that bad.

“I only have bad luck when it’s my fate, apparently, given I have the two of you.” Ody knows it’s not much of a comfort to his family, but he’s had time to start working through his issues and knows that if his luck had truly been horrible, he’d be dead.

“I’m not certain how I feel about you saying that, given it seems to be saying you are certain you’d be dead otherwise, but I’ll let it lie…for now.” Pen narrows her gaze on her husband, noting their child doing the same from his lap, but they will be talking about this.

C
Who hurts you?
Another eye pops up, totaling 6 cyclops, including the one they had hurt.

E
Captain, we should run
E faces O, who turns at his title, only the SIC looking nervous, because O is the captain and can not afford to look weak or the crew doubt him.

O
Wait
O raises the arm closest to Eurylochus, clearly planning to grab him in order to keep him down and hidden if he must.

C
Who hurts you?
5 more eyes appear, signaling a total of 11 cyclops, including the one they hurt, decreasing their chances of surviving if this turns into a fight.

“He’s not wrong, if you move now, you run the risk of catching the attention of every single cyclops there, moving now could kill you.” Polites isn’t certain why that Eurylochus isn’t thinking that, but the panic and grief are probably affecting him.

“As long as we don’t move and hopefully my plan works out, staying put is the best option at the time.” Odysseus tries to reassure his brother, well aware that his counterpart likely won't, given they’re trying to be quiet and explaining his plan could get a range of reactions from his brother.

“Why are you doubting him right now?” Penelope asks with furrowed brows, because Eurylochus is usually pretty confident in Odysseus, so for him to be questioning and doubting the man at this very moment seems a rather poor choice, panic and grief there or not. Though she supposes the grief does give him some leeway.

“The mess we’ve somehow gotten ourselves into is shit, but I shouldn't be doubting you or questioning you like that, what am I thinking?” Eurylochus stares in horror and shock at his counterpart, because what the hell had the war done that he is starting to apparently turn against his brother at the worst time possible?

“I’m still not entirely certain if the war or this is what caused him to start doubting me and everything I did, but I wish I’d had the time to properly talk to him.” Ody regrets that they’d never had the chance to clear things up, the mutiny might not have happened, and maybe more men could’ve returned home and much sooner.

“They really just don’t seem to think for themselves during moments of panic, huh?” Tele knows he didn’t always make the right choices while his dad was away, due to both panic and anger – often anger – but even he can work under both, so for these men after 10 years to still not be able to…

“I’m certain there is some sort of reason, maybe we’ll be able to figure it out, maybe we’ll simply have to wait until we die in order to ask, but we’ll get our answer eventually.” Pen responds easily to both of them, though it’s also extremely clear form her voice that she is displeased and that the answer had better be good and she might kick Eury’s ass.

E
Captain, please!
E sounds extremely desperate as he says it, panic and grief finally getting to him.

O
Wait!
O still has his arm raised in front of the other, though his attention is clearly split between the cyclops and his friend.

Poly
It was Nobody ,
The cyclops finally responds to the others, hands covering his eye.
Nobody
He moves his hands, revealing his empty socket, blood trailing down like tears.

“He isn’t even really trying to stop the bleeding?” Polites seems confused because it’s a hole in his head, covering it and tilting his head down will not stop the bleeding or anything.

“The other cyclops don’t seem overly concerned either that he lost an eye…” Penelope muses, which means likely none of them are related to it in any way.

“At least this means we should hopefully be able to leave unscathed now.” Odysseus sighs, but then again, it’s also himself, he is not certain how he’ll act under the grief he feels.

“I am at this point, just going to be grateful if we manage to escape given everything we have just been shown.” Eurylochus sighs, because 11 cyclops, even with one of them injured, is not good for them.

“I mean, you definitely wouldn’t see me going back in, not with those offs and everything.” Tele offers to his dad, because with another 10 healthy cyclops and the unknown number of weapons they have, it just seems too dangerous, even to get vengeance or the bodies of friends.

“I’m just glad your father’s plan worked, however thrown together it was.” Pen sighs in hope and love, because he seems to have gotten out of this one physically ok, though his heart had taken a blow.

“I still don’t regret my choice, despite what it’s likely to show after this, I don’t regret it.” Ody knows damn well the others are gonna see Athena and see what he told her, but he doesn’t always regret that choice, because they were too outnumbered, with little space for a fight and no idea of the number of weapons the creatures had, let alone if the cyclops were the only things living there.

C
If nobody hurts you,
be silent
The cyclops sound tired and done, as all 10 of the eyes disappear into the darkness, clearly leaving him alone.

Poly
Don't go
The cyclops sounds sad and desperate, reaching a hand out towards where they were, before letting it fall to the ground as his shoulders slump.

O
Let’s grab the sheep and away we go.
O glance at E, sweat rolling down his face, but still refusing to look panicked or worried now that he’d pulled himself together. The crew running, one of them with the sheep under arm, O amongst them, though he’s closer to the end. And then times flickers, O glancing over his shoulder as his left arm is grabbed at the wrist mid run.

“Athena?” Tele jolts and shifts to sit up against his dad’s free side, curious and worried because both Ath and his dad said she was different 10 years ago.

“What on earth could she need right then?” Penelope demands as she starts to rise, only for Ody’s arm to tug her right back to him.

“I mean, it’s Athena, she’s likely going to scold me for something given the way things are going.” Odysseus shrugs the slightest bit, before letting out a muffled grunt as Telemachus’ fingers grab his chiton – and some of the skin underneath as well – and fists it.

“You’ve done nothing wrong. Sure, your plan wasn’t perfect and you lost people, but none of them deserves a scolding.” Polites protests immediately, because the Goddess might be a goddess, but his friend is grieving and hurting and needs anything but a scolding and more pressure.

“She would scold you for a plan like that? Even after the war? She must’ve been really rough for the entire time as well, but you wouldn’t tell that, so damnit, we’re gonna have to work on that.” Eurylochus can only imagine how often they had to pull him to bed and sleep with him just to get him to sleep, as well as how often he must’ve cried in places most wouldn’t see him since he is still a king.

“She was different back then, but she has changed for the better.” Pen would know, after all, she had only caught glimpses of the goddess before, but even she has noticed the change.

“Yeah, and the way we are together has changed as well.” Ody chuckles slightly, because he can’t say he misses how they used to be, given she was distant and likely only ever saw him as her student, rather than a person, a friend.

A
Have you forgotten the lessons I taught you?
Athena looks angry as she holds his wrist, while he seems surprised.
He’s still a threat until he's dead
She lets go of his wrist, which he immediately wraps his other hand around, gaze falling, while she points towards the cave and cyclops with her spear and shield.
Finish it
It’s an order, not a suggestion, not a choice, an order.

O
No
His voice, in contrast, is deep and tired and he looks that way too, bags under his eyes, the weight of everything resting on him.

A
No?
A sounds flabbergasted and surprised at the word, her eyes narrowing as she looks at him.

“Why the hell would he go back? There are 10 more cyclops at least, possibly more, and any number of other creatures could be there, all with an unknown amount of weapons and you want him to go back to die?” Pen asks incredulously, because she loves the goddess, but for her to go like this?

“She really doesn’t understand human limits, does she?” The question is almost calm and really more of a statement, but all close to Penelope shift, she gets dangerous like this, quite a few remember when she simply scooped her shorter husband into her arms and carried him to their bed to get him to rest, when he ignored his own limits.

“Well, she’s a goddess, their existence is different from ours.” Odysseus shrugs, though the piercing look he gets has him wincing and shifting Telemachus on his chest, amused when the boy grasps a finger and won’t let go.

“I’m so confused, she’s the goddess of wisdom, and I get he’s a threat that she wants gone, but there’s no wisdom in taking on an enemy that could have stronger, faster, back up you don’t stand a chance at facing.” Tele frowns because Ath had told him often to make sure there are no reinforcements that might attack later into the fight, but she’s going against that advice here.

“Is she angry or is there really something here we are missing?” Eurylochus doesn’t know the goddess as well as his brother, but surely there’s something more to this than just her wanting the cyclops dead because he’s a threat.

“I mean, she seems more angry than anything, which makes me think this might be something personal for her.” Polites shrugs, though he’s thinking of what Athena is known for hating, trying to figure out which category the cyclops comes under. (Poseidon comes up, but he shoves it aside, because there’s no way they’re that unlucky… right?)

O
What good would killing do?
He’s looking at her now, almost begging her with his eyes, his hands both at his side.
When mercy is a skill more of this world can learn to use?
O lifts both his hands up to around his chest, palm up as if offering something, before clenching them into fists and pulling them closer to his chest, practically begging she’ll understand him.
My friend is dead,
Tears gather in his eyes as he says it, right arm outstretched to the side, a look entering his eyes as if he’s perhaps finally accepting this.

“My friend…” Polites had never wanted to hurt his brothers, so watching this hurts him as well, and he reaches a hand up to gently rest on Odysseus’ stomach, amused when tiny feet kick at him.

“You’re still grieving…” Penelope realizes with horror, she had known but it only now hits her, he could’ve used Athena’s support, her anything other than a lecture and scolding, he needed a friend.

“She’s gonna push him into making a bad decision without knowing because she doesn’t deal with emotions like we do…” Eurylochus breathes, shifting closer to his brothers and hoping to hell they somehow escape this alive and well.

“Yeah, she’s putting more pressure on me, and I’ve lost a close friend as well as several men. We're still hungry and who knows how long it’s been since I slept. I'm off balance and uncertain, but she as always is focusing on the fight.” Odysseus sighs, because this is not abnormal behavior for her, but he had still hoped she might’ve at least gotten closer to him in their years together.

“She didn’t even try to understand you…” Tele feels something in him squirm at the thought because Ath had always been kind and gentle with him, but how she was 10 years ago is vastly different.

“You had better get some sort of support soon or you’re gonna break.” Pen knows her husband, he never hands anything well if he’s given no support because he’s king and a leader first, people always look to him for answers, so he’s learned to push as many limits as he can without stopping.

“I don’t think I got the support I needed for a bit yet, and even then, not from the person you would expect.” Ody murmurs gently, hugging his family closer, amused when his son’s head fits snuggly into his neck despite the boy being taller than him, gently running his fingers through it, while he massages his wife’s neck.

Our foe is blind
O is practically pleading with her at this point based solely on tone, as he brings his arms together in front of him.
The blood we shed,it never dries
He wipes the tears away with one hand, before cradling his left hand with his right one, gazing at them as if he’s only seeing one thing : all the blood he’s spilt over the last 10 years.
Is this what it means to be a warrior of the mind?
Something in his gaze changes, perhaps an idea or a will to do something he was unsure of, but he just looks tired as he turns away from her.

“Darling…” Penelope wishes she could give that version a hug, but chooses to scoot closer to her husband, running her fingers through his hair in an attempt to both soothe herself and calm him.

“She really doesn’t understand…” Polites had always thought the gods and goddesses had to learn or figure out human emotion, not that they felt them either not at all or completely differently. He’s a bit disappointed in her honestly.

“She’s not even trying, she’s only seeing what she wants done and she’s using me to do it…” Odysseus had always thought Athena cared for him at least a little bit, given she had spent more than 20 years teaching him, but maybe not. He ignores the burning that suggests he might cry and swallows.

“She’s a bit of a bitch, isn’t she?” Eurylochus would never usually be that blunt about it if the Gods and goddess could hear him, but he knows damn well they can’t hear given they’ve reacted to nothing else, so he says it freely.

“Ath really didn’t understand at that point… those ten years must’ve been what taught her.” Pen wonders how much time of those ten years the goddess spent watching over her and Tele since she knows she saw owls quite often, not just at night.

“I want to know what this means though, because surely there is more to being a warrior of the mind, right? I don’t know if I could survive that much blood and fighting.” Tele knows there has to be more, otherwise his father wouldn’t have been one for so long, but it seems in his mind, that a warrior of the mind and the general who was known for his craftiness – underhanded tricks others call them – as the same thing.

“I can’t say it surprises me that at that point I had reached the limit to the bloodshed I could take, not with the grief clouding as much as it was and certainly not since I had long since hated being called a general, so a warrior of the mind was becoming the same thing to me and I hated it.” Ody knows that’s not really healthy or anything, but he’s trying and that counts for something, right?

A
Don’t!
The tone is warning, her hand reaching out for his shoulder as her power flickers, before she either gives up or decides it’s just not worth it and it fades completely.

O
Hey, cyclops!
There is anger in O’s voice as he faces what has to be the cave and perhaps even the cyclops himself.
When we met, I led with peace
He lifts his left arm out to his side, palm up, before clenching it into a fist.
While you fed your inner beast
He raises his right arm, sword pointing out, the headband still wrapped around his wrist.
But my comrades will not die in vain
The crew are watching and listening, but not a one makes a move to stop him or offer another choice or opinion.

“Oh Ody, you just needed someone to support you and take the weight away for a bit so you could breathe.” Pen gently massages the shoulder closest to her, because even now he still gets tense there, and doesn’t miss how he shifts his legs around.

“Shit, she really just didn’t try very hard, did she?” Odysseus can’t believe it, instead of giving him council, helping him, even just giving him a damn hug, his goddess is letting him make a mistake of huge proportions.

“I don’t know what she’s thinking, but it’s nothing good.” Eurylochus arrows his eyes at the actions of the goddess, because the way she’s acting has him wanting to step in front of his brother and king.

“What the hell is she thinking?!” Polites demands, shifting a bit to level an unimpressed glare at the screen because that is brother’s more or less adoptive mother, for all intents and purposes, and she is letting him make a decision while under grief and weight and so much stress.

“She really is just letting you do this.” Tele had thought maybe she had tried to stop his dad or at least something other than stand back and watch, but his mentor had really just let his father fuck them all over.

“Ath and I had so many talks and I think another one might be in our future, because you’re definitely doing better, but not so much so to be past this yet.” Pen is not certain if her husband has gotten an apology for Ath’s actions yet, but she’s gonna find out.

“Don’t worry, we forgave each other for this a long time ago, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to stand being around her, given everything.” Ody knows that might seem cruel, but his goddess had done this and then proceeded to abandon him for 10 years, he was a bit angry at her but they know they were both in the wrong here.

Remember them
O’s eyes are dark and empty and grieving as he gazes forwards.
The next time you dare choose not to spare
It’s clear he’s trying to make a point as his gaze gets more determined.
Remember them
He’s not letting the cyclops get away with this.
Remember us
Not without making certain that he knows there could’ve been another way, his gaze clear and pointed forward, grief and pain and loss all buried for the moment because he is still captain, king, and can not afford to break.

“You are going to rest for so damn long.” Pen mutters under her breath, because she had not realized how much work her husband was doing until this moment. Thinking back, he’s taken on most of his duties and such, which means he’s overworking himself again, after 10 long years of being stuck with stress, injury and hunger.

“We’re gonna make you take breaks, even if that means I have to get Diomedes to come over.” Tele levels an unimpressed look at his parents because he knows damn well they both have a thing with the man and at this point, he would prefer the three just get the hell together or whatever teh fuck they’re gonna do, instead of this.

“I mean, we do that, you’re gonna have to deal with all three of uf, are you certain you can handle that?” Ody counters his son, giving a wide grin, amused and definitely sly, which has Tele making a face because maybe that won’t work, though he still wants them to work that shit out.

“He’d better remember.” Polites hisses, because he had been killed, as had at least another 10 or so men, though he’s worried about what his brother’s about to do.

“Why the hell didn’t I take over or give you a break?” Eurylochus growls, so damn done with his counterpart, because he is the second in command, a position given to him with trust and faith, so he could take over when the captain, his brother, needed a break.

“I’m concerned about that too, because you also need a break, but at least as the SIc you can afford to grieve with the crew and not be looked down on or disrespected or hell, even lose trust for doing so.” Penelope is not impressed, because that just shows how much stress her husband has had to face the last 10 years of war and she hates it.

“God, I’m gonna need a break after all this shit.” Odysseus can only imagine how tired, worn down and broken he’s gonna be by the time they get to Ithaca, but he’s also gonna be excited, because he’ll be able to see his family again.

Remember me
His gaze becomes dark again, face shifting into something not quite a glare but close, his sword pointed at the cyclops.
I’m the reigning king of Ithaca
He moves to sheathe his sword, the sword stopping for a moment in front of his chest, before he sheathes it completely.
I am neither man nor mythical
He shifts so he’s facing the cyclops completely again, instead of part of his body turned, but still no one makes a move to stop him or make sure this is the right path, his gaze still determined, dark.

“Odysseus!” Penelope cries in horror, anger and worry, because he’s giving that cyclops information he really shouldn’t.

“What the hell am I doing?” Odysseus himself demands incredulously, because he has to know that’s a bad idea, but he’s still doing it, which makes no sense.

“Why the fuck aren’t I stopping you?” Eurylochus knows damn well this will cause them troubles later, it has to, so why hasn't he stepped in to stop the man and give him a break.

“Odysseus, you are in need of a goddamn shoulder right now. Eurylochus, you are supposed to be that shoulder, because we all know you’re the only one he will cry on, both because of his position and because you're his brother, more so than the men will ever be.” Polites knows that might seem rude, but Eury has the entire crew to cry on and with, while Ody will only have Eury.

“I can understand this..” Tele mutters, recalling how badly he had wanted to scream and cry and threaten the suitors whenever they broke something important to him.

“Oh, beloved, I am going to get you in the bath, make sure you are clean and then put you to goddamn bed after all of this.” Pen doesn’t even know if she means after this viewing or after this section of videos, but she’ll do it and they all know it.

“As long as I get to have you two with me, I don’t really care.” Ody responds, because they’ve taken baths as a family before, he prefers it since it means they’re in reach, given he still has a bit of a paranoia around water, though he’s gotten much better, and he’s also managed to at least somewhat appease Poseidon, with offerings and such, until the god had finally responded. (Getting drenched by a wave that seemed a bit angry, a lot annoyed and somewhat fond had been an interesting experience, but he had gotten the message.)

I am your darkest moment
Something even darker comes into his eyes then, not anger or pain or anything, just something darker in general, making him look exhausted and tired and just run down.
I am the infamous
He’s standing near the ram of the ship, left leg resting on something since it’s shifted forward a bit, left hand resting around the hilt of his sheathed sword, the crew still behind him.
Odysseus!
There is anger and rage there now, but it doesn’t feel quite right, almost like he’s forcing himself, perhaps more accurately like he’s letting show a raw part of him he should have kept a bit more controlled and hidden. The ship creaks as it starts to move away from the island, and then the cyclops turns to show it is smiling, happily, widely, as if the man had done something it expected, wanted even.

“Oh shit.” Polites breathes because that must surely mean the cyclops has a plan or idea that’s going to make this worse, which means his parent must be…surely not, right? Right?

“We are so fucked…” Eurylochus breathes, because he had just let his brother give away his name, the island they live on and all of that without killing the cyclops or stopping the man.

“Fuck…. I’m sorry, this must make things much harder, sorry, sorry…” Odysseus starts to repeat sorry over and over, well aware most of them won’t blame him but still needing to say the word because damnit, he had just made things so much worse.

“At least with Athena there, the action can’t be too terrible, right?” Penelope tries to soothe him, gently petting his hair and nudging Telemachus closer to his father, happy when he babbles and tries to chew on the finger in his hand, which makes his dad smile, exactly what he needed.

“And she just left after all that?” Pen isn’t impressed right now, but she knows there had to be more there, given this is Ody, her beloved, he was hurting and in pain, there’s no way in hell he didn’t match the goddess’ energy.

“You know, you seem to match the energy and actions of most of the people who are around you when you don’t know what to do or are so overwhelmed you don’t know how to act.” Tele had noticed it, how his dad seemed to sometimes match his or mother’s energy without fail, almost effortlessly.

“Yeah, I think it was a trick or something my mom taught me.” Ody admits gently, given she was really the one who raised him more than anything since his dad was having a hard time ruling with his mind as it was.

“Alright, now what the hell?” Polites turns to the older group, shifting in order to sit on the bottom of the bed, which has the others turning to sit and look at them as well, Odyssey carefully placing a hand on Telemachus’ back and under his butt to make sure he doesn’t fall as he does so, before passing the babe over to his mom when he makes a hungry noise. Penelope takes him without hesitation and lets him start to nurse.

“What are we asking here? Cause I imagine there’s a limit to what we’ll be allowed to say.” Pen watches them easily, amused, even as she gently pushes her son aside when he leans over to mess with her hair, redirecting him towards Ody instead, despite the disgruntled and indignant sound she gets for it. It’s worth it for the half heartedly grumbling and bright smile she gets from two different people.

“You all look so much older… How long has it been?” Eurylochus is certain it had to have been at least another 5, but it could be more and that bothers him, especially because how much of that is time they’d been home?

“Ahh, I don’t think we’re allowed to answer that one.” Ody answers easily, because the moment he’d thought of even answering, his throat had more or less closed itself around the words as if they were forbidden fruit.

“Alright, then how about I ask this: how rough was the journey?” Odysseus tries for, wanting to know what he might be in for if they can’t change this, even the slightest bit.

“Really rough. It breaks you in ways only you will ever really see, you and mom.” Tele answers that easily, to the surprise of the others as they notice he’s practicing braids in Ody’s hair, the older man not seeming bothered or surprised at this, even though his hair is only barely long enough for such a thing.

“So you really are them, then?” Polites had kind of been hoping there was a mistake or something, because his brother looks so roughed up and different now, not even mentioning the way the three of them are refusing to put much space between each other, it hurts his heart.

“Of course. We’re not certain why we’re here anymore than you are, but we are and we’re learning some new things as well.” Pen answers, though she is uncertain exactly how much more they’ll get from this.

“Damn, so what I was going wouldn’t definitely did, huh?” Penelope sighs, already tired because she knows the news of the war ending would’ve reached her, so suitors would’ve started showing up within months of Odysseus not returning, though she’s uncertain how long it’s been in these showings.

“Yeah, but don’t worry we handled it.” Tele gives a wicked, downright gleeful grin, almost reminiscent of another person - ahem* hermes ahem* - that makes them a bit nervous.

“Alright, let’s get settled for this next one.” Ody mutters, shifting a bit, gently tugging his hair from his boy’s hands, ignoring the annoyed sound he gets, before propping himself up against the headboard. Penelope curls into his side and Tele takes that as a chance, squishing himself on top of both of them without hesitation, letting out a giggle at the sounds they both make, equally fond and indignant.

Odysseus watches for a moment, worried and uncertain because they might not have been able to answer, but Telemachus looks about 20, maybe a bit older, which means he took a while to get them home, though how long it’s been he’s not sure. Penelope tugging on his sleeve has him sliding into place, yelping as Telemachus is handed to him and immediately grabs his hair, yanking it. As he works to free his hair, the others share looks with each other, worried as well, before settling around. Eurylochus refuses to be unable to protect his brothers, so he settles on a side, making sure Polites is between him and Odysseus.

On the king’s other side, his wife settles, watching in amusement as her husband tries to free his hair, before gently helping him because this is one of the times where Telemachus is being stubborn, refusing to let go, but she gently draws his attention to her, which allows her darling to lift his head and get his hair free, a finger easily offered instead, though their boy ignores it and instead grabs his chiton.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Before the next scenes can start, the room shakes hard, everything vibrating and shifting, but nothing breaking or falling. Ody grabs his family closer and tucks them under him on the chance something does fall, glancing around, careful to make sure both can see as well. Pen watches the ceiling, while Tele glances at the walls, trying to figure out why the room started shaking.

Odysseus and Penelope hunch over Telemachus, glancing around both focused on protecting their child, leaving Polites and Eurylochus to check around, however none of them see anything. They start to relax and settle back in as nothing happens, just for Odysseus to tense and shift himself, staring resolutely at a spot, while Ody and Tele glance at another, less tense and seeming more wryly amused.

From the ceiling, drops a familiar figure, if only from a single video, Athena landing in a crouch and glancing around, before moving towards her champion. “Odysseus, what have you gotten yourself into? This place was next to impossible to find, never mind tracking you.” She seems stern, but there’s some concern there as she stops at the edge of the bed, eyes flickering over him and the others for injuries.

“I really wish we could answer that, Athena.” Penelope chuckles slightly, relaxing and shifting into a more comfortable position now, dragging Odysseus with her.

“It turns out, Odysseus is going to do some stupid shit in the future and someone wanted to let us know.” Polites responds easily as he settles back down as well.

Eurylochus doesn’t even say anything, just plops onto the bed and squirms until he’s comfortable. None of them get to say anything else as they realize there’s another presence as a voice they’re starting to recognize as Tele’s cries out “Ath!” and they glance towards the older counterparts.

The young man - likely Tele - has jumped out of the bed and is hugging the waist of a similar figure, another Athena, though this one appears older and wiser somehow, despite not having aged a bit, her helmet the exact same, the armor as well.

“Young Tele, how on earth have you been dragged into your father’s shenanigans, hmm?” Ath hums teasing as she runs fingers through his hair, ignoring the indignant sound that comes from Ody’s mouth, or the giggle from Pen, instead heading over to settle on the bed next to them, accepting the memories of what they’ve already seen as she does so. (If she does that so she can touch each of them and know they are ok and alive, then that’s nobody's business but hers.)

Athena watches, confused and surprised, but more than willing to learn, as she settles on a kline - one she summons - next to the bed the younger ones are settled on, accepting the memories and carefully schooling her expression, though she is extremely confused on why she seems so angry with Odysseus, yes killing the cyclops would be wiser, but the limited space, number of cyclops and other unknowns is not wise for him, so why would she insist?

O still looking angry from yelling at the cyclops, before his face starts to blank, except the world around him flickers, which has him staring in wide eyed surprise, as he turns around, the world freezes. Athena is there, her back to him, head down, as he turns to fully face her, looking like he’s bracing for something. He looks down and then lifts his head up again.
A
You were reckless
She doesn’t even bother to turn, the disappointment and sadness blunt, one hidden under the other.
Sentimental at best
She tilts her head a bit more to look over her shoulder at him.
That’s not a teaching of mine
There’s definitely some anger in her voice now, her head almost completely turned to look over her shoulder.

“She’s not entirely right or wrong.” Polites frowns, not even bothering to be more considerate of his words with a goddess - even if it is the one they’re currently watching - in the room with them.

“Being sentimental is a way to say it, though honestly, I think you’re just tired of spilling so much blood, dear.” Penelope soothes, gently running fingers through Odysseus’ hair as she does so.

Telemachus says nothing, but he does clutch at the chiton under his hands, enjoying the warm and familiar soft - despite the callouses on them - hands that cradle him.

“I have to say, as much as I half ass agree, this is also really not the time to lecture him.” Eurylochus frowns, because Odysseus hasn’t even had time to mourn, is in fact still covered in the blood of the men he had lost.

Odysseus himself grimaces, because he might not know that look or tone of voice, having heard it less often than others - Diomedes - but he’s been told of it and can already tell this is not going to be nice, though he’s also certain he’s going to say something he shouldn’t.

“Ahh…” Ath lets out, a small almost surprised sound but not really, as she seems to slump a bit, scooting closer to her royal family, because this is not a time she’d have wanted to show up, but she’s not upset she had, she’d been worried when he connection to both Ody and Tele had - not necessarily broken but - almost completely closed itself.

“Yeah, not our greatest moment, this one. At least this does show how far we’ve come from this, as well as that I’m fairly certain war does affect gods as well.” Ody throws out, because he’d always thought the gods and goddesses had to be affected somehow or there’d be more wars waged by them. When Ath doesn’t respond, he sighs, and proceeds to slump against her, settling under her arm without a thought.

“He’s still covered in blood and hasn’t had a chance to be weak, to cry and let out his emotions from what he just experienced, this was certainly not the best time for discipline.” Pen frowns, though she also understands that the goddess was different back then and has definitely changed. She scoots back into her husband’s side, amused when the goddess settles her hand on the curve of her shoulder, able to handle the divinity because she might not be around goddesses as often as her two men, but she is part nymph.

“Oh, so this is how you two broke apart.” Tele frowns, moving to cuddle against his dad and goddess’ side, wanting to comfort both of them because they’d both apologized and gotten past this, but it’ll likely still hurt to hear and see it again.

You’ve grown soft,
She turns to face him, looking angry and disappointed, sad as well, though the slight sneer on her face hides it.
Your dead friends can attest
It’s blunt and point blank, almost like she’s throwing it in his face.

O
Hey!
Odysseus steps forward, looking angry at the words, his voice a growl or warning to his goddess, though under it all there is hurt.

“Ath!” Tele cries in shock and hurt, because that was such a low blow.

“Not my best moment, but I have apologized and worked to make up for this.” Ath admits, because she had no problems admitting she was wrong and he was right during the apology, but apologizing for insulting his fallen men, it had hurt and been harder than she expected.

“I went that far?” Athena is surprised at herself, she had let her emotions get the better of her for her to be aiming a blow that low against her own so-student, her favorite at that.

“How did you take that and continue to listen to her?” Odysseus turns to his counterpart, trying to ignore the feeling of being stabbed in the chest by emotions, because he’d not expected his goddess to reprimand him and insult the men he’d just lost, one of whom was his best friend.

“I didn’t take it, I defended the men even then as best I could but she’s also still our Goddess and I wanted to see what she had to say, if it was important or just more of a lecture.” Ody knows that’s not the best explanation, but he’d hoped she might’ve just had a tough start trying to comfort him, or scold him, so he’d listened in the hopes he might’ve been right, even as his heart broke and a weight settled on his chest. (Not to mention how cold his bones had felt after she had removed her blessing.)

“He is mourning and still covered in blood, has had not a moment to himself to break down, and you are berating him? It was not a smart choice, even he knows that at this point, but he can not take it back and going back was not a smart move either.” Penelope frowns at the goddess next to them, because 11 cyclops against the limited men they could fit on the island did not seem a good match.

“I’m more impressed she was willing to go that low, seems you really did burrow into her heart like the lying snake you are.” Pen teases, poking her husband’s nose and giggling as he gives her a pout at the action and words.

“We need to work something out, so this doesn’t happen, because she’s really angry and you can’t afford to piss her off or lose her blessing, not over something like this, not at that moment, if we can’t completely change this.” Polites mutters, already trying to figure out how they can change any of this, as well as what they might be able to change, given they were not told.

“At least we know there might be a chance for us to get a better ending.” Eurylochus murmurs softly, sparing a glance at the older group, because he has a feeling the only one who got back was Ody, given their counterparts could have easily been brought in as well but were not, meaning they likely did not survive the trip. (He ignores the way his heart skips a beat at the thought of dying, as well as the thoughts wondering how it happened.)

A
Put your emotions aside
Her voice makes it clear this is something she’s likely said before, as she gazes down on him from her almost 2 feet on his height.
You’re a warrior meant to lead the rest
She holds her left arm out towards him, before turning slightly, spreading her arms out as if to encompass his crew and the army of men he’d led in the war not long ago.
I don’t know where I went wrong
Her left hand open in front of her, before she raises it to pinch the bridge of her nose, the right one fisting in front of her, before she raises both in front of her, open but fingers curled, looking and sounding angry.

“Well, your problem is that you are trying to make him feel no emotions. Humans have so many that pushing them aside, bottling them up or locking them away is next to impossible, even with years of training.” Polites feels no fear as he frowns at the Goddess because that is his best friend suffering at the moment.

“Emotions are what led to him kaing that irrational decision in the first place.” Athena counters, because she knows if he had not been grieving and hurting from the loss of his friend and men, he’d have never revealed his name to the cyclops.

“Emotions are what led him to try and make sure his friends and men did not go unremembered and forgotten by the cyclops that had stolen their life after Xenia was tentatively put into place, in a way, given that they could not give them burials, let alone coins.” Ath immediately reprimands, unwilling to just let herself go unchecked and maintain her distance because she had left Ody alone for 10 long years - the longest 10 years she’s ever experienced in her existence - and longed for his presence the entire time.

“Are you actually on our side?” Eurylochus seems surprised by Ath coming to their defense and helping, but he’s also questioning it because the Athena on the showing and sitting with them seems really angry and disappointed with Odysseus over one action done under emotional duress.

“She always is, sometimes it just takes a little longer for her to figure it out.” Ody grins in amusement at the fingers that gently tug his hair in retaliation, before they start running through it, fluffing it in some areas.

“So then the odds of her doing this…?” Odysseus murmurs trying to figure it out in his head, gently soothing Telemachus when the boy starts to gnaw at his chiton, easily passing him to his mother who gently starts to feed him with that same motion, none of them sparing a blink to it, except for Tele who makes sure his focus is elsewhere, to his parents amusement if the chuckling is anything.

“So you two had a really hard argument?” Tele had believed them, but had not quite realized it was this harsh, and really currently more a one sided dressing down than anything, given the way Ath is talking.

“Love, just please remember that is in fact still a goddess, whatever she might’ve taught you and however much you might love her, she can still smite you so be careful with your words.” Penelope knows there’s no point in saying that, given her husband isn’t currently taking these actions, will do so in the future - if they can’t change it - but it still calms her to know he might remember those words.

“Yeah, be careful with your words, dear.” Pen coos mockingly at her husband, who gives her a bland, unimpressed, unamused look, because they had both heard the goddess cuss a bird out for flying around her head - a dove from the looks, so perhaps sent by Aphroditde - and so they are well aware Ath doesn’t give a damn about language or words.

But I warned ya,
A turns back to him, her face falling blank almost, as she gazes at him, right hand out of sight and left one fisted where it’s barely outstretched at her side.
And you failed the test
She’s moved closer to him, O shifting backwards the slightest bit, but still watching and listening to her.
So now I’m gone
She leans down closer to him to say it, making the words clear and his eyes wide in surprise and hurt as he understands the words.

“What…?” Odysseus breathes out, certain he had heard wrong because there’s no way his Goddess - his mother honestly - had just said she was leaving him for a single mistake.

“No.” Athena denies, because surely she is not falling to the exact mistake she is lecturing him for, she is not letting her emotions get the better of her and drive her decision, please no.

“You’re leaving him over something like that?” Tele had expected it to be something more serious, not that it’s not serious, but the goddess is leaving because she’s letting her own emotions blind her and taking action without her usual logic.

“You really needed someone there for both of you, to translate and to make sure you had someone to not let you break like this.” Pen sighs, can already see how this must’ve hurt her husband and the goddess, though neither is likely to admit that.

“We really could’ve used Polites there, to no one’s surprise.” Ath sighs sadly, because she would’ve loved to have had the chance to talk to the man again - she had done so a few times after he’d drugged her student to sleep during the war - and misses him as well.

“Yeah, he just had a way of making everything seem just a bit easier, didn’t he?” Ody sighs, slumping further into his goddess, because he’d talked with her about Pol before, both of them trying to properly mourn him to move on.

“She’s leaving?” Polites jolts at the very thought, because that will let other Gods take shots at the crew and his friends, because they have no protection anymore.

“Shit, we’re going to get fucked.” Eurylochus had not thought the Goddess would actually leave their brother over something like this, because this is the first time he’s ever not completely obeyed her, so he’d expected a slap on the wrist, not an ‘I’m leaving.’

Penelope frowns. “My lady, I have to say you’re not exactly setting the best example. You are letting your emotions blind and control you right nor, or else you would not be as angry at him, much less so disappointed. Yes, he could’ve killed the cyclops, but then you would have him and a chunk of his crew stuck in the cave with no way out and what we now know are at least 10 more cyclops who’d have likely eaten them, or you’d have had to help out and figure out some kind of excuse.” The woman knows exactly how likely godly intervention is, given Zeus is their king, so really, her husband had chosen the best path.

This way, you’ll know what your place is
She lifts herself back up to her original height, no longer in his face, gaze and voice almost clinical and far more formal than it was before.
This way, you can’t cross the line
It’s hard to say if she’s setting the boundary for him or herself, even as her gaze narrows at him, clearly still angry at what he’d done.
This way, when all is over you’ll keep
She shifts, eyes getting more blank and determined, as she lifts her left arm and summons her spear to her hand, which appears with a small flash of light.
Yours and I’ll keep mine
O looks tired and exhausted or worn as he stares up at her, clearly the war and years of fighting had hit him, as well as at least some of the grief of losing his best friend and men.

“No.’ Polites growls, sitting up further and turning to the Goddess beside them. ‘I can at least a little forgive you for falling to your own emotions, after all you are still a living being, if not a human, but you don’t get to completely ignore my friend - your students - condition like that and expect nothing.”

“I am not ignoring it, at least, I don’t think so…” Athena herself has not gone through the ten years of war, so she can’t say how long her student, her child has looked tired and it became normal instead of worrying as it should be.

“Athena, it was ten years of war and then shortly after we win, we go to hunt and my men and best friend gets killed. I was breaking and you are either ignoring that completely or don’t realize it’s hurting me more because we just spent ten years killing people and men in the army likely died all the time.” Odysseus isn’t trying to make it better, isn’t certain he can, truly, but she had to be affected by all the death as well, given it’s a reminder that he is human, meaning he’d both going to die in a few short years to her and that those years can be cut short easily.

“You’re kidding me. You’re setting this line down now, after years of training him and war?” Eurylochus can’t say he’s impressed or happy about this, given the goddess had years to try and at least make sure they could listen to each other during emotional times and had not.

“I really had been worried, but I would not allow myself to show it, because Pol could’ve easily been Ody, and I was terrified of losing you after being at your side for so long.” Ath admits because it’s rare for her to find chosen ones as young as she found Ody, she had practically raised her child, and being at his side for over 20 years had made her love him all the more, but a chunk of those years spent watching other mortals die so easily had made her scared of losing him. (She had lost him anyway, for ten long years, due to her own actions, but she’s trying.)

“You weren’t ignoring my state either, it’s just how I’d look since at least half way through the war, because there was just so much death and so many things for me to do that I rarely got to grief between battles, battle plans and meeting, let alone sleeping, eating and checking in with the men.” Ody had so many duties during the war sleep, eating and drinking, as well as bathing and taking care of himself in general had fallen out of the list, focusing on battle plans, on making sure his men were happy and healthy.

“You really had way too many responsibilities during the war, love.” Pen sighs tiredly, because her darling had lost a lot of weight on his journey, but she’s certain some of it was lost during the war long before anyone even realized it.

“Yeah dad. You are always taking on way too much. If you think I haven’t noticed you starting to eat less and sleep less recently, in order to finish your duties, hang out with me, and mom as well as manage to regain your reputation killing the suitors and greet friends who come to see if you’ve truly returned, you’re wrong.” Tele levels a look at his dad, who grins sheepishly, he’s really thought he was sneaking that past the two - four - of them, but it appears not and given the looks he’s getting, he certainly won’t be able to after this.

This way, you won't’ disappoint me
She starts to move, spear still in hand as she makes her point clear.
This way, you won’t waste my time
A turns her back towards him as she says this line, though it’s uncertain whether she’s doing it to make a point or because she’s trying to steel herself.
This way, I’ll close the door
She fully turns her back to him, spear jolting in her grip likely meaning she set it on the ground.
Consider this as my goodbye
She doesn’t move beyond tilting her head the slightest bit towards him, back still turned, spear still set, helmet still on.

“You’re not just bluffing… she really left?” Odysseus turns to his counterpart, wanting some kind of reassurance given the two of them look close. Surely that means she either didn’t leave or they don’t face too many hardships without her.

“Unfortunately, she may have been bluffing to start with in an attempt to get me to apologize or admit I was wrong, but it was not the time so it did not go the way she planned.” Ody knows damn well their goddess had been bluffing, to start off with, at least a bit, but he’d attacked her the same way she was attacking him, wanting her to know how he was feeling and she really left.

“You’re kidding. She left and we let her remain around?” Penelope turns to her counterpart for the first time, wanting to know how and why they had allowed the goddess back into their home after that.

“She made a mistake, one she regrets deeply, and after we learned some of the truth, we knew she deserved the chance to rest and recover. Plus, it meant our dear Tele here got the two of them to talk about their problems.” Pen grins in amusement, because she may not have originally liked the goddess much, or at least not been very happy with her, but she’s moved past that at this point.

Athena hesitates, but rarely will she ever get this chance again, so she turns as well. “We truly left him for this?” Her voice has the slightest bit of hesitation to it as well, sadness hidden in them.

“Yes, and we regret it for a while, because we lost a good chunk of time with him as a result.” Ath nods, more than willing to admit she was at fault as much as Ody, because they could have handled this another way, for certain.

“Odysseus…” Polites winces and gently hugs his friend closer because he never had a goddess or god interested in him, but he can’t imagine how much it must hurt to lose a mother like this, at such a time.

“He had a few pillars to lean on to let himself relax and be a bit more human. Me, Polites and Athena. Are you telling me he’s losing two of those pillars and mine’s crumbling?” Eurylochus can’t, because he’ll need time to grieve as well, and he obviously was doubting his brother, but he won’t betray him, not at a time like this.

“You two really let this go way too far without thinking about it, but given the emotions you both were feeling at the time, it makes sense, unfortunately. I’m glad you’ve made up.” Tele hastes watching them hurt and break like this right in front of each other, but he knows there’s nothing he can do at the moment.

O
That’s just like you,
O is looking down at the ground, looking unsurprised despite the blow this must’ve dealt him given everything else happening.
Why should I be surprised?
He has a small grin, but it’s more grim and wry and amused than anything, as he hunches in on himself the slightest bit.
Selfish and prideful and vain
He looks satisfied as he says the first line, but the last one he looks more sad, as if this is hurting him despite the fact that he’s really only lashing out because he’s not had time to grief.

“I deserved that at that moment, don’t you dare apologize, it was the blunt truth given everything and I needed someone to tell me given no one else would.” Ath cuts Ody off before he can even open his mouth, because he had developed a bad habit of apologizing for things not his fault - she’s still waiting for Zeus’ (Hera’s) permission to dole punishment out to Calypso - on the island.

“You said that to her face?” Eurylochus demands, horrified because he knows there have been favored men, women, kings, demi-gods even, who had been struck down for less and those weren’t even to the god or goddess’ face.

“Shit, he clearly didn’t mean it, please lady Athena, he was merely trying to make you hurt so he wasn’t alone, it’s a human thing when we are not given enough time to grief or push it aside.” Polites tries to cover and help his friend because in that scene he is alone, has no one to protect or defend him from his own words.

“Do you truly think so?” Athena asks, voice wavering the slightest bit, looking a bit hurt and surprised as she turns to Odysseus, who starts at both being addressed and the fact he’d dared say that.

“I mean, not at the moment, but this is ten years in the future, so something might’ve changed in that time. You might be a bit overbearing and really push me with the training and rules you want, but I’ve not had those thoughts yet.” Odysseus wants to say he’s never had them, but his future counterpart had kind of just proved him wrong.

“Darling, the things you say really need to be watched, but just this once I think you're’ in the right.” Penelope would usually scold him for saying such a thing to a goddess, but that goddess had also just insulted his dead friends, made an unreasonable demand and then told him she was leaving at his most vulnerable time.

“Honestly, after all that, I want to say that might’ve been overkill, but that was kind of deserved, Ath.” Tele shrugs at the look he gets, because their goddess had definitely crossed a few lines she shouldn’t have in this goodbye, though his dad is getting close to stepping over some - likely will - himself.

“If we’re telling the truth, I had hoped lashing out at you like that would have one of two reactions, you’d leave me alone so I could grief and apologize later, or you’d perhaps pause long enough to actually listen and realize I was hurting and needed you, but I didn’t really take into consideration anything else.” Ody knows that wasn’t necessarily smart, but the grief had been so strong, so heavy, as had the guilt, that he can’t really recall some of the time before or a good chunk after this.

“At least you made amends and figured things out, even if I do wish it had been much sooner, there’s only so much even a goddess can do against the Fates.” Pen isn’t certain what her husband had done to deserve so much suffering and pain on his way home, not why it had to take ihm 10 long years, but at least that hopefully means they’ll get the rest of their lives in peace.

Unlike you, every time someone dies
He looks sad, worn, weary as he continues, clearly trying to make a point and be heard, knowing this will likely not reach her.
I’m left to deal with the strain
It almost seems like he’s asking for her support, even as his hand rises to clench the front of his chiton in front of his heart, almost as if begging to ask her for advice or something.
What’s a title that a goddess could lend
His arms are out to his sides, before he motions towards her with both, as if to make his point clear, though it also seems like he’s asking her for a hug or something to help him in this trying time.
If I’ll never sleep at night?
He looks grim and resigned as he stares down at the ground, the bags under his eyes clear to see.

“Oh, dear. You already weren't sleeping at that point, huh?” Pen had really hoped that was something that had developed further in his journey, given he would have his friends' support on the way back, but it sort of makes sense.

“Are we not supporting you or are you hiding it?” Polites bites his lip, because he knows damn well he usually at least sleeps close to Odysseus to make sure he sleeps.

“He’s likely hiding it, which is probably his fault because he thinks it makes him weak, mine because I let him think that and his parents because they raised him to think that or didn’t counter it.” Ath knows he was definitely hiding it, but she had truly thought his parents might have let him know nightmares and things of that nature are natural, not something that makes him weak.

“So it is my fault, most of what is happening here?” Athena is more than aware she can offer him no title or anything to help with his lack of sleep, what he’s asking for is a hug, someone to lean on and she is not usually the goddess most people come for, never mind the person.

“I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if I couldn’t sleep even before that. I doubt I slept well near the beginning or the end, given everything.” Odysseus has no real sound beyond his wife and son when he sleeps, so the sound of war and others would’ve kept him awake during the start of the war, while the worry and guilt would’ve kept him up ear the end of it.

“Darling, you really need sleep, let Eurylochus take over for a few hours or a day or something, but you need to sleep and let yourself rest or you're going to collapse.” Penelope really hopes Eurylochus would in fact take charge, given he seems to turn to her husband for any plans and ideas as well.

“Odysseus, if you need a break let me take over, I’ll lead the men until you are well enough to get back at it, we don’t need you collapsing and passing out on us.” Eurylochus has already had that scare a few times since Odysseus had become king, working so hard he ignores sleep, eats little and drinks barely more.

“You know now we are always here if you need the help to sleep. Especially me, I really like cuddling with you, especially since you’ve regained your weight.” Tele loves being in contact with his dad, even when the man had been so underweight he’d worried a wrong move might break one of his bones, but he’s even more comfortable with his weight back. (He’s also glad that means his dad is healthy and perhaps happy as well.)

“With an offer like that, how can I ever not sleep again?” Ody grins softly down at his son, because sleeping with another person had in fact caused problems at first for him, but his son and wife had never been anything of the sort, despite everything his men and Calypso had done.

I’ll remind you I saw you as a friend
O lifts his head to stare at her, looking sad and hurt, but not nearly as angry as he could. A seems surprised at the words, her mouth falling the slightest bit open.
But now we’re done
His gaze is on the ground, something hard and determined there that wasn’t before. Her spear is not as straight as it was, tilted to the side a bit now.
This way, you’re out of my head now
He moves closer, arms stretched to the side enough to bend his elbow, palms facing her.

“You really are done at this point.” Penelope sighs, she can see where her beloved is fraying and coming apart, gently shifting Telemachus in her arms and adjusting her clothes, before giving him back to Odysseus, who cradles him as though he’s glass.

“I can’t believe I’m still standing if we’re being honest. I really thought the shock and hurt from losing her after Polites and the men would’ve had me collapsing.” Odysseus knows himself - or he thought he did - and he knows that this is a blow he’s not going to handle well.

“If she really leaves, the chances of either of you being the first to reach out is extremely low, you’re both idiots.” Polites puts his head in his hands, uncaring that he had just insulted a goddess, because his friend is being dealt a blow they can not stop.

“Shit, things are already getting so much worse and we haven’t even had a chance to grieve.” Eurylochus sighs heavily, already trying to figure out how they are going to be able to support everyone, given they still don’t have enough food.

“You’re in much worse trouble than you realize.” Athena mutters, because that is likely a son of Poseidon, which she knows, so her counterpart on screen must know as well, but she is still choosing to leave?

“Guess you really were aiming to hurt.” Pen knows her husband and when he’s hurting, if no one bothers him he’ll just let it fester and hurt until he can barely stand it, but if you are with him at the wrong time he lashes out to make you hurt with him, so you have to find that time where he’s willing to talk.

“Aww, you really didn’t see him as a friend at that time?” Tele pouts at Ath, tilting his head back to see her face when she responds, because he loves learning anything and everything he can.

“I did, had long for a long time and hope to until the end of his life, but I was also raised to not think of anyone as friends, given the way my family is, it was just safer, for everyone. So, for him to say that to me and mean it, it hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting.” Ath had not truly had any friends, well not to her knowledge, until recently, but she is grateful for them.

“Yeah, she was starting to get a glimpse of my pain, but I needed her to know if she was going to take this path, she was not going to be able to go back easily.” Ody knows it was the worst thing for him to do at that point, but he had been hurting and his only support, since she had dragged him into Quick-Thought, was Ath herself and she wasn’t helping him.

This way, you won’t plague my life
He opens his arms to the fullest extent to the side, a grin on his face that looks happy, but is more sharp edges and masks than anything.
This way, when all is done,
He steps closer still, to the point he could breathe and they would be touching, as he looks up at A, just looking tired now.
You’re out of sight and out of mind
O looks to the side and down, away from her, clearly uncertain about this but not willing to back down before she does.

“Odysseus!” Athena cries, not certain what she is trying for, if it’s because of the words aimed to hurt, or if it’s because he is hurting so bad she has pushed him to this, but she couldn’t have stopped herself if she tried.

“I really took that as an invitation, didn’t I?” Odysseus sighs, tilting his head back to give Ody a look, who merely shrugs in response to the question because yeah, he’d definitely taken it as one.

“You are so lucky Ath likes you or else you’d have been dead or in pain then.” Tele hums, amused, because those words had definitely been aimed to hurt, but unlike Ath’s who had been aimed to try and teach - wrong time and definitely wrong approach - his are aiming to hurt.

“Yeah, you should be happy you got so close and slithered in like the snake you are that I couldn’t bring myself to hurt you after this.” Ath teases, poking him on the nose and enjoying the muffled squawk she gets from her Fledgling.

“Please, don’t curse the fleet, Lady Athena, and not our brother either, he is just really emotional and was not taught how to control himself during times such as these, except to push them down and that only works when no one bothers him until he’s done,” Polites begs, would bow but there’s really no point if she decides to curse the crew and everything else as well she’ll do so.

“At this point, we’re either going to get cursed or lose our only protection against the other Gods, either way not ideal.” Eurylochus knows he should be begging, but that has certainly not ever changed most gods minds, he’s certain of that.

“You truly are both morons.” Penelope sighs, debating taking Telemachus back just because she can, but her husband looks so calm, cute and relaxed she can’t bring herself to do so, so she instead shifts closer, movies his hair aside and places a kiss on his forehead, amused by the squeak that gets her, as well as the blush. The goddess can’t argue with that or she wouldn't have said it.

“You two really need to learn when to give one another space or not.” Pen sighs as she leans further into her darling, amused when he squirms because her elbow jabs into a place where he’s ticklish, something her son had been delighted to find out, to his father’s dismay and befuddlement.

“I feel attacked.” Ody complaints, pouting because damnit, his entire family had just called him stupid or lucky in some way, and he was neither of those things… most of the time.

This way, you get what you wanted
He doesn’t look happy about this, but his goddess had set the line and rules, he’s merely following them, matching her energy.
This way, you can save your time
There’s hurt in his eyes as he looks up at her, clearly he had thought their time together meant more than she had.
This way, you close the door and have
For a moment, he seems almost blank, empty, hollow.
Your damn goodbye
Then anger and sadness leak into him as he gives into her.

“You truly did not want this, but I had already drawn the line and you were too emotionally compromised to realize I was not being honest, so you were complying…” Athena breathes, horrified that her protege had been pushed this far under her watch and she had not realized or offered help, nothing.

“We were not paying enough attention, as much as we thought we knew human emotion, we were wrong and this was our main memory of that for a long while, until we decided to change it.” Ath admits because this memory had played in her mind for years any time she thought she knew human emotions and reactions, until she had finally checked on Ody after meeting Tele, who hadn’t acted as she’d thought he would either.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all. Odysseus is a smart man, but he’s more sly and cunning so he looks for underhanded tactics… unless he’s grieving or angry and then he won’t see anything because he’s drowning in his own emotions.” Penelope sighs heavily, because she had used that to make him happy before the war, but she’s not certain she’ll be able to after he returns.

“Wait, is that why you told me to make sure someone was always there when he was angry or upset?” Polites asks in worry, because he’d known the man struggled with his emotions, but to the point he drowns under them and needs someone else to help him float along them long enough to get past them had not crossed his mind.

“Was I told this as well at some point, because otherwise no one’s gonna be there for him cause I'll focus on the crew and myself, before even remembering to go to him cause I’m used to Polites doing it.” Eurylochus hopes to god Polites told him at some point during the war, but there’s also a chance he might’ve stumbled upon them by accident and learned then.

“You were really not looking for a trick or a plan or anything. You were just so upset you needed someone to hurt with you and she wasn’t or couldn’t.” Tele frowns, he’d have happily shared the burden with his dad, hurt with him over that death, if it meant the man had gotten home sooner so they could spend more time together. (He is not unaware that his parents are getting on in age.)

“You don’t do that as often, or at least you don’t make it as obvious, but you definitely could’ve taken at least a moment of time to breathe, darling.” Pen runs her fingers through his hair, awed as always when he leans into it and relaxes against her.

“I could’ve, but at the time I was so overwhelmed by the grief of losing my men and best friend, I was barely managing the conversation with her as is. I barely remember a good few days after this, the grief clouded my mind so much.” Ody can easily admit and see that now that he’s had time to properly deal with those emotions and can look back at it, he has few memories of the days after this, of the moments his crew were killed and of the argument, though for certain the argument is the clearest one he has.

“So we truly did not look for a trick or a lie or anything? Not a loophole or even just a hope she was perhaps being controlled somehow?” Odysseus can’t believe it, but he can at the same time, because he knows she means well, but there had been times Athena had hurt him with her own misunderstandings of humans, and he wouldn’t want to fight her at that point, beyond getting her to leave so he could think, breathe, just take a moment.

A
You’re not looking for a mentor
A is clearly angerier now, eyes narrowed and spear still in her hand, something he’d said had hurt, or perhaps she had expected him to fold and apologize immediately.
I’m not looking for a friend
She starts to move around him, right arm held out to the side, spear still in the other one, even as she keeps her gaze on him as she moves almost behind him. O looks like he’s accepted this, gaze weary and old and tired.
I mistook you for a general
A turns to face him, now behind him, right hand curling in front of her in her anger, words clearly aimed to hurt, and likely hitting given he closes his eyes.
What a waste of effort spent
She bends down to say it in his ear, over his shoulder, and he’s looking at the ground, but those words seem to hurt him more, as his eyes go wide in a moment of pain, before anger takes over.

“Lady Athena!” Penelope cries, unable to believe the woman, the goddess her husband had described as his mother figure for most of his life, who had raised, trained, and guided him for years, would say something like that to him knowing how he thinks.

“That was definitely a real low blow, Ath.” Tele winces at even the thought of having failed his mentor, to have her say something like that would break something in him, never mind if he was grieving and already tired from years of war, he can’t imagine how his father took that.

Ody says nothing, instead choosing to lean harder against his mentor and mother, who looks sad and hurt and upset, but there is anger there as well, at the things she had said knowing full well that she had hurt him and deeply at that.

“I don’t know if the mortals will remember this or be able to change anything if they do, but you-’ Ath points at Athena with a clawed finger, gaze certain and daring her to argue. ‘-you will and I am informing you now : do not say that to Ody ever.” Her voice is firm and level, but there is steel and anger in it.

“I can’t believe it… the very thing I was lecturing him for and leaving him for, I fell to myself and made it so much worse…’ It seems to take Athena a moment togather herself together from the fact she apparently needs to listen to her own words. ‘I will never say that, no matter what, I swear to you.” Athena can only imagine how guilty her counterpart must feel to not only tell her that, since they both know how much Odysseus would hurt from that.

Odysseus swallows, his chest tight and aching from the blow he was just dealt by someone he has loved for years, cared for and wanted to always have at his side till he died, and if he could speak, he can only imagine how wrecked his voice would be, but he can't even get his tongue to move, never mind his voice to come out.

Telemachus shifts and gently grabs at his Dad’s face, hands as kind as they can be given he is young and does not know to control his strength, as he tries to soothe the man’s hurt that he can sense as all babies do.

“You two are really going to some lows that I would never have expected.” Polites level booths with disappointed looks, though he understands it, he still hoped they would be able to see through the emotions clouding their eyes to help each other out.

“If we don’t get smited by a God, I’ll honestly be surprised.” Eurylochus might actually keel over and die if they do not somehow piss off another god or goddess who will take offense unlike Athena, who most likely will not curse them or anything.

“There was no need for you two to tear each other apart as if you were savage animals, but I get why you did. Idiots, the both of you.” Pen sighs fondly, because they are both idiots on emotions and actions that they drive you to - or at least Ody can be - so they do stupid, painful things when they are emotional.

O
At least I know what I’m fighting for
He moves and turns, facing her looking angry now as well.
While you're fighting to be known
The anger on his face and in his voice is real, obviously looking to hurt her as she had him.
Since you claim you’re so much wiser
He spreads his arms out enough to the side to bend his elbow, then stretches them out completely, as if to emphasize his point.
Why’s your life spent all alone?
He has his left hand clenched down at his side, the right one up by his head, before he lowers it and fists it as well.
You’re alone!
The anger and hurt are clear on his face, even as he pants from his part of this. A actually looks hurt for a moment, eyes wide and mouth open the slightest bit. Then her face loses all emotion.

“Shit, that’s not a great thing to say either.” Polites grimaces, before just putting his head in his hands, wondering how the hell they're going to survive after this with no one protecting them from divine wrath. Especially since his brothers or the crew will manage to piss someone off, undoubtedly.

“Don’t just push your emotions aside then, that’s going to make it so much worse.” Tele protests Ath’s actions, because the goddess needs to be feeling those emotions or else she will react wrong and push the two of them further apart.

“Odysseus, love, you really are trying to both get home and kill yourself before you ever arrive.” Penelope groans softly, taking Telemachus for herself and plastering as much of herself against her husband as possible, because she needs to know he’s alive.

“How do we stop this from happening if we do remember? There are very few things we’ll likely be able to change as mortals, but maybe we can tweak and use loopholes in a similar way to how you do, Odysseus, when you speak.” Eurylochus’ gaze is on the bed, though not really, already trying to figure out what they might be able to shift or change in the slightest.

Odysseus makes a choked sound, his eyes going wide, unable to believe he had dared say that to his goddess even after everything else, perhaps even with everything else, because she might be forgiving to him, but that is when he is her protege, under her wing, not when she is actively disowning him.

“Things certainly don’t get better after this, though to be honest I'm not certain how much she’d have been able to help even if she was there.” Ody is uncertain he’d have wanted her to, given how much Zeus had hurt her, he can only imagine the damage that Poseidon might’ve been able to do and get away with. He would never want her to get hurt for him. (Yes, he is working on that.)

“You truly said…?” Athena sounds hurt and looks upset as well, something in her not expecting him to have retaliated against her with a blow that hurt her as much as hers hurt him.

“We absolutely deserve that, we both also definitely went way too far with this argument, but we insulted his dead men, and then dealt a blow we were not planning to be around to see the effects of, we deserved that much.” Ath knows how it sounds and everything, but given the argument itself, she had long known that was definitely a blow she deserved.

“Darlings, all of you are idiots when it comes to your emotions, yes even you Tele, if you have any issues, you are to come to me for help, because I can at least make sure you don’t cause misunderstandings like this.” Pen jabs her husband in the side, amused when he jolts because he is sensitive, while she pokes their son’s nose, causing him to squeak and gently tweaks one of Athena’s feathers in her hair, which has her letting out a soft coo sound, looking contrite.

A
One day, you’ll hear what I’m saying
She’s become almost more formal, as if the attack had hit her somewhere and she’s now determined to make this a clean break, not just an act or bluff to get him to apologize.
One day, you might understand
She closes her eyes, looking done and as if she’s steeling herself.
One day, but not today
She appears to be looking down her nose at him this time, instead of just literally down at him.
For after all you’re
Her gaze narrows the slightest bit.

En
Just a man
Behind her appear shades of people, some of the crew, over her left shoulder are Penelope and a young Telemachus, while over the right is Polites holding the infant.

“That was definitely not necessary.” Penelope narrows her eyes at the goddess, who seems equally shocked by her own actions, staring in shock, the only thing giving it away being the slight opening of her mouth and the wide eyes.

“Athena…?” Odysseus breathes out, uncaring that his voice is soft, weak and breaking as he speaks, focus on his mentor, his mother, the goddess he’d never expected to attack him this way.

“What the hell am I doing?” Athena demands incredulously, shock and horror strong amidst her emotions because her fledgling might’ve said things he should’t, but she had definitely started this and leaving was not the solution.

“We’re gonna be extremely lucky if you don’t say something in response that gets us killed or cursed.” Eurylochus honestly can’t blame his brother though, if he’d been in that situation he’d have reacted similarly, if not potentially worse despite everything.

“Shit, things are about to get so much worse and I’m not there for either of you or the rest of the crew. That’s just cruel and painful.” Polites crosses his arms, upset and hurting because he knows that things are not going to go well and having to watch it, knowing he might’ve changed it if he was there is not a pleasant feeling.

“Ath, you’ve really put in effort to change and make yourself better.” Tele smiles up at her, happy and bright, because she had been nothing like that during their meeting, not at all, so she had obviously changed.

“He’s not wrong, dear. We all know you have worked hard to make sure you have changed in a way you wanted to.” Pen knows because she recalls the goddess from 20 years ago, despite rarely seeing her and she knows exactly how much she’s changed since then.

“I made a mistake here, I started this and continued to make it worse, instead of better. But I can not say I mind the changes that came from this, though I’d have preferred no argument needed, or my leaving.” Ath sighs as she thinks about it, how life might’ve been if she had changed but never left her Fledgling, had stood at his side as she should’ve from the beginning.

“I didn’t make it any better, we both made mistakes, no need to worry about it too much. We’ve apologized, changed and gotten better.” Ody counters easily, gently patting at her arm in his own reassurance because sometimes she - or he - gets sucked into rather dark moments.

A
This day, you sever your own head
There’s a determination and emotion to her voice now that was not there to start, clearly she’s going to go through with this.
This day, you cut the line
The line is almost cruel, both making a point and aiming to hurt. She starts to lift her spear.
This day, you lost it all
Without hesitation, she points the spear at O, though he’s not able to be seen.
Consider this as my goodbye
She promptly turns away, looking sad for a moment, cape flaring out and spear held at her side again.

“This was when I pushed you much too far, rough so for you to leave me… but over one mistake?” Odysseus can’t believe it, doesn’t want to because he had thought Athena loved him, at least as much as a goddess could, but for her to be leaving after she started the insults and at a time he needs her… it hurts.

“No, do not leave, you imbecile!” Athena hisses, angry and upset because she knows exactly what will happen to Odysseus once she does, or at least has a fairly good idea and she has to know that that is not a good punishment in any way, nor a fair one to put him against.

“Athena, do you know who his parents are?” Polites asks the goddess, because there seems to be more to her words, but surely she would not leave his friends - one of her students - to the whims and anger of another god, not even in her anger, right? The look she gives him says otherwise, says she knows but is uncertain of her own actions now.

“Shit, we’re getting into things we never should touch during emotions, much less during a time like this, and then to leave, both of you choosing this, out of hurt, pain and anger? Fuck.” Eurylochus drags his hands down his face, because he might not be much for emotions but even he knows this is a decision they are likely both going to regret later on, if there is a later.

“I don’t want you two to do this, so I am now implementing a new rule - no I don’t care that you are goddess -’ Penelope points her finger as Athena looks like she might protest. ‘- if you two are unable to have a conversation without lashing out at each other or think you can’t handle a conversation at the time, you are both given the choice to walk away, or leave. And it will not have consequences, no matter who does so.” She is not going to let this Goddess punish her husband for needing a moment to deal with his emotions or force him to push them aside and react to things like she’s doing in this showing, but she will not allow her husband to do anything similar to the goddess either.

“I certainly was an imbecile, and I honestly did not think until much later about Poseidon, which was my own mistake, or else I would’ve thought this through more, because Pesodein’s wrath and what he did went way too far for any slight I thought you did and the one slight you gave him.” Ath sighs tiredly, though there’s a fire in her eyes because she had stood up to her father for Ody, if Posei tries anything, she will face him head on, along with whoever is at her side.

“You were not in the right mind, hurting and aching in a way you likely never thought you could or didn’t want to think about why so logical thinking went away for this conversation and a while after.” Tele gently chides Ath, because he knows she blames herself more since she’s a goddess and his father is a mortal, but his dad had easily accepted and apologized for his part in this.

“You were both emotional and desperate to not be left alone with responsibilities, but we also know you never take breaks when you need to, so an argument was likely to happen at some point.” Pen knows her husband, the other half of her soul, and he rests only when there is little to nothing to distract him enough anymore, or he just collapses. She imagines it's the same for the goddess.

“Hey, Posei chose his own actions, you had nothing to do with that, it would’ve happened either way, and though it was a tough lesson I never wanted to learn, especially not the way I did, I eventually showed him that mortals have teeth he should avoid.” Ody grins, amused because he had shown the god that even a wolf in the water could fight back and win if driven past a ledge few one to be at, much less over.

En
Ohh
The shades start to surround O, who seems surprised and hurt, his hair and clothes moving in an unseen wind.

A
Consider this as my goodbye
A has turned to face him the slightest bit, her neck turned towards him and head tilted to the side the slightest bit, perhaps to get a last look at him.

En
Ohh
Some of the shades appear to be holding onto him, even as he slightly starts to lift his right arm, most clearly the one meant to be Penelope, who has her arms around his neck, and Telemachus, who’s hugging him from in front. He looks startled.

“That’s just wrong.” Penelope shakes her head, because this entire argument had been low blow after low blow, insult after insult, with neither being given the time to actually decompress and think things through.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Athena hisses, wings tensing and spreading a bit in her anger, because she knows herself better than that, she should not be leaving him over something like this, no matter how much she dislikes the things he’d done, he deserves better and so does she.

“Yes, she is learning early at least, maybe she’ll be able to stop or change things in her time.” Ath sighs in relief because if her counterpart had continued to be not necessarily meek, but withdrawn, nothing would change at all.

“At least you got a sort of hug out of all that bullshit.” Pen scoots closer to her beloved, because this just seems so cruel, especially given he’s not truly done anything wrong to deserve the suffering he got, so she dares the Fates to give him a short life after all that.

“We’re gonna have to do so much to prevent this, but we got this.” Polites has an arm around Eurylochus, because they are the two who are going to have to work this into Odysseus’ schedule or he’ll overthink and forget and work on everything but what he should.

“Yeah, we’ll manage somehow, but we’ll do it, no doubt.” Eurylochus nods, gently tapping his arm against the others side, because they had always worked best to get their king to stop overworking himself, which has him groaning because how is he going to do it alone in that universe?

“Well, things are certainly about to get a lot more interesting.” Odysseus’ voice is a bit empty, because his best friend has died, he’s lost men and his goddess - his mother - is leaving him behind because of a single mistake - a big one yes, bit a single mistake - when he needs her most. Telemachus whines, tugging at his dad’s clothes because he can sense the emotions and doesn’t like them. He jolts at the tug and hurries to soothe the babe, unaware of the fond looks others are giving him, because he’s already wrapped around that boy’s finger.

“He really was wrapped around my finger from the very beginning…” tele had doubted that bit, not because he doubted his father’s love - though he had at times and he regrets it - but because he had never seen any of the suitors act that way around anyone, not siblings or family, nothing.

“It always pains me that you didn’t realize how much I truly loved you until I finally got to hold you for the first time in 20 far too long years.” Ody sighs and gently grasps his son’s hand, curling their fingers together without a second thought, because he has loved that boy with his body, soul and mind since the moment he took his first breath.

A
This as my goodbye
Her back is to him now, though she’s still got her head turned the slightest bit.

En
Ohh
His right arm is completely up and stretched out, likes he’s trying to grab her to stop, but the shades either stop him or he can’t bring himself too, even as said shades lose form, he still looks almost startled, though there’s hurt and perhaps the slightest bit of fear there as well

A
Consider this as my goodbye
A is still more turned away than not, even as she starts to break apart as she leaves the space she’d created.

“I couldn’t face you because even then I knew if I turned around I wouldn’t manage to stick to my choice and at the time, I was determined to make you see how much of a mistake you had made.” Ath says softly, gently, running fingers through Ody’s hair because she really wouldn’t have been able to leave if she had seen his eyes at that moment.

“Fuck!” Athena growls, and then - after sparing nothing more but a glance at her counterpart - decides ‘fuck it’ and follows them, vanishing her kline and climbing onto the bed, shifting into an owl in order to burrow into her student’s neck and feel him.

“I really want to say I’m surprised, but she was determined from the moment you started talking back to leave and nothing was going to change that.” Polites sighs, he had so hoped they might yet still work it out themselves, but they are both helpless idiots.

“It bothers me how easily it was to do that, almost as if someone other than the Fates set that up, because everyone knows how much Athena loves and treasures her pupils, especially if she trains them for longer than 5 years and remains. “ Penelope had wanted to make sure her husband would not have to worry about the goddess leaving anytime soon and done research.

“How the hell am I going to recover from this?” Odysseus asks, a sort of helpless, lost , hurt confusion to his tone none of them are entirely certain how to comfort him from, even as he gazes down at Telemachus, already feeling the years they’ll be separated aching in his chest.

“By making damn sure we are there in order to help you. I should be there to comfort you, but if my idiot future self won't, then we’ll change that in our time.” Eurylochus practically orders it to be so, because he refuses to believe he had truly lost so much faith already to leave his brother alone like that.

“They’re already starting to work it out.” Pen grins softly, so happy to see them trying to change the future, because she loves her family, she does and her kingdom, but if they had managed to get back even a few more of the men, it would’ve been nice.

“Will that affect us in any way?” Tele is mildly concerned, but if it might mean he gets his dad for a few years longer at his side, then he will gladly take it if the Fates let them change things.

“It shouldn’t, but who knows? I guess we’ll never know because if it does, we’ll end up disappearing.” Ody shrugs at the looks he gets, but there can not be two of two souls existing anywhere - except this space apparently - at the same time without something going wrong, so their present will disappear for the new future.

En
Ohh
O looks horrified and hurt and like he might regret his words more than he did when he said them, as the shades create a sort of tornado around him.

A
This is my goodbye!
A completely disappears, the shades flowing after the last specks of her, leaving O alone in the space for a moment, looking despondent and lonely, sad as well. He looks down to the ground, his eyes tired and empty even as time flickers back into place. The blood is still on his face, but he finally moves, turning and moving away from where he’d been standing.

“Shit, the blood was still there, but not in Quick Thought?” Tele winces because he knows damn what that means, that his dad had truly not accepted the deaths of his crew and best friend yet, which makes sense given everything.

“We are so screwed, this is going to go so bad, those were two of the people you leaned on and helped me keep you ok and healthy.” Eurylochus knows damn well he isn’t going to be able to do it alone and keep track of all 600 men, not by himself.

“Things are about to fall apart, aren’t they?” Polites just knows things are not going to go the way they should, because his best friend has the worst luck with trouble and the other doesn’t handle surprises well.

“I really just left you? Like that? After everything?” Athena can’t believe herself, because they are close now, but this is after another 10 years of war, surely they should be closer, so what the hell had happened to her?

“I can’t say I don't regret this every day, but I am certainly glad we got the chance to get past it together.” Ath knows most gods would’ve lost the chance, that theri mortal would’ve died due to old age, injury or themself, but she had managed to get ehr second chance and she’s not wasting it.

“I’m more worried about who the hell that cyclops parents might be, especially since if they are godly, we will no longer have Athena to back me up or help us out of trouble.” Odysseus swallows, choosing to ignore the hurt in his chest for the moment, especially since his mentor seems confused on why she did what she did and because he can see his future self resting against her, so they must work through this at some point.

“I am glad you got the chance too, cause there were quite a few close calls, as we’ll see soon enough.” Ody knows damn well he’s got nothing but his own determination, luck and will power that got him home.

“Are we finally going to see what gave you a chest cold so bad you couldn’t leave the bed for almost a month?” Pen raises an eyebrow at her husband, who sputters at the words, clearly caught off guard, even as their son laughs at the words.

“I am going to use this as a chance to go get some food and then head to our room for some sleep, because I want to think on this before we go any further.” Penelope says, casually standing and snatching Telemachus as she goes, heading for the kitchen. Odysseus makes a noise and hurries after her, while Plites and Eurylochus both let out tired, but fond sounding sighs, untangling themselves from the bed and each other, before trailing after the two, moving a bit faster at some concerning clattering sounds coming from the kitchen.

Athena takes a moment, staring after them, and then turns to the hallway and casually walks down it, disappearing into one of the rooms without hesitation. Tele grins and jumps up, racing for the kitchen himself, planning to grab enough food for all of them, which his mother knows as Pen trails after him to help him carry everything, while Ath and Ody retreat into the bedroom to get comfortable on the bed. Everybody eats together - the future in the bedroom on the bed, the past in the kitchen, laughing and messy as they do so - before heading for their rooms. Falling asleep is a bit hard for some of them, but they all get there eventually.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Tele is the first one to wake up, squished between his parents, content, warm and feeling safe, something he had come to truly know only after his dad got home. He shifts, because he should get up, but he’s so comfortable. Before he can make up his mind and get up, he feels another shift and moves enough to see Ath staring down at him in amusement, which has him giving her a goofy, bright grin. She chuckles lightly, sitting on the edge of the bed, food settled on the nearest nightstand. Pen groans at the two of them, opening her eyes the slightest bit with an annoyed fondness.

“Can’t we sleep in just the slightest bit with you two?” She gets two amused, slightly sheepish grins in response. She huffs as she opens her eyes more, locking eyes with her still sleepy looking husband, who is blinking to wake himself up, a yawn escaping him. Tele grins at the man too, amused because he still hasn’t gotten used to the man’s morning routine despite two years.

“Alright, time for everyone to eat, mortals.” Ath teases, moving the tray from the nightstand and getting up, figuring they’ll want to eat in the other room, for the entertainment. The others follow after her, Tele and Pen moving smoothly, though the woman is yawning a bit still, while Ody almost walks into the door and trips on the bedding, flopping onto the bed in the main room with a tired groan and not bothering to move.

Pen cackles at her husband, while Tele laughs, both having long grown used to this, Ath sparing him an amused, fond glance before settling on the bed and putting the tray down. “Time to eat, so you must sit up. Especially since you’re still getting back your weight.”

“Ugh.” Ody groans, but he does push himself up enough to start eating, unbothered by the looks his family share because he knows how he is in the morning.

They’re almost done with the food when a loud clattering and a yelp - surprised more than pain - has them all looking up.They can’t see anything, but Pen starts to cackle as she realizes it came from their counterparts room, already well aware of what happened, while Ody just pouts. Tele looks confused and slightly worried, while Ath just huffs, amused that her mortals had not changed as much as it had seemed.

“We used to sleep with you on our bed, before your father left for war and even after you shared with me, but your father here, clumsy as he is, always feared crushing you by accident, so if he woke and felt even a bit of your wrap under hand, he would push backwards to make sure he wasn’t on you by accident. However, in order to not crush you during the night, he slept closer to the edge, so he always pushed himself off the bed without fail.” Pen snickers as Tele bursts into giggles, because he’d not realized how true that story used to be till now.

“Hey, leave me alone. I just loved you so much I didn’t want to hurt you.” Ody pouts around his bite of food.

It’s not long before Odysseus enters the room, looking sheepish, even as Penelope trails after him, grinning while looking unimpressed, Telemachus cradled to her chest. The younger male heads to the kitchen to get their food, unwilling to be under his wife’s look anymore for the moment, sparing a glance at their older counterparts. Eurylochus and Polites come out next, looking confused, worried and fond at the same time, especially once they catch a glimpse of Penelope.

“Guess we’d better grab our own food and go help that idiot, huh?” Eurylochus sighs, before heading for the kitchen, already able to tell he’s going to be rescuing something from falling because their brother puts things far too close to the edge. (He’s not wrong, he lunges for the plate of food for Penelope as he enters and saves it from hitting the floor.)

“It’s great to know you haven’t changed in that way at least.” Penelope chuckles as she looks at the future counterparts, able to tell Ody had done something similar this morning somehow, though she’s uncertain what.

The other three from the future group burst into cackling, while the man in question sputters. Polites grins at the group, happy to see they’re so close. Athena appears in the room, settling on the edge of the bed, looking thoughtful and uncertain at the same time, because she doesn’t know where she stands anymore.

Odysseus returns with food, Eurylochus behind him, both handing it out and the group hurry to eat, eager and desperate almost, to see these visions and know what they can, though they’re also scared of what they might yet be shown. The groups settle in on their beds, not bothering to move too much, just cuddling close.

A boat, moving through the waves, moving beside and over them as it goes. Odysseus standing on the deck, near the ram but not right by it. A wave bursts up from the front of his ship, which has the man raising his arms to cover his head, though he gets completely soaked. He seems startled. He races to the deck, leaning on it in order to watch both the waves and check on the rest of his fleet. Another figure - Eurylochus - appears at his side and he makes gestures at him. O heads further onto the deck, while E stays by the rail, face buried in his hands.
U
These waves and tides
O is in front of one crew member, arms out to the side casually, and then another with his fingers curled a bit, trying to both make his point and unable to not gesture when he’s speaking. There’s a figure back by the rail still.
Have grown in strength and size
He clasps one arm with the other in front of his stomach, before parting them to show their growth, lifting his arms a bit to represent their size, before letting them fall at his side.
Is it nature, or divine
He looks to the side of the ship, gesturing with the closest arm towards it as well, the crew gathered in front of him. He turns and raises an open hand towards the sky as if he were grasping something.
Or a blessing in disguise?
O turns back to face them, his right arm curled by his stomach, fingers curling the slightest bit, looking serious and certain, though he also appears tired.

“I don’t think it’s two of those, not given how quickly it seems to have appeared and with how harsh it is…” Penelope worries, because there are only so many gods that her husband could’ve angered and this might be the worst one if she is right.

“I really should’ve known you’d find trouble so quickly, it’s you…” Ath despairs, both being honest and teasing because Ody seems to find trouble like a bee finds flowers : naturally.

“Where the hell are we going to go with waves like that?” Eurylochus groans, because damnit, they’re not close enough to dock to an island or anchor to anything nearby because there is nothing.

“I’m more worried if this is going to affect morale and the crew because there’s no way it won’t.” Polites frets because he knows the crew at least somewhat - not as well as his counterpart - and he knows they’re not going to take this well.

“You’re not wrong, there’s really no way you couldn’t have known this was gonna happen. This was definitely not the time to have left him.” Tele knows his mentor was teasing, but he’s being honest because there was definitely anger and hurt on both parts, but this was a terrible time for her to leave his dad.

“I can’t even say I’m all that surprised, my darling is always good at finding himself in tough, often awkward situations.” Pen giggles a little, amused at the pout her beloved gives her in return.

“Well, things are definitely either going to get much slower or much faster, if we can use the storm to our advantage, though it might be too rough.” Odysseus observes the waves, trying to figure out which they’ll have to do in order to survive.

“I truly think things are going to get far worse than you think...” Athena mutters, well aware of exactly who would be able to do something like this, her feathers puffing up in fear, worry and horror, because if she had kept her own lessons, not pushed her student, waited even a day before confronting him, she might not be feeling these because she would be there to protect him or at least help out.

“You guys are bullying me… I don’t try to find trouble, it’s just always there whenever I go, there’s no need to point it out to me.” Ody groans, wanting to bury his head in his hands, but he refuses to take them away from his family, loves having them so close.

Our home's in sight!
He moves, stepping up to the rail and placing the left arm on it, while the right one settles itself on the ram, his gaze forward.
This storm’s our final fight!
He turns to face the crew again, determination and something else in his eyes that says they’re going to get through this, even as the waves behind him get higher.
There's no time to die, comrades!
He moves towards the mast on the ship, grasping a rope curled around it.

“You really were so close to home before things just got worse because people were idiots.” Tele mutters angrily, because these might be his people, his uncle as well, but he is definitely punching the man once he dies and goes to the underworld.

“Surely he would not take such an offense, did his son lie…?” Athena is trying to decide if it’s that, because Poseidon is a caring father to his children, but his son had been at fault, so why is he taking this sort of retaliation?

“Shit, those waves are large and strong.. Odysseus, make sure you are tied to the boat or something or you’re gonna get swept off.” Polites isn’t entirely joking, because the man does weigh a great deal less than most of them, so he is easily knocked off balance and thrown overboard in comparison to others.

“Oh my god, am I going to remember to check that given everything else I have to do?” Eurylochus groans as he watches everything happening, given he isn’t seeing any sign of a rope on their captain.

“Oh, they had to tie you to the boat during storms, huh?” Pen giggles, amused that her husband could not be trusted to stay somewhere safe - he was captain and is king, so he would never anyway - so they had to tie him somewhere in order to keep him on board.

“It’s funny now, less funny when we had to learn the hard way to tie him a certain way and in general, cause the first time he was taken overboard he hit his head hard enough to have to stay on bedrest for 2 weeks. We fucked the rope up the first few times as well and broke his ribs a few times until we figured out how to best make sure he wasn’t hurt by it.” Ath grimaces at the memories of those times, recalls the blood in the water when he fell the first time, and the sound of his ribs breaking is still strong in her mind, though not as much as his scream.

“What a mess you are in. None of you are allowed to get hurt during this storm." Penelope scolds, cuddling Telemachus closer to her chest as she cuddles her husband as she watches them potentially be killed.

“I’m more concerned about whether any of us are going to get sick since we almost certainly don't have enough medicine for everyone who’ll get sick.” Odysseus watches in worry, trying to figure out if there might be a way to go around the storm instead of through it, though it had looked a lot like the storm appeared over them, so he’s also trying to figure out if he had pissed off a god.

“Like I wasn’t the one who got sick and hid it for long enough we ran out of medicine and had to tough it out with rags while still leading the entire crew for another week.” Ody grumbles into his wife’s shoulder, because that should be the first thing he focuses on, but he’s always been the worst at taking care of himself so he never thinks of himself when calculating things like medicine, food and water.

S
Sir!
The crew all stand upright and straight, from years of training and obeying their king, their captain, their brother, ready to act and do as he says.

O
Brace for a storm!
O yanks on the rope, opening the sail, which catches the wind easily, the ship shifting in the waves.

S
Storm!
The other ships get lost behind some waves, not able to be seen.

O
The likes of which we've never seen before!
O is still soaked head to toe, water easy to see in his hair, clothes and skin, his eyes almost glowing in his intensity, the rope still over his shoulder.
Brace for a storm!
The crew are rushing about to get everything ready for the storm and to follow orders, not wanting to lose anything to anyone.

“There’s no point in drying off yet, but I don’t like how soaked you look either.” Penelope bites her lip, well aware that her husband is strong, both mentally and physically, but he gets sick far too easily for her liking compared to others, something they’d always put down to his smaller frame.

“Yeah, you’re definitely getting sick. I really hope we catch it early or else you’re gonna have to tough that one out.” Eurylochus grimaces, recalling some of the times they’d had to let Odysseus tough out some sickness’ cause they didn’t have enough of some herbs during winter.

“You still get too sick for my liking, though I think it might’ve gotten a bit worse from the many years on the sea, if we’re being honest.” Pen gently pets her husband’s hair because he has definitely started getting sick more often, which she is certain is because he spent so many years on the sea, though it’s also potentially got something to do with their age.

“They’re going to die if they don’t figure something out soon, with the way those waves are still growing.” Athena mutters, focusing entirely on this, because she refuses to look away from what her mistake is going to cost her, refuses to do so.

“I mean, probably some of it, yes, but also I am older and with all the scars I’ve got, my body just has a harder time fighting off sickness and all that.” Ody shrugs easily, because they all know part of the reason his clothes look different is because they’re made with thicker material, to keep him warm since he gets cold so easily now.

“Damnit, here’s hoping they listen well enough for us to get through this.” Odysseus grits his teeth because he has a feeling that the crew have also not been given time to properly grief, which will make things especially emotional and make it extremely easy for them to make emotional choices that might fuck them over.

“Something needs to be done, but what?” Polites is looking around, but he sees no islands, no other boats beyond their fleet, nothing. They have no way to anchor, no way to slow or escape, nothing that might give them a break long enough to catch their breath and relax.

“So you didn’t always get cold this easily?” Tele asks as he turns his attention away from where his dad is being reckless and self-sacrificial in order to get the answer to his question because he had not been certain, but he had always recalled the faint impression of warm hands.

“No, he only started getting colder like that because he went so many years without proper food, so his body focused more on keeping him alive than anything else, meaning if it could afford to it let the outside temperature keep him warm instead of doing so itself, which it could get away with for the last several years, but not recently. He likely will always remain slightly colder simply because his body is used to that, though since he’s still regaining weight and adjusting, that might change as well.” Ath replies as well, her attention on the screen and images she had seen glimpses of, unable to take it away when she knows her Owlet was in trouble but she was not there to help.

S
Storm!
The waves throw several off their feet or having them stumbling, faces alight with fear as they try to remain on the boat despite its moving.

O
With home so close, we must keep pushing forward!
O is yet again at the front of the ship, leaning against the rail, his gaze watching everything, even as a wave rises up in front of him and proceeds to soak him yet again, he remains.

S
Full speed ahead!
O’s eyes are in fact likely glowing, perhaps an effect from being a formerly blessed one, perhaps something else, but they glow as he keeps their goal in sight.

“I am glad at least that was there to help you, when I was not.” Ath knows that the glow is from being her Owlet, but she had not known if it would remain with Ody given how angry she was when she had left, she wasn’t certain it would be there.

“Captain, you’re about to get so damn sick it’ll be a miracle if we keep you alive.” Eurylochus groans because the man will hide the sickness until they’re out of medicine and then collapse, leaving them to keep him alive somehow.

“It had better not be another case of that cold you got shortly before we left, that took you out for a good chunk of time and you were still not entirely recovered when we got called to war.” Polites growls at the man, pointing his finger at him, because he’d been the one who had to help Penelope with caring for the man and the baby - not that it was any trouble - and they had both thought he wasn’t going to make it for a chunk of time in the middle.

“So always have a fire going, lots of thick, warm blankets, maybe a thicker cloak to wear inside…” Tele is making notes of things they can do to keep his dad warm and not ill, because he had not liked seeing his father so ill upon return. He’d loved spending time with him, getting to know him and getting to take care of him, but seeing him so weak and ill had not been something he liked.

“These waves are serious, but my blessing still remains with you at least a bit? Did I not remove it all or is it because you trained with me so long?” Athena is not certain which is the answer yet, or if there is a third option - she had not wanted to be away from him completely - but she will figure it out in case she ever has to leave for an emergency.

“Darling, the way this is going, you might need to be a bit more careful…and definitely connected to the ship somehow.” Penelope doesn’t think she’d be able to stand seeing her husband get washed over the side of the boat, not unless he manages to catch himself, and even then she thinks her heart might leave her chest. With a tiny shift, she cuddles Telemachus closer, happy he’s such a content baby or else the viewing would be worse.

“I am almost for certain going to get sick given how much I've been drenched and as Captain, I’ll have to remain up top until we either leave the storm or hit land in order to give orders to the other boats.” Odysseus grimaces, already not looking forward to that, though there’s no way he went ten years in Troy without getting sick either.

“Dear, I don’t know how you always manage to get yourself into trouble, but I am certainly glad you know how to get yourself out of it, though I wish you would take better care of yourself while doing so.” Pen sighs gently as she cups the face of her other half, enjoying the flush at the same time she hates it, because she loves seeing him so red, but he used to be able to take a compliment. Those 20 damned years aren’t going to outlast her though, not a chance.

“I certainly can try, but I was always taught to put the people and others before myself since that was the best way to be a King, so I can not offer you any promises beyond that I'll try to be better about it.” Ody knows that’s not exactly something she wishes to hear, or any of the others given the looks he gets, but he can’t give them better without lying and he refuses to do that directly to his family. (Unless it's about his own health, then he’ll lie without guilt.)

O
Head towards the island but avoid the crashing waves!
The ships rock and sway under the heavy waves, but none of them tip or capsize.
Tread where the tide is flat, and then you will be safe!
O is either explaining or ordering, his arms together representing something flat, before he uses the right one to demonstrate moving along something flat, before turning it so his palm is up. He’s still soaked from the last wave, water dripping from his hair and clothes.

E
Captain, we will capsize with these waves!
E is also soaked, standing in front of O, turning to face out towards the sea and gesturing towards the huge waves, before facing his captain yet again.
Our fleet will fail!
He sounds certain of it, almost like he’s not certain whether his brothers will be able to remain alive with the waves as they are. He’s also questioning whether O can lead them through this storm.

“Eurylochus?” Polites narrows his eyes at their brother because this is not the time, place or even moment to be doubting their captain and king, let alone their brother, so what the hell is he doing?

“Are you gentle parenting your crew right now?” Penelope seems amused as she asks her husband that, turning to gently hand him Telemachus, who coos and waves his tiny fists around, looking excited as he starts to squirm.

“Uh, well I guess?” Odysseus shrugs, uncertain why he had decided to take this approach, but he gets the feeling it’s because they had tested his patience so often that he had just naturally turned to this method because it works best.

“What the actual fuck am I doing right now?” Eurylochus can’t believe himself, turning towards the older counterparts to see if they’ll answer or give him some sort of answer to the question.

“Uh, you were worried, I get that, but may haps the panic was not letting you think clearly enough to realize this is a conversation to have not at this moment.” Tele tries to explain and not insult the man too much, because he is still his uncle, even if they are likely not to meet anytime soon, he’s hoping his parents will get their beef with him out before he joins them.

“This is neither the time or place to be saying such things. You must believe or else you are going to lead to a mutiny.” Athena can feel her feathers starting to ruffle even at the thought of such a thing happening to her student, her fledgling who will almost certainly get hurt during such a time.

“Are we going to be able to actually learn anything else besides the fact that I took the choices I had available at the time and none of them were right, but they were the best ones at the time given everything I knew?” Ody grumbles, not certain how he feels about this because he might’ve told his family about this, but seeing it - watching it as they are - is an entirely different thing.

“Do not fear, I am certain there is a reason we are being shown this, my Fledgling.” Ath soothes gently, shifting her helmet a bit to make sure it is not rubbing against her scars, not wishing to aggravate them, especially since she knows her student is unlikely to make it through this entire thing without his scars acting up.

“You really weren’t kidding about gentle parenting them. Is this when he started to doubt you more seriously or are we still yet to see that?” Pen narrows her own gaze, because she knows Eury had started the mutiny and she wants to see if she can notice before it happens, though something in her gut says she will know.

O
Have them follow my ship!
O moves closer, placing a hand on E’s shoulder, looking serious and determined, still tired, still worn, but focused.
I'll ensure that we prevail!
E doesn’t look as certain or comforted by the words, though he does eventually accept them and nod, face growing determined.
Storm!!!
E takes off for the back of the ship, but another wave rocks it, tripping, stumbling and throwing about crew members.

“Please be careful dear, those waves are going to throw someone overboard at some point.” Penelope frets, gently shifting closer to her family, as well to avoid her son’s tiny flailing feet that are swaddled, but still shift.

“I really can’t believe that you even had to say that.” Eurylochus can’t believe that he even needed his captain to say that to him, much less at all, and the fact he hadn’t believed it immediately bothers him in a way he can’t explain.

“He truly had lost a decent amount of faith by this point.” Pen can’t say this doesn’t hurt because he had always been so damn faithful and loving towards her husband, because they were brothers.

“He truly had not a single thought at that moment, panic so strong he turned to you despite everything even though as second he should be able to take over at any time.” Tele frowns, because why on earth is he the second if he can not keep his calm at a time like this and must rely on the captain?

“We really need to work on making sure that we have plans for this on the off chance something ever happens, I swear to gods, nothing will move me on this.” Polites threatens, because he is not going to let these idiots push Odysseus or Eurylochus into an early grave because they can not think for themselves.

“You truly did not believe me?” Odysseus can’t help the hurt in his voice because that is his brother - the only one his counterpart on screen has at that point still alive besides the crew - doubting him, uncertain and not taking him aside to speak of it but letting it bottle up.

“I can’t say I blame him because there were things I should’ve addressed, should have talked about or said and I did not, and he was never the best at taking the initiative on things like that.” Ody knows he is not to blame entirely, but he is also aware it’ll be quite some time before Eury ever takes his part of the blame because the man did not think he was in the wrong until shortly before he died.

“I should’ve been there, to help him get that time and gather his thoughts, to give him a plan or a moment to rest.” Ath grumbles, her wings drooping the slightest bit ass he snuggles the entire family resting between her legs closer to her in her discontent, so glad they are together and still alive.

“Surely this is where I should come back and help out because he is still my student at least partially, even if he is not praying to me he wouldn’t get a chance to, so I should take the initiative in order to make sure he’s alive…” Athena is hoping she will see herself show up again soon because surely there is no way she actually left him alone for longer than a few days, right?

S
Storm!!!
E hits the side of the boat and grasps the rail to avoid going overboard.

E
We're taking too much damage to survive!
He looks horrified as he looks at the waves below, the ship having some damage, and then E flops onto his back, hands rising to either cover his face or grasp at his head.

O
We’ll beat this storm!!!
Odysseus obviously disagrees, he’s still standing, looking determined, focused and unwilling to back down from this, despite being soaked.

“Eury, you’ve always been far too pessimistic, but this is a bit too much even for you.” Polites frets, because he knows his friends and for his brother to be not only doubting Odysseus, but thinking they’ll die, his death had affected the man more than it seemed. Had he been talking with the crew as they expected or not?

“Things are going to get worse if they keep saying shit like that.” Pen mutters grumpily, because that is the man - her brother in law who had promised to help her husband return home - who had betrayed her husband multiple times at horrible moments.

“We really didn’t think this through very well did we?” Eurylochus groans, because he hadn’t ever thought he’d get that bad on his thoughts and opinions, but without Polites to brighten the day or counter his points, he can see why he’d say that, and Odysseus is far too focused on making sure they survive to really counter him or soothe him either.

“What a mess the lot of you have managed to get yourselves into.” Penelope groans, because she’s not talking about the physical only, but the emotional as well, because they aren’t talking the way they need to as the leader and second which is going to bite them in the ass.

“They really had lost hope and faith of getting home at that point, maybe not completely but they definitely started truly thinking that at this point, perhaps because of the lost comrades.” Tele can’t really blame them, though he desperately wishes they had not already decided that, wishes they had trusted his dad - their captain, but also their king - as they should’ve.

“Why are you saying this now and not at a better time?” Athena demands because during a storm this bad, is definitely not the time to be saying things such as that, especially when the other crew might hear.

“I certainly wouldn’t mind help if we ever run into a storm like that, especially if it means more of my men live.” Odysseus murmurs softly, trying to extend a branch towards his goddess since he’s not certain where they stand after watching her abandon him for a single slight.

“You’d get all the help I would ever be able to give you for something like this.” Ath mutters in response to that, in order to soothe her student, both past and present, because she would defy her uncle, her father and many others for her Owlet without hesitation.

“He was not wrong, but he was definitely voicing things the crew did not need to hear for their morale at that moment if we wanted to survive the storm and get somewhere safe.” Ody rubs at the back of his head, because if hadn’t been hard to get the crew to start moving once they had a plan, but there really also wasn’t much energy behind their movements once they realized a wrong step could have them overboard.

S
Storm!!!

E
At this rate we won't make it out alive!
E is on the ground by O’s feet, hands over his eyes, before he uncovers them, looking angry and exasperated, as his hands curl and then fall flat against the birds of the boat. O is looking down at him, seeming nervous at the negative view his brother has, perhaps about the situation as well. His chest covers a good chunk of space but does not block his view. E spots something that has him jolting.

Perimedes/Elpenor
Captain, look!!
E, as well as two other crewmembers point towards something the rest are already looking at, E having pushed himself to sit up in order to do so. O turns confused to see what they’re pointing at. Some of the clouds shift aside, revealing an island floating in the sky.

“I see you still haven’t lost your shape.” Penelope purrs teasingly at her husband, because she rather likes his chest and thighs, enjoying the bright red blush that covers her beloved’s face, as well as the way he sputters.

“An island in the sky…?” Polites is trying to remember what he knows about such a thing, because he’s certain it’s a god but which one and are they friendly enough to ask for help?

“Not them, please no, they aren’t going to help…” Athena stares in horror at the way and leaps her uncle is taking to get back at her Fledgling for a slight that his son had already more than taken into his hands and dealt equal damage for.

“I really want to know how the hell you manage to keep that and those thighs even when starving, but honestly I’m still just glad there was some meat on you.” Pen coos at her husband, because she had really loved that there was some level of meat on his bones still, even if only some.

“You know, if I hadn’t had two years of you twos nonsense, watching her do that would’ve been so much worse..” Tele deadpans to his parents, who give him sheepish grins, though he’s also blushing so he doesn’t get to say he’s completely unaffected, especially since he’s using his dad’s chest as a pillow right now.

“My uncle is a truly cruel person.” Ath growls out, her wings tense and feathers spread the slightest bit because this is a being that moves often, so for them to happen to be in this storm, she has no doubts it was uncle’s plan.

“That truly exists?” Eurylochus breathes in horror and awe because it looks so pretty, but also because he has a bad feeling about what their brother is going to do, not that he appears to have much choice if he wants the fleet to live.

“I think we’re not going to have much choice but to anchor there, and if I don’t at least go say hello or apologize, the god will get mad, so may as well ask for help instead since that’ll make it seem like we were seeking them out.” Odysseus already knows that might not be the best plan, but they really can not afford to piss off the wind god right then, so this is perhaps a decent plan.

“Just you wait, my boy, soon you’ll have someone who can and will do that to you and you’ll never know the end of it.” Ody chuckles at his son, despite the red flush on his own cheeks, he gives a grin to his wife, gently pulling her closer, enjoying being surrounded by all this warmth and love.

O + E
An island in the sky…
O and E are both looking at it, but E looks nervous and sounds that way too, while O looks interested and has begun to smile, clearly he has an idea.

O
Eurylochous, grab the harpoons
O turns to face E, his right arm stretched out hand open as he turns his head towards the man.
As many as you can find!
He glances back towards the island, hand resting near his chest, before turning to E again with the same pose.

E
What do you have in mind?
E raises his right hand up next to his head, fingers resting like he wants to grapes the idea his brother is offering, sounding confused and hopeful.

“I feel like I should be concerned.” Eurylochus groans as he tips his head back, already unwilling to decide exactly how much this plan might screw them over.

“I mean, there’s really not any other choice. I haven’t seen any other islands for you to go towards and the storm is not letting up even slightly. If you keep going, someone is going to capsize.” Polites counters easily, because usually his brother is better at seeing their plan, but sometimes he can only focus on what the plan might do instead of the choices they had.

“It is a good choice, excellent plan, Owlet.” Athena murmurs softly, running her clawed fingers through Odysseus’ hair because he’s working without her which means he’s got nothing but his own mind to work with.

“I’m more concerned on how well they will take the intrusion given everything.” Ath winces because this particular god is not one that is known for much beyond the wind, but they spend far too much time with Hermes to not be at least some trickster as well.

“I mean, it definitely could’ve gone far worse. I would've loved it to go better, but it could've been worse, so I’ll take it.” Ody shrugs his shoulders because it really wasn’t all that bad, not talking with them or getting the bag, but the way they told him the rules was less than ideal.

“Please be careful, dear, gods are definitely likely to strike out if you upset them, make sure you are more than prepared to be contrite and remember to give them an offering when you return.” Penelope knows the gods are not nice beings, their morals and choices more than show that, but she trusts her husband to know what he’s doing.

“I sincerely hope I remember to give them an offering of some sort once I return, given all I’ll have at that point is likely wine at best. Perhaps not even that given my crew.” Odysseus sighs, looking exhausted and tired at the things he’s going to have to face and do just to get home at this point.

“You really are just fighting for every step of this journey, aren’t you? I’m glad we will get a chance to let you relax.” Pen coos, gently curling some of her husband’s hair around a finger, amused when he leans into the touch, as much as she touched because he still loves her touch despite everything that bitch did.

“I’m impressed, I thought maybe it was just an island floating without connection, but you really meant an island in the sky..” Tele stares at the island in awe, it looks so pretty and beautiful, well aware his dad wouldn’t lie but islands are rarely not usually floating in the sky, even with gods around, so he’d been a bit sceptical.

O
We're gonna shoot for the sky.
O definitely has a grin on his face now, back to the front of the ship and waves, as he raises his left arm and points above his head towards the island, the one eye able to be seen glowing, he almost seems amused, and like he’s enjoying this.

E
…what?
E makes a face, his hands held out to his sides with his elbows bent, like he can't believe he really just heard those words. O starts to move, another crewmember looking nervous as they set a hand on E’s shoulder, who has facepalmed and looks entirely done with the situation.

“I’m so glad you can still make him say something in that tone even after all these years.” Penelope cackles because watching her husband confuse, exasperate and tease her brother-in- law has always been something she enjoyed, especially when he manages to get Odysseus back.

“I mean, who would think to shoot at the home of a god and mean it like that?” Eurylochus cries out in confusion and exasperation because that is his brother putting him in this situation, to the point the crew are trying to comfort him.

“Well, what did you think he was going to do? There really aren’t any other options at this point given there are no other lands anywhere for you to go.” Polites points out, voice dry because they both know Odysseus would feel responsible to save the men he has, after losing so many, including himself, to the cyclops.

“You really had a shit eating grin on your face while you said that.” Pen laughs because who else would just grin like that, knowing they’ll cause some exasperation and chaos to the others around them but her husband?

“You really were a little shit…” Tele breathes in awe and surprise, even as a grin starts to form on his face, because he had heard the stories from his mother, but actually seeing his father being that way, it’s different and has him excited.

“I mean, I don’t know what you want, you’ve been friends with me, brothers for almost as long, by that point that you really should’ve expected that.” Odysseus shrugs carelessly at the look he gets leveled at him from his brother, because he speaks the truth.

“He is not wrong to do so, if you had passed by without even thinking of greeting this God, they might have chosen to smite, curse or otherwise inflict you with something for not at least greeting them.” Athena knows best that this particular god likes greetings and games, so to have them ignore them would make them angry.

“So I was definitely right to stop at the island however much my men disagreed and fought with me on it.” Ody huffs goodnaturedly, because he knows his attitude to the gods and goddesses is not what most expect, and that means his men take his word about them with a bit of salt.

“Of course you were, none of your decisions were ever wrong, except for perhaps giving the cyclops your name and that wasn’t a decision as you being pushed over the edge of what you could handle after the end of the war.” Ath grumbles at the man, cuffing him slightly with one wing because he has to know that, right? Especially after all these years.

S
Storm!!!
O sets a hand on the shoulder of one of the crewmembers near the front of the ship, and then on the other who is there, both who take off running.
Storm!!!
O places his back to the waves yet again, facing the crew on the ship. He looks serious. E approaches him with four harpoons, one offered out to him, which he lifts a hand to accept.

O
Everyone, grab a harpoon and aim it high!
O grasps it firmly and lifts it over his head, standing on a part of the ship that makes it so he can be seen, not quite the rail, but neither is he on the boards either, the other crewmembers on his ship and the nearby ones lifting harpoons as well.

“Good, they’re listening well despite the storm.” Odysseus is proud of his men, because he knows there are others that would not follow the lead of their king half as well when dealing with gods.

“They’re just so used to your shit that they aren’t even questioning it any more.” Polites seems amused at the very words themselves because he knows they’re the truth despite not having not gone to the war yet.

“I mean, he’s probably not wrong, given all the shit I pulled during the war, they’re likely more than used to it.” Ody says when he sees his counterpart open his mouth to argue, because they had definitely pulled some real serious shit during the war that would’ve had many questioning them.

“Honestly, at this point, I’m starting to wonder how you survived the war, for all that I love that you did, the things you speak of make me wonder if perhaps your goddess intervened.” Pen eyes her husband with a critical look, to which he merely gives her a wide grin.

“What on earth did you do?” Eurylochus is now more worried about what he might have to deal with during the war that the crew is desensitized to their captain’s shit to such a degree.

“I’m more interested to hear about that too, just because there’s no way you didn’t have accomplices who helped.” Penelope knows her husband would not have been unfaithful, not of his own will, but she’d loved to see who he got to help and who he was friends with.

“I don’t want to know.” Athena decides as she rubs at her head, already tired despite the fact there is a war that will last ten years in front of them.

“You definitely do, but also, no you really don’t.” Ath cackles because some of the things her champion had done had been hilarious, but others had exasperated her to the extreme.

“I want to know how you survived this long and they decided after this was the time to question you.” Tele grumbles as he gets closer to his father, because why give ten years of loyalty only to decide after one mistake against a monster they never stood a real chance against to question him.

S
Storm!!!
Storm!!!
Men from the other ships take form and aim the harpoops high, ready to take better aim and fire at the words of their captain.

O
We're shooting for the island in the sky!
O shifts backwards and aims, before throwing his harpoon, which flies through the air towards the floating island.
In the sky!
The men throw theirs as well, all of them flying through the air easily, until finally one sinks into the island and gives them something to anchor to.

“Thank god, you really need that break after everything.” Tele grumbles because damnit, his father deserves some rest, especially as the king and captain doing all the planning and thinking.

“At least now we might get a bit of time for the men to rest and recover while I deal with the wind god.” Odysseus sighs, well aware he should take a break for himself as well but knowing it’s unlike he’ll get it despite needing it.

“You did rest at least a bit at some point, right Ody?” Ath asks as she turns to stare at the top of his head, already having a pretty good idea what his answer is going to be, but still hoping otherwise.

“Well…’ Ody looks away, but there really is nowhere to look, given his family have trapped him in the middle of this, so he knows damn well he’s gonna have to answer. ‘Damn. Not really, no. I didn’t have much of a chance to for a while after this.” After all, he got the bag, spent 9 days awake, had to counter Poseidon and then got a short chance for a few moments on his walk to Circe to relax, but otherwise he then fought her and immediately set off for the underworld. He got in a few hours naps on occasion, but he didn’t get to rest for a while.

“You had better not do anything stupid while talking to the wind god.” Penelope warns her husband because she would love to get him back and while their counterparts are here, that doesn’t mean them changing this if they can won’t change that as well.

“You had better not die up there, I won’t be able to handle it after losing Polites.” Eurylochus threatens him, because if the man dies up there for some reason, he’s going to follow the man into the underworld in order to drag him right the fuck back because Penelope will kill him if he doesn’t.

“I really wish you hadn’t had to fight so much just to get home.” Pen sighs, soothing herself by scooting close so she can rest her head on his shoulder, close enough for her ear to rest on his neck and feel his pulse, because sometimes she just needs that and Tele is covering most of her husband’s chest.

“I really hope this god is willing to help out.” Athena is a bit worried about her Owlet, but there is truly nothing she can do at that moment, given her counterpart had left him and she likely hasn’t checked on him due to pride.

“I guess the only way to know for sure is to go and ask the god for help. Afterall, that is why they are there. Though, do try and approach with some kindness please, or at least a level of respect, they are still a divine being.” Polites points a finger at Odysseus, well aware of his bad habit of talking to everyone like they’re a friend after a certain point.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

A boat tethered to the island by the rope. O leaning against the rail by the ram, staring upwards at it. He turns back to look at something, where two crewmates are tying the rope securely around the mast of the ship.Both give him a thumbsup after a moment. O moves towards the rope, going to grab it.
E
Please don’t tell me you’re about to do what I think you’ll do.
E sets a hand on his shoulder to stop him, before using that hand to gently turn the man to face him, looking worried and stressed and perhaps a bit tired. O smiles at him.

“Is that even really a statement that you think is going to work?” Penelope raises an eyebrow at Eurylochus, who shrugs because he’s got a bad feeling about this already.

“I really think it’s more of a hope that he might listen, but he’s probably still pushing down his grief in order to make sure the rest of the crew survive, so I don’t think it’s going to work.” Eurylochus grumbles as he crosses his arms, because all his feelings and instincts scream something is off, just from the glimpse he’d gotten of his future counterpart, though he can’t tell what.

“I can’t believe he really thought that might stop you.” Pen shakes her head because Eury had been with her husband since they were children, he should know damn well when and what would work on her husband, but he’s also grieving still, so maybe that clouded his judgement a bit.

“You’re really just locking up the emotions that won’t encourage the crew that they can make it home regardless of what the situation you’re in or how you feel.” Tele glares because that’s his dad, he shouldn’t have to act only a certain way in order for the crew to feel happy and to increase morale, but no one else is taking the burden on with or for him even slightly, so he’s forced to.

“Something’s wrong…” Polites almost whispers it, but the horror and fear in his voice is clear, his gaze locked on the two on screen, because something about one - or perhaps both of them - is off, but he can’t tell just quite yet what.

“He’s not wrong, there is something off here, not godly in nature, but something is definitely off.” Athena feels her wings twitch in her anger protectiveness because nothing had better happen to her Owlet while she’s gone or she’s gonna throw hands.

“Oh, they definitely were, but I was not there to help Ody see past his grief and see what he needed to do.” Ath groans quietly, because she can already see and read the doubt in every bit of Eury’s damned body, even hear it in his voice the slightest bit just through the one sentence.

“Things are already so bad you’re saying that to me?” Odysseus can feel an eyebrow raise without any of his intention really behind it, kind of more just in surprise, because usually his brother and he are better at reading each other.

“He really had doubted me that early on, huh?” Ody mutters, quiet enough to not be heard by anyone but his group, though he still wonders, was it because he froze during the cyclops’ rampage? Was it because he gave the creature his name? Where exactly had the doubt come from and why hadn’t he noticed?

O
You’ve heard the legends of the island in the sky.
O gestures over his shoulder with his thumb, likely towards the island in question.
This proves they’re true!
He holds his hands out to the side, bent at the elbow, before starting to move away, E making an attempt to reach out and grab him but not really trying that hard.
We’re in the home of the wind god!
O holds a hand up curved in front of his chest, before turning and raising both hands into the air around his shoulder, likely gesturing to the island up above.

“You’re really excited, and hopeful, but please be careful this is still a god, they are whimsical as you know.” Polites urges his friend because he doesn’t want to see either of them get hurt over this or during this either.

“You had better be real careful here, this is something that can quickly step into mutiny territory.” Athena murmurs softly, lowly, gaze locked on the fact that they must be outside, still on the deck of the ship if he’s gesturing to the sky like that,recalling the mast they saw and worry rising more.

“They dared do that to you after everything, honestly.” Ath huffs, angry and upset that she had not been there to protect her friend when his men turned on him for making the right(best) choice - between Charybdis, Scylla, Poseidon and the chances of finding an island with actual food, Scylla was the best bet all things considered - and seeing him hurt like that had pissed her off. She’s had a bit to get past it, but those crewmates still have her anger.

“Are you two having this conversation in private or outside? Because Eurylochus, depending on where you are, this goes from you gently chiding him to be careful to the start of a potential mutiny.” Penelope sits upright, because there’s no way in hell the man would start a mutiny, right? She shifts Telemachus closer to her, worry and fear having her wanting him close to her heart.

“It had better be in fucking private, the crew doesn’t need to hear or see any of this.” Eurylochus bites out, but he doesn’t think it is and the bad feeling in his gut grows, because surely he’s not inciting them to start doubting their captain, right?

“Eurylochus?” Odysseus whispers, aghast and worried about what this might mean for their brotherhood, because he knows they are outside, given they had seen the mast of the ship not that long ago, but surely his brother wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, right? They’re brothers, he would never.

“Well shit, they really do catch on too easily sometimes. Shouldn’t be surprised, they’re still the two of you, even if 20 years younger.” Ody huffs out in amusement, because it would be his wife and mentor who would notice the potential this conversation has.

“You were really just trying to keep them all alive and he’s not only doubting you, he’s almost trying to make sure the rest doubt you too?” Tele frowns because even if he was grieving, it doesn’t seem like a good enough reason for the man to decide to have this conversation out in the open, and yet he’s doing just that. Was there something more to this?

“I want to ask that man so badly what he was thinking and get his reasoning, but there’s no way until I am also dead and by that point, he’s likely still not going to have gotten a pass, though I might ask Hades for a favor or something.” Pen frowns harshly, because she had trusted the man when he promised to try and get Ody to her safe and sound, to make sure he wasn't an idiot, but this is not the way to go about it.

E
We don’t know for sure
E sets a hand on O’s arm, just above an elbow, looking determined and serious, while O seems surprised and disconcerted.

O
How many floating islands have you seen before?
O turns to face the man, raising an eyebrow and giving him a look of disbelief. E blinks as he realizes he really doesn’t have anything to counter that.
This is the home of the wind god!
O turns and lifts a hand to gesture towards the island, a brief image of a being that appears to be made of clouds, with tiny clouds around them, and glowing blue eyes.

“Eurylochus, you definitely deserved that look, you were being an idiot.” Polites levels an unimpressed look at his brother as well, because exactly how many floating islands does the man think there are.

“I think I can see why you two argued so often now. It surprises me none, though I wish I had been there, that he mutinied.” Ath grumbles lowly, a growl in her voice because she might’ve tolerated him before, but she has no love in her heart for that man. Not after he helped - unintentionally in some cases but still - keep her family apart for so many years.

“What the fuck am I doing?” Eurylochus blinks, unable to believe he had even tried to argue that, both because he knows he knows far less than Odysseus about gods and because it is literally a floating island, what else but a god could do that?

“Are you telling me you are doubting my husband in front of potentially all of the crew over something that is obvious?” Penelope asks darkly, a look in her eyes that has several of them wincing, because that promises pain, not quick or swift pain either.

“He really tried to argue about a floating island being a god’s domain of some sort.” Tele might not know as much about gods as his father and mother, but even he would not try to doubt that it is the home of some sort of god.

“Over a floating island? And of course because the rest of the men can’t think for themselves, they’ll believe and follow you because they are idiots sometimes.” Odysseus swallows the bitter taste in his mouth that his brother is doubting him over something that is obvious and clearly more his area than the others, but doesn’t want to judge his brother currently given this is 10 years in the future, at least.

“I wish he had thought this through a bit more, or at least given me a better answer than the one he gave me.” Ody hisses, still upset and hurt by this because what the hell was the point of his brother bringing these doubts up at that moment in time, given the situation they were in?

“He truly did not think that through at all.” Pen sighs wearily, though she’s already planning the things she’s going to say the man once she’s given the chance, because he’s going to deserve it, and she’s aware there are others who will agree with her.

“To cast this doubt here, now at this moment in time, it is not wise or even the slightest bit a good time. You’re both stressed, you’re both still grieving and you’re currently trying to keep others alive, stop doubting him or at least do it in private.” Athena can’t believe her eyes because they are still in the middle of a storm, are potentially dealing with a god, and are trying to return home alive, and the man is throwing doubts around like that might not doom their entire trip.

E
And what’s your plan?
O and E are back by the rope, O with a hand on it, while E has one hand outstretched to the side and the other raised up by his head. He seems extremely determined to get his point across or talk his captain out of whatever he’s doing.

O
I’m gonna climb to the top and ask’em for a hand!
Odysseus sets a foot on the ropes tied around the mast, hand grabbing it to balance him, before getting the other one up as well, using his free hand to reach towards the island. E has lowered his arms and at the words, seems to get a look of fear, or perhaps slight exasperation.

“I mean, we all knew that was coming, besides it’s not like I can really avoid it, we’re anchoring to their home, if we don’t at least thank them for that then they’ll potentially curse us or smite us or just make the journey tougher in general.” Odysseus knows that is not what his brother is thinking of because he never bothered to learn more than he needed to about the gods.

“You really are just so cute.” Penelope coos at her husband, who looks so happy and slightly relaxed at the moment, being as carefree as he can afford to given the situation. She shifts Telemachus, amused when the babe promptly grabs a bit of her beloved’s hair and pulls him closer, until his head is resting on her shoulder.

“I can’t wait to see what their island looks like or them, it has to be beautiful from up there.” Tele is almost vibrating in excitement, because he can’t see his dad not going up there given everything, though he’s also a bit angry at the man for still trying to stop his father from what needs to be done.

“This is why having each of you knowledgeable in most basics with specialized areas was a bad idea dear, I tried to warn you but you all thought it would work out.” Pen gives her husband a look, amused at the boyish grin she gets in response because she knows that means he has already realized that.

“Shit, I’m going to get us all killed somehow, what the fuck am I doing?” Eurylochus is tempted to bury his head in his face and not watch anymore, but he needs to see this, refuses to think he might be trying to overthrow his brother and captain in any way and wanting proof.

“There’s no way I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing.” Polites stares because there’s no way in hell that Eurylochus, their straight laced brother, is starting to - perhaps not intentionally but still - betraying their captain and brother.

“Things are going to get so much worse.” Athena isn’t certain why she thinks that, but her instincts say that and she’s aware that this god is fond of games, mind ones in particular, which can only mean bad things anyways.

“I should’ve been there, you wouldn’t have had to deal with this on your own if i had been, likely might not have needed the help of this god if I had been.” Ath puffs her wings out, lets them settle warmly around the entire group, pulling them closer to her for a moment because damn right they are hers and she will protect them until they're gone and even after if possible.

“Aww, I knew you cared but as much as I wish it weren’t true, I think this was not something we could avoid, even if you had been there. He would’ve still found something to doubt me for in one way or another, doesn’t matter what. He just wanted someone to blame and who else but me?” Ody shrugs his shoulders, because he had accepted that a long time ago, Eury putting all the blame on him, even for his own actions and the consequences of them, trying to avoid it himself.

E
You could be caught off guard and lose your life
E grabs O by his cape and drags him down, though he makes sure the man doesn’t get hurt, holding his arms above the elbows once he’s back on deck. O seems surprised by the resistance he’s meeting. E almost appears angry.
Or piss off this god and infuse us with strife
E has moved his hands to the man’s shoulders, and shakes his head, clearly trying to make sure the man is listening, even as the captain in question blinks, clearly caught off guard.
Don’t forget how dangerous the gods are
E takes a step forward, O taking a step back in response, the man has a hand lifted towards his captain, but it lowers slightly when O sets a hand on his upper arm.

“No, stop, what the hell are you thinking, don’t start trying to physically back him into a corner, you moron!” Eurylochus growls, hands running along his head, wondering when exactly he somehow started nursing doubts in his chest, as well as why he thought this was the time to do this.

“Are you trying to intimidate my husband into not doing what he needs to?” Penelope frowns at the very thought but is also aware that is possibly exactly what is happening here in this moment.

“Oh, he definitely was trying extremely hard to make sure I didn’t go through with this despite everything.” Ody grins widely, because while it hurts, aches in his chest, deeper than his bones, to see his bond with his brother as it used to be, he’s also so happy to see it as it used to be as well.

“Trying to intimidate you, the captain, into following his way or choosing another path, that is certainly not the way to go about changing your mind, especially not in front of the crew.” Ath hisses sharply, eyes flickering in her anger because she knows what this leads up to and it pisses her off.

“Eurylochus, why are you choosing to do this now?” Polites stares at his brothers, trying to determine what might be motivating each of them, beyond the drive to protect those they love, because this almost seems personal.

“Why…?” Odysseus is struggling to breathe through the pain and hurt in his chest at the very thought of his brother saying these things to him, doing these actions, after everything they’ve been through now, he can’t imagine how much worse it would be after another 10 years of being close.

“I don’t know why he thought it was a good idea to try and force you to change your mind, you were the one in the right here,” Pen rolls her eyes, because sometimes Eury was just too straight forward in her opinion, though his jealousy certainly had not helped him.

“They had better not hurt you.” Tele glares because he knows that his dad had hidden some things from them by this point, which means he might've glossed over any injuries he obtained during the trip back despite his scars.

“What the hell are you going to do?” Athena watches closely, because she wants to think her owlet will manage to stop them from doubting quickly, but he also has so many other duties that he likely will not get the chance to completely dissuade them from these thoughts and possibly even actions if they take them. (They had better not or they’ll face her wrath.)

O
Have faith, friend, we’ve come this far
O has his hands on E’s arms, just below his elbow and uses that to gently turn the man so they’re facing the same way, leaving one hand on his SIC shoulder while the other rests palm up just above his hip. He looks confident.

E + C
Yes, but how much longer till your luck runs out
O looks surprised by the words. E has O backed up against a railing, or at least it appears that way, his hands raised up by his shoulders. Some of the crew are watching from a bit further away. Two of them exchange glances.
How much longer til the show goes south?
Two different crewmates, both working, one holding a barrel and the other crouched behind some crates, both looking up and over at the words.
How much longer til we all fall down?
The crew are starting to gather and watch, at least 10 there, E still crowding O, moving one hand to rest on his chest while the other gestures out to likely encompass all the men.
You rely on wit, and people die on it, woah
O looks tense and wary, but is listening, but he flinches at the words, before closing his eyes, taking that bitter pill for the moment.

“Woah, hey!’ Polites jolts at the words, turning disbelieving eyes to the brother next to him, who looks equally as shocked. ‘Are you blaming Odysseus for my death?” His voice is not accusing but surprised because they all made that decision or they’d have never gone to the cave.

“Stop, pause, halt.’ Eurylochus doubles over, head in his hands, as he tries to figure out what the fuck is going through his counterparts mind, because what the fuck? ‘ What the hell am I doing? Are you telling me us losing one battle to a monster, one we never planned to fight to begin with, was enough to make me start doubting you? Why now? Why not at any point during the war when we definitely lost some battles? Are you telling me it took a monster to make me start doubting my brother?” He can’t believe this, already feels a dread and disgust building inside for what he might’ve become if this hadn’t been shown. Not this time.

“Eurylochus…?” Odysseus can barely breathe, feels like he took a goddamn punch to the chest and the air was forced from him, but he still has to ask, grateful when the man turns and immediately grabs his hand, soothing him and assuring him in the same motion.

“How dare..?” Athena feels her wings spread and open behind her, ready to launch her in order to get to the man threatening and hurting her Owlet while she is not there, while he has no real support but someone doubting him.

“Eurylochus, you had better make sure if nothing else that this changes or we’ll be having some words.” Penelope doesn’t make light threats, but this is not a threat, it is a promise on what she’ll do if he doesn’t change his own actions.

“He truly started doing this in front of the damn crew.” Pen hisses, can’t believe that the man had thought any of this was a good idea, never mind at this time during this situation, when they were all still hurting.

“Something says this was going to happen, at least in that moment, during that time after everything that’s happened. If they manage to change things, I sure hope they get home sooner, because I’m grateful for the time I’m going to get, but I’d still enjoy more of it.” Tele pouts, because he knows his parents time is limited given both their ages, but he’ll accept everything he’s given and make sure to spend as much time as possible with them after he dies.

“I can’t say I’m too surprised, he was jealous, lashing out in his hurt to the only person he could blame other than himself because he couldn’t handle the guilt.” Ath sighs tiredly, because she can not muster the anger for this man, especially since she knows damn well that he got the end he deserved after everything. (Even if she wished it had been a more painful one.)

“I sincerely hope they get to change this, because I’d have loved to return with my brothers and crew instead of the way I did, but there was not much I could’ve done, with everything else I was doing. It’s not surprising they started quietly doubting me.” Ody grumbles wearily, because he had so many things to do, so much to work on, especially once the rest of the crew were taken out, that he’d never quite gotten around to reassuring them the way he’d wanted to.

O
I still believe in goodness…
O sets a hand on E’s arm, lifting the other one as if to gesture outwards.
I still believe that we could be kind
He gently turns the other man, revealing his hand has shifted to his shoulder, while also swiping his other arm back to rest above his waist, as if kindness is something they could grasp with their bare hands. He turns to face E, eyes still closed, one hand out almost touching the man but not.
Lead from the heart
He reaches up and gently rests his hand over where his heart would be.
And see what starts
He’s also gazing down at that, clearly thinking fond memories or at least trying to appear as if he believes it so his men will.

“We don’t always need to open our arms way through this, but approaching the gods that way is probably safest. At least with some caution." Polites frowns, glad his brother took the words to heart, but sad at the way they had to take effect.

Eurylochus says nothing, but he scoots closer to his brothers, resting against Polites’ shoulder, hand still stretched around him to gently run his fingers over Odysseus’ knuckles, because he refuses to believe he would do this, wants to see all of the proof and be certain before he does what he plans to do.

“He really does seem genuinely confused by this so far.” Tele had assumed the man had always doubted his father somewhere deep inside, but so far the man of the past is proving that the war and obstacles perhaps pushed the man too far.

“I know he cared for you, but he went about it all the wrong way, especially at this moment when you’re both still hurting and working through things at your own pace.” Pen gently runs her fingers through her sweetheart’s hair, because she had trusted the man to protect him, her most precious treasure, alongside her son, before they left for war.

“To think you would truly be stronger for this…” Athena knows her Owlet is close to others, but she had always seen that as a weakness, something to be sued against him, but maybe the love for his family and friends truly makes him stronger.

“I can’t believe I truly did something that had you doubting me to the point I was quoting Polites at you.” Odysseus almost can’t believe, with no Polites, there’s nothing to balance him out, just his own overthinking and Eurylochus’ pessimism, no brightness to help him.

“Yeah, there was certainly some issues there for me, because those two had been helping me for years by that point to ensure we made a fair decision for the men as well, but with no Polites, it was just the two of us and we always went with far more different opinions.”Ody grimaces, he and Eury had gotten into more than one verbal fight over what to do and how to do it because the man did not agree.

“He still deserves what he got, he didn’t listen to you and he couldn’t handle the guilt of his own crimes, so don’t feel too bad for him.” Ath would damn well know given she might not like him, but she’s seen that more than once in humans and it was extremely clear on her Feldgling’s SIC.

“Hmm.” Penelope hums, gently looping her husband’s arm around her waist, because she already gets the feeling she’s going to need to have a stern talk with her brother in law, because how dare he do this? She and Odysseus had both trusted him to be there to help, not to hinder like this.

E
And what will we do when it tears us apart?
E lifts a hand and gently brushes his hand near O’s hair, which is held up in a ponytail by a familiar headband, the words have O closing his eyes in pain.

O
Where is this coming from, my friend?
O gently grasps the wrist of that hand, looking curious and genuinely concerned, even as he lowers E’s arm out of sight and tilts his head the slightest bit.

E
…I just don’t wanna see another life end
E jolts at the question, looking startled, before booking away. The crew are doing their jobs off to the side, both men watching them.
You’ve like the brother I could never do without
E grabs O by the upper arms and turns him to face him, O looking startled and surprised at the move or perhaps the words themselves, while E just looks desperate.

“I’m extremely glad that you are trying to protect him, but this is definitely not the way or time to go about doing it.” Penelope frowns, because she does love that the man is trying to protect her husband, but he’s going about it entirely the wrong way.

“I don’t think I'm trying to protect him as much as I am myself and that gives me a feeling I hate, because I thought I knew myself.” Eurylochus groans annoyed and frustrated and so damn confused, because what the hell is he feeling so strongly except guilt that he’s trying to push it on his brother instead of facing it?

“We’re going to have a very serious talk after all of this to make sure some of this is dealt with so we can change this.” Polites makes sure both his friends are paying attention to his words, because damn right is he not letting either get away with this.

“He truly was trying to protect you, but he also definitely went about it wrong, he must’ve known that was going to rub you the wrong way and make the situation worse.” Tele hisses, feels himself bristle in his dad’s hold because he hates that the only person that could have protected the man is fighting him instead.

“I hate that you were forced to rely on him even knowing he didn’t believe in you and was already putting that in the others mind as well.” Pen growls as she tightens her own grip around her two most important people, pulling her husband closer to her chest and Tele closer by virtue.

“You truly are not making things better.” Athena snarls, wings spread wide but avoiding hitting any of them because she’s not hurting any of them by accident, because she refuses to do so.

“You truly lost faith in me.” Odysseus can’t help the way he slumps even knowing his current brother does not think or know that, it still hurts to know that he could and in one future certainly did, like what a way to learn..

“I can’t say I was entirely surprised, things had been off between us ever since Pols death and nothing I did or tried worked out well, because he didn’t seem to want to be near me, not unless he needed to for jobs.” Ody sighs, well aware at this point it was the man trying to grief in his own way and failing, but he still wished the other had let him help.

“You tried to help, and you are reassuring him to the best of your ability knowing what you do and how much you do, there is nothing more you could’ve done at that point.” Ath gently sets a clawed hand on his arm, because she knows he still regrets sacrificing them, but he should not, there was no way where the crew escaped with their lives.

O
And suddenly you doubt that I could figure this out?
O reaches up and gently lowers both the man’s hands from him by the forearm, gentle and kind as he asks the question, clearly trying to get to the root of the problem.

E + C
Captain, how much longer til your luck runs out?
E has his arms out to the side close to his shoulder, the crew drawing a bit closer, while he encroaches on the captain’s space.
How much longer til the show goes south?
More of the crew approach, clearly starting to doubt their captain as well.
How much longer til we all fall down?
O and E are still close, E with only one arm raised now, the other lowered, quite a few of the crew behind the SIC while O’s back is towards the railing.
You rely on wit, and people die on it, woah
E has his arms up by his sides, bent at the elbow, moving towards O who takes a step back with each one, glancing back to make sure he runs into nothing and no one as well as doesn’t fall. He doesn’t look particularly happy but he can’t just dismiss their concerns without having heard them out either.

“This really isn’t the time for you lot to be starting things like this, especially since he can’t ignore you without looking like a bad friend, captain and king.” Penelope hates her husband’s willingness towards his duties sometimes, because she’s watched him forget food, water and sleep to finish things for others without a thought.

“It certainly was not ideal, but they could’ve chosen worse ones as well.” Ody knows that’s not exactly comforting for them to hear, given everything they’ve seen so far, especially with the looks he gets for those words, but it’s the truth.

“Really just is not a single break, huh?” Polites sighs, suddenly feeling tired and exhausted for his friends who can not let themselves show that or the crew will get restless and do stupid shit.

“Why did I double down on this?” Eurylochus is so damn confused and perhaps more importantly, he’s angry as hell, at himself, because damnit, their king, their brother is working hard to keep them alive and he’s making it harder than it already is.

“He truly was just such a troubled human.” Ath sighs tiredly, because her anger is still there, but she refuses to do anything until she can take action against him with Hades' permission and she can’t do that until afterwards.

“To think you would already have so much of the crew’s support despite ten years of Odysseus keeping them all alive.” Athena would suspect foul play on the SIC’s part if she knew he wasn’t nearly sly enough to pull something like that off, which means they are truly just doing this because of the loss.

“To think we’d ever have to actually watch him become a person even I don’t recognize simply because he could not handle his own guilt.” Pen knows damn well her husband had asked them to scout around the cave, but Eury had claimed there was no way it belonged to anyone and insisted they move in because the men were already starving and against that and the men standing around listening, her beloved had no choice but to lead them in.

“I can already see he’s changing, but the fact that his past self seems so bothered by this tells me it was either something during the war or literally the loss of Poli that set off this change.” Tele grumbles as he shifts around to get closer to his parents, because this is just reminding him that he could’ve easily only had 1 and likely would’ve been killed young before he knew the love and happiness of 2 parents.

“Shit, are you telling me the loss of those crewmates and the hunger has gotten so bad that they’re starting to think I shouldn’t lead? Then why wouldn’t they say something or offer a plan, anything? Some of them are much older and have more experience than me, so I would happily accept advice from them.” Odysseus is confused and hurt, he’d thought the men trusted him, liked him even, but to learn they had not thought it safe enough to offer him anything, let alone talk to him, it hurts.

How much longer til the snake breaks free?
Two crewmates, one holding a bag which they open.
How much longer til your great days cease?
O from before, wearing armor, a voice calling out ‘Captain!’ O drops his helmet, turning and opening his arms, only for Polites to hug him harshly. O is smiling, looking happy. ‘We won! We’ve alive!’
How much longer til your strength takes leave?
O is leaning on the rail now, staring out at the sea, dark bags visible under his eyes as he seems to slump into himself a bit.
You rely on wit, and people die on it, woah
O bowing to the cyclops, and then blood splattered on the ground, broken glasses and some hair making it clear who it is.

“That is definitely not fair. His wit is what got you through the war, no doubt.” Athena is willing to bet their captain, her Owlet did far more than they ever want to admit, especially since so many see his tactics as cowardly. (She has thoughts and feelings on that, but she will not deal with them now.)

“To think I was truly so difficult to approach that not one of them doesn't blame me or anything. But, why do they not know of the others' part in this, we’d have put things to a vote before entering, so it wasn't solely my decision.” Odysseus is starting to get a feeling that Eurylochus had omitted parts when telling his crew what happened due to his own shock and grief.

“I lied to them? Am I planning a mutiny? Did I fall so far into grief that I couldn’t see what an asshole I was being, by letting him take all the blame like that? We definitely made the decision together, so what am I doing?” Eurylochus can feel himself starting to become hysterical, but damnit, his counterpart is being stupid, is doing shit that’s going to get him killed and he’d deserve it at this point.

“We may need to eventually join our two groups together given the way things are going or else they might lose their minds.” Ody observes with a slight hum, because Eurylochus looks like he’s verging on a break of some sort, while Polites is starting to look grim and tired. Odysseus and Penelope just look weary and tired, though there’s definitely anger in the woman cradling the babe to her.

“Oh, definitely, especially for some of what happens next, I’m almost certain, but let’s wait and see before we make any actions.” Pen soothes herself by laying her head against her husband’s shoulders, giving a faint huff when he shifts to let her get more comfortable, amused at the faint flush she can see despite their 20 years of marriage.

“That is definitely something we're gonna talk about now, but more importantly, why the hell had they not spoken up? Our king and captain spent 10 years keeping us alive but they don’t think he’s willing to listen to them about this?” Polites grits his teeth with a slight growl because damnit, he refuses to believe their men are so damned stupid, but maybe they truly are.

“I might join him with that talk because I refuse to let this just keep going the way it is.” Tele groans as he gets a slight poke to the cheek, tipping his head up to look at his dad, getting a small, genuine smile at that, which has him relaxing and letting it go for now.

“We truly need to keep better track of things like this, there will be a tally and that will help me decide what punishment they’ll get after they arrive.” Ath mutters to herself, though Pen and Tele grin at the words, already planning to help her, while Ody just gives a tired sigh, not willing to fight them on this.

“You don’t get to blame him just because the guilt is hard on you. My husband is the king, the captain, your king and captain, but he listens to his men and so if this happened, the blame belongs to all of you, but we all know Odysseus will blame himself more than enough. Don’t add more to him.” Penelope hisses to the man, passing her husband their baby as she shifts to wrap her arms around his waist, amused when he makes a protesting noise at how roughly she handed him Telemachus, though he’s still cradling the boy gently to his chest and heart.

O
Thank you for the concern, but brother,
O seems to frown harshly, setting a hand on E’s shoulder, who seems confused and concerned.
I can assure you :
O moves so the man moves with him, turning both of them slightly towards the crew, though his gaze remains locked with E’s in a certain way.
Our journey is almost done.
Here he turns to face the crew, raising his other hand up by his shoulder.

I understand that we’re tired
O raises both hands up by his shoulders, clearly trying to make a point.
I understand that we’re fazed…
There’s a grin on his face, a determined, perhaps slightly angry one as well.
…But don’t forget how much we’ve already faced
He lowers one arm and keeps the other raised in the air, clearly trying to get his point across and reassure his crew of his command and remind them they have followed him for years.

“They really are just ignoring the years you spent fighting side by side for this.” Polites frowns because how and why the hell are they choosing to ignore that at this moment? Because one mistake - that they all made - caused the death of a few creawmates? Something is going on and he’s not sure he likes it.

“Yes, please, take him seriously and stop pushing this, he’s right.” Eurylochous almost begs his counterpart because there’s no point in continuing to argue, especially since his brother is right, they’ve faced a lot together, why are they doing this?

“Please tell me they at least listened to that.” Pen sighs tiredly, because why on earth is her husband stuck with so many idiots that let their emotions guide them more than they should, especially for men who fought a war.

Tele says nothing, just grumbles and pulls his dad’s hand closer to his chest, casually slotting his fingers over the pulse point out of habit to remind himself the man is here and real, as well as perfectly fine.

“I would almost suspect divine interference, except there’s no reason for that.” Athena watches closely, trying to see anything that might point out why the crew are acting like this, because she knows how humans are and fighting side by side for years usually brings them closer, leaving little room for doubt.

“I truly had to remind them of our time fighting together side by side for them to even stop and think about that, instead of just joining in on doubting me as they were.” Odysseus slumps, wondering where he had gone wrong during the war; they haven’t even fought to have his crew acting like this.

“They were little more than children complaining and bitching at their parent, then getting annoyed at the answer.” Ath snaps her beak a few times, the sound sharp but annotated, which has Pen and Ody reaching up, soothing her carefully.

“That might be my own fault, because I certainly treated them like children at times because they were so young when we left that some looked to me as a father or brother and it became natural.” Ody knows that is definitely his fault because he had never been too hard on them, they were in a war, it was already hard enough.

“I might yet need to have a word with all the men before they leave then.” Penelope would much prefer not to, because she knows most of them and likes them, but if they can not support and protect her husband without her own words ringing in their heads asking them to make sure he gets home, then she will damn well do so. (While also making sure they know she wants them to return as well.)

I took 600 men to war,
He’s also trying to remind them he kept them all alive and safe for ten long years, they had a reason to follow him. A glimpse of the boats resting on Troy’s coasts.
And not one of them died there,
In case you needed a reminder
There's a shift in his tone, clearly a bit angry, his eyes are closed and he’s still smiling, but there’s definitely anger in his face, or at least irritation, a strong emotion. E seems almost neutral to the words.

If you’d like to speak more,
O turns to his brother, gaze sharp and clear, while E seems to jolt at the attention.
Let me pull you aside, then
O turns his face at the last moment, the grin and happiness falling to leave behind a glare and a sort of grimness to his expression. He also looks angry.
I need to talk to you in private
With part of his bangs covering one eye and the glare on his face, he looks like the captain that led 600 men in a ten year long war and kept them alive, whether they liked it or not. He waves a hand at E as he moves away, heading somewhere else. E seems concerned and nervous, shifting to face the same way, glancing at the rest of the crew who scatter, before following him down the stairs into the ship. O turns to face him.

“The way it definitely should’ve been from the beginning.” Tele crosses his arms over his chest, still unimpressed by his uncle Eury at this point, though he gets this was after a seriously emotional time.

“I won’t be accepting any apology for this, whatever you have to say to my counterpart is completely in line without a bit of doubt in my mind.” Eurylochus stops Odysseus before he can even begin, all of them recognizing that look and knowing what it means.

“Honestly, he definitely deserves the ass ripping you’re about to give him, don’t hold back.” Polites is usually the one to ask him to lighten punishments when they are too harsh, for him to be encouraging this means this is serious.

“I always forget how hot you look when you’re angry, and then someone does my the pleasure of making you angry.” Pen smirks as she watches her husband sputter at the words, loving the flush across his cheeks, especially because they’re little group knows it’s true.

“I still feel like I should apologize, but if you truly think it’s deserved, then I guess heed my words?” Odysseus gets the feeling he should apologize, because his counterpart on the screen looks ready to tear into his best friend, but if they don’t want him to, then he’ll just go for the next best thing.

“At this point it would be within your right to choose another as your SIC if you truly needed to.” Athena thinks he needs to do exactly that, but he’d have to take time they don’t have to find a man he can trust who doesn’t doubt him and she knows they just don’t have that time.

“At least tell me why you must be like this, my beloved.” Ody groans, ignoring the heat across his face because why does she do these things to him? Honestly, he had rather thought the scolding was deserved after everything his brother had just pulled on deck.

“I sincerely hope whatever he says to you sticks in your head and makes you rethink everything you’ve said.” Penelope warns coldly, no love for someone potentially threatening her husband.

“Truly, what a disaster, but at least you got to give him some of his due.” Ath knows damn well that he’s currently in the river because he was struck down by a god, so it’ll be a while before he gets punishment, which just gives her more time to think of good ones.

I can’t have you planting seeds of doubt
He takes a step towards his SIC, and then another, the man looking more and more nervous, especially as O narrows his gaze a bit more, clearly serious about this.
I can’t have you disagreeing each route
He takes another step closer, E backing away this time, while making his point clear, jerking his head to the side a bit with his glare, clearly tired of his brother’s shit at the moment with everything else he’s doing.
I need you to always be devout,
O steps closer, but E appears to have potentially run into a wall, as he only jerks back, though he does look a bit disgruntled at the words.
And comply with this or we’ll all die in this
O reaches out and grabs E’s upper arm, pulling the man closer by it, but not yanking, not tugging, entirely gentle.
Okay?
O has clearly reached his limit on the questioning for the moment, especially given the situation they are in.

“You had better fucking listen, that was entirely something you deserve and probably only that gentle because he still loves us and just doesn’t have time for the lecture we deserve.” Eurylochus glares at his counterpart, daring the man to continue his actions in the way he has so far, before deciding to go through with his plan at some point.

“You really needed to go into more detail, but those are fair asks and reasonable for everything that’s going on right now and your time limit.” Polites nods, well aware they can’t afford to offend the god of the island by being late to appear and greet them.

“Damn right they were reasonable, and he still couldn’t fucking do them.” Ody grumbles, pulling his son closer and burying his face in his hair, enjoying the smell of the oil he’d used as well as just the fact he’s there, because he was so certain he was never going to get this for a few years.

“I’ll ensure that bitch gets exactly what she deserves, and those who deserve it will get a chance to get a hit.” Ath promises without hesitation, because like hell is she going to just let that ‘Paradise’ faker get a good life after what she did.

“You had better agree to that, you dumbass. I’m glad to know that at least at this point you know you are being a moron, which almost makes me curious as to why your counterpart is not realizing this or ignoring it.” Penelope frowns as she tries to puzzle it out in her head, pulling her husband closer and chuckling at his startled squeak when she tickles him the slightest bit.

“Asking you to be devout seems a bit far, but I guess with the stress and everything you said, that’s actually not too far. That might just be reminding you I'm the king and really need you to listen so we could return home.” Odysseus shuffles Telemachus closer to his heart, amused when the baby lets out a coo and grabs his chiton at the shoulder, though he’s certain his brother will listen… mostly sure?

“He was a moron, but I’m willing to give him the slightest benefit of the doubt, given he had to be hungry and stressed too.” Pen doesn’t really want to give the man that, but the reality it he was starving, tired, stressed and likely more - never as much as her husband for certain but - at that point in time.

“I am giving him nothing because I didn’t know him and he’s part of the reason it took dad so long to get home. Besides, we all know dad was likely hungrier, got less sleep and was more stressed, especially since he seems to have been slacking a bit in SIC duties.” Tele hisses, because the man had to be pulled aside for a talking to at a horrible time because he was questioning his captain at a poor moment.

“You had better accept that and agree, because this is really the only plan unless you want to offend the god.” Athena knows this god/dess in particular has very little patience most of the time, so the sooner they talk to them the better.

E
…Okay
E doesn’t look happy about it but he agrees.

O
Thank you
O looks like he sighs as he lets his hand fall from the other’s arm, tired and weary and already shoring himself up at the same time to make sure his crew are still in high morale and don’t doubt him too much. O turns to leave, gesturing the man to follow over his shoulder as he goes. E looks after him but says nothing.

“Why the hell was that reluctant? What the fucking hell? Am I seriously still choosing to doubt you after all of that? No, fuck this.’ With that Eurylochus gets up, gently grabs his Odysseus, tugs him off the bed - careful of Telemachus still in his arms - and heads for the other bed with the future counterparts. Ath, seeing this, bristles but lets the man approach, and even lets Ody squirm free from his family, who make protesting noises as they’re moved.

He’s at the edge of the bed when Eurylochus and Odysseus arrive, with the former looking confused, though when he’s pushed to sit on the bed next to his counterpart, he does so. Eurylochus doesn’t hesitate as he proceeds to gently pull them both into a hug, ignoring how one of them tenses and the other does as well, before they both slowly relax, Ody gently lifting a hand to wrap around the man’s back, the other supporting his counterpart since he still has the baby. ‘I’m so damn sorry, because if you’re from the future that means this likely already happened, my stupid ass did this shit and knowing everything, even just the bits I’ve gleamed, I’ll guess I do more stupid things. Sorry won’t change your past, but I still had to say it.” It’s a few moments before Eurylochus steps back and gives them both an apologetic look, before heading back towards the bed with Odysseus. Ody shifts back among his family, looking surprised and fond at the same time.

“I’m glad you did that, especially since you're not wrong, you do stupid shit when you get like this.” Polites grabs Eurylochus into a hug as soon as he’s close enough for one, gently helping Odysseus get back onto the bed before settling them back into a comfortable position.

“He really apologized for something he’s not even done yet, not even gotten close to it if they truly are from before the war.” Ody can’t help the nostalgia or fondness from his voice, because that is the brother he remembers from before everything went to shit.

“Damn right he’d better apologize after everything he’s going to do, I wonder if he’ll apologize again.” Ath growls lowly because like hell is she just going to let him get away with everything because he apologized. (She’s still curious if they’ll exist after this or if they cease because the past was changed.)

“Is that the uncle you had hoped I’d get to have?” Tele murmurs softly, looking confused and torn because he doesn’t want to like the man, and the one being shown to them he certainly doesn’t, but the one in the room with them, he’s starting to, and he’s not certain how to feel about that.

“You know, I am glad you apologized, but I'm not certain how good of an idea it was to approach our counterparts like that, though maybe we should more often.” Odysseus can’t help but take in everything he could tell just from the brief moments of interacting with his own counterpart : the man is still him, definitely, but thinner, wearier, certainly older physically, but there’s something in his eyes that says he saw hell and came out different.

“I won’t deny being curious, and I'm extremely glad you apologized, because I sincerely doubt your counterpart ever did if he survived to home.” Penelope knows how stubborn Eurylochus can be about apologizing to people when he thinks he’s right, but when he knows he’s wrong he’ll do it far easier, so for him to do so now, means he knows his counterpart is in the wrong.

“So he might’ve still been himself under the hunger and everything, hmm?” Pen muses, because she knows her husband had needed that after everything, maybe that’ll let some of the guilt holding him down go away, especially since they won’t see Eury for some time yet.

“At least you will be able to make some progress if everything goes ok, and you don’t offend this god/dess.” Athena knows that they love games and such, but Odysseus is good at working things out with his silver tongue and should easily complete whatever they set before him.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

E and O both staring up at where the rope is swinging in the wind, clouds partially blocking off where it connects to the island. O starts to climb it, looking nervous and perhaps scared, but determined. He pops through the clouds.
O
Great Wind God, Aelous
O starts moving on the cloud, looking around uncertain as to where this god might be, unaware of the glowing eyes in a cloud nearby. He turns to that cloud and the eyes disappear, moving further away.
I don’t know if you know this,
He does a turn, arms folded at the elbow but held out to his sides.
But our path to home is blocked by an impenetrable storm
E standing on the boat, practically glaring at the rope, his arms crossed as he waits. A flash of lightning goes off in the distance behind the boat and man.

“I let you go fucking alone?!” Eurylochus can’t believe himself, even if he couldn’t go with their captain, he should’ve sent a man or two with him so he wasn’t alone with a god.

“I’m honestly more surprised you weren’t there at his side, given we all know you have someone on the boat who you could give orders to until you two return..” Polites furrows his brow, already concerned and confused because why the hell is Odysseus going alone?

“Are you trying to prevent any of the men from offending the god by accident?” Tele tilts his head as he tries to decide if his dad had decided this or if his idiot uncle Eury had been the one to not send anyone with his father.

“I think what he was doing was to make certain the men did not get themselves smote, though they could’ve easily done that at his side as well.” Ath ruffles her feathers in discontent, because not a single one of the crew had thought to volunteer or refuse to let him go alone, not a single damn one.

“So you’ll argue about him going up there at all, but let him go alone?” Penelope can’t help the way her eyebrows raise at the fact, because why the hell is her husband alone up there. She grins to herself at how adorable her beloved is though.

“I’m curious as to why I can walk on the cloud like that, does this god’s divinity let me walk on it or is it because it’s sacred ground for them or…” Odysseus starts to trail off, mind running as he tries to decide what might allow him to walk on the cloud, because that might be a clue or something important he needs to know.

“You were having so much fun and interest in those clouds, darling.” Pen coos at her other half, who gives her a silly grin despite the blush on his face. She can’t help her giggle because of course he’d be curious as hell.

“I couldn’t help myself, the clouds were sort of interestingly tough but soft, I had no choice but to push my way through and I couldn’t release both hands, so sometimes I had to use my head. Besides, I knew what was at stake and was trying to be quick about it.” Ody rubs at his neck sheepishly, well aware he’d look ridiculous popping through the clouds as he had, but he’d had no damn choice. (And he’d been curious.)

“You are extremely lucky this being is one that is usually more willing to do games and tricks than warfare.” Athena frowns at the sight of him going to another god for help, but she can’t exactly blame him given she had abandoned him.

I ask for your assistance so we can last can go the distance
O parts some of the clouds, looking around to see if he can find anything at all here, though he also just appears to be curious.
Can you cast the perfect winds for us and aid our journey home?
He pats a part of one cloud, before gently parting it where that had created a sort of hole. He’s got an eyebrow raised, clearly confused and curious, but sticking to his plan. Glowing eyes open in front of his hands.

Aeolus
Ha ha ha!
A woman made of clouds rises out of the clouds, eyes glowing a light blue, her clothes and skin different shades of blue as well. O startles and jolts back a bit.
I am the wind, twisting and turning!
A moves past him, sitting in the air for a moment, before she moves back towards him, spinning around him so quickly she becomes a cloud shape. O has his eyes closed, seeming nervous and worried. He appears startled when he realizes she’s just puffed his hair up into a mess.
I give the fire enough to stay burning
He starts running his hands through it in order to fix it, ducking his head, while A is hovering near a shoulder, looking amused. She moves her hand from in by her waist to out at her side.
Let’s play a game
She moves further away, hands behind her back, legs half bent, dress flowing in her own wind, looking excited and interested.

“Shit, she could easily kill you with that kind of speed, especially if she draws some kind of weapon. Why didn’t you take anyone with you?” Polites almost groans, hands tugging slightly at his hair, though he can’t help the amused snickers at his best friend’s hair.

“Oh, she’s really interesting, but isn’t she a god? Was that a mistake or does this being change their gender?” Tele turns curiously to Ath, who gives him a fondly amused glance in return.

“Oh my god, I'm going to be the reason Odyssseus dies and it’s because I let him go to dangerous places alone.” Eurylochus buries his head in his face, trying to work out what his counterpart’s plan had been here, because anything their captain says now is going to be met with potential doubt given his reputation for lying.

“I really hate that there is no one with you to back up anything you learn from this god.” Athena knows her Owlet had a reputation for a silver tongue and his men don’t usually believe he uses it on them, but after Eurylochus’ actions, they certainly will and it’ll cause them to do stupid things.

“Things are about to get really serious.” Pen mutters, because she knows her husband had more or less helped raise some of those men, but the ones doubting him already are now always going to doubt anything he says and with no one to clear up misunderstandings, he could potentially be mutinied against.

“I really wish I had been here to help you, so this had gone better.” Ath looks sadly at yet another mistake her actions had helped cause, knows her Fledgling had broken a bit during this moment. She knows the kind of games this being plays and knows they never really stood a chance.

“I swear to god, they had better not do anything stupid.” Penelope glares as she tightens her grip on Telemachus, having taken him back from her darling, because that crew are likely to do stupid things with their captain - their damned king - busy doing things.

“I doubt they’d do anything truly bad, they’ve fought at my side for ten long years, as long as they listen and we manage to get through this, we can arrive home with no issue.” Odysseus prays to a lot of gods, hoping he’s right because he just can not see this going the way it seems to be hinting at.

“I truly wish I could’ve doubted my men as much as Aoelous seemed to think I should’ve, or perhaps I should’ve trusted them more and reached our first in order to weaken their doubt.” Ody is not certain which would’ve helped them more, but he thinks back then if he’d been thinking clearly - after the first 3 or 4 days with no sleep, little water or food, he’d been planning to let Eury watch the bag to rest, but that hadn’t panned out - he would’ve likely chosen to trust his men.

O
A game?
O sounds surprised as he finally pulls his hands out of his hair, more of less fixed, turning to face the god/dess.

A
That’s what I’m serving
She looks entirely amused but serious at the same time, hand hovering open by her waist, flat as if she were holding something.
And, if you win, you’ll get what you are yearning!
She moves that hand out away from her, as if offering it, which is exactly what she appears to be doing as O is in front of her, looking rumpled and tired and weary, but also interested and confused.

“Please ask questions, Owlet. Do not be in such a rush to get home safely that you accept without making the game safer for you.” Athena almost begs, but she knows he most likely won’t, because there is no one there to remind him to be careful, to use his mind, to think this through.

“We’re likely about to be in a shit ton of trouble.” Odysseus is amused that he has fixed his hair at last, but there’s no way, after all the stress he’s had, he will think to question or hesitate when it might get the est of his men home alive.

“Oh? Is this when you somehow ended up closer but father at the same time?” Pen recalls him mentioning something the wind god gave them as a part of a game, a bag if she recalls, though that was not the actual game.

“They’re so interesting, but going straight to manipulation seems… about right for a random god being asked a favor, actually.” Tele grimaces because while he never wishes to encounter one, his dad has given him many lessons on what to do if he does.

“He should’ve had back up, someone to keep an eye on the god while he was unable to see, to listen closely and think while he was stressed and distracted.” Polites rubs his hands down his face, already planning the best chance for his survival so someone is there to remind his brothers to be fuckin smart.

“I can already see where this is going to go wrong because he’s not going to make any rules or think this through when he might be able to ensure the rest of us get home alive, but it’s a god, but we’ve stressed him out so much…” Eurylochus runs his fingers across his head, wishes for a moment he had hair to tug in his frustration, because they created this circle they’ve trapped his captain in.

“Fledgling, this is a moment I had hoped to be there for you if anything like this ever happened. I’m sorry I was not there to help you.” Ath murmurs softly, apology no less genuine, meant only for Ody’s ears, who blinks and turns to face her.

“Ath, I am well aware that I was stupid here, and I won’t deny I’d have loved your help, but at this point, neither of us was willing to reach out to the other.” Ody is well aware his was because he feared she would ignore him and truly break the bit of connection between them, while hers was her pride refusing to admit she was wrong even slightly.

“You and the crew have effectively placed Odysseus in a vase. He is stuck in there, trying to work with what he can, but without help - which you are offering none in any way, not support or emotional or anything - he will just continue to wear himself out until he can do nothing.” Penelope frowns, wondering if she is about to watch her husband burn himself out for this ungrateful crew that almost appear to bruising her darling.

O
Deal
He smiles and goes to grab her hand, which she pulls back.

A
Take a look right here at this bag
A shifts, her left hand held out at her side, fingers curled into a fist, right one bent by her waist. A small bag pops into existence when she opens that hand, catching it easily. The two of them are standing in a section without clouds, though they’re everywhere around them.
It’s has the winds of the storm all trapped
A moves quickly, bag held out in front of her as she goes around and catches the clouds within the bag.
All you gotta do is not open this bag
She holds the bag by the top where she must do something to make sure it closes, though what is unseen. She shoves the bag down into O’s hands, who looks startled and uncomfortable at it, before raising his head to meet her eyes, looking confused and nervous.

“No way in hell is it that easy.” Polites may not be gods blessed or anything, but he knows a lot about them from years of studying and a god never makes a game that easy or simple.

“The catch is going to be something you are not ready for and should not have to be ready for.” Athena frowns harshly, wings puffing up because surely Odysseus’ crew would not be so stupid, not after everything.

“Ah, that bag, it helped you get home and took you away from us just as much.” Tele hisses at the bag, torn between wanting to rip it apart for all the years it took, but also grateful because it had helped his dad when Posei had come for him.

“I can’t say I’m surprised you took the deal either, you were desperate and willing to take whatever help you could get.” Ath grumbles, crossing her arms, wishing she wasn’t jealous seeing him be helped by another god, especially one she is not overly fond of because they play far too manipulative tricks.

“There’s no way in hell we’re gonna believe that tiny ass bag holds a storm." Eurylochus just knows that’s going to cause problems, but as long as he stands behind his captain, his brother, as he always has, it’ll be fine.

“The crew is a bunch of children, but if you and Odysseus work together, you should be able to keep the bag closed.” Penelope narrows her gaze, because she doubts the man will stand by her husband after the open doubt he just did and her beloved won’t be able to trust him with the bag after that, so what is going to happen?

“I truly could’ve handled this better, but there was no real way to convince them that the bag held a storm without opening it, no matter what I said or promised.” Ody sighs tiredly, because this is where the crew had truly started acting on their doubts, the moment he set foot on the boat with that bag.

“Well that’s their mistake, darling. You’ve never lied to them unless it was for their own good and they should know that, so for them to doubt you now speaks ill on them.” Pen gently pets through his hair, tugging a tiny strand gently to stop him from going down that thought path.

“Now the hardest part is going to be convincing the crew that the storm is truly in that bag, and convince myself that I can trust at least Eurylochus if nothing else to watch over it when I can't.” Odysseus is already trying to figure out how his counterpart on screen will deal with this, but he can only guess and nothing sounds all that great at this point.

O
Sounds too easy, what’s the catch?
O is holding the bag by the clenched top, gaze on the bag that looks like nothing special, right hand on his hip. He turns his gaze back to her and lifts his pointer finger off the bag.

A
Ha ha ha!!
A lifts a finger in front of her face and half jabs it towards him, looking amused and happy.
Keep your friends closer and your enemies closer
2 clouds shaped like humans, then another two pop up on his other side, before A makes them squish closer to him, which has O jolting and looking both nervous and uncomfortable, bag clenched tight between his hands.

“What the hell does that mean?” Penelope demands as she narrows her gaze and shifts closer to her husband, carefully handing over Telemachus and scooting so her beloved is cuddling against her chest, allowing her to keep him wrapped in her arms, safe.

“No, this can not be the damned proof, don’t let this be real, don’t…” Eurylochus mutters, because that sounds suspiciously like the gods is saying the crew are going to betray the captain, or perhaps even him, because the only way for the crew the get close to Odysseus without him interfering is if he does it first.

“Is it saying what I think it is?” Polites demands quietly, gaze hard and hands clenching the slightest bit, because it sounds an awful lot like the god is suggesting that the crew is either going to betray Odysseus or the god is going to convince them to betray him.

“There’s really no other way to interpret that, unless you’re in denial.” Tele grumbles, because why the hell would the god be so straight forward about this but not blunt enough to make sure it got through the way it needed to?

“Your face when the clouds smooshed you-” Pen giggles because her husband is still so cute even now, but being allowed to see him being cute and adorable during his trip is certainly something she won’t deny enjoying.

“They would not dare.” Athena murmurs lowly, wings spreading wide and slowly, as if trying to intimidate the very thought into ceasing to be.

“I don’t like what this god is suggesting, but after the last scene, it’s easier to see why she’s saying that.” Odysseus would never doubt his crew, his family, but they had chosen to start doubting him and made it so during a time he could not afford to directly address their concerns.

“I wish I had been here to smite them for having these thoughts, let alone acting on them.” Athena hisses, wrapping her wings around the family for a few moments, to try and calm herself down, ignoring the way her clothes momentarily rub against the scarring on her shoulder uncomfortably as she does so, before letting them free.

“I wish I had the necessary thoughts and doubts myself at the time to truly take those words and believe them, but I refused to think they would betray me, not after everything.” Ody watches sadly, because he doesn’t necessarily regret trusting them, hoping they would listen, but he had definitely lost a great deal of trust with his crew after this.

Winions
Never really know who you can trust
A is smiling, hands in front of her as if she’s about to start clapping, while little mini clouds appear, near and on her shoulders.

A
If they wanna get the bag open,you gotta say no sir!
O is standing in an open area of cloud, the four clouds around him, before two make a swipe for the bag, which has him sliding back to avoid them, causing them to disappear. He spins as the other two come at him, one disappearing. He appears nervous, sweat on his face.

W
Sometimes killing is a must
He continues with the momentum of the turn, which has him bringing the bag down on the head of the last cloud, making it disappear.

“Killing seems really extreme.” Odysseus frowns because killing his men to make sure the bag stays closed is a bit far in his opinion, even if they are doubting him.

“Honestly, if they’re willing to betray the Royal family, I don’t think it is.” Penelope counters, both gentle and stern, because if they ignore Odysseus when he tells them that, they will betray the Royal family to open the bag if they manage.

“I still can’t believe they did. Or that you still tried to save so many of them.” Pen groans as she shifts closer to her beloved, amused when their darling does the same without thought.

“I mean, if they’re going to betray us they could’ve at least done it in a way that would’ve only screwed themselves, not all of us.” Tele mutters angrily, because he could’ve had his dad for ten years longer than he’s going to get, though at least they’ll hopefully get time once they’re in the underworld together.

“No, no no no no no…” Eurylochus mutters over and over, like that might change what they all have an inkling of what might come later.

“They truly deserve to not make it if they are going to betray the one who got them through the war and is trying so hard to return them home.” Athena snarls as she lets her wings open wide, glad that she is not blocking the screen but unwilling to stop herself either as they twitch and prepare to launch her at the enemy who dares attack her Owlet.

“I still think they got off too lenient after everything they did.” Ath moans, ignoring the chiding yank on her feathers from Tele, because she is going to hold this grudge for a while, they had stopped her Feldgling from being happier sooner.

“I still don’t think they got less than they deserve, in fact I think they got worse, but I can’t say I feel too bad since they betrayed me and could’ve done or said anything to try and keep me from you if they had made it home after the mutiny.” Ody is not certain what he’d have done if he had gotten home after the mutiny just for his men to not let his family see him or him them.

“This is such a mess already and nothing has even happened beyond you getting the god’s help.” Polites bemoans as he tips his head back, staring at the ceiling for a moment before lowering deadpan eyes on his brothers, who give him sheepish grins.

O
What?
O turns at the words, looking startled, bothered, upset, confused and worried at the words, bag still clenched in his hands.

A + W
Cause the end always justifies the means.
A has a hand out to her side, which she clenches into a fist, before opening it again, O looking uncomfortable and bothered by the words.
Friends turn to foes in rivalries, so
O turns towards a nearby cloud, from which emerges a faintly E looking cloud. He turns his head in dread as another nearby cloud has another figure pop out, only their back able to be seen, but given the headband it’s likely P. he quickly returns his attention to the E cloud, shifting so his back is to him and both hands are near the bag which is in front of his chest, one grasping it tightly at the neck and the other cradling underneath it.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer!
A observes him closely, appearing to note things down in her own mind, looking much bigger as she floats on her side behind him. O appears to move to leave, as she rests her head on both her hands and watches after him, before turning her head to peer at the Winion on her shoulder.

“She’s manipulating you hard core, though after everything, I can’t even blame you for being suspicious of them.” Pen murmurs gently, stroking her husband’s scalp with her fingers as she watches, unable to blame her other half given everything his brother had done by that point.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t trust me with the bag either at that moment in time, so I can’t blame you for that at all.” Eurylochus won’t deny it hurt a bit watching his brother get so defensive of the bag from a cloud shaped like him, but he also gets it given what he had done just before the man went to the god.

“I swear to god, if they open that bag we’re gonna have a very long, serious, stern talk and they’re not going to enjoy what I say or what they’re punishments could be.” Penelope knows the smile on her face is a bit frozen and everything, but she won’t move it, not as she pulls her husband closer, mindful of Telemachus.

“They have truly lost all hope if you are justifiably wary of them too.” Ath sighs tiredly, because she should have been here and a mistake made by both of them had meant she was not.

“They definitely deserved his lack of trust in them, can’t even blame you for that. Though, I do wish they’d chosen a better time because just you protecting the bag isn’t gonna do your health any good.” Tele frowns, because he can only imagine what his dad might do to ensure he got home, given the fact he’d hidden his illness from them for a good week or some before it got bad enough he couldn’t hide it.

“I can’t believe that I lost all trust in you, there has to still be some left.” Odysseus is honestly not startled by the loss of some trust, but he’s not gonna completely lose all trust in them, so hopefully he’ll let the men help.

“I simply wish they had voiced those doubts in a moment of privacy with you, instead of all of them gathering against you the way they were.” Polites frowns, because that suggests the crew are standing more behind Eurylochus then they are Odysseus right now, which is not something they can afford.

“This is probably where things started to truly fall apart. Him doubting me publicly started some things in motion, but me losing trust in them in return just set off a cycle that we couldn’t escape with everything else going on.” Ody sighs as he watches this again, wondering when exactly the bond between them had frayed so far he could no longer rely on it, though he hadn’t really been able to from the start, given Eury had done everything he could to avoid him.

“This is going to end horribly, given the message they are giving you, but how bad it will be, not even I can say.” Athena growls, because what right do these men have to do this to her Owlet, their king, their brother, their captain and the one person who got them out of the war alive.

W
Never really know who you can trust
Never really know who you can trust
She barely moves as a second one appears by her other shoulder looking amused by them more than anything. O sits at the edge of the hole he made earlier and then slides down the rope, looking like he already dreads this, bag kept tight in a hand. His feet hit the boat.

Perimedes/Elpenor
Captain, what’s happening?
A crew mate notes and calls for him, which gets E and others to gather around as he stands by the rail,looking deep in thought, hand resting on it.
What’s trapped in that bag?
The crewmate looks curious while E points at it with a finger, looking suspicious as well as curious.

“Things are already not going well.” Polites notes as he watches, because for some reason instead of thinking it was dangerous because it came from a god, they seemed to think it was important.

“You stop that shit right now, you take him at his goddamn word and you make sure the crew does too.” Eurylochus points his own fingers at the damn screen and his counterpart who is giving him all the wrong feelings for this moment in time.

“I wish telling him to stop would’ve wrecked at that point.” Ody snorts, amused and entertained, as well as nostalgic at seeing his brother like this after only knowing the way he was after the war for so long.

“ He really wasn’t a bad person, so what the hell happened to him?” Tele feels like some of it was the war, but his dad had remained more or less the same person, choosing when to make himself the general, the captain, the leader, while Eury seems to have decided to always be cold and make practical decisions.

“You had better hope you listen to what he says or you will automatically fail the game.” Athena warns, well aware Aeolous loves their mind games more than anything and after years of war and expecting to be able to relax or at least safer, none of the men are prepared for mental warfare.

“There are going to be so many punishments set for what happens if they do or don’t do something they’ll fear me more than the men that might kill them." Penelope promises, fully tucking her husband against her without fail, cooing gently at Telemachus over his shoulder.

“I really hope things turn out better than I’m expecting them, because I really only caught glimpses of this.” Ath admits, but context clues from later glimpses have given her an idea of what had happened, that doesn’t change she doesn’t know for certain.

“Oh, they should be glad they died because that’s probably nicer than anything I’d have done to punish them if they had made it home to me.” Pen almost pouts because she would’ve loved to have been able to punish them for some of the things she knows they did, and she’s certain she’ll wish she got the chance after learning better what they did.

“They had better not expect me to have come down with anything important and expensive, it was a request for help, so what I have must be dangerous.” Odseeus wishes his men were smart enough to realize that, but most are not and rely more on instinct or muscle memory to survive battles.

O
Something dangerous friends
O turns to them, left hand never leaving the neck of the bag, while his right is out at his side.
We mustn’t lag!
He moves that hand underneath the bag, looking serious but clearly not wanting to waste time, wanting them to trust him so he can either explain later or to a select few.

W
It’s treasure!
Several pairs of glowing blue eyes are in the clouds behind O, wide grins on their faces.

O
…What?
O turns, looking nervous, sweat on his face, looking like he already knows what that might do to his crew, while E and the crewmate look startled and curious at the creature's appearance.

“Yes, focus on the creatures, not what they said.” Tele encourages, hoping they really aren’t so stupid as to believe that his father would get treasure while asking for help from a god.

“To think they fell for that, what were they thinking? Oh, they goddamn weren’t because they don’t have a brain in their head.” Ath hisses angrily, wings spreading wide behind her little family, wanting to press around them but refusing to block their view.

“Shit, they’re idiots but even they can’t fall for that, right?” Odysseus silently supports his future son’s statement, praying they are more focused on the creatures than their words.

“No, they’re going to listen because they want to think you’d hide treasure instead of trusting you as they should. They’re greedy assholes, we have to know this, please, don’t make things harder on him.” Eurylochus practically begs his counterpart, already feeling a dread rise in his stomach.

“This is going to be a huge mess because all sorts of trust is going to be broken.” Polites would know best after all, having lived with his brothers for years - the two with him, though his onscreen counterpart had lived with the crew for 10 years as well - and knows how they’ll react.

“Ohhh…” Ody winces, already trying to brace himself for whatever his family are going to say once he admits to what he did to keep the bag safe, well aware what else he had done will not need to be said.

“You did something stupid to make sure the bag never got opened, didn't you?” Pen eyes the other half of her soul, wondering what exactly he could've done, he’s on a ship surrounded by people he at least partially still trusts, surely it couldn’t have been that bad.

“To think they would let their greed win over their trust and affection.” Penelope sighs at the men, wondering if they really even cared for her husband or if they followed him because they had to.

“I sincerely doubt they’re going to listen to anything you have to say now, because everyone knows creatures of the gods are part divine so they’ll take those things words over yours because they are deathless.” Athena sighs, already regretting not being there for him, wonders exactly how bad this is going to go because it can get really bad.

W
Buh-bye!
The clouds start to clear away.

Perimedes
Open the bag!
O has turned to face the place the clouds where, both hands resting on the railing now, looking more tense than he was previously.

Elpenor
Let’s see what you got!
The rest of the crew have not approached yet, but E and this other crewmate seem determined to peek into the bag, whether for greed or something else is unclear.

“You had better tell them off for that.” Penelope growls, anger igniting inside her at the very sight of the crew almost stalking towards her husband who is just trying to get them home.

“This is not time for gentle parenting, this is the time to throw out punishment.” Pen threatens her own husband, who gives her a grin that speaks of mischief.

“That’s not the way to go about this!” Eurylochus almost wails at his counterpart, because what the hell is he doing? That is not what he should be saying or doing, he’s supposed to support his captain, not demand to see what’s in the bag alongside the crew.

“Something has changed.” Polites had noticed it even before the cyclops and his death, the way Eurylochus seemed to doubt or be uncertain about their brother’s actions, but for it to get this far.

“I swear to god, they are so damn stupid.” Ath sighs tiredly, almost thankful she had never truly had to put up with them because they knew she did not care for them and she never showed herself around them.

“They had better not hurt you to open that bag.” Tele snarls, almost pushing himself up, but he is aware that might hurt his dad who’s still working to regain his weight and whose ribs still show without his clothes, though not as much as they used to. Instead, he levels an impressive, deadly glare on the screen.

“This is not going to end well.” Odysseus winces, already bracing himself for what might come from his counterpart on screen, given he seems extremely stressed, pulling Telemachus closer to him and cooing when the babe shifts enough to grab his collar, tugging it a few times. He gently replaces it with his finger.

“I will torture them if they lay a single fingernail on you, Owlet.” Athena almost hisses, her voice a bit more growl than hiss, but not enough growl to be a growl fully, though the way her wings are puffed up and the way she levels a cold stare at the screen tells them all she means her words. None of them can blame her either.

“I can’t believe they were so willing to possibly hurt me just to get that damned bag open, despite everything we’d been through. As if I’d betray them over some damned treasure.” Ody scoffs, the sound echoing, letting the past group know he thinks this is just as stupid and annoying as they do, especially since he knows his crew had known his only want for years was to return to Pen and Tele.

O
No, do not!
O turns with a snarl, almost shouting the words, swiping his right arm through the air in front of him as he does so, startling both E and the crewmate, though the crewmate looks more nervous than E.
Everybody listen closely,
He levels a dark glare at the two of them, voice a bit lower, a finger raised in front of his mouth.
See how this bag is closed?
His left arm is bent, the bag resting near his waist, right hand as he gestures towards it, clearly trying to make a point without losing his crew’s trust or gaining more doubt, gentle parenting them as likely has become a habit by this point.

That’s how it’s supposed to be
O shifts a bit, bringing the bag closer to his torso, while the right hand moves a bit more, turning its palm towards his body and fingers curling the slightest bit.
This bag has the storm inside!
O shifts it in front of his chest, before lifting it up as a lightning strike goes past behind him, highlighting the danger of opening it.
We cannot let the treasure rumor fly
He emphasizes it as he says it, expecting them to listen, even as E and the crewmate share a glance.

“They had better fucking listen.” Athena narrows her gaze, because they might’ve doubted him, but with everything going on, it’s extremely clear he’s telling the truth so they had better use basic common sense.

“There’s no way in hell that’s going to work now that they think it’s treasure, they’re too stupid to see all the signs.” Polites sighs heavily as he buries his head in his hands, trying to brace himself or the betrayal that seems like it’s going to happen as much as he doesn’t want it to.

“You never said anything about them hurting you, so I’m going to take your word for it.” Pen tightens her grip around her other half, because he might not have said anything around this point, but it had been pretty clear they’d done so later.

“To think they would truly betray you over some treasure when they know what your goal has been for years.” Ath scoffs at the crew, uncertain why they ever thought they had a chance of getting home once they started doubting their captain.

“You had better tell them to back off, assure your brother you’ll not let the rumor fly and work hard to help get the lot of you home, if you know what’s good for you.” Eurylochus looks like he desperately wishes to have a spear or sword to aim at his counterpart to make a point.

“You had better not fucking do anything too stupid.” Penelope frowns heavily, trying to both let her anger take her over but not because she needs to think clearly and be able to see what they do so if they hurt her husband, she can repay them properly.

“What a mess they quickly became once they learned it was treasure. They have treasure, why are they wanting more?” Tele shakes his head because there’s no way his dad wasn’t going to distribute most of the treasure to his crew upon arriving home so they got their cut, why want more?

“I really don’t know why they were like that, but I sometimes wonder if perhaps this is when they wanted to start hurting me more, maybe not on purpose, but I could see them blaming me for the cyclops and starting to push me away because of it.” Ody knows that’s not a great thing to think, much less admit out loud, but it also feels pretty true.

“They truly don’t appear to be listening to my warnings, and they almost appear afraid of me.” Odysseus winces, he had never wanted his brothers to look at him like that, but they looked like one wrong step and they thought he’d kill them.

Crew
We’ll try
They give a shrug, E has his left arm out at his side, bent at the elbow, while the crewmate has crossed his arms.

A
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
A is watching from nearby, floating on her side as she watches the boat, day giving to night.

C
Never really know who you can trust
The boats paddling through the water, clearly trying to get home faster.

W
Never really know who you can trust
A floats on her back above the clouds-

A
Now they wanna get the bag open so they can have closure
-Her eyes closer and almost looking smug, clearly already aware of which direction this is likely to go.

“The hell do we mean try?! That is our brother and king asking us to make sure something happens, we’re gonna do it, right?!” Eurylochus snarls, because damn his counterpart to hell if he continues down the path he’s on, because the two of them are not making good choices, but he’s arguably making the worse ones, forcing his brother into a corner with bad options.

“How would opening the bag bring them closure of any sort?” Polites frowns because the bag has nothing to do with his or any of the other men’s death, so the only closure they’d get would be to sate their own greed.

“He truly did love you at one point, but the war or hunger or something took that love and hollowed him of it.” Tele frowns as he watches his past uncle react to his counterpart, wonders if the man will agree with the choice his dad makes or argue with it.

“Yeah, he adored you as well, and he was friends with your mom, we were one big family, the lot of us, him, Polites, your mom and I, you, my sister, their kids.” Ody misses the times where they got to hang out like that, only his memories now to rely on and he knows it’s not always reliable.

“They want the closure of knowing what’s in the bag and why their captain is keeping it from them.” Athena is tense, waiting for the moment it happens, because something will, and she’s almost certain of what it will be.

“I sincerely hope they think this through before they do it because there’s no going back if they do something stupid.” Penelope can already see the stupid plan the crew must be making after her husband told them off and practically ordered them to keep the bag closed.

“Closure my ass, they were just greedy little shits who wanted to get into the cookie jar because dad said no.” Ath sniffs at the crew, aware that might not be fair, but his crew had always acted more like children than soldiers, even when they should’ve.

Pen says nothing, but she watches and silently wonders when Eury lost his faith, trust and let those slowly steal his love for her husband, and what the hell had set it off, because he had been questioning and doubting her beloved almost from the moment he had been first seen, which means maybe something during the war?

“So they truly don’t intend to listen to me after everything we must’ve gone through.” Odysseus hasn’t spent the ten years of war with his men, hasn’t had time to get to know them that way, to become brothers, but he still feels his heart break because he has always trusted and loved his people, so for them to betray him silently like that, over something so simple and easy? It hurts. Telemachus shifts in his grip, which has the man gently shifting him, settling him against his chest in his arms, though his finger is not released.

C
Sometimes, sneaking is a must!
E on the boat, staring ahead with a map in his hand, clearly trying to figure out their route or path, or perhaps it’s something else, but certainly a scroll in hand.

W
Sometimes sneaking is a must!
A’s head appears nearby -

A
Cause the end always justifies the means.
-her arms crossed just in front of her chin as she watches E, looking amused.

C
Everything’s changed since Polites, so…
E turns towards where her head was, it already having disappeared, scroll lowered now, looking distressed and nervous, as a nearby cloud takes on the shape of P.

“They’re going to sneak and take the bag from you after you’ve likely spent a while protecting it? How stupid are they?” Athena snarls, because there is the confirmation she needed to know they had to make the men give an oath or something, else they’d do this again, if they can’t completely change the future.

“Hey, you can’t keep using my damn death against him like that, especially since none of you have properly given him the chance of grief!” Polites shouts, angry and upset because he is dead, they have no right to use that as salt against Odysseus’ wounds when he’s trying to save them.

“They’re already this angry, they’re gonna get so much worse during some of the things we see later.” Ody is almost amused by this, but he’s curious as well because things are going to change and he’s certain of that, but he wants to know what happens to them at that point, since it could be their own past changing, but it could also be that it diverges from their’s, which means another time where he got home early. (He silently wonders if they’ll ever be able to see their past selves and their families after this, because he gets the feeling they’ll only get closer soon.)

“I hope they keep everything they see close to heart and remember all of it, even if it hurts, because they need to know.” Tele knows that might seem spiteful, might seem angry, but he had spent 20 years without his dad, 10 of which because of the stupid decisions of others, so he’s not going to feel bad about it.

“No, no no, get that look off your face, you are his most trusted commander, the person he trusts most right now, do not do something stupid, do not risk it all over nothing.” Eurylochus growls out, hands clenched tight into fists, almost strong enough to cut into his hands, which is where Polites interferes, gently tugging his fingers free.

“Don’t you worry, there’s no way this is going to end well for any of you, but we’ll see what kind of fate you get before we decide anything.” Penelope is aware there’s no way with that kind of godly interference that everything is going to be ok, so time to see if the man and crew get their just desserts for this.

“They truly trapped you with the worst decisions and somehow expected you to make them better than they were.” Ath had seen some of the choices forced on her Fledgling, by her family and his crew, is well aware of the cruelty in all of them.

“They truly planned this even despite everything you were doing to protect the bag.” Pen arrows her gaze, because she’s starting to think the crew only got what they deserved, after everything they’d done to her husband.

“They really don’t seem to care too much if they hurt me, with how often they’re throwing Polites at me as if it were solely my fault.” Odysseus frowns, unable to help him flinch at the reminder of the man’s death, especially since they seem to be using that to somewhat justify their choices and decisions against him.

A
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
A is floating on her back yet again, arms crossed behind her head, head turned up, before she shifts it to the side, keeping an eye on the lot of them for her amusement.

C
Never really know who you can trust
A is beyond a ship to its side, a Winion looking excited on her shoulder, the boat moving through the water.

W
Never really know who you can trust
Everything appears to be going well.

O
For nine days, I’ve stayed wide awake,
O is sitting, his back resting against a wall, facing the ocean and rails, wind musing through his hair. He appears to be wavering slightly.
Trying to make it home with no storm or tidal waves.
He shifts a bit more, lowering his knees and setting his hand down on the boat, showing he’s got huge bags under his eyes, even as he licks his lips and leans further against the boat.
I remain unopposed, the bag is still closed and I’m getting closer to you…
He’s got both hands pressed to the boat, right leg curled slightly and the left one extending out, the bag resting to his right by the rail, stairs a few feet to his left, a mast on the higher area past where the stairs lead to. He rests a hand on the bag. He looks sad and desperate, longing clear in his voice and face as the background shifts to a light blue.

“That’s definitely not healthy, and they still think after all that you’ve done they should open the bag?” Penelope frets at the way she can see bags under his eyes, the way he licks his lips, he’s likely not drank much either and given the wavering, she’s willing to bet he’s not been eating much either, because that’s extremely similar to when he goes too long buried in his work and no one realizes he went a day or two without eating.

“How dare they.’ Polites snarls quietly, lowly, a sound that has others shifting away from him slightly because gentle men are terrifying when they’re angry. ‘After everything, all you did to keep them alive during the war and trying to get them home, doing even now your best to keep them safe, they are planning to betray you for nothing.” He levels an angry glare at the screen.

“You really went that long without sleep? That’s not good for your health and you look about ready to collapse, are they seriously going to use your moment of weakness against you?” Tele is extremely unimpressed by his dad’s crew so far, aside from his uncles, and even then it’s a work in progress with one of them.

“They truly hit a new low without even trying, it’s almost impressive.” Ath would almost be impressed by the men’s decision and plan, if it weren't being used against her Fledgling to betray his trust and take him further from his home.

“What the hell?’ Eurylochus murmurs lowly, softly, almost too quietly, staring with dreadful, horrified eyes at the screen. ‘They waited until he was exhausted, dehydrated and so hungry he couldn't even sit up right to go after him, and I didn’t try to get him to eat, drink or rest more?! Fuck it all, we’re gonna get out just deserts no matter what happens.” He crosses his arms, anger and fury all across his body language.

“We? Eurylochus, do you think you are part of this?” Odysseus had caught the wording, and while there were hints, he doubted the man’s counterpart would betray him that way, even with all the doubts he’d had earlier.

“You pushed yourself far too much just to return to us. I wish you’d had to fight a lot less than you did.” Pen sighs softly as she rests her head on his shoulder, placing her ear against his pulse to hear his heartbeat, taking in his warmth and every breath he takes, extremely glad she’s managed to convince him to start getting more sleep recently, though she’ll have to enforce it again.

“So do I, but I don’t regret a moment of the fighting because it got me home to you. I regret some of the choices I made and the friends I lost, but never the fighting that got me home to you.” Ody shuffles even closer against his wife, comfortable and so grateful he’d managed to move past most of the things that useless bitch had done, letting him take comfort in his wife and her touch, as well as his son’s.

“They would truly let you sink yourself as low as possible just to get an opportunity because they know they stand no chance if you have any sort of strength.” Athena spits as she watches this crew, a cold anger resting in her eyes as she realizes she’ll never be letting them get too close to her Owlet after the war, since she can only do so much during it, but after, she’ll be around as often as possible.

En
Penelope
He’s perhaps hallucinating or envisioning the form of his wife.

O
I can’t wait to make some new memories…
He takes a step towards the form, though it’s slow and wavering, as if he can’t trust his balance.

En
Telemachus…
A small child, a young boy, appears at her side, form and face blurred, even as he grasps at Pe’s arm and she glances down at him.

O
Time for me to be the father I never was
He looks excited and eager to do so, despite the huge bags and way he sways in place.

“Darling, we miss you too, no doubt, but please take care of yourself.” Penelope frowns at the way he moves and the sight of him as he is, because he looks like he might collapse at any moment. (She tries not to think of the ache in her chest that he has no idea what Telemachus looks like.)

“We truly have lost far too many years.” Odysseus mutters, pulling his son closer to his chest, because he has loved this child since he was naught but an idea, to know he would miss ten years of his life, if not more, it makes his heart ache as if it were being torn out.

“You really are making it extremely worrying, dear. I’m thinking you’re gonna take a break when we get home to be with the two of us, no matter what you say.” Pen hisses, gently tugging at his ear when he opens his mouth to protests, because she will not move on this.

“Yes, sweetheart." Ody knows better than to argue with his wife, especially after he left for 20 years, though only about 10 were expected, he missed her too much to truly argue with her.

“No, I know you miss them but you are going to fall asleep if you keep this up.” Athena feels something rise in her chest, logically she knows its panic, but that emotion has no use for her so she’s rarely been left to its grip, with her powers weakened however, she can not stop it, or the way her claws grip tighter at the bedding.

“We must not, we will not, I don’t care if I have to lock the captain in his damn cabin and feed him, give him water and cuddle with him to get him to sleep, if it means we don’t do something stupid I’ll damn well do it.” Eurylochus hates this because at the rate this is going, they’re going to betray and hurt their captain and brother in a way he doesn’t think the man will ever recover from.

“Dad…” Tele knows his dad loves him, has known it since the moment he’d met the man - after the suitors were dead - but to see how long and deeply he’d been loved, it takes his breath away, has him cuddling closer without a second thought.

“Yes, it surprises me not that you still got home despite everything. You were always a very hard person to get to go another way once you had a goal in mind.” Ath smiles softly, gently, running clawed fingers through two different heads of brown hair, one with grey streaks through it and the other still young yet.

“They’re gonna destroy him in a way he won’t ever recover from if they betray him while he’s daydreaming about his family, the very thing he’s wanted for years now, especially if they’re close enough they might yet see home soon as I fear they are.” Polites knows there is no way to know exactly where they hit the storm or the island of the god, but he gets the feeling if they’ve truly had 9 days with the wind behind them, they should be close to home.

Telemachus+Penelope
Just keep your eyes open
Pe has opened her arm, palm forward in front of her chest, both of the forms gazes on him.

O
Why are my eyes and my heart and my soul so heavy?
He looks so tired, the bags under his eyes almost appearing darker in this pale light, before he finally falters, left hand resting on his chest, as his legs seem to start to give out on him.

T+Pe
Just keep your eyes open
Pe’s face and gaze are both neutral and extremely pointed, determined as if she were not real, earring in her ear, crown just visible above her ear and a bit of hair moving near her face.

Penelope can’t bring herself to say anything, not with the way her throat is tight and her heart heavy at his words and actions, instead drawing him even closer to herself, a hand finding the pulse at his wrist and using the to calm herself, as well as the weight of their baby, who coos at the additional touch.

“Captain, you need to sleep so damn bad you are literally faltering because your body can not keep up anymore.” Polites frets, because he knows best that the man runs himself almost literally into the ground with all the work he puts into each and every deal, plan and action.

“Yup, I’m going to make you take a break and if you don’t listen, Ath, Herm, and Ar are going to be given permission to make sure you rest in any way that doesn’t hurt you.” Pen decides without hesitation, because it doesn’t matter if this was years ago, she refused to let him get to that point again currently and he’s likely close.

“Honestly, at this point I’d be more than willing to just sit and talk with him for hours if it’d keep him healthy, we could sharpen weapons to keep our hands busy or something, but I love talking with father and he would be getting rest.” Tele knows that he might be a bit overprotective of his dad, and he’s been overprotective of his mom since the suitors, but he thinks he deserves to be, considering everything the two have given up for him.

“Shit, there was truly no way for me to trust Eurylochus even a little so I could rest?” Odysseus isn’t certain what hurts more at this point, knowing what’s going to happen, waiting for it to happen, or seeing how he is going to react given his efforts. Telemachus lets out a tiny screech, startling almost all of them, drawing everyone’s gaze, only to blink when they find him reaching towards the other bed, towards the future counterparts.

It takes a few moments, but Odysseus trusts his guts and himself, so he untangles himself from the others and heads towards the other bed, almost stumbling when Teleamchus yanks on his hair as he winces, but manages to continue on. Looking amused, the ones on the bed sit more upright, curious as to see what’s going to happen, the screen paused. Telemachus lets out another sound, more sad and longing than anything as he continues to make grabby hands at the bed, though who exactly is unclear even right at its edge.

“Uhh, excuse me.” Odysseus mutters softly and then gently sets Telemachus on the bed, wondering if the boy just wanted to be closer to the others. The babe doesn't seem to agree, rolling onto his stomach and then getting up to start crawling towards the other people, letting out little gurgles and coos as he goes. To everyone and no one’s surprise, he chooses what must be the future Tele, who looks panicked at the baby who has crawled onto his lap, then to his parents. Ody chuckles at his look and reaches forward to gently guide his arms around the babe, while Pen just laughs, hiding it against her husband’s back since he’s learnt forward, while Ath watches in amusement, some feathers on her wings twitching with it.

Penelope doesn’t know if she agrees with leaving Telemachus over there, so she rises, Eurylochus and Polites following to not leave the two alone for this, while Athena waits a few moments, watching as the four settle into whispered argument at the bottom of the steps, before rising to offer her own thoughts to perhaps help them out. Ody watches them, bemused, while Pen simply watches everything over his shoulder, gently placing a kiss against his neck, Ath the only one to notice as the bed they’re on expands, large enough to hold the other group, with Tele preoccupied by Telemachus.

The other bed sinks into the ground without a noise, but the screen makes one, a sound none of them can describe, which gathers their attention. The past group take that to mean they need to start watching, but pause when they spot their bed gone, confused.

“Come, join us on our bed since it seems we’re going to be here for a while yet and being closer can only help.” Ath offers them, because surely there’s a reason for this as well, but also because she has no issues with it and knows the family with her don’t either.

When the group hesitates, Ody decides to make it easier. He gives a grin at Ath, who merely rolls her eyes, but rather easily plucks up the two nearest people - Odysseus and Polites - and sets them on the bed not far from her. The two blink in surprise. “I know this might be a bit much, but I promise we don’t bite and we certainly don’t have a reason to.” He can’t help his amused grin or the amusement in his voice.

“He is right, besides which it is not like they can kill us, not when it is uncertain whether that would kill them as well or not.” Athena easily settles herself against the headboard of the bed similar to her counterpart, making sure to not catch the mortals with her claws.

“I can’t believe this, we’re going to destroy our king, brother and captain, the man who has kept us alive for years, simply because of some damned greed. Curse us to Hades.” Eurylochus hisses as he gets settled, Penelope having settled behind Odysseus, who is to his left, Polites on the couple's other side closest to the older group. He’s just going to roll with this, and has currently given up on understanding their current situation and focusing more on what is happening on the screen.

O
I keep on trying to embrace you both,
O looks desperate, one eye watering with tears appearing amidst his bangs, a hand lifting desperately towards them because he can not get his body to move anymore right now.
Why won’t you let me?
He lowers his head, hand still reaching out desperately, the other one on whatever counts as ground, perhaps the only thing keeping him upright as he sways.

T+Pe
Just keep your eyes open
The Pe form has approached, grasping at the arm he has outstretched, hand resting on his elbow, the man almost on all fours, except for the one arm, but the rest of him can be seen just barely shaking.

“I wish I could be there with you, to help ease your burdens, dearest.” Penelope gently presses a kiss to his forehead, because seeing tears in his eyes and knowing not a person is there to wipe them away, least of all, hurts her.

“I would agree, except I never want you on the battlefield if I can avoid it, I’d much rather you be safe in the palace walls.” Odysseus knows his wife can fight - she’s kicked his ass on more than one occasion when he’s being stupid or when he needs a place to destress after being king and leader for so long - but he would still rather she be safe than fighting.

“You were always so desperate to see us, huh?” Tele had thought perhaps it had been the 20 years, but if he’s like this after only 10, it must be just how his dad was, which is not surprising in the slightest bit. He flinches in fright as the babe in his grasp shifts.

“No, he was like that from the moment he left Itaca.” Ath says dryly, amused and long suffering because she had dealt with it the most, though she’s certain Diomedes and the rest of the king’s had as well when he was drunk. (Or just really sad.)

“We’ve pushed him too far and don’t even know it.” Eurylochus exhales shakily, grabbing his brother’s hand to ground himself in the here and now, a silent promise to make sure these mistakes on his part never happen.

“Truly, what horrible brothers we must be to not have noticed, especially given you aren’t exactly subtle after a while.” Polites frown in displeasure at the crew who had let their captain and brother deteriorate so their plan could go smoother.

“I want to know if that’s a hallucination or a god’s power.” Pen snarls lowly, because she refuses to let them take anything more from her husband and if they had while she wasn’t there, she’s gonna kick some serious ass.

“I think it might’ve been Aelous trying to help in their own way, but honestly it could’ve been a hallucination as well.” Ody shrugs because he is not entirely certain which it had been, and this certainly isn't the worst thing he’d had happen.

“I can’t believe they’ve let you push yourself that far as well as likely helped you get that far, they are a poor crew and not very decent men either.” Athena frowns because the crew is supposed to look out for their captain as much as he looks out for them and they are currently falling so hard she’s pretty sure they’d be dead if it were a battle.

O
So much has changed, but I’m the same
He looks up at the touch, seeming surprised and hopeful, before tugging her down desperately, both of them now resting on their knees despite the fact O looks like a strong touch would topple him.
Yes I’m the same
He looks desperate, whether because he knows he’s changed that much and refuses to believe it or because he truly wants them to believe that at least, is unclear. His eyes almost appear to be glowing, wide as they are, bruises under them getting darker looking by the moment.

T+Pe
Just keep your eyes open
Pe’s form shifts forward, appearing to give him a kiss even as tears start to roll down the curve of his visible cheek.

“You looked so surprised… “ Penelope frowns, taking this moment to peer closer at the older Ody, wondering exactly what it was that surprised him, the touch, the fact she was willing to or that he had the strength to pull her down.

“You truly thought even at that point that some part of you had changed too much for me to love.” Pen sounds disapproving as she frowns at her husband, giving him a sad, understanding and devastated look that has him wincing but nodding anyways.

“Damn, so they truly beat him down that much?” Tele knows his dad has confidence and some self - confidence as well, but he’s well aware the man can be extremely self conscious about decisions he thinks make or made him a monster.

“How much are we going to mess up?” Eurylochus almost demands, tears starting to gather in his eyes, because damnit their brother appears to be close to breaking and he’s not there to lend even a hand, much less a shoulder.

“Things are going to get so much worse soon.” Polites doesn’t know why, isn’t certain what gives him the feeling, but the way that the hallucination or whatever it is insists he keep his eyes open gives him a bad feeling.

“We’ll start working on that, now that you’ve recovered some from the journey.” Ath gently assures him, because she loves her friend and she refuses to continue to see him so torn and hurting himself because of decisions he had to make.

“I don’t think that there was ever really much hope I wasn’t going to think I was a monster, given the choices, decisions and everything I had to make during the time.” Ody shrugs his shoulders almost nonchalant, but they can all tell he is still tense and hurt by the choices.

“They truly hurt me in ways we haven’t seen yet and that almost scares me more than what we’ve seen so far.” Odysseus observes himself as well as his family, seeing the signs of the trauma they entire group have been dealt over the time they’ve been apart.

“You are not entirely the same still, but you are still yourself at your core.” Athena knows that her Owlet is going to destroy himself as he goes along this journey, she can see the signs in this older Ody.

En
Keep your eyes open
Darkness.

Pe
Wake up…
A small opening showing the vague form of Pe. The screen goes dark again.
Wake up!
Odysseus, they’re opening the bag
The voice sounds more urgent, even as the screen appears to blink. Pe’s face looks worried.
Wake up!!
O’s eyes open wide, jolting awake obviously. He’s lying on the deck where he had been sitting, rain falling from the sky, bag gone from his side, and his right arm tied to the rail. He sits up, to find several of the crew gathered in the middle of the ship, one with the bag open - or about to be opened. He looks nervous as he sees this, bags still under his eyes, still swaying the slightest bit.

O
Nooo!!
He reaches out with his left arm and tries to get up to stop them, but is yanked back by the rope, to his obvious surprise as he stares at it for a moment.

“They fucking tied you, and gave you no real time to sleep after nine days awake, just for that bag.” Pen snarls, because she had known, but seeing it is another thing, especially since he’d not told them he was tied up.

“How dare they.” Penelope easily matches her counterpart's anger, because that is his crew, at the very least his people, he is their king they should be helping him, not betraying him the first chance they get.

Odysseus can’t say anything, a whimper the only thing to slip past his lips as he watches in hurt, tears barely gathering in his eyes, as he watches his crew betray him during a time he needed their support.

“I think they got what they deserved.” Tele mutters softly, watching his dad’s crew betray him in such a harsh way during a horrible time, gently shifting the baby Teleamchus in his arms as he does so.

“They deserved to drown and never see Hades domain properly for what they did, and they likely will not for a while.” Ath hisses, wings arcing just the slightest bit, making sure that she doesn’t hit her counterpart.

“What have we done?” Eurylochus stares in horror at the crew, who realize they’ve made a mistake clearly, but still chose to do it, and they had to have had his help because he should’ve been the one to stop them taking the bag, much less tying him up.

“Everything is falling apart.” Polites shakes his head harshly, already preparing for what will be some truly horrible times ahead with the fractured trust among his brothers.

“Some of them regretted it right after, and the crews on nearby ships weren’t very happy, but things did not get much better.” Ody had not expected Poesi at all because he’d been unaware that cyclops belonged to the Sea god.

“I did not warn you and that is my own fault, was my test truly so important I let you potentially fuck yourself and your crew just because of my ego? My Pride?” Athena grits her teeth as she watches, because that storm can only be godly, it can only belong to Poesidon for the waves to be that big and dangerous.

A
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
The crew all look nervous and like they already regret what they did, but the bag is now open. O reaches for his waist, pulling a small knife from it that he uses to start sawing at the rope around his wrist, trying to not cut himself, but he’s also in a hurry so he doesn’t much care if he catches himself either.

C
Never really know who you can trust
A’s face, which while still smiling looks more serious than before.

W
Never really know who you can trust
O finally manages to cut himself free, knife tucked back into place without hesitation, ignoring the bit of blood on his hand, as he grabs the ship.

“Please be more careful with yourself, dear.” Penelope scolds her husband because he might not care about hurting himself at the moment, but she does, she doesn’t want to see him hurt over and over again.

“What a bunch of morons, they’ve put you in a horrible position.” Atena shifts, annoyed, because if the ship had capsized or anything then he’d have been stuck to it as it sunk until he could grab the knife against the force.

“They really didn’t believe it had the storm if they were willing to risk your death by tying you to the boat.” Tele seems extremely unimpressed by the crew on his dad’s ship, because the rest of the crew didn’t seem bothered by the bag or anything.

“Don’t you worry, I’m almost certain they’ll get what they deserve, though I do wish you had taken more care with cutting that rope, love.” Pen frowns as she now knows where that scar around his wrist comes from, but she’s less happy to realize why he had it.

“They lost trust and faith in me. But why?” Odysseus doesn’t get it, they know he is human as they are, even if he is god blessed, so why the hell did they lose faith and trust in him? Was it the cyclops and the dead men? Telling it his name?

“Captain, Odysseus, brother, I think this is entirely my fault. Anything they can try to blame you for - and likely do - is something I could’ve stopped or we chose together and I’m either not telling them that or they’re ignoring it and I’m letting them.” Eurylochus is pissed, because what is his counterpart doing? There are men ignoring his captains orders, so where the fuck is he? He should’ve been on them the moment he saw the bag in their hands.

“I was really far more worried about the storm than the cut I managed to give myself, ok?” Ody pouts because he knows his family are right, but he had still loved his crew back then, even in that moment, and his focus had been escaping the storm.

“You have such a big heart, it truly is a shame I wanted you to try and close it off.” Ath knows for certain she would not have focused on saving anyone if they’d betrayed her like that unless she needed them for something, but Ody had still loved his crew and while his trust had lessened, he trusted them some too.

“Looks like it’s time to stop gentle parenting the crew and be the rightfully angry parent, because they just did something extremely stupid.” Polites crosses his arms, disappointed, unimpressed and angry at what the crew had just done in a few moves, especially since their captain likely already took enough blows for them during the war.

C
Storm!!!
The ships are caught amongst the waves.

W
Full speed ahead!
They’re tossing and rolling, though none have capsized just yet.

O
Where’s the storm taking us?
O is on a higher floor of the ship, one hand grabbing the inside of the railing while the other braces on top of it as he shouts at A’s head, which is grey like the clouds, as she gives him an unimpressed, unamused, almost dark look.

A + W
I said to keep the bag closed
She raises an eyebrow and almost smiles.
But you weren’t compliant
O shifts to face her as her head floats closer to the ram of the ship, A’s eyes glowing even brighter against the darkness of the clouds.
If I had to guess you’re headed to the
She settles right in front of the ship, or perhaps the back given her next action is to press a hand to her lips and then blow the ship away with wind. O grasps the rail more desperately as the wind goes across him, hunching over slightly to decrease his chances of falling since he doesn’t trust his hands strength to be enough.
Land of the giants
The rain continues to fall.

“No.” Penelope breathes out, tightening her grip on her husband at the thought of him being anywhere near the Land of the Giants.

“We need to close the bag so it stops launching us in that direction, maybe even save the wind if we’re lucky.” Odysseus hates that they’re being taken so far from home after being so damned close.

“You were so close and they fucked it all up instead of believing in you.” Pen frowns because that crew in specific are highest on her shit list right now.

“Can’t blame you for that, darling.” Ody snorts as he leans harder against her to remind her he is here in her arms, safe and sound.

“They deserve lashings, I deserve to be demoted and watched closely, what were we thinking was going to happen?” Eurylochus groans in annoyance because damnit, why would he have stolen treasure from a god, and what sort of god gave treasure out in return for a favor? None.

“I am going to get more company in the underworld, I guess.” Polites voice is monotone and he shrugs, hoping he gets the chance to scold the hell out of them once they join him.

“Oh, they most certainly did and they knew they deserved it so they didn't even protest.” Ath was so damn amused and entertained to watch that once given the chance to.

“Oh? Is that something I can watch too or no?” Tele asks Ath, because he would love to watch his uncle scold the crewmates that deserve it, given the things he’s been told.

“They’re going to get horrible deaths, I will ensure it if they do not show any signs of change or betterment by the time the war ends.” Athena knows that might seem harsh, but if they can do this in one time, they can certainly still do it in another.

C
Storm!!
Storm!!
The ships continued to be tossed about in the storm, waves high and strong, rain pelting down as well.

O
Help me close the bag!
O is kneeling on the deck of the ship, one hand clutching the neck of the bag and the other a string meant to tighten it, but he can’t close it completely without letting go of the neck which might let the bag tear itself from his grasp. He’s got one eye closed against the rain and wind, talking to E who is crouched to brace for waves nearby. Blood stains the bag from where he cut himself.

“Why the hell aren’t any of them doing anything?” Polites can’t believe the crew to be that bad, they might have just been unleashed into the storm, but they know that is something possible and have protocols and plans for those, why are the crew not following them?

“I had better start training them more thoroughly, and if it’s my counterpart that’s not helping, I am going … I don’t even know what I’m going to do at this point, but I’m both extremely disappointed and starting to expect it, which just hurts.” Eurylochus sighs as he hunches over, wondering how much more his counterpart is yet going to hurt his brother.

“They are already learning and doing better than when you left for war, I can see it.” Tele isn’t certain what he’s seeing in them that they aren’t, but he damn well can see something in them changing from the counterparts they have been watching.

“He’s not wrong, you are already changing from the people we’ve been watching, but you had better keep those changes and use them once we leave this room.” Pen levels look at Polites and Eurylochus because they are part of the actual crew and will be at his side, almost for certain, once they are sent home.

“To think they would be so truly idiotic as to not follow a single plan, a single order, a single fucking thought…” Athena hisses as she watches the crew be tossed about, watches her Owlet struggle alone because his crew are not as loyal as he is.

“I almost want to go with you so that I can help you train them better, not because you’re going to do bad but because I want them to remember it.” Penelope knows that’s not a thing most people would expect, but that is her husband being put at risk because his crew can’t listen as they are expected to, like a bunch of disobedient children. Odysseus might not have much experience with them, but she was one and so were some of her siblings, she knows how to handle them.

“More training is not going to hurt, but what you really need is to figure out how to make sure they’re more loyal to you or ensure they never question you, no matter how much they think they should.” Ath is aware that sounds cruel to some of the humans, but honestly, the crew don’t really deserve her pity or empathy, they took ten years from her Fledgling.

“I certainly wish they had followed instructions, because having to continue to give orders while doing this was a pain in the damned ass.” Ody rubs his head remembering the difficulties he had the entire time, ordering the crew and trying to close the bag, as well as make sure the rest of his fleet got the orders.

“I think I’m going to be making a more balanced array for my close circle, not because I don't trust you two, but because relying entirely on you two means if either or both of you die, I am going to be far worse off. More people can only be better.” Odysseus tries to think of any of his other men he might yet trust, but at the moment no one comes to mind, at least not that he’s close enough to to be vulnerable with.

E
But sir, it's too late!
E shifts his arms in front of his chest, holding them palm out towards his brother, looking nervous and almost afraid to get closer.

O
We can save whatever wind is left to use another day, come on!
O counters it rapidly, as he sways and shifts, hands clutching to keep a tight hold on the bag, dark circles still under his eyes, as he levels a partial glare at the man. E looks nervous, but then seems to become determined for some reason. E crouches down across from him and together, with a bit of struggle, they manage to yank the string tight, closing the bag. The two of them are standing, O wavering and swaying more with the waves and ship as E has a hand to his shoulder, both staring at the bag O holds by the string nervously.

“You did it, but now you really need to rest, eat something and drink some water, try to get yourself in a better state before anything else happens.” Penelope points her finger at both of her husbands, trying to ignore the way her heart beats at how the older Ody looks now that she’s closer, because she loves her husband, no matter how he looks. (He really only got hotter with age though.)

“I’ll try dear, but I really can’t promise anything, since this is a future and I seem to have some really bad luck.” Odysseus raises his hands in surrender, not wanting to argue with his wife, ignoring the look the older Pen gives him as well as if to enforce the idea. (His wife had only gotten more beautiful with age.)

“Yes, I’m honestly not even certain which one of those things you need to do first, but probably sleep.” Tele deadpans at his dad, tipping his head back, only to squawk as a tiny hand grabs his chiton and pulls themselves further against him, flailing a bit as he adjusts baby Telemachus, who peers over his shoulder at Ody, blinking huge eyes at him.

“I mean, you’re probably not wrong, but I was certainly not really thinking that at that moment in time, given how tired I was, the weakness from not eating certainly didn't help.” Ody gently waves a finger in front of Telemachus with a small smile as he answers his son, chuckling lightly when his finger is grabbed and held tight. Tele shifts, trying to get comfortable, but the weight of the babe is something he’s not used to so he casually turns and offers the babe to his dad without hesitation, who barely manages to get his arms under the child, before his son turns and gets comfortable against his stomach, leaving his chest free to cradle the boy to.

“Damn right he finally did something fucking useful.” Eurylochus snarls at his counterpart, because he argued even then, in the middle of a storm that was going to kill them, whether a ship capsized or rammed them into the Land of the Giants, but at least he finally did something useful.

“We’re gonna have our work set out for us, aren’t we? To get them to actually listen and do as we say, nevermind find people we trust to see Odysseus vulnerable so they can be part of the inner circle.” Polites sighs, already hating the idea because their brother doesn’t trust easily and for good reason.

“Can’t believe how long it took him to get behind his king and brother in order to do something so simple.” Pen snarls, letting her anger match with the Eurylochus in the room, finding a pleasure in that the man is angry at his counterpart’s actions, because it means there’s hope for him yet.

“Change is already happening, and that is good, because those emotions and thoughts are going to be what keep you from repeating mistakes.” Ath watches the group from the past, making sure to catch her own counterpart's gaze, wondering if now is the time, then decides not yet.

“Don’t you worry, I’ll make sure things go differently even if they forget, I’m not likely to.” Athena promises, because the ones from the past might not see it, Odysseus only because he hasn’t looked closer yet due to the things being thrown at him so often, but she can see the regret and disgust in her counterpart from the actions she took.

O smiles widely and throws an arm around E’s shoulder, who looks nervous and uncomfortable but lets it happen. The ships are no longer being tossed. O is standing at the railing, both hands set on top of it, outstretched slightly to his sides, meaning he’s likely leaning on it in order to remain standing. O turns with a grin on his face, which disappears for a curious look as the rain appears to stop falling. His hair is soaked, he’s got a hand raised by his waist, he’s still got bags and he’s swaying side to side. That quickly turns to despair and horror.

Poseidon
Odysseus of Ithaca!
There is a form beyond him, appearing to stand on the ocean, with its arm stretched out to the side.
…do you know who I am?
E is staring at it with wide eyes, like he can’t believe what he’s seeing, while O has turned to stare at it with one wide, horrified eye. Glowing blue eyes, but the voice was male, so definitely not A.

“Shit, not him.” Athena growls, hand curling into a fist and claws digging into her flesh the slightest bit, she had really hoped he would not be the father, but he is and that is going to make their journey so much harder.

“No, not him…” Polites breathes, because out of all the gods, Poseidon is the one least known for his mercy, not for transgressions against him and his own at least.

“Shit, so that’s how he showed up, hmm?” Pen hums slightly, unable to help the way her grip tightens on her family at the sight of the God who had kept them apart for well over ten years, though not all of that falls on him a good chunk of it does.

“Don’t worry, he’ll get what he deserves from the one who deserves to give it to him in due time.” Ath murmurs gently, softly, a promise and a threat because Ody might’ve gotten his revenge, but there’s another who she yet needs to give it to, and she knows the other two will help her once the time comes, meaning Ody will want to be there so his family are not near that bitch without him there as well.

“Shit, we pissed him off, but how? Was it the cyclops? Did we not give him enough offerings? Did someone disrespect him?” Eurylochus growls, because in his eyes the cyclops was more than fair, the damn monster had killed a number of their men after Xenia was made, so blinding him was not too far.

“If that is who I think it is, you had better do your best to get the hell out of there, because nothing you say will tempt him to let this go.” Penelope knows Poseidon well, not as well as Ares, but well enough to know he will offer forgiveness but not actually let you have it, merely tempt you in order to see if you will fall for it. (Her husband will in desperation to save his crew.)

“He was such a dick too, glad I got to give him a bit of advice eventually.” Ody grins, wide and feral and there’s a glint in his eyes that promises bloodshed, though there’s also a bit of fear there as well as regret, because Posei is one of the few gods they’re still working into letting into the palace after everything.

“Dont you worry, he’ll have to get through a lot of people and gods before he can reach you or us now.” Tele cups his dad’s knee, gently rubbing along the scar on it to soothe him at least a bit, while also getting the chance - he does it often so it’s not a rare thing, but he enjoys doing it - to run his fingers over the scarred skin.

“We might be screwed if that’s who I think it is.” Odysseus admits, fingers flexing as he races to find a solution, but they have to be close to the Land of the Giants, so they can’t land there, but being on boats in the ocean, this gods domain, will not save them any either.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

The waves start to hit the ships harder despite nothing being there. O approaches the side of the boat to peer at the water, clearly trying to find who spoke, while a large shadow swims further behind him. He must catch a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye because he turns his head, looking horrified, terrified, and still with the bags under his eyes, ignoring how light headed he is from lack of food and less water than he needed. E had followed his gaze, but seems far calmer. O moves closer to that side of the boat. A large black spot in the ocean,water rushing around it. O narrows his gaze, then his eyes go wide with what appears to be terrified horror.
Laestrygonians
Poseidon!
A large horse head emerges from the water, its muzzle more bone than any sort of flesh, a leg following afterwards.
Poseidon!
The leg hits the water as if it were ground, not even rippling it despite the force. The head moves as it gets closer, or perhaps pulls itself from the water.

“How?” Eurylochus stares because what could that have possibly done to offend Poseidon, the sea god?

“Did we not offer him an offering?” Polites frowns as he tries to work out if it is something that simple or if it truly is because of that damned cyclops.

“Oh yeah, that fuckin asshole.” Ath huffs harshly, because he had definitely worked solely for vengeance on Ody, not for his son or anything else, but for his damn pride and vengeance.

“He’s gonna cause a lot of trouble before he betters himself, isn’t he?” Tele looks unimpressed as he scoots closer to his dad, because he’s sort of friends with Posei and this won’t change his opinion, but he’s not going to be happy about this.
“Damnit, so I must not have warned you for some reason, what was I thinking?” Athena growls, so confused because he has always been her devoted student, but she had not given him fair warning about the cyclops?

“Poseidon…” Penelope breathes, her grip tightening around her husband because even knowing he gets out ok - his future counterpart wouldn’t be here otherwise - that doesn’t stop her worry because he can still be hurt.

“I honestly kind of like him now. Sure, he was a real dick, but once you work past that he’s not a bad person.” Ody is aware those words might upset those from the past so he makes sure his voice is low.

“Are you still working on 9 days of no sleep, little food and water? Tell me one of the others does the talking or something, you’re running on adrenaline, if even that, nothing you say will appease him.” Pen frowns because surely they would not have let their Captain, sleep deprived to hell, weakened as well, try to negotiate for them against a god.

“How do things keep getting worse?” Odysseus honestly seems equally, confused, impressed and terrified, because what on earth is his journey home going to be?

Poseidon!
There are fins on it’s back, though the spine also shows through, and the beginning of what appears to be a sort of sirenesque tail.
Poseidon!
The tail appears to almost merge with the water.
Poseidon!
The waves move around a ship, before they form a solid shape, taking on the form of the tail of the horse, which almost caresses the boat.
Poseidon!
The boat looks so small, even with the horse being much farther away, parts of its ribcage easy to see, a large v on its head almost looking like a crown, while the fins are revealed to be the very top of the tail, with what almost looks like seaweed emerging from the back of each leg by the hoofs.
Poseidon!
The horse moves its head, barely revealing the space where an eye would be.

“Shit.” Athena knows that form, it's the one her uncle uses when he is pissed and doing what he thinks is right, which is never kind and he rarely doubts his children or the accounts he gets, so it’s often unfair as well. The cyclops must’ve lied.

“Oh my god, we’re going to be cursed or something.” Odysseus exhales the words almost, almost glad that Polites is already dead because at least one of his friends got a death that almost seems kind now, compared to being killed by a damned god.

“He was far more pissed than he had any right to be, and he never bothered to get the other side of the story, that’s part of what makes him such an idiot in my opinion.” Ath as a goddess of war, sees both sides of the battle or situation and chooses her side, her uncle hears what one side says and ignores the other.

“I mean, he’s gotten somewhat better about it since then.” Ody shrugs his shoulders at the look his friend gives him, wonders when she’ll let her scars breathe from under her helmet or if he’ll need to act, and he’s not wrong, even since the - being when the man had stabbed the asshole with his own trident - the god had been getting better. (Getting his ass kicked by a mortal was a bit of a blow to his ego and shook him quite a bit.)

“At least the giants are not actually close enough to do anything, beyond chant his name and set things up.” Polites sighs slightly, because he’s not certain if that’s truly better or not now that he’s thinking about it, but one enemy against trying to keep track of many is better.

“We’re about to get our asses kicked and I’m not entirely certain why, but I get the feeling it’s because we’re gonna sort of deserve it.” Eurylochus has a feeling in his gut, that this is a shared blame between him and Odysseus, which gives him an idea of what the mistake might be.

“He truly has gotten better or else Ody wouldn’t let the man into our house or around us.” Pen still isn’t entirely certain what they did - made a deal or a truce or what - but the first time the god had shown up, the two had walked away to have a several hours long conversation and come back at least somewhat friendly.

“He looks fucking terrifying.” Tele hisses, clutching the baby closer as he shifts further back, almost molding himself to his father, sorely tempted to scoot so that he’s between his parents and better protected despite the fact the god can’t touch him here.

“He had better have a damn good reason for this.” Penelope knows, just knows, she has praying to Poseidon, to Athean to any and all of them likely, to help her husband get home safely, so for her to learn that they likely won’t, it might affect the prayers she was planning.

O
Poseidon
O looks terrified, nervous, like he already has an idea of what might be coming to them given the god in front of them.

Po
In all my years of living, it isn’t very often that I get pissed off
The horse - Po - moves its pupil, a single dot of yellow in black, looking at the ship. He lowers his head to get a closer look at them, managing to convey his anger well, especially as the pupil appears to become a tiny hurricane for a moment.
I try to chill with the waves…
The horse is still staring at the ships, even though we can only see the back of his head and mane, the v actually more of a w and definitely a crown on his head.
But damn, you crossed the line
He sinks back into the water, becomes one with it pretty much, disappearing without a ripple. O looks terrified, his teeth grit as he keeps his eyes on where the god had been. Two water tentacles start to climb parts of the ship behind O, the mast and another pole. He only notices when they’re most of the way up, glancing at them. He turns to look at them.
I’ve been so gracious,
The tentacles move and the entire ship tilts, Po watching from right next to it as the crew is thrown about, sliding across the floor looking terrified and shocked. His pupil follows them.

“Fuck, he’s going to destroy the ship at that rate!” Polites cusses, because he has no doubt he learned to help care for the ships once they were on them, given medics are rarely needed at that point, so to see it being messed up, destroyed, with his crewmates, his brothers on it… He is extremely disappointed in this god.

“Damnit, the injuries from this are going to be severe, but if we can maybe calm him or something..” Odysseus isn’t certain how they would calm him or what might yet work for Poseidon, especially since he does seem personally angry about this.

“He had no damn right, his son broke Xenia, so my darling was within his rights to blind him, in fact was lucky to get away with his life for that, so he should’ve left things alone, not come back for vengeance.” Pen snarls, tightening her grip on her husband and son, happy when the wing behind her gently curls to cover them but not block their sight.

“Does he even have a right to be angry at this point? His son is the one that started this, yes they made a mistake, but they paid for it the best they could and made a deal, if his son didn’t have the manners to make a sign or something to show that was his home, that’s entirely on him.” Tele knows that might seem rude, but if your son can speak that well, he should be able to write at least some, making a sign to either welcome or forbid guests shouldn’t be hard, or to protect the sheep. Hell, if the cyclops couldn’t, Poseidon sure could’ve.

“There has to have been something we did, but beyond running into that cyclops and the storm, interacting with Aelous and the Lotus eaters, we’ve not run into anyone, so how the hell did we piss off this god?” Eurylochus covers the bottom of his face with a hand, because he has a feeling it was that damned cyclops.

“We must not let this come to pass.” Athena hasn’t seen yet what her uncle will do, but she just knows it will destroy another part of her Owlet he will not ever be able to repair completely, not in his lifetime and it might even affect his soul.

“He sure could’ve, he always tries to make time for his children, so for him to choose not to warn strangers means he more or less wanted this to happen, he should’ve expected this outcome, so for him to come for vengeance over such a slight is not right.” Ath is aware her uncle loves his children to a degree, but for him to not protect them fully, as he should, that is on his shoulders and his own fault thus, that his son lost a sheep and was attacked, because he could easily make the island easier or harder to avoid as need be. Her wing curls a bit more around the family.

“It’s his own version of a test, in a way, I guess. To see how people will react on the island, as well as to likely feed his son, though it’s possible he was unaware that the Lotus Eaters even knew the location of the cave, I have got the feeling they discovered it by accident or the cyclops told them about it.” Ody had a bad feeling from the start about the cave, but they’d needed food and Eury had convinced him to skip scouting ahead or anything, to feed the men.

“He’s going to kill you. I don’t know how or what he’s going to do, but I’m going to lose you to a god.” Penelope is peripherally aware that a future counterpart to her husband exists, but at this point panic and heartache have more or less blocked her logical thinking, not letting her recall that means her beloved gets out of this ok.

And yet you hurt the son of mine!
O slams into the side fight in front of him, looking terrified, confused and tired. He lifts a hand the back of his hand facing the god as he shakes his head, confused and still so tired he’s probably only understanding anything because of the adrenaline.
That’s right.
The horse shifts slightly to the side. The shape of his head starts to change.
The cyclops you made blind…
It becomes nothing but a small section of water on the horse body, before starting to morph more into an actual face and shape.
…is mine
It’s a flat face, two long slits for nostrils, with one large eye in the center of its face, with a red eye and yellow outside.

“That cyclops.” Polites hisses, hands clenching, because the god and the cyclops could’ve done more to prevent trespassers, but he’s also aware cyclops tend to eat humans, so the god is likely more angry his son’s food fought back and won - or perhaps whatever lie his son told him, given the creature didn’t seem the type to tell the truth - than that he was hurt.

“You’re gonna get hurt if he keeps going the way he is.” Eurylochus exhales shakily, scooting closer to his brother, because damnit, he can’t lose him so soon to a god, they need to get home, not be waylaid because they made mistakes as humans do.

“We really should’ve thought it through more, but between the grief and the hunger, we were honestly lucky anything good came from this time. I’m still a bit upset Eury didn’t think to stop me, and Ath didn’t either when she had the chance, before I gave my name, let alone where I lived, but it makes sense.” Ody sighs, because his goddess had been mad at him at the time and his brother was grieving, still stuck by everything that had happened.

“Are you seriously the one getting thrown around a lot because you’re smaller?” Pen teases, because she knows he’ll likely get some bruises from this encounter, and she knows what’s almost certain to be coming, but she enjoys the fact that her husband is shorter than even her - and his pout says she’s probably right on why he’s being tossed about most - which makes it easy to scoop him into her arms.

“We either avoid the cyclops or we kill the thing without giving away who we are.” Odysseus would prefer to avoid it if this is what could happen if they encounter it, but he won’t deny his men food if there truly are no other places with food nearby that they can see.

“Why would I not give you every advantage before the battle? Even if it was a test, going in the way you did could’ve gotten you killed as well, and I usually try to ensure my champions life long lives, to the best of my ability. Was I distracted? Sidetracked? Slowed down?” Athena hisses, feels her wings puff up because her Owlet might die, or at least get injured given his counterpart lives, and without her protection, it’s a close thing.

“Still can’t believe he was surprised by that. If he really didn’t want his son to get hurt, he should’ve taught him to fight or he should’ve made sure he was somewhere where he’d be content. It was his choice to leave his son there to fend for himself with other cyclops that didn’t seem to care for him.” Tele knows his dad is considered a bad parent because he was away for 20 years, but his father at least tried to make sure he was safe before he left, leaving notes for where the secret entrances where in the palace as well as little gifts and things scattered throughout for his son - and his wife - to find just in case he was gone for a while. (Tele had rather enjoyed finding those gifts, because he’d always find a note with a clue to where they were months beforehand and have to figure it out.)

“I can’t say I’m happy about how this turned out, but at least someone learned something from this.” Ath had never liked her uncle’s motto, thought it was stupid because ruthlessness might be mercy at certain times, but others it curses you with more fighting, more bloodshed and while gods are somewhat ok with that, humans are not.

“You have had no chance to eat, drink or sleep for nine whole days, beyond what you already had before they opened the damn bag. You got a few minutes nap at most, after nine days without, and they expect you to somehow figure out a plan against a god?” Penelope knows her other half better than anyone, and he’s not going to make good decision here, he’s lucky the adrenaline is making him even slightly coherent.

O
No…
O’s reflection looks horrified as he finally comprehends what they’ve done, even just by accident.

Po
I’m left without a choice
The head starts to change shape again as he moves, the jaw almost looking like it unhinges, it opens so wide.
And without a doubt!
The entire horse becomes a huge blob of water, its edges wavering and yet, it still looks threatening as it moves over them, the crew watching in terror and horror where they’re still on the ground.
Guess the pack of wolves is swimming with the sharks now
O has gotten to his feet, watching the water that is a god, before it dives into the ocean and two horrifying fins show through the ocean. The shadow of the horse from before is seen under the boats, before it bursts out of the ocean.

“If he pushes too far, he’s going to learn the wolf can still bite if it’s got nothing left to stop it if the shark keeps getting in the way.” Athena knows immediately that her Owlet is going to fuck her uncle up somehow or else the man will never back down from this grudge, and that scares her a bit, because how far will her uncle have pushed him by that point?

“I’m honestly going to be surprised if any of us can get in the water after this, knowing that he could easily come up anywhere.” Polites shudders at the thought of potentially running into Poseidon after seeing these visions, especially because they have to rely on his goodwill to get them to Troy.

“We really didn’t have much of a chance to begin with once he appeared. Nothing but a vague hope we might escape if we did things right, which fell on me despite everything.” Ody sighs tiredly, still able to remember the weight that had hit him at that moment, trying to think of a plan, of anything despite how heavy he felt, from lack of sleep, how weightless he felt from lack of water, how everything shifted because he hadn’t eaten enough.

“He’ll get what’s coming to him and he’ll regret it for a long while at least, before ever using that motto again, I’m certain of that.” Ath says it almost like a promise, because she knows that her Fledgling will teach him the error in his ways, which is almost certain to happen if the man pisses the Owlet off enough as well.

“We really didn’t have anything, did we?” Odysseus knows he sounds hopeless, but the crew usually rely on him and he’s currently so compromised that it's a surprise he’s still aware, let alone awake, and against a god known for his wrath. The promise in his mentor’s voice, even if it is the future version gives him a bit of hope to hold onto though.

“At this rate, you’ll be lucky if I even let you get on that damn boat, Odysseus.” Penelope hisses, clutching at him, wishing she had more hands to pull Eurylochus and Polites closer as well, glad she can at least trust Tele to watch over Telemachus, who seems to have either fallen asleep or is content enough to move only occasionally.

“I swear, after everything, you’re still lucky when I let you out of my sight for too long.” Pen shifts to check on her son, amused when she finds him gently shifting the baby - his arms are probably tired - to a more comfortable position. She decides it’s time they move and promptly starts shifting, getting disgruntled, startled grunts from her boys, even as she shoves Ody against Ath, while she easily settles at his side, snatching Tele by his collar and dragging him back a bit, amused at his surprised noise, before settling him against the two of them, taking the babe with all the ease of a long time mother.

“Was that really necessary? And honestly dad, she’s not wrong, you’re lucky either of us let you leave our sight given the amount of trouble you get into.” Tele gives his mother a thankful and exasperated look, before leveling his dad with a deadpan one, which gets him an indignant noise in response.

“I had better step the fuck up and help you, because there’s no way you’re in a position to do anything right now without potentially fucking us because the fact you are still standing amazes me.” Eurylochus prays to gods he doesn’t truly believe in, fears more than anything but he might change that if it means he doesn’t hurt her brother, that his counterpart isn’t an idiot.

I gotta make you bleed
He slams his hoofs against the water and the water bursts up at the pressure.
I need to see you drown
Po looks at the ships, his pupil back to yellow amongst black, and currently a hurricane in his anger.
But before you go,
O is on the boat, looking at E, who’s on the ground and staring in horror at the god, while O tries to think of a plan, his head whipping to the side as he potentially turns towards the god.
I need to make you learn how
The wind bag sits at the base of a pole, and he makes a lunge for it, even as said pole gets entwined with a tentacle, which must yank the boat as his momentum is forcibly changed trying to keep his feet.

“He stopped you, does that mean the wind bag might actually help you get away?” Penelope is still scared for her husband, but if the god had stopped him from doing that it must mean they do in fact have a chance of getting away alive.

“I don’t think he’s realized that anyone was smart enough to make sure all the wind was not gone from the bag, it was just bad timing, but it might be something you can use to escape, yes.” Athena knows her uncle and he had not yet seen the wind bag, likely assumed it had used all its wind to get them where they are, he’s unaware that they are smart enough to save some of it just in case.

“That definitely threw you off your feet, but you didn’t break anything, did you?” Pen watches, because she had caught a glimpse of him but she can’t say for certain if he had managed to brace or if he’d just rolled across the deck as was, which could be the difference from broken bones to just bruises.

“I don’t think anything broke, but honestly, that time is a bit unclear because I was running on adrenaline quite a lot. I remember bits and pieces for most of this, and only one longer section.” Ody murmurs quietly in response, because the only thing he remembers clearly is the rest of his crew being murdered by the sea god’s wrath, their screams and desperate hands still clear in his mind.

“Damnit, what the hell is he doing?” Polites hates that he can’t clearly understand the gods plan because he can just tell it’s not going to go well, especially since the god seems determined to go through with it no matter what.

“How the hell does he know which ship is ours? Or is he assuming since it was in front that it is the king’s?” Eurylochus wants to know if the cyclops described them or if the god had guessed because they might be able to change that too if they still encounter the cyclops.

“He never paid much attention to his surroundings and he only gave a certain amount of care that humans are fragile compared to gods, so he is lucky I was not there, nor was Herm, or he’d be in a much worse situation.” Ath glares at her uncle, well aware he has since gotten past this, but that doesn’t mean she’s just forgiven or forgotten that he did this to her son.

“He truly has changed, but to think he was like this once.” Tele grips his arms tightly, because he can’t deny he would be terrified of Posei if he had been like that the first time they’d met, but he had been different and that counts for something.

“Shit, that had to hurt. He’s injuring us, so he either knows who I am or he’s assuming, but which one would be better?” Odysseus is trying his hardest to ignore how much he himself is likely to get hurt during all of this, instead focusing on how he’s going to get his men out of this situation.

Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves
The horse has some tentacles wrapped around the ship, which he uses to promptly drag it away from the rest of the fleet, the crew on those ships running to the sides and looking worried as they stare at the one singled out, aware of who is on it.

L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves
A good chunk of the crew gathers to one side of one of the boats left behind. The horse towers over the boat, without even trying.

Po+ L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves!
The horse raises his head, tilting it back a back, and his pupil moves, looking at something else, which has his pupil shrinking, in anger? In Joy? Who truly knows.
Ourselves!
Po’s gaze is somewhere else entirely, while O manages to get a hand on the side of his ship and start to drag himself to a stand, a hand resting on his head from where he must’ve hit it when the ship got dragged. He’s wincing the slightest bit. He moves his hand and looks over his shoulder to the god.

“You had better get that fucking checked, between the lack of sleep and food, that increases the chance of that being a dangerous injury.” Polites exclaims immediately, because he knows his brothers and they ignore anything they think they can get away with.

“He separated you and then spotted something, did he get a plan for how to prove his goddamn method in that moment?” Athena knows her uncle rarely plans things, chooses to go more with the flow because he just does, but when he makes plans, they can be especially sadistic and cruel.

“So you did get hurt, you just barely remember if past everything else, got it.” Pen is unimpressed by her beloved’s lack of care for his body - the number of scars he has doesn’t bother him beyond that he got attacked so many times with no one to watch his back - because she wants him to be safe, healthy and happy.

“I honestly think I’m more impressed you managed to get up from that so quickly, if it really threw you into the side of the boat hard enough for you to be hurting that much.” Tele knows his dad has a ridiculously high pain tolerance, with his leg being one of the few things that that doesn’t seem to apply to, so to see him wincing like that… Ouch.

“Where is he looking? I can’t tell if he is on the same side of the ship or moved, is he looking at the fleet? Did he spot some island or something? Does he have back up nearby or something? Shit, I hate this.” Odysseus frets, would be fidgeting with his fingers or her, but Athena and his dad had worked for ages to get him to stop and he can’t bring himself to do it now.

“I swear to god, if someone else doesn’t do something or step up so he can get a moment to breathe and think, you dumbasses are all going to fucking die.” Penelope is unimpressed by her darlings crew at the moment, because he might be able to think up plans, but he still needs time for that and with no one in the crew helping him get that, he is unable to figure out a plan.

“Oh, yeah, I guess I did take a blow to the head. That would certainly explain why it got harder to recall things and pay attention at that point.” Ody had honestly kind of forgotten that was a thing that had happened, given all his attention had been on making an escape plan with no fucking time and help.

“You lot are all so damn injury prone it would worry me more if I wasn’t aware it only happened off of the battlefield." Ath sighs, because she has watched this family for years at this point, and while Ody is the most clumsy outside of battle, to no one’s surprise Tele is close second, though Pen is up there too, she’s just more discreet than the other two.

“If my counterpart keeps letting this go on, imma have a fist fight with that bastard. What the hell is he doing?’ Eurylochus almost wails, because what good is he doing at the moment? ‘ I’ve known Odysseus for years, and my counterpart has 10 extra years, but he’s not stepping in to try and give him any time to breathe, to recover, to think? I don’t want a god’s attention, sure, but I could've done something.” He’s so tired of his own stupid counterpart. How the hell did Ody deal with him?

Po
You are the worst king of good
The horse’s gaze turns back to him at that moment, and he lifts a leg, raising it in a way anyone who owns a horse recognizes.
Cause you’re not even great
He kicks the boat without hesitation, sending it rocking up, O loses his balance, almost tipping over the railing except E grabs his hand.Some of the crew are holding onto E so he doesn’t fall as well, O just barely saved, his legs resting almost against the side of the ship.
A Greek who reeks of false righteousness,
O looks grateful and relieved as he sighs, starting to shift forward, except something grabs his cape and yanks him back, almost off the ship, except for the hands grasping at his chiton and arm. O himself has his eyes shut tight against the sudden loss of air, a hand grasping at where his cape cuts into his throat. He opens his eyes, to find what appears to be the corpse of a long lost sailor who has grabbed his cape.
That’s what I hate
It’s arm is more bone than anything, and when it tips its head back, the skin and eye from one side of its face are gone, there’s no nose or flesh there either, but the other eye and some of the skint here are hanging on, it’s mouth missing some of the upper jaw around where the nose would be.There are more corpses now in the water, all floating.

“What the hell is that?” Penelope breathes, because surely not even the gods would desecrate the dead, but also because it is currently choking her husband quite a bit, she knows how well that cape and clasp can dig into the throat.

“No way in hell is uncle really doing that…” Athena breathes out in shock, because to use the skeletons of the dead from his sea for this, that is a breach into Hades area given they are still a form of the dead, even if he usually only deals with souls, using them like this will have Hades at least lecturing Poseidon, if not outright forbidding him from ever doing this again.

Tele stares in horror and anger, torn between being nauseous at the side of the skeleton with flaps of skin hanging on and anger that it is currently hurting his father, he knows how much being choked hurts, but ultimately nausea wins and he gags, hands flying to his mouth. Ody and Ath react instantly, since Pen is still holding the babe, the man extracting himself from the pile through the small opening Ath opened when she had moved to rub at the boy’s back, racing into a door and room the past group had not noticed before, only to return with a bowl, getting under the boy’s chin in time for him to throw up. Everyone winces, except for Athena who is fretting over things at the moment to distract herself, Penelope reaching out and taking Telemachus from Pen so she can help soothe her son.

Tele throws up again, wincing at the feeling, though he’s grateful for the clawed hand rubbing his back, the familiar fingers of a weaver gently holding his hand, as well as the less familiar but equally comforting calloused fingers running through his hair. He leans back once he’s done, resting against his goddess as Ody leaves to empty the bowl and clean it before returning, settling back into his spot, upon which his son squirms closer to him and rests close to his throat.

“I would’ve warned you, but honestly I can’t say I thought about that all that hard, that one is my bad. You good, sweetheart?” Ody asks his son, gently running his fingers through the slightly sweaty hair, unbothered by it, appreciating when the boy nods, before turning to the others and giving them a slightly sheepish smile in apology. He gets nods in return.

“He’s going way too far, even if we did have a slight against him, there’s no need to drag the dead bodies up from the depths, that’s way too far, even for an offense that seems personal.” Polites protests as well, swallowing roughly because he gets the feeling this won’t be the only time they see the skeletons, has a feeling they’re going to do more and that bothers him.

“We are avoiding that cyclops unless it's a damned emergency, if the gods are going this far for revenge, it's not worth it. The deaths were more than enough, but this as well? Hell no, we’re avoiding that cave, that island and the cyclops. I don’t care what excuse or lie we tell the crew.” Eurylochus really doesn’t, because he isn’t certain how his counterpart is not throwing up, though the adrenaline and worry from keeping his brother on the ship and probably helping distract him some, at least for the moment.

“I think I’m going to inform my uncle of this, there’s no way he knows or else Posei would’ve been far more worried the last time they were together or at least a bit shameful and he was not. Even if he has changed some, this is still a disgrace and extremely poor taste.” Ath winces at even the thought of using the undead bodies of those long past to use, so for Posei to choose to do so and go through with it, someone needs to talk him out of doing it again.

“That is disturbing on a level I wasn’t expecting from him.” Pen admits ruefully, grateful for her training and some of the injuries she’d seen or she might’ve also thrown up like their son, though she carefully wraps an arm under her husband’s armpits, snuggling close, pinning Tele between them almost, something that has letting out a small hum of content, leading to her and him feeling the vibration of Ody’s laughter.

“...I agree. Avoid the cyclops. Avoid the island. Maybe give more offerings to Poseidon so he doesn’t get angry at us for anything, especially given how some of the men likely are drunk.” Odysseus himself swallows harshly, trying to force the pile and what feels like a ball in his throat down, refusing to throw up because he has more important things to focus on, though he’s not appreciating the fact he is getting choked out.

Cause you fight to save lives,
One has next to no skin left, hair rippling in the water, teeth exposed through the skin where it’s started to thin, a crab resting on it, thankfully without eyes.
But won’t kill and don’t get the job done
Another corpse, just a part of a man’s head, a wide terrified looking eye, but most of the skin appears to still be attached. The eye moves. Another corpse, with nothing but the skull, which is cracked open on one part, water still in it that has some fish swimming inside.
I mean,you totally could’ve avoided all this had you just killed my son
A skeleton/corpse rises from the water, what appears to be a woman and child, the woman missing her entire lower jaw, but with both her eyes, her arms still have flesh, as she cradles what appears to be a baby’s skeleton, its skull the only thing seen from amongst its wrap. The woman shifts the baby to be in front of her as she looks at it, and then holds it in front of her with both hands under it, like offering a sacrifice.
“But noo…”
She tilts her head mockingly as she drops the baby, who falls. O’s eyes go wide in horror and probably PTSD, still stuck hanging partially over his boat by his cape.

“He really went there, huh? You’d think he would at least leave past traumas untouched, but nope.” Polites shakes his head in disappointment and a bit of anger, because the gods should best understand trauma, and yet they use that to torment people instead of help.

“Why the fuck hasn’t someone just cut the cape off or undone the clip? Can we not reach it since so many are holding you to keep you on the ship or are we so panicked we aren’t thinking that clearly?” Eurylochus would feel so much damn better if his counterpart could get their brother back on the boat where he’s marginally safer from the god, so if they could do something beyond just holding onto him that’s be great.

“How dare he…!” Ath seethes, feels her wings bristle because they all know there was really no way for her champion to avoid that damned prophecy so to use that against him, she’s gonna kick her uncle’s ass.

“Are you getting any air or are you using the fact that you can hold your breath a while to not pass the hell out?” Tele asks because he can only imagine how much that must hurt, given his crew are clutching at him to keep him on the boat, while his cape is choking him, held down by the weight of a skeleton.

“I think I might have to ask a god for a favor, so I can kick Poseidon’s ass, because I’m pretty sure that was supposed to be me dropping a babe, whether Telemachus or Hector’s boy, it was a way for him to show that he thought I’d be against my husband on this. I need to make it clear he’s wrong by kicking his ass.” Penelope wonders which god she should ask favor from, because if she chooses the wrong one her message won’t get through the way it needs to.

“Ah, maybe let’s not make plans to take a god on, huh? I’m sure we’ll find a way to avoid him somehow, dear.” Odysseus knows he’s not likely to win this one, given the things he’ll do to get to his family, they are likely to be just as protective and determined, but he has to at least try and dissuage his wife from fighting a god.

“Oh, don’t you worry your head, I’m certain that god will get his just deserts at some points, no one escapes karma after all, not even gods.” Pen soothes her younger self, because she knows damn well her husband got the god good, but also because she definitely gets to kick his ass during spars often as well, both for training and to get some steam off at the man who had stopped her husband from getting home when he should’ve.

“You’re lucky I was there for that or else I’d have interfered without meaning to. I’m aware you likely set it up to be that way, given my schedule for that day had been changed, but you nearly gave me a heart attack and did give me a panic attack, darling.” Ody had not enjoyed that, though being able to hold his son to his side during the spar had certainly helped him remain more calm and stopped him from trying to intervene.

“Hmm. I’ll have to set a couple of blessings and other things in order for this to not happen again, never expected anyone to use my clasp against him like this, but of course it would be another god who did so…” Athena had made it so her clasp, the one holding his cape on right now, was not possible to be removed beyond her champion, herself, his SIC or Polites, given one of them is dead, the other is holding her Owlet on the boat, she has left him and he himself is choking, none of them can remove the clasp, they’d be better off cutting the cape, but they can’t get the angle without potentially hurting him as well.

You are far too nice!
O finally manages to get pulled back onto the ship, E looking worried and horrified as he pulls the man away from the edge. The skeletons start to climb onto the boat, different ages, genders and all in various levels of decomposition.
Mercy has a price!
O and E look equally horrified, E on the ground with a hand covering his mouth, while O has a hand resting over his throat where there’s a bruise from his cape, coughing and panting a bit. One of the skeletons almost appears to be reaching out, as if asking for help.
It’s the final crack!
Instead, it grabs a crewmate by the ankle, and yanks him off his feet.
We’re ‘bouta break the ice now!
O and E look horrified, O already reaching out as if to grab him as he slides past, the skeletons are gathering around him, O and then E reaching him, trying to pull him from their grasp, as the crewmate has tears in his eyes. E has closed his eyes in strain, while O looks terrified but refuses to close his eyes in case they make a grab for either of them while they’re trying to help.

“Damnit, what the hell even is his goal with this beyond terrifying the shit out of us because he’s desecrating the dead to attack us?’ Polites takes a few deep breaths to try and calm his nausea, refusing to look away for anything at the moment, because those are his brothers being attacked right now. ‘Also, you had better rest your throat and take it easy for the next few days.’ He knows it's not likely to happen since he’s not there to reinforce it, but he’s still got to say it.

“Finally, but damnit, you are in no shape to be immediately trying to help me, you’re still recovering from almost being choked to the point of passing out, why the hell did none of the rest of the crew move?” Eurylochus doesn’t like that this is already suggesting the crew is starting to doubt their brother enough to not even help another crewmate.

“You had better have at least gotten that looked at before you kept doing shit, you understand me?” Pen points her finger at her other half, well aware he almost certainly did not and simply moved his cloak to ensure the crew forgot about it after everything, though given the death coming she’s also pretty sure the crew forget anyways.

“Oh, is that why this is here or is that because of that bitch?” Tele gently asks, running his fingers along a scar that seems a bit more like a dip in his father’s skin, except he’s well aware it’s a scar. Given what he knows, he has a feeling it’s almost certainly the bitch’s fault, and even if it’s not she’d deserve the blame anyways.

“Shit, so he’s just trying to hurt you however he can now, huh?” Penelope snarls, because far too many think her husband is too nice, too merciful, to see a god using his own kindness and emotions against him makes her desperately wish for a weapon to impale him with.

“Easy, Penelope, darling, please calm down. Yes he’s trying to hurt me in any and every way he can, but at least he’s currently only targeting me and the crew, don’t draw his attention to Ithaca, I have to at least know you and Telemachus are safe or this isn’t going to work.” Odysseus knows that might be underhanded, but if she and their son are not safe, he doesn’t think he’ll work, live, exist half as well. He gently moves a finger along Telemachus’ cheek, calmed by the coo his son lets out.

“Ah, I had really hoped you would miss that scar.’ Ody mutters at his son’s question, because while the cape had certainly left bruises and the start of a scar, it had definitely been her that had given him the scars. ‘Yeah, those are her fault, but no surprise given I was stuck with her for 7 long years on an island under her control.” He knows they must’ve also noticed the similar scars elsewhere then, so no point in hiding it.

“Just another reason to talk to my father at some point about her, because eventually she's going to accidentally get a hero or child of the gods that we need and that will piss him off if she decides to rebel and keep them, despite Ze’s orders.” Ath might’ve been bothered by shortening her dad’s name at one point, but now she thinks he perhaps deserves some humbling so he’ll deal.

“Things are already getting worse. If he has summoned those skeletons, there’s no way he’s not calling to more creatures of the sea, which means nothing is going to stop him at this point, not a thing.” Athena knows the skeletons were people, but once they died they became part of the sea, so her uncle has as much control over them as the creatures that live in his sea, they just happened to be the closest thing when he called most likely.

You reveal your name,
E has his hand on the crewmate's shoulder, his arm hooked around one of his, while O has grabbed him under the arm, their hands barely able to be seen against the skeletons, which have grasped his chiton in many fingers.
Then you let him live
All the skeletons are either grinning or yelling the words, no matter what they look like, some have eyes hanging from their skulls, most are missing a good chunk of their skin from their bones, some are missing their lower jaws.
Unlike you, I’ve got no mercy left to give, cause
The bottom of the skeletons are still submerged in water, which starts to become the horses jaw, and for a moment it appears as if they had successfully gotten the crewmate, though he’s on the ship, grasping at E’s chiton, tears still in his eyes, while E and O both look horrified and disturbed by what they just saw.
Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves
The horse moves around the boat, forming itself as it goes in circles around it. There’s water in its mouth, that almost appears like drool or mayhaps blood.

“That’s a truly disturbing sight, though I am grateful he did not get that crewmate. None of you deserve to die just because the cyclops lied, which I can almost guarantee he did.” Athena might not know that cyclops personally, but he seems like a child enough to know he would get in trouble for being blinded after attacking a group under Xenia, so he almost certainly lied.

“To think we’re in this much trouble, honestly, I can’t believe we managed to get that man back, but there are going to be so many who won’t be able to get in the water or even look at it the same again.” Polites gags and looks away at the sight of the skeletons, glad when they’re gone, but he has a feeling this is going to have long lasting effects on the crew.

“I mean, he’s not wrong, I certainly don’t always feel at ease in or near the water anymore, not as much as I used to.” Ody knows his family know, because they had helped him get back into the water to begin with, starting with baths together - yes all three of them, it had been a sort of family bonding time, and is why his son knows so many of his scars - and eventually moving to swimming on the shore together.

“I am glad that he did not take that love from you, as I expect most would’ve had after such an event. I can’t say I like how he did that either.” Ath winces, she really had only caught glimpses but she can’t say she much likes where this appears to be going anymore, especially given when she recalls what the next glimpse she got was.

“I sincerely hope he chokes on those, so we both never have to see them or him again, fuck.’ Eurylochus exhales sharply, because he is scared as hell, wondering if they will lose some of the crew as well as how many, given it if in fact a god. ‘We’re gonna lose people.” Who is he kidding, this is an angry god, known for his wrath, they’re losing people.

“... I think we are, I just hope they’re quick, but I don’t know if he’s going to do that since this seems personal.” Odysseus swallows, because he just knows he worked hard to protect his crew and get them through the war alive, only to somehow end up losing them on the damn journey home, that hurts, and has an ache settling in his chest.

“Sometimes, it is far too easy to look at you and forget everything you’ve gone through because you’ve worked through a decent amount of it, and then something small will set you off, and I become tempted to kill someone, test all the bounds of immortality.” Pen murmurs, gently pulling her family closer to her so they are in reach if she needs to protect them for any reason, or comfort them.

“At least that might be the last we see of the skeletons? I wish they had been given a kind death, since this is a personal grudge though it makes sense they weren’t.” Tele muses as he watches, because he’s impressed his dad managed to ever get back in the water after the bit they’ve seen. If he had told the truth on how most of the crew died, he'd be amazed, because he doesn’t know if he could do it.

“I don’t like how he did that, almost like a sort of warning that might’ve been missed.” Penelope is well aware that her husband would’ve seen that normally, but between his horror at the skeletons, his lack of sleep, good and water, as well as having just been choked out, she’s more worried on how well he’ll manage to get them out of this.

L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves
Po is partially out of the water on one side, from the head to about his shoulders, while the tip of his tail pokes out on the other side of the ship, the crew on other ships watching in worry and fear. One crew member looks to the side and spots dark shadows going past. He jolts and others look up as birds fly past them.

Po + L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves
The horse lowers its head then flings it back, clearly preparing, before it tips its head forward and water pours from its mouth like a waterfall. O takes a step back from the water on his ship.
Ourselves
O and the crew around him look terrified, disturbed and worried, though O is still by far the closest person to whatever happens, still looking tired and running on adrenaline.

“Eurylochus, what the hell? Why is our captain standing alone against a god, with not even you standing by his side or at his back, but several feet away?” Polites demands in confusion, because they had always gone out of their way to stand at his back or beside him, to show they were with him but didn’t need as much protection.

“At this point, I’m disowning my damn counterpart, he and I are like entirely different people, I don’t get half his thoughts, let alone why he’s doing even a quarter of the things he’s doing.” Eurylochus sighs in horror and disbelief, because he had never thought he’d cower behind his captain instead of having his back.

“This is going to go horribly, because all of the crew are gathered around Eury, getting comfort from him while you are dealing with the situation, they’re going to view him in a better light because of that.” Pen watches with a disgruntled frown, well aware there was no way Eury did that on purpose, but it sure didn’t help that he never encouraged them to go to her husband or talk to him or anything.

“He took advantage of a horrible situation, maybe not on purpose at that moment in time, but he definitely did later if they truly all sided with him when he changed his mind.” Tele mutters darkly, squirming closer to his parents, making sure he’s touching both, enjoying the difference in touch.

“I mean, to be fair, at this point, I’m extremely worried about what the hell is about to come from that waterfall, since it’s coming from the horse that is a god or at least a vessel or something?" Odysseus is not quite certain what is up with the horse, but nothing it’s done has been good in any manner of speaking, so for it to be pouring water on his ship like that, it sends a chill up his spine.

“If he lays a single hand on you, I’m going to add ‘in battle’ to our vows so that I can always be at your side, in sickness and in health, in everything damnit.” Penelope hisses, because if no one’s going to be on her beloved’s side, she will ensure he knows she always will be, even if she’s not physically there.

“He is far too serious about that motto, considering he is literally going against it. You were extremely ruthless to blind a cyclops instead of killing it, to force it to live with its mistakes.” Ath grumbles, annoyed at her uncle, she still thinks killing it would’ve been better, but at this point, she agrees leaving him blind to live like that is also a decent punishment.

“He might be, but at that time it was terrifying because he was kicking our asses. Being on his domain during the entire thing was not a comfort either.” Ody winces, recalling how much all of them had wanted off the ship after this, and is thankful they had ended up on Circe’s island, since it gave them a chance to be out of the water.

“There’s no way, that is definitely too far for something like that.” Athena stares in surprise, because he had not seemed close to the cyclops, given everything, so for him to be going as far as to summon nearby creatures on the sea, in order to help his revenge and make his point, he’s going too far.

Po
And now it is finally time to say goodbye
A person emerges from the water, with fangs for teeth, fins on the side of his face, tentacles or seaweed for hair, that same crown on his collarbone, his fingers are claws, his legs are completely still just water. O is leaning away from the angry god.
Today you die
He draws a clawed finger across his throat to prove his point, looking angry as one eye narrows and his grin turns sharp in a sort of malicious way.
Unless, of course, you apologize
The waterfall disappears, while he taps the side of his face with a claw, looking thoughtful, the horse head disappearing in the background, probably back into the water. Po waves his hand, palm down, in front of him as O stares at it, looking unnerved.
For my sons pain and all his cries
O blinks at the words, while Po levels him with a look, both angry and tired, as he leans forward the slightest bit.

“There’s no way that’s true.” Penelope denies immediately, because the god had been going on about ruthlessness almost since he showed up, an apology will not appease him, not in the slightest.

“I agree, but that counterpart of mine is so tired, I don’t know if he’ll catch that and honestly, he’s likely so desperate he’s willing to apologize either way with the risk if it means his men live.” Odysseus knows himself well, but he’s honestly more concerned on who will take the punishment because the god doesn’t seem to care who he hurts.

“You're not wrong, most gods don’t much care who they hurt as long as people know not to cross them.” Ody admits and agrees with his counterpart, more than aware of what's going to come and deciding the man needs to see it for himself with no warning, so he truly understands what the gods are willing to do.

“He looks so odd, but then again given how often he appears around people that way it’s not surprising.” Tele observes, he has seen Posei in this form before on the occasions he’s at the castle, but the man looks more human than not most times, aside from little things.

“He’s focusing on you, damnit that means he knows exactly who he’s talking to somehow.” Eurylochus fists his hands, watching with wide eyes, because he just knows his counterpart will not intervene, will not attempt to even try despite his loyalty and his own vows to stand beside and behind his brothers.

“He is not doing this because he has to, he is doing it because he wants to.” Athena stares at her uncle in anger, because the only reason he knows Odysseus is hers is because some of her power still lingers on him otherwise he would not be doing this. He’s taking out some of his anger at her on her Owlet, though the cyclops is a good enough excuse.

“She is not wrong, but I am the reason he knew who you were and I would apologize, except that has saved your life a few times so I can’t feel sorry.” Ath is well aware her power has saved him a few times, because she had to add more layers to the blessings she had left on him each time she sees her Fledgling, though he had lost almost all of them during his years without her.

“So he has decided to get his ass beat at the next several spars, got it.” Pen mutters darkly because how dare he try to kill her husband and make it such a humiliating experience, making him apologize, trying to make him beg, doing anything to knock him down in everyone’s eyes.

“I can’t say this is going to go well, but the chance is perhaps worth taking, unless he takes that as an offense as well and gets angrier, but there’s really no way to know if he will accept an apology or if he’ll get angry.” Polites knows most people would assume he’d get angry given his song, but when a god demands an apology from you, you can’t really deny them it, even if you don’t know your offense, so maybe the apology will work?

O
Poseidon, we meant no harm
O grabs the hand with both of his, kneeling in front of the god.
We only hurt him to disarm him
The crew are watching the god and their captain, but they are not kneeling or bowing.Po looks completely unimpressed with this apology so far, or perhaps the naivete.
We took no pleasure in his pain
O looks terrified as he raises his head to look at the god, dark circles still under his eyes. It’s uncertain whether he’s trying to stroke the gods ego with his fear, or if he’s just so tired even with the adrenaline that he’s doing the only thing he thinks might save them.
We only wanted to escape
He presses his head to the hand clutched between his, clearly hoping this works despite everything.

“It was a really good apology, my Owlet, but I fear it won’t work on my uncle.” Athena murmurs, gently brushing his hair with a wing, gazing hard at the screen as if she could interfere with anything currently going on there.

“Damn I don’t have any good feelings about this after seeing his face, because he doesn’t look like it was a good apology at all.” Odysseus winces because he doesn’t want to ever look that tired and desperate, but also because there’s no way Poseidon will accept that, but his counterpart was too tired to realize this was a trap.

“It really was a good apology, but I think we all know he was not going to accept that, his reputation means too much to him, so there will be no getting away with just an apology.” Ath gently runs her fingers through Ody’s hair, unsurprised when he leans into the motion, letting out a gentle coo.

“He’ll regret every action he takes after this, I’ll make sure of it.” Pen promises, well aware the younger group heard her and not giving a shit because she’ll make him regret living if Posei doesn’t chill some more and stop being awkward around her husband when he visits.

“I hate that I am not doing anything. And why the fuck aren’t we bowing too? You are on your knee before a god, we should be as well, we should be on our knees in order to help you appease him and instead most of them are standing…” Eurylochus stares in horror at the crew, wondering if they’re stupid, in shock or if they think that they don’t need to bow because their king is, which is just… He’s gonna have to knock some real sense into those men before they run into any gods, damnit.

“ I hope there’s a chance for me to share this burden with you soon, whatever it will be because we all know he’s not going to be kind in whatever he does, he won’t dare lose reputation or even think about going easy on a mortal.” Penelope longs desperately for a spear or a sword, to plant it into the gods eye, see how he likes ruthlessness when it’s used on him.

“I don’t ever want to see you that tired or desperate or scared ever, not again.” Tele has seen his dad after nightmares, after flashbacks of horrible memories swallow, he’s seen him in many states, but he truly prefers when the man is happy and healthy at their sides.

“Don’t you worry, I am far better now that I have you at my side, you and Pen, as well as all our other friends who visit.” Ody assures his son as he gently tangles his fingers through the boy's mess of hair, aware his own is similar, letting the familiar warmth fill his chest.

“I almost wish I were a god, because at least I could do something about their messes, they really need to talk shit out between themselves and fix their relationships with mortals, because they depend on us more than we do them.” Polites frowns, well aware most people don’t like to think or talk about that, but without humans believing in gods, having faith, they would be much weaker than they are currently.

Po
The line between
Po looks unimpressed, one side of his face tilting up with his smirk. He grasps O’s face with his clawed hand, the man narrowing the eye closest to the claw.
Naivete and hopefulness is
O stops kneeling, perhaps forced to rise by the hand on his face. He looks terrified as the gods teeth are inches from his face, his hand cradling his jaw and a tentacle hovering just above his head. A simple movement of his wrist has Po’s claw moving, almost as if wiping away a tear, except his claw easily cuts into O’s face, who grits his teeth as he peers at the cut, but doesn’t move.
Almost invisible, so
Blood starts leaking from the cut easily.

“He’s about to lose something.” Athena isn’t certain what, given she knows she’s not strong enough to take him alone, but she’s certain she can talk a few others into helping her somehow, because no one hurts her Owlet and gets away with it, not even one of the big three.

“Damn right he is, and if you need any help, I’m more than willing to lend my own aid. My hands too, cause I wanna see him bleed.” Penelope smiles up at the goddess, who peers down at her and then a grin - sharp and almost terrifying - crosses her face as she nods.

“That. That right there is why I didn’t want the two of you to meet.” Ody says as he points at Penelope and Athena, who barely spare him more than a glance at the words, while Ath and Pen start to cackle, well aware they had set to making plans to kick godly ass as soon as they met and Ody told them everything about his journey.

“He was right to keep you from meeting, you two scare me. I can only imagine what it would’ve been like to have you both there while I was growing up.” Tele shudders at the very thought, because he’d have loved to meet Ath sooner, but the plans his mom and her make scare him quite a bit, but he joins in often as well, so he can’t really say much.

“Could he get the hell out of my personal space? Also, he’s not wrong, I did try to avoid you two meeting for this reason.” Odysseus grimaces at the god practically right in his face, because he really doesn’t want anyone that close but those he trusts and Poseidon is certainly not one of them.

“I need to interfere or something, because that sounds like a rejection, like he never planned to actually forgive which we all assumed, but not trying to attempt and clear things over in any way is going to be on me if he takes an action.” Eurylochus as second in command should’ve stepped up and excused their king as being too tired and hungry to be making decisions or something, anything to get the god to not bother the man or take his word for truth, but his counterpart had let it happen.

“Darlings, I knew Ath even before you left for war, after all I asked her to ensure you got home safely because she is your patron, I just let you think we didn’t know each other. We had tea on occasion when she had time during the war in order to give me stories of you.” Pen coos teasingly at her husband and son, gently rubbing at her husband’s cheek where the cut was, glad to see it left no mark. (Ody blushes and sighs as he realizes it now makes sense how Ath had so many stories and things to tell him about Tele and Pen while he was at war.)

“I let you get away with being oblivious to it because you were stressed by the war and I didn’t want to overwork your mind.” Ath grins at her Fledgling, because she would’ve called him on missing that, but he was making most of the plans during the war, as well as checking on his men, fighting and doing all sorts of things that had her worrying for him.

“Whatever move or plan he has, he’s about to do it and I don’t think it’s going to be a kind one.” Polites watches, teeth grit, because how dare that god spit on his friends' kindness and desperation like that, all he wants is to get his men home alive.

Po + L
Close your heart
O looks horrified, a tentacle wrapped around his throat, another resting on his head, and over one of his shoulders, even as the god’s hand is able to be seen, one claw covered in the barest amount of blood.
The world is dark and
Po moves, his tentacles forcing O to move with him, who tries to keep his eyes on the god, but given the restraints he currently has, he can not.
Ruthlessness is mercy
Po hovers just past his shoulder, O staring from the corner of his eye. He shifts his gaze forward after realizing he won’t get anything from the god practically draped over him.
Die
His eyes change in a moment, looking horrified, terrified, like he already knows what might be coming based on what he sees, before it gets worse at that word.

“He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t fucking dare. That would be going too far, even if you were the ones at fault.” Athena growls, wings bristling in her anger as she watches, suddenly having a horrible feeling at what her uncle is doing.

“I don’t like the way he’s in your space. If he doesn’t get the fuck out of it I will in fact find a way to ensure his immortality won’t work when I kill him.” Penelope promises because that is her husband, if anyone forces themselves on him she will end them for it, because he doesn’t deserve that, no one does.

“She’s not lying either, you know as well as I do there are going to be so many plans once certain things come to light that you’ll have to brace yourself for.” Ath murmurs to Ody, who shudders at the very thought of being near that bitch, but he’s not going to just let his family be there near her without him either, so he gives his friend a nod, glad for the warning.

“Oh? Is there someone who needs their immortality tested that badly? Or are we talking about that unnamed nothing who’s already on my list?” Pen asks sharply, having caught the interaction between her beloved and his goddess, gaze sharp as neither answers her, but that is an answer herself and she grins wickedly, maliciously, already making (more)plans in her head on how to hurt them. (Her heart aches for the things her husband endured.)

“He is going to choke you if he doesn’t move those tentacles and that doesn’t seem to currently be his goal, so they must not be too tight despite him managing to force you to move with them." Polites mutters, hand on his chin as he watches, because he is keeping track of any possible injuries they might get that he might need to look at, given they’re doing everything they can to avoid the cyclops.

“I get that he’s a god, and a strong one at that, but we know the Xenia law just as well and are more than aware, at least those that went in the cave, that the cyclops violated them, so are we truly so terrified that we are letting him manhandle and blame our king, captain, brother for that?” Eurylochus hisses, so damn done with his counterpart that he officially disowns him, because at this point that is no longer a person he recognizes as himself and refuses to ever become them.

“I really am not certain if I want you to watch this next part, but I’ll ask : do you think you can handle it, my boy?” Ody asks his son, watching the man, think it over as he does, clearly taking stock of everything and putting real thought into it.

“I don’t know if I can handle it, but I want to know what you went through, so I’ll bear it so I can see. I want to be able to help you better and knowing what you dealt with let me do that.” Tele answers honestly, uncertain if he can take what they’re likely about to see, but he wants to help his dad out more and he can’t do that without understanding and seeing what the man went through.

“You’re a lot stronger than me, Tele. I don’t know if I’m ready for what we’re about to witness.” Odysseus shudders, which has his wife scooting closer and handing him their Telemachus to hold so she can wrap him in a hug, because he’s rarely seen himself look like that, but it is never a good thing when he does so.

C
Captain
A whale breaks through the middle of one of the ships.
Captain
A shark gets a crewmate on some wood from the ocean.

L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon our-
O watches it all, looking horrified and guilty and regretful, bits of tentacles able to be seen on his face.

C
Captain!
A crewmate being dragged under by what appears to be an octopus or maybe a small kraken of some sort.
Captain
Another who’s hunched over on some debris, his hands held captive at his side by claws, with his mouth full of crabs, blood leaking from his eyes like tears.

“Oh my god.” Polites stares in horror, distantly aware he’s trembling, but he’s too distracted by the tears and the gruesome way this god is choosing to kill his brothers, for a lie that the man is almost certain now the cyclops fed his father.

“I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to get back into the water after seeing this…” Odysseus knows it might seem weak or a vulnerability to take advantage of, especially since he’s an island King, but after seeing these ocean animals kill his men, he doesn’t know if he can do it.

“He broke something he should not have, and did not think of the consequences it could have on him later.” Ath murmurs lowly, amused because her uncle rarely makes mistakes like that, but the lie she knows his son fed him had blinded him in his anger and now he’s making his own downfall.

“I still don’t know if I’ll ever look at the ocean animals the same ever again, but I’ve managed to work past some of this, at least.” Ody groans at the very thought, because forcing himself to handle the fish, occasional dolphin and other creatures that appeared by the bitch’s island had been a lot of work, but he’d managed, not to mention getting himself into the water.

“He dares touch what is mine, even if my blessing is weaker, he dares to do this?” Athena clenches his hands, just barely avoiding drawing blood, making plans for if her uncle tries a different route to get at her Owlet and his family, in order to get at her.

“I think the prayers to Poseidon are going to be done by me solely from now on, so I can have words with him if he ever decides to take anything out on my husband and boy.” Penelope has a smile on her face, but her eyes, they are dark with anger and promises of violence.

“They really are trying to be ruthless, but this just seems like a lot of overkill.” Tele grumbles, burying his face into his dad’s chest, unwilling to throw up again at the gruesome deaths being displayed, but refusing to look away completely, bracing himself for once the viewing starts again.

“It most certainly is, even more so considering he bothered only to get his son’s side of the encounter and no one else’s.” Pen just knows someone else had to have seen that encounter, there are far too many gods for not a single one to have noticed it, but Posei chose not to ask a single one for a second opinion.

“No…” Eurylochus stares in horror, because he can already feel guilt and regret settling over him as he watches the crew die, but his brother is who they are calling and he one being forced to watch by a god, he can only imagine how much worse it must be for the man.

L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon our-
Birds tearing at another one of them, an eyeball already plucked out, and beaks and clawed feet digging into arms.

C
Captain
O is still watching it all, looking disturbed and sad and horrified, like he can’t quite grasp what he’s seeing.
Captain
An orca bites into a crewmate just barely underwater.

L
Ruthlessness is mercy upon our-
O continues to watch, helpless because of the god forcing him to watch and making it hard for him to move even if he wanted to help.

C
Captain
Another crewmate, blood streaming from his closed eyes, as the skeletons from before grasp at him, only two or three compared to the horde from before but it's more than enough.

“Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.” Eurylochus raises a shaking hand to cover his mouth, unable to tear his gaze away from their crew, their brothers dying, but also unable to get rid of the horrible feeling in his gut on why they might be where they are, because someone opened that wind bag and there are very few options for who.

“Damnit, how many of them are we losing?” Odysseus grits his teeth, unable to help the horror rising in him, or the regent, especially because every call of captain hits him inside somewhere he’s not certain will ever recover.

“Far too many for the one sheep and his eyesight.” Pen hisses, tensing as she watches, unhappy that her beloved dealt with this on his own, but glad to see it now so she is aware how to help him, even if it is a gruesome sight.

“You’re not wrong, love, but chill out, relax a bit.” Ody murmurs to his wife, gently running his fingers through her hair, wanting to calm her even a little, as he pulls her close to let her feel his warmth.

“So he truly is taking his anger out on my sweetheart from his feud with you?” Penelope asks the goddess sitting just barely behind and above them, tilting her head a bit to see her face more clearly.

“Most likely, which means he had no right to do this, because that is one thing that is off limits, a god taking their feud with a patron out on the patron’s Champion. It was forbidden after too many heroes died, so to do so is going to get him in a lot of trouble, if Zeus ever learns.” Athena is surprised the god is risking it, unless he truly expects for no one to know.

“He is quite cruel, making you watch it all as if you did the same thing to his son. The sheep was already dead when his son got there and the cyclops more than got vengeance for it. This is going past a lot of boundaries.” Tele clutches his dad’s chiton, moving closer still, trying to make himself a part of his dad in the hopes of comforting both himself and the man in question.

“He chose death that day and wasn't even aware of it.” Ath watches in amusement, letting her arm rest on a knee, resting her head on that hand, gaze speaking of the glee she gets from seeing this.

“To think the beings we worship are so fickle and petty. I don’t know if they are going to enjoy it when humans start to fear them too much to worship them or offer a prayer, what are they going to do then?” Polites turns his gaze to Athena, a fierce, determined one, because without humans the gods are much weaker, much more powerless and if the humans are too scared to pass along stories, then nothing will be left but the terrifying stories that make people want to pray or worship less.

L
Ruthlessness is-
O pushes against the tentacles and manages to pull himself free, racing forwards.He desperately reaches over the side for a nearby crewmate, still alive, tears in his eyes. The crewmate reaches back, but never reaches, a shark coming up and eating him from behind.

O
What have you done?...
O is limp against the side of the boat, arm resting limply over the side from where he had been reaching out, tears streaming down his face. He takes a shaky gasp in, staring at the bloody water in front of him where his fleet once stood. He sinks to his knees, hands clutching the side of the boat, head resting against it.

En
When does a ripple become a tidal wave?
Po’s tongue licking the blood from his finger, seeming amused and like he enjoyed all of that.

“Shit, he killed all of them.” Eurylochus stares in horror where there had been hundreds of men previously, all gone now. People he had known, had lived besides and grown and fought with, not yet but his counterpart had, and they were just…gone. He barely registers the tears falling down his face.

“They’re not even going to get their rites.” Polites growls, unable to help himself, because it made sense to leave those in the cave behind to not risk more men, but to completely lose the option because the god of the sea takes their bodies is another thing.

“Darling…” Pen can only imagine how much this hurt her husband, she’s not entirely certain what continued to drive him after losing this many men beyond saving the ones remaining and seeing them - his family - again, but she’s glad it did.

“That’s not a mercy in any way, it was certainly ruthless, but that’s just him continuing the cycle. He was ruthless against someone who hurt his son, and in doing so they’re going to grow to be just as ruthless in order to get back at him, and it’ll keep going until neither is ok.” Tele frowns, because he thinks he might understand why his dad thought he was a monster when he returned, if he got sucked into the cycle like this.

“There was no need for him to kill them like that.” Athena knows war, knows battle, knows ambush and strategy, it is her domain, and this was not any of that, this was a massacre, entirely one sided. It falls under Ares domain if anything.

“I sincerely hope that his brothers get angry at him later, for both adding to one’s already busy day and the other for killing people after his son broke Xenia, which means he broke it far worse to get retribution.” Penelople is well aware Xenia might not apply at that point given the sea is his domain, but she doubts they were not giving him prayers and sacrifices, so killing them was pointless.

“He truly had no right to traumatize you in that way.” Ath hisses, uncaring that it makes her sound like Ody’s other guardian god, because at this point, she’s grown somewhat fond of Herm and because he would be just as indignant as she, if not more so.

“It’s not all that surprising he went that far, though given Zeus never struck him, I’m assuming he never told the king his son broke Xenia, nevermind that he struck out wrongly due to lack of information.” Ody murmurs, curious as to whether he should ask Posei about that at some point, as well as if he should ever mention it to Zeus himself, though the god rarely visits.

“He killed so many of them.” Odysseus can’t help the shake in his voice of the tears down his face, because those are his men, his people, his crew, his brothers, and the god had killed them for nothing, no reason, because he had taken his son at his word without getting all the information.

Po
43 left under your command
His yellow eyes look to the side, before he tilts his entire head that way, looking towards the 43 men left on the ship he currently is standing on.

En
When does a man become a monster?
E is still on his knees from earlier, the crewmen clutched to him, tears in his eyes as he either looks around in disbelief or shakes his head. A shape rises in front of O, before it’s revealed to be the horse’s mouth, opening around the ship left. O’s gaze is down, tears still in his eyes, looking tired and weary and like something in him was snuffed out, before his gaze shifts to the side and his eyes go wide. The wing bag still rests where it last was placed.

Po
I am your darkest moment…
Po seems to be enjoying this, a grin on his face, as he spreads his arms out to the side, standing on his tail as if they were legs, the two sides of the horse’s jaw on either side of him.
…the monster that always draws near.
His gaze goes from looking slightly unhinged to perfectly sane, pupil going from a small slit to a red triangle, as he watches.
Any last words?
His eyes are shadowed, covered, but there’s almost nothing in the words, not anger, not regret, nothing.

“He truly planned to kill you.” Athena would not have let this go unpunished given he had killed men wrongly, unjustly, but to attempt to kill her Champion like this, she will be making sure he gets a lesson on Xenia and other gods domains somehow.

“If he touches a hair more on your head, he’s not going to like what I do.” Penelope narrows her gaze onto the god, clearly taunting her husband in what he thinks will be the man’s final moments, anger sharp and bright under her skin, fear buried under it, but she knows that look, her other half has a plan.

“Oh, he gets more than he deserves after a bit, don’t you worry your head off. He also learns not to mess with my family.” Pen assures her younger counterpart, leaning over to gently pat her shoulder, soothing her and making sure she takes the words for what they mean. The smirk she’s wearing certainly doesn’t deny them.

“I feel a bit attacked here, honestly.” Ody mutters under his breath, because being faced with his wife smiling like that, while the younger one has a narrowed gaze that speaks angry and protective and loving just makes him fall in love with both of them more, no guilt to be had since both are his wife, even if one is years younger. It certainly doesn’t help that he still feels like he’s trying to catch up to his son and wife despite being with them for 2 years, all the love for them having built up and eventually flowed out from him to others. (But never that bitch. Serves her right.)

“I mean, at this point, the bag is our only hope.” Odysseus clears his throat a bit, not looking at either version of his wife again, because the smirk the older one has, as well as the protective angry glare of his wife are both equally hot and equally make him blush. (Both he and Ody share a commiserating look and ignore the way their wife’s turn to give them both knowing looks.)

“You’re both disgusting-’ Polites teases both Odysseus and Ody, giving them a glance at their words, well aware of what both are like.’- but I would rather like to know why he killed so many? It was one damn goat and his son’s sight, no lie would be good enough for him to kill the entire crew.” The medic knows his things, has learned everything as he so wishes and to kill everyone for the loss of sight and the death of a single being under Xenia - or even by accident - is much too far.

“Oh, they’re definitely disgusting, but I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything.” Tele grins widely, happily at Polites, who can’t help his own in response, especially as he watches Ody ruffle the boy’s hair, ignoring his sputtering and his mom gently pressing a kiss to his cheek, which has him giggling and Ody laughing.

“You are as a whole disgusting and even worse, you somehow drew me into it as well.” Ath teases as she gazes down at her family with a deadpan look, which turns to exasperation at the bright, not even slightly regret smiles she gets in return.

“We never stood a chance and he still killed all of them, is going to kill us, just because of that one misstep? No Lotus eaters, no Cyclops, no fucking Poseidon, god I want to say no sea either but we do have to cross it just to get home, but we’re going to get as close to Ithaca as possible before we stop for food so we at least know the damn islands nearby.” Eurylochus already knows the men will bitch, but he’s making plans to ensure they grab more food from Troy as well before they set off from its shores, since clearly they didn’t that time for some reason.

O
All I gotta do is open this bag!
O is still slumped against the side of the ship, blood leaking down from the cut, tears gathered in his eyes, gaze locked on the bag. He lunges for it without hesitation, desperation on his face as he grabs it and yanks it open, uncaring that he’s fallen onto his back upon doing so, a partial snarl on his face.

Po
What?!
Po sounds surprised, jolting backwards at the words, and the horse’s jaws snap closed, but the wind in the bag has already propelled them out of danger. E is clutching at his upper arms, smiling despite the tears in his eyes while a nearby crewmate looks over his shoulder, looking traumatized, tears still in his eyes.

“You did it!” Polites looks overjoyed, because he wasn’t really seeing how they might get out of that, but knowing they’re alive and well helps him calm down, even as he cries for those lost.

“I’m so glad we got away, but damnit, we need a break. You need to sleep and we all need to grieve for the men we just lost, we need to eat most likely and in general we all just need a moment.” Eurylochus grits his teeth as he closes his eyes for a moment, letting his tears fall naturally, not bothering to wipe them away for now.

“You got away with nothing but desperation. You weren't certain that work.” Pen notes because she had seen her husband in a lot of plans, but that was a pure desperate move, not even really a plan, just needing to get away.

“Not only that, but if Posei had moved even slightly faster or seen your gaze, it wouldn’t have worked.” Ath glowers at her uncle, happy her Fledgling managed to get away, but upset he was forced to act in desperation instead of an actual plan.

“There’s no way that’s going to send you to Ithaca, is there?” Penelope can’t help how despondent she sounds, because she just knows this is going to set back all the travel they got done, push them further away from Ithaca, something in her just knows.

“I really doubt it, love. Don’t worry, I won’t stop until I return to you, no matter what.” Odysseus pulls her closer, lets her feel his heartbeat in order to get her to calm down or maybe even just relax some, though he can’t help the ache in his own chest at the thought of more time spent away from her and Telemachus.

“I never want to see you look that desperate.” Tele growls, upset that her dad had to look that way because no one else was helping, no one else was even trying, they were devastated as well, but they didn’t help before either.

“Easy son, it’s not a surprise, they were still doubting me as they’ve shown they opened the bag, and I imagine most of them were feeling guilty for either helping them open the bag, opening the bag or not stopping them.” Ody gently runs his fingers through the boy’s hair, to soothe him, to help the ache in his own chest and because he can as well.

“You got away, good on you, but damn if I still don't want to bash his teeth in and disfigure him.” Athena hisses as she watches everything play out far worse than she had thought, but with a better outcome then she could’ve hoped for.

O has his teeth grit, tears likely blown away by the wind, but he’s still got the bags under his eyes and it’s uncertain how much longer he’ll last without sleep, food or water. The cut isn’t actively bleeding any longer. He looks startled for a moment as he seems to realize the plan worked, he got the rest of his crew out of there. There’s a tiny deer near the side of the ship, which shakes its shoulders and then disappears.

Remember me…
Po is hunched over, his lower half is water, arms slumped forward, hair hanging in his face. His gaze is on the ship, yellow with a thin slit of red, which becomes a yellow pupil with a black outside, and then the yellow glows, as the edges of a huge grin creep up the side of his face.

“Damn him.” Ath grimaces, because her uncle did not need to make that promise or statement, because it was both, and she wishes she could make him bleed for it.

“You need treatment so bad I’m not even sure how you’re still standing at that moment in time.” Polites grumbles as he crosses his arms, still anxious, but at least they’re currently away from the god and maybe heading somewhere safer.

“Oh, I wish I had gotten a damn break and some treatment, that would’ve been great.” Ody laughs at the very thought. He has nothing against Circe, she was a great help after almost seducing and killing him with her powers, but she was not a break by any means.

“Oh, so you’ve lived through this much at least?” Eurylochus feels his heart break at the information because his brother should never have had to live like that, but this one had and he’s not going to leave this without properly apologizing for his counterparts actions, but he needs to see all of them.

“Things are going to get outright worse, aren’t they?” Penelope knows her beloved’s luck and things are certainly not going to get better from here on, she just knows it somewhere inside.

“Yeah, he’s lived through most of this, but how much I’m not certain, but I know my darling and this is still him.” Pen hums easily, because someone has to answer Eurylochus, might as well be one of the only people who knew him, knew him before he changed this much.

“God, I don’t even want to know what the hell we’re heading into.” Odysseus groans as he gets up to start pacing, refusing to actually think about what might come because he obviously doesn’t have a clue given the way things have already gone and worst, he can’t think of a plan currently to save them.

“Easy, Owlet, we will not let this be, do not work yourself too hard.” Athena cautions as she gently sets a hand on his shoulder to stop his pacing, though she is equally not as happy about this, she at least can think a bit more clearly and is working out plans in her head for any situation they run into.

“I hope you have much better luck going forward compared to what’s already happened.” Tele isn’t certain how much he believes his dad on this next part,not because he thinks the man would cheat on purpose, but because a witch that can turn people to pigs? Actually, all things considered, that’s not too far off.

There’s a pause as they wait, but Ody realizes pretty quickly that was the end of this part and stands, moving to get to some food, hungry as well as wanting to get away for just a moment. Odysseus is quick to follow him, because he desperately needs a place to think and who would give it better than his own counterpart? Pen and Penelope gently keep everyone away as they decide to start a conversation they wanted to have.

“How do you deal with the loss of them?” Odysseus asks Ody as he works on making himself something to eat. The man takes a moment to think it over, movements not slowing despite that.

“I don’t think I ever truly will, not between the guilt of having no bodies and being the reason they died at least partially, but I also know they would’ve just wanted me to reach home and be happy.” Ody answers simply, honestly, the same way his wife had for the first year whenever he had been at low points and needed reassurance.

“This is going to take so long…” Odysseus sinks into a chair, head in his hands, looking despondent and lost despite not having not gone through any of it yet.

“It might, but you have a chance to change it, something I certainly did not have or get, so do not make light of it. Even if you can only change things the slightest bit, that might yet still save you more than anything I’ve done so far.” Ody sets a hand on his shoulder as he passes, setting a plate of food by him as well, before leaving the kitchen.

“Do we want to keep sleeping in separate rooms or are we thinking we all sleep in here? Cause I don’t know if I’m going to care much if our husband gets himself hurt on whether it’s the older or my own that I hug, I’m just going to want him close.” Penelope gently rocks Telemachus as he whines, likely hungry, but she’s aware Odysseus will bring him some food once he’s had a second.

“I’d be more than willing to sleep in here with you lot, I know I’ll want to hug him at some point as well, and both are our husbands, so it’s not like he’s cheating, since you are also me and I'm you. It’ll be up to the others if they join us.” Pen shrugs, more than willing to sleep out here on the beg they’ve been resting on, turning to head into the kitchen as she spots Ody leave it with some food in hand, amused as she hip checks him in passing, enjoying the startled, disgruntled noise it draws from him. Penelope cackles as she goes to follow her counterpart, though she waits until after Ody is sitting and has set aside his food before promptly handing him Telemachus.

Ody lets out an indignant sound as he adjusts his hold, tempted to pout as he watches his wife leave for the kitchen, ignoring his friends snickering as they follow after her as he rocks the babe, wincing when tiny hands grasp at a scar that’s always been a bit more sensitive, grateful as he grins at Tele, who had gently redirected Telemachus’ hands with his fingers, leading them to his chiton, before heading to get his own food. Odysseus finally leaves the kitchen, plate of food in hand, and chuckles at the sight he’s greeted by, heading over with the bottle so one of them can feed the boy.

“You want to?’ He offers as he settles next to his counterpart, careful to avoid spilling either of their food, and grins when Ody seems to debate it before taking the bottle and using it, grateful that it seems to be what Tele wants as he starts to suckle, eyes closing in content. ‘Also, it seems our wives are conspiring, we’re all sleeping in here tonight, the lot of us at least. I don’t know if Eurylochus, Polites or either of our goddesses will join, but we don't get a choice.”

“I hope tonight’s an easy night then, but if it’s not, I apologize, we all get nightmares and we might wake you.” Ody grins at Telemachus as the rest of them finally leave the kitchen. They all relax and eat together, with Eurylochus and Polites deciding ultimately to sleep in their own rooms for the time being. (They just want the family to get at least one night alone even if it’s just this one and there are two of each of them.)

Ath grins and transforms into an owl, resting on the head of the bed, amused silently as she spots Athena doing the same, both watching the family’s get comfortable on the bed. Odysseus and Penelope cuddle close immediately, though Telemachus is set gently just out of reach so they don’t crush him by accident during the night, they are close enough to easily get to him if need be. In comparison, Ody and Pen both shift aside, letting Teel squeeze between them, the safest place for him to be, limbs intertwining as they settle in. Sleep takes them all swiftly.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

The next morning, it is Ody who wakes first, roused by the sound of tiny coos he hasn’t heard in over 20 years, that has him sitting up blindly despite everything and looking for the source of said sounds. He shifts and moves carefully around the bed to pick up Telemachus from next to the couple who appear exhausted, given neither has stirred and rocks him as he heads for the kitchen, planning to grab breakfast for him to eat while he feeds the babe, then bring his wife and son their breakfast, while letting the younger couple get theirs.

Pen had woken the moment her husband had started to get off the bed and barely stopped herself from reaching out to stop him, but then she registers why he’s getting up and she can’t bring herself to, instead latching onto Tele who grumbles and scoots closer at the loss of some of the warmth. She can tell by the lack of movement that Odysseus and Penelope had likely woken with the babe several times or a few times but for a while, and are so exhausted they had not woken, but can only hope her beloved is quick, or they’ll panic upon waking without their babe at their side.

Ath watches it all in amusement from the headboard, gaze locked on Ody as he enters the kitchen, snickering at the muffled curse she hears when he either trips over something or runs into something, before returning to watching over the other two, meeting two pair of eyes - one tired and blinking slowly, the other wide awake and equally amused - and deciding that’s good enough, silently taking off and returning to her more human form at their bedside.

“What a mess he is, no matter the time.” Athena seems equally bemused and fond as she changes at the younger couples side, careful to remain quiet to help them get more sleep, but sparing a glance at the older counterparts who all give her grins at the words.

Ody walks back in at that moment, carefully cradling the baby to his chest, two plates balanced on the other arm, while the one cradling the babe has his bottle as well. He offers the plates to his son and wife, giving a nod to both goddess’ before settling no the bed and feeding the baby who makes far more content, soft noises as he gets what he wants.

Penelope chooses that moment to wake, hand gripping towards where Telemachus should be before she’s even totally awake, though the way her hand freezes and she then jolts upright - only just avoiding bashing Odysseus in the face since she was resting on his chest - has them all feeling a bit bad. Before Pen can reach out to soothe her and clear this up, she smacks Odysseus on the chest, waking him as she starts to move in order to ensure he hadn’t fallen from the bed. The man jolts at the bit of pain, sitting up as well, but without context and still only partially aware, he is the one to glance to the side and see their counterparts all awake and either eating or feeding another, so he just flops back down with a sleepy whine.

“Odysseus, wake up.’ Penelope hisses, unable to see why he had relaxed and is not panicking as she is, a bit outraged at it, honestly. ‘Telemachus is not here-”

“Honey, he’s right there.” Odysseus doesn’t even lift his head from where he’s buried it back into a pillow before pointing at his counterpart, who is still feeding Telemachus the bottle, though the baby looks about done with it, squirming and wiggling about in the man’s arms. Penelope stares in surprise, then deflates in relief, before leveling a look at Ody, who looks a bit sheepish.

“Sorry, you looked exhausted. Didn’t want to wake you when I could do it for you.” Ody murmurs softly, gently shifting the boy to hand him to his mother, who takes the job over without hesitation.

“It’s fine, I don’t think I’ve adjusted to this as well as you lot have, I expected it to still be the two of us on our bed, so it didn’t even cross my mind to look to you for help.” Penelope admits easily, relaxing against the headboard.

This is when Eurylochus and Polites both enter, stretching as they walk past, sparing a glance and deciding they’ll be grabbing everyone some food. They make their plates, as well as one for Penelope, Odysseus and Ody, since they have a feeling the older man has eaten, but he still looks too thin for both of them. With but a glance, they decide to have Eurylochus deliver the food to their royals, while Polites gives the older royal his food. Odysseus takes the plate with thanks, while Penelope gives a nod, settling Telemachus next to her in order to eat. Polites marches to the other side of the bed and doesn’t give Ody chance to argue or deny the plate, simply sets it on his lap and levels him with a look, one his wife, son and goddess copy, before he groans and starts to nibble at the food.

It takes a few moments to get settled after eating, but eventually they do.

Water washing up on a shore, before there are feet, walking through it. The boat is a mess, holes in the sails, men right near it, around it and on the shore in the water, while there are some still on it. There’s signs of trees and vines further up shore. A crewmate nearby is supporting another, his arm held over a shoulder as they move. Eurylochus looks serious, before he turns, gaze gentling slightly. Odysseus is standing in the space where water meets shore, the headband flapping in the wind from where it’s tied on his arm, his gaze fixed downwards. E turns slightly, gaze flicking towards and away from O, looking almost guilty.
E
Captain…
E heads towards O, arms crossed like he’s hugging himself, shoulders hunched slightly.
I have something that I must confess…
Only E’s back can be seen, but he shifts as if his gaze moves away, unable to look at the man long before it returns, still hugging himself.
Something that I must get off my chest…
O’s hair shifts in the wind, as we finally get a look at E’s face, looking guilty and weary, even as his face and body shift away and then back again. He finally takes an arm from around his waist and holds it out in front of him, palm out, fingers stretching as if offering something to the man.

“What the hell did I do? I don’t think speaking of it now is the right time, either way, because Odysseus is still processing the crew he’s blaming himself for losing and we’re on an unknown island.” Eurylochus frowns, this is not the time, even if he wants to get it off his chest, they are not in a safe place to do so.

“There’s no way.” Odysseus had really hoped he was wrong, but something in him breaks partially, because if he thinks about it, there’s truly only one thing that the man could’ve done recently that would have him so guilty, but it can’t be true.

“I wish it had been that easy to ignore my own thoughts like that, but I think I already knew at least somewhat by that point.” Ody grimaces because he’d never wanted to look badly at his men, but he had already started to doubt his brother by that point.

“I get he wants to get it off his chest and work this out now, but not only are emotions far too high right now, but you are not safe enough to do so, enemies could be on the island, and if this talk creates a rift between you two, it could lead to something happening that can’t be taken back.” Pen frowns, well aware of who they are likely going to meet here, but still upset because while Cir might’ve helped her husband, she doubts it was immediate, and on top of that, Eury should’ve known better than this.

“Truly, things are already fracturing and breaking, but your duties are keeping you too busy to really fix them.” Athena had not wanted to think they might truly do something like this, but his words all but confirm if for her, which has her feathers bristling.

“Well shit, how the hell would this have helped or been avoided?” Polites groans, because his brothers are worthless at having emotional talks without him there to mediate, they either get to blows or completely disconnect from each other for a while, neither of which is good.

“You really are at a nice place, but there’s no way on earth someone doesn’t live there.” Tele muses as he observes everything, well aware his uncle had already gone too far and there is nothing he can do about it, an apology won’t fix this.

“They really just did not get it.” Ath sighs tiredly, because of course Ody would protect the bag with his everything, it was his one way home, which is all he had wanted since the moment he left the shores of Ithaca, was to see his son and wife. If the bag truly had treasure, he’d have given it to his men without a second thought.

“Where the hell are you now?” Penelope seethes, upset and worried because they were so close to Ithaca, she just knows it, and now she can’t say she truly recognizes this island right away, but it doesn’t feel right to her, something setting off her instincts.

Until it is said, I cannot rest.
He doesn’t look away this time, despite his gaze looking sad, even as that hand turns into a fist to make a point.
…Captain?
E moves closer, hands falling to his sides and reaches for O’s shoulder, seeming worried and confused.

O
Eurylochus, go make sure this island is secure
O shifts the slightest bit away from him, which has E curling his fingers and pulling his hand back. E watches and listens, but doesn’t seem to really take the words into account.

“Shit.” Odysseus hisses, because that tells him a lot on what his screen counterpart thinks and is guessing, which is making him paranoid, because there’s no way his closest brother would betray him like that, right?

“What the hell have I done?” Eurylochus stares in horror because his brother should never move or flinch away from him like that, but something he’d done - potentially what he’s thinking, but he hopes to the gods he’s wrong - has the man doing exactly that.

“I can’t even blame you for that, not after the way Posei held you only a bit ago.” Pen admits, well aware that’s not why her beloved flinched, but without giving away anything else that’s what she can throw out there, though it’s also not wrong either, since she doubts she’d want to be touched either after being manhandled by a god.

“Yeah, being manhandled and moved about by a god is not conducive to wanting to have anyone touch you, not for a bit at least.” Ody mutters, shuddering the slightest bit because he can still recall the way he’d been able to feel claws against his face and tentacles against his shoulders, face and neck for ages afterwards.

“I mean, you two definitely need to talk, won’t lie on that, but this is neither the time or place to do so.” Polites murmurs gently, placing a hand on both their shoulders to try and ground them from what they’re seeing.

“No…” Athena hisses, clawed hands digging into her palm, because she had never wanted her Owlet to know the feel of a god that was facing him with wrath, anger, a grudge, never, and to know he did hurts her.

“That sounds horrible, honestly. I can’t even begin to imagine how it must’ve felt having him grab you like that, just watching it was painful.” Tele grimaces at even the thought of Ath grabbing him like that, never mind doing it all with a sick purpose as Posei had, and to know his dad had felt that, experienced it? Well, he scoots a bit closer, and grabs some of the longer strands of hair, braiding them.

“Uncle, you are lucky for Herm interfering or we’d have had a much more serious talk over you traumatizing my Fledgling with godly touches that way.” Ath snarls, because she is well aware if given the time and Herm had not talked with him after this, Ody would’ve flinched from gods, which would’ve caused him a lot of trouble.

“Yes, go make sure you and the men are safe before trying to get into confessions of things you’ve done, because those are not rifts or tears in your relationship the men can afford to see if you want to get through this together.” Penelope narrows her gaze at the Eurylochus on the screen, thoughts whirling through her head and already having a damn certain idea of what the man had done, anger building in her chest, not for her Eurylochus, but for the person he might’ve become.

E
But captain-
E’s gaze and face shift down, like he isn’t certain whether he was rejected or if he’s unable to look at the man for failing him.

O
There’s only so much left we can endure
O finally turns to face him, slowly, wobbling the slightest bit, bags still under his eyes and a certain light gone from them that had been their prior.
Whatever you have to say can wait some more
O places a hand on his shoulder gently, his eyes falling almost completely closed, as he starts to move past E, focus currently elsewhere, even as his hand falls from the man's shoulder, E turns so he’s facing O’s current direction.
Of that, I’m sure
E is looking over his shoulder, with a sort of guilty, certain gaze that says he thinks otherwise, even as O is heading elsewhere to do something else.

“Also, not over the fact that, Eurylochus, you are my brother and I love you, but you’re complaining about not being able to sleep to a man who has not slept in nine days.” Polites looks the man in the eyes, sees when he realizes what his counterpart truly said and what it might mean, as well as the anger that rises in his eyes.

“Damnit, what the fuck happened to me? I’m a fucking idiot there, you haven’t had food, much water and nothing more than a few moments nap and I’m bitching about not being able to sleep? Fuck me. I’m sure he can wait for longer too.” Eurylochus growls, angry and upset, because how dare his goddamn counterpart have the audacity to even say that to their brother when he looks so bad.

“You truly are a mess, you know that?” Pen asks her husband in vague amusement, though she’s also concerned, she just knows this has already happened and nothing she says will change it, however much seeing him like this hurts her.

“I have to agree with mom, you were always made to be this big deal, and you are, but she also told me so many stories about you not being the general, the chosen of Ath, that I knew you without even realizing it.” Tele grins at the disgruntled, but amused look on his dad’s face, even as he shifts, tracing the scar on the man’s leg because he can sense something - he’s not sure if it’s a nudge from Ath or just something in his dad’s face - that says it might start hurting soon.

“I can’t even imagine how much gaul you had to have to say that to his face and look sad when he chooses to try and protect the remaining men he has left, including you, instead of helping you right at that moment when he knew he was compromised.” Penelope scoffs, because she’s seen her husband tired, delirious almost from exhaustion, and knows he would’ve said something he didn’t mean to if he’d talk to his brother.

“I have to agree with you, your counterpart is being extremely stupid in this moment of time, but given the stress he was just under, he gets a half hearted, somewhat pass.” Athena is aware trauma affects humans different even though it’s not entirely her domain, and the man has chosen an extremely poor way to deal with it, though she’s not certain her Owlet’s is any better.

“I can not even tell, Fledgling, which part of what he said was more offensive, especially since you are only telling him later, not never, you are asking for a moment to get yourself together, nothing more, as well as a sense of safety knowing the island has been checked for threats.” Ath huffs, clicking her claws together, shifting as her scar chafes again, debating to herself in the back of her mind if she should take it off soon, though that will give away a lot.

“You’re not wrong, all I was asking for was a bit of time to maybe rest, eat and drink, recover from what had just happened, and he looked ready to argue about it.” Ody sighs, because had they truly already drifted that far apart by that point or had the sleeplessness affected him at that time to not see it?

“Things are falling apart so much.” Odysseus has watched everything, taken it all in and he still can’t quite handle how quickly things had shifted, changed and fall apart around him.

E
…Okay
E looks sad and defeated, even as he fully turns so the side of his body is clear, gaze shifting down. E starts to move, O moving in the background, placing a hand on a crewmate's shoulder, stopping him and another nearby, pointing towards E. The three men head out, while O heads towards the beginning of a camp. A decent amount of time has passed, the camp set up, men huddling near the fire or laying down to sleep.

O is standing behind a crewman, gaze and mind elsewhere, looking tired. E appears from the tree line past his face.

O
Eurylochus, back so soon?
E hunches over slightly as O turns to face him, seeming surprised, even as the man starts to stumble towards him. O has a hand palm facing out, held out at his side.
Where’s the rest of your crew?
As he finishes the question, sounding worried and confused, E falls to his knees, which has him moving from a walk to a jog towards his brother.
And, by the gods, what happened to you?
O doesn't hesitate to get on his own knees in front of E, grabbing him by his shoulder to help support him and maybe get answers, mostly because he is concerned though, despite still having bags under his eyes.

“Holy shit, where the hell are your men? Did you run from something? And did you even try to fucking sleep in the time he was gone?” Polites growls in annoyance at his brothers, hands running through his hair and messing it up in annoyance.

“Between my worry, my guilt and the men, I am almost certain I did not get any sleep despite desperately needing it.” Odysseus can almost guarantee that he got no sleep despite needing it more than food or water by that point, but he isn’t certain how that’ll affect what comes next.

“Dad, you really need to take better care of yourself.” Tele grumbles at the man, because he’s seen him do similar things recently and is entirely unimpressed by his aging father’s attempts to do things currently beyond him.

“Fledgling, you should listen to the worries of others, you are not at the age or mind to continue missing sleep, least of all because of whatever you must deal with for the kingdom.” Ath runs her fingers through dark curls, finding herself grateful to get that chance given how she knows the future could’ve gone if she had been even just a bit later.

“Things are going to get worse, aren't they? Do you ever get a break?” Penelope feels a heavy exhaustion set on her shoulders, wonders if this is how her beloved will feel, because he should be home, in her arms, getting the care he needs, not on this strange island, with obvious threats, that will take more from him.

“I really wish I could answer that, but as of this moment, I really don’t know how long it’ll take him to get home, much less what all he’ll face in order to get back.” Athena has a feeling she knows what the Fates will show her if she were to ask and can’t bring herself to, not wanting to see how little time she’ll have with her Owlet and his family.

“Dear, if you were to do this now, I will be knocking you out, no matter how I have to do it.” Pen gives her other half a malicious grin, because she is threatening him. She has nice ways, difficult ways, and embarrassing ways to knock him out, but they all work and he knows that.

“Now love, you know there’s no need for measures like that, I like sleeping beside you and Tele too much anyways to miss too many nights in a row, you know this.” Ody soothes her, wrapping an arm around her waist, because they all know it’s true, he hates going more than a day or two without sleep and them, so he never goes more than that, though at the rate his work is happening, he might not get the choice much longer.

“What the hell did I run into for me to be coming back in that state?” Eurylochus demands incredulously, because if can’t have been entirely mortal or he’d have at least tried to confront them, but there is not a mark on his body, which means he fled… at least… he’s torn because he’d prefer it not be mortal so he had a good reason for running, but at this point he’s not certain he would’ve tried to fight anyone he came across, he might’ve turned and fled, his counterpart at least.

E
We came across a palace.
E is panting, face covered in sweat, before he responds, gaze lifting from the ground. The men moving through the forest, towards a large palace, a fountain in front of it.
Inside we heard a voice…
The door is cracked a bit and there are more men than the two that appeared to go with E, who is at the front of the group.
It seemed to show no malice.
There’s a third crewmate they likely grabbed along the way, all of them moving closer towards the palace, E looking at the fountain, the closest crewmate looking at it from the corner of his eye, with the other two are still entering the area.

“Shit, they better not have offended the people of this island.” Odysseus groans, rubbing at his face because he has to use some level of a mask to deal with royals when he has enough sleep, without it he’s uncertain how this will go.

“I sincerely hope to god they’re smart enough to not break Xenia or anything of the sort, I’ll skin them alive." Eurylochus promises, including himself in that if he can’t manage to change this.

“Didn’t they learn their lessons after last time?” Pen can’t help the deadpan in her tone because the last time they chose not to check something, they lost several men to a cyclops.

“They sure did not. I can’t exactly blame them, they were hungry, but still, they could’ve done a bit more checking or something.” Ody sighs tiredly, because Cir is someone he is happy about meeting, for all that he hated the way she tried to go about getting rid of him, since she had sincerely - besides Herm - tried to help him.

“I hope we might be able to get some food here, otherwise we might yet get fucked by another being somehow.” Polites has decided at this point that he will be living and knows for certain he will be a little less ‘open arms’ given that had fucked over this Odysseus, because every time he tried someone else took offense at it.

“I can already see how this is going to have to go. Either get more food from Troy before you leave or let them starve a little before you get close enough to know the islands you’re passing." Athena is aware they’ve not pissed Poseidon off, but trying to feed 600 men with fish or anything else is not going to work well either way, so might as well not try, especially since he’s letting them get across the ocean back home.

“Oh? Is this going to be something you hid from me because I only vaguely recall some of these details, you were vague about details and a few other things, though I’m starting to wonder if you remember this clearly.” Tele blinks at the indignant noise he gets in return for that comment, but he’s being honest, his dad had gone 9 days without sleep, escaped a god and lost most of his crew, he’s surprised the man remembers anything right now.

“I’m not certain you’ll be able to find much more around Troy to hunt or take as food without potentially messing with one of the other ships rations, but fishing won’t work either, so do as you will, but definitely go to some of the islands by Ithaca, you know them.” Ath is a little salty at how close Ody was on that bitch’s island, but unable to fucking leave because of her.

“I can not even with these men, most of them grew up with you as the king, so why the hell aren’t they following some of the basic decency I know you taught them just in case?” Penelope is aware most kings don’t teach their citizens like that, but hers had because he wanted his people safe if they ever got stuck somewhere not Ithaca.

To greet it was our choice,
The fountain has flowing water, suggesting someone lives here and takes care of the place, that it is not just an abandoned building they stumbled across.
But nothing could prepare us for the power that awaited inside..
E shifts his gaze, which goes from curious and calm to worried and terrified. He lowers his face, gaze shifting down before he looks back up at his brother.

O
What did this palace hide?
O looks like he’s bracing for the worst despite everything, serious and taking E at his word.

“Shit, who or what the hell was there?” Polites knows his brother, he’s not usually one for drama or overreactions, so whatever or whoever it was must’ve been horrifying.

“How strong are they for you to be that worried?” Odysseus frets since they certainly are not in any shape to fight anyone, but they might be able to manage a few men who can fight together, though he doubts his viewing counterpart would want to bring the men into it.

“You’re not gonna be smart about this, are you? You’re gonna let your guilt and kind nature have you go help them instead of bringing men.” Tele grumbles at his dad, poking the man in his side, even as he continues to massage the scar to his enjoyment.

“Hey, I was trying, I was not exactly at a good headspace to be making those kinds of decisions though. I was definitely at the point where my SIC should’ve taken over so I could get some rest, recover from my 9 day nonsense, but I never got a damn break.” Ody sighs, can almost feel that weight on his shoulders again, but with his family surrounding him, he manages to stay in the present.

“Why the hell am I telling you this instead of sending you to sleep and dealing with it on my own?” Eurylochus isn’t impressed that the man at the camp hadn’t made him go to bed either, likely hadn’t even tried, he hopes they at least got the man some food and water.

“Yeah, what the hell are you hoping your sleep deprived captain is going to be able to do against someone, anyone really, in his condition?” Athena is aware of her Owlet’s reputation, but even he has to rest and be in a good place to manage any of his plans and lies.

“Oh, don’t you worry, darling, I will be sure we manage to pamper you once we return home, let you get a nice few days of rest.” Pen coos at her beloved, amused when he blushes faintly, but still gives her a soft, warm grin.

“How can you two still be so sickeningly in love after so many years? I truly do not get it.” Ath rolls her eyes at her Fledgling and his wife, amused despite everything, because 20 years had not swayed either of their love, she’s certain they’ll be her Uncle and her Aunt’s favorite people once they die, given Perse’s enjoyment of talking with others, she’s almost fear for her uncle, but he’ll manage, she’s certain.

“Why are they failing so badly at their duty? Do they forget it goes both ways, that you care and protect them, so when you need it, as rare as it used to be, they must protect and care for you as well?” Penelope knows most of them spent a bit memorizing the words they used to pledge their help to her husband, but all of them were bare minimum asking for his protection and care in return for giving that back, so why aren’t they managing it?

E
Sir, since we left home, we’ve faced a variety
E raises his face and lifts his arm to just below shoulder height, hands and fingers spread as if to highlight a point, O right in front of him.
of foes from a wide range of places
Neither moves, though it is extremely clear both are being serious about this.
Gods, monsters, you know the roster
E fists one hand and starts using the finger from the other to raise fingers from it as if counting off the things they’ve faced. He straightens his hand to point all fingers from both of them at O. O has his brows drawn, taking in everything that’s said, but the circles under his eyes just make him look worn out.

Hostile creatures that we could resist,
O raises an eyebrow and looks towards the ocean as if he’s not certain that’s quite right, given the destroyed boat behind him and who just destroyed it.
But this was a hell of a twist,
E’s gaze has moved down, locked on the ground, but for all that he sounds certain there’s a look in his eyes that says he’s still not certain at what he’s saying.
Cause we are weak to a power like this!
E shifts his head and lowers his eyes, before closing them completely as he lets his head dip close to his chest, almost embarrassed but not quite.

“You’re right to make that face, the hell was I thinking? Was I hoping to call another god down on us to finish us the hell off?” Eurylochus clutches at his head, so damn confused and worried, because this appears to be an extremely dangerous opponent, but also why is his counterpart doing this?

“What the…? There’s something wrong here, but I’m not quite sure what.” Polites grimaces at the fact he can’t quite figure it out, because he just knows it might cause a problem if he can’t put his finger on it.

“I can’t even with you.” Pen chuckles, because her husband would feel a need to argue silently with his best friend even during important moments and when he’s sleep deprived.

“It was a valid point!” Ody protests his wife’s words, because they had just gotten their asses handed to them by Posei, he’s not quite sure that counts as a hostile force they can resist.

“I sincerely hope you eventually tell us what the hell has you this freaked out.” Odysseus is tense, trying to plan for something powerful and dangerous, but until he knows for certain he can’t create a successful plan.

“I really do wish you would do this quicker, we just need to know what it is, maybe who, as well as their abilities, nothing else. Though it certainly helps to know they have the men.” Penelope sighs, wondering if perhaps some of her beloved’s dramatics had rubbed off on his brother, which is why he’s telling it like this or if there’s another reason.

“I can’t believe he really thought he got away, she let him leave and definitely did not let him go without doing something, even if he’s unaware of it.” Ath sighs tiredly, carefully and calmly setting another layer of blessings on her family of mortals, because no way is she going to let them be used by another god or magical user - despite Ody’s natural resistance due to that bitch - under her watch.

“No, actually this doesn’t seem right and I don’t even know him. Why is he explaining it like this?” Tele frowns, this seems like the work of Cir, but he can’t be certain given the man doesn’t show any obvious signs of magic.

“Where on earth could you be that has an enemy that strong living there?” Athena mutters, trying to figure out how far off he was blown after the wind bag was opened twice, but she still needs more information because there are a few islands with strong enemies, depending on direction.

O
What was it?
O is still taking this all seriously and everything, trying to figure out how to solve this issue or problem.

E
A woman
E lifts his head and looks his captain straight in the eyes with a deadly serious look on his face.

O
What?
O’s face falls blank as what he just heard registers in his head, but his voice is full of exasperation, disbelief, slight amusement, and above all else, a certain amount of pure doneness with his second in command.

Odysseus registers the words and feels all his plans and actions fall apart, as confusion overcomes him, unaware of his jaw dropping open a bit, as he takes a moment to blink, before turning to Eurylochus. “Are you kidding me?”

“I don’t know!” Eurylochus exclaims in embarrassment and confusion, because what the hell is his counterpart doing? He relates to his viewing brother’s reaction more than he can even tell.

“Well, that’s certainly one way to tell him.” Ath cackles, because she had not expected the man to say it like that, but she is amused to see he had actually managed to break her Fledgling for a moment.

“He was serious?!” Pen wheezes, because she can safely say she had not quite believed her husband about this part given how Eury was before they left, but damn, he really had said it like that.

“I think I just lost all my hope in something, but I don’t even know what.” Polites monotones as he crosses his arms, staring at his brothers, wondering which of them he might need to smack, though the one they’re watching is having a fair reaction at least.

“I can’t quite believe what I just heard, but as long as she doesn’t do anything to you, we will be perfectly fine.” Penelope huffs, but she has a bad feeling about this woman, she’s uncertain why but she gets the feeling she’s bad news, especially for her sleep deprived husband.

“Was Uncle ok?” Tele asks, not innocently, but deadpan, because it had been a while since they saw a woman, yes but he is still married and there was no reason to say it like that.

Ody just laughs, because as annoying and confusing as that was at that time, as well as a bit annoying, he can appreciate that the man was likely still processing everything he’d just seen. “You’re Uncle was overwhelmed, I think.”

“A woman, who is this strong, and has you acting like that?” Athena gets a bad feeling, feathers shifting as she twitches her wings, because there are a few people that could be still, but she just knows they might’ve run into the worse one possible.

E
She had us in just two words!
E and O are both still on the ground, on their knees. The door from the palace opening more, a nicely dressed woman standing there, a smile on her face.

Circe
Come inside!
She looks happy at them, almost excited, as she opens the door fully, arms crossing behind her back, hidden behind her waist length hair.

O
Damn
O sounds amused and beyond done with his brothers, as well as if he’s already got some respect for this person.

“Don’t encourage them!” Polites protests immediately, though he can’t quite help his own quiet chuckles.

“I’m not, I’m enjoying their plight for the moment before I realize how serious it is!” Odysseus counters as he chuckles, because he can’t say this woman did anything easy on his men, he just knows it.

“She’s kind of pretty, I can see why she would try to seduce opponents as a last resort.” Pen grumbles, annoyed that the woman might try it, well aware she likely will on her husband, but she trusts him and he told her he never cheated, she believes him.

“She had better not fucking try anything.” Tele growls, body going tense because he only knows a bit about Calypso, enough so because he wanted someone who could sympathize with him since some of the suitors had been handsy with him, but he doesn’t want anyone else doing that either.

“I don’t know why you even bother trying to keep track of them.” Penelope sighs, shifting Telemachus so he is resting more comfortably on her chest, amused when he lets out a coo, gently offering a finger to him.

“What a mess they’ve managed to get themselves into.” Athena whispers in a bit of morbid horror, because if she is not mistaken, that is Circe, a witch known for disliking men and her numerous tactics to deal with them.

“Oh, they got exactly what they deserved, all things considered.” Ath trills to herself, amused and so damn happy about this, because her Fledgling is enjoying himself, something he didn’t get to do often during the trip.

“I can’t even be upset by this anymore, after everything, I can see why she would turn men into what she does. If I could, I would too, make better use of them than just killing them.” Ody hisses, because it would’ve been the perfect way to get back at the suitors using them as livestock to eat after they ate his family out of house and home.

“Tell me they were at least cautious about this. Tell me they do not just waltz right in with her.” Eurylochus almost begs, because he can’t be the only one of that group that gets a bad feeling about this woman, living in a palace in the middle of an island.

C
Welcome to the best part of your lives
The woman is still standing in the doorway, patiently waiting while the men stare at her. E looks nervous, gaze flicking between his crewmates who are already moving forward.
Go ahead and rest wherever you like
The woman pushes the second door open completely as well, as the three men start to approach, lifting her left hand, fingers curled slightly but palm face up.
I’ve got you. Don’t worry,
One of the men runs a hand along the fountain as he passes, the other two already making their way up the stairs. They enter the palace with the woman at the front, one hand cupping the nearest crewmate's elbow and the other gesturing them further inside.
Circe’s got you now.
Her smile is wide, but as she turns away from them, it becomes pointed, almost devious.

E
Only I stayed outside, the rest went in!
E is still back by the fountain, but the other three are following her, one looking over his shoulder, it almost appears as if he’s potentially talking to E, but ultimately he still remains outside.

“They really just followed her, no questions, no thought, nothing in their goddamn heads, fuck!” Eurylochus groans, because how the hell is a woman, living alone in a forest, in a palace, on an island, not extremely suspicious? She could’ve been a god’s fling being hidden for all they knew.

“They really just did not think that through at all.” Odysseus sighs this time, because as amusing as that is, he thought he’d have at least managed to teach them some forethought before rushing in.

“There was no stopping them, they were determined and hungry.” Ody responds easily to his counterparts' complaints, because the men had been taught to think for themselves just in case they ever got in trouble, but hunger had pushed that aside easily.

“If hunger can do that so easily, why the hell are you still managing to make up ones that actually let you all get alive but they can’t keep themselves safe?” Tele mutters viciously, because the crew are running his dad ragged to keep them safe and happy, without a second thought.

“I think at this point, we’re gonna have to just accept the crew are idiots and move on. I’m more concerned about what sort of protection she has to have, living where and how she is.” Penelope observes closely, trying to see anything that gives it away what her husband might be facing himself, since there’s no way he’ll leave his men.

“Oh, it’s a very strong protector, one I’m not certain how you’ll get past without godly intervention.” Athena admits easily, because he has no natural magical defense, none whatsoever, meaning he should not manage to get past her, but his future counterpart is proof he did somehow.

“Oh, there’s a god who’s more than willing to interfere more than he should for his family.” Ath throws her own counterpart a bone, not giving too many things away, since she wants to see what they think when Herm comes to help and not her.

“Yeah, he really goes overboard sometimes, but he’s great company.” Pen sighs fondly, because Herm likes to come with gifts, stories and all sorts of things, despite their attempts to tell him it’s not necessary. (That’s not even mentioning the fact he had offered to make them immortal, had given them the choice and they’re still deciding.)

“At least one of my brothers has the intelligence I know he should, damn. I’m starting to wonder how the hell they survived ten years of war.” Polites has his head buried in his hands, because if they can’t even think with a little hunger, they would’ve been killed during the war, so they had to have done something to help them keep their thoughts and not be lost to hunger, so why are they not using that now?

C
Take a seat!
Circe has led them to a dining room, a large table with at least 6 seats, silverware and cups already placed on it, as if they were either planning to eat already or were expecting guests. She has both hands palm side open, completely flat, gesturing to the table.

S
Aye!
The room is pretty and huge, vines growing on the walls, a small fountain nearby with a statue in it, a kline hidden behind pillars, some windows off to the sides.

C
Let me bring you all something to eat!
The three men sit on the same side of the table, while C moves off to the side, doing a spin and clapping her hands near a curtain which has several more girls appearing, holding baskets, drinks, plates of food.

S
Aye!
There’s a lot of food for just the number of people shown, almost as if they were expecting more people, but it’s also fresh, so it can’t have been cooked that long ago.

“They should’ve been suspicious, the table was already set.” Athena crosses her arms, hands tightening around them, because her Owlet is in danger right now and doesn’t even know it because she left him, over a simple mistake, similar to one she had made before.

“Oh boy, they’re gonna need a serious talking to, because they’re assuming it’s safe because they’re women.” Peneloep can feel a vein throb in her head, because she could’ve sworn she’d managed to get most Ithacan men out of that after she kicked their asses. (Her and Odysseus tend to tie or barely beat the other when they duel.)

“They really let the war dull their sense in that way, I have to say they sort of deserve anything they get.” Ody admits easily, resting his head on a hand, the other gently petting his son’s hair, warmth filling him as the man moves closer, though he can't blame him.

“Don’t worry, I ensured the next generation would not ever get the chance to forget.” Pen smiles widely, sharply, because she had taught any of the men who were too young to go or couldn’t go to fight as best they could, despite any disabilities or such, allowing her to both have more men who could protect her if the suitors had attacked, as well as to show them that she can kick their asses if they tried anything. (Of course, she kept several tricks up her sleeve just in case.)

“I want so badly to just wrap my hands around their throats and strangle common sense into them real quick.” Polites grumbles, because he might be open arms, but he has far less patience for those who make stupid decisions, he’s curious to see what they get for being stupid.

“There’s no way she’s completely harmless, not when she appears to be the oldest. She has to have some kind of training.” Eurylochus observes, still wondering what exactly she had done or shown that had his counterpart so damn scared, given how quickly he appears to have fled.

“I really think they might’ve been better off staying there if they were gonna be stupid about it.” Tele doesn’t see why they should’ve been rescued if they were gonna hand themselves over for all intents and purposes, beyond the fact that his dad would’ve felt bad leaving them.

“I swear, they get stupid the farther into this journey we get.” Ath sighs tiredly, wondering how the hell her Fledgling had managed to surround himself with both morons and backstabbers, despite his own loyalty and wits.

“I think we’re gonna have to do some sort of hunger training with the men, just in case, because this is not something I’ll tolerate if we don’t manage to find food anywhere else besides the cyclops.” Odysseus can’t help it, he doesn’t like people who act stupid, and he knows his men had to have been trained better, but hunger and the desire to relax after what they just suffered has them letting their guard down far too much.

C
I bet your tired from the years spent on your feet
The women move through the room, pouring the men drinks, setting the food down on the table. The men stay sitting, their arms crossed on the table as they watch.
I’ve got you. Don’t worry, Circe’s got you now
The men are talking to either themselves or the women,depending on which one you look at, one of whom sticks by C with a harsh stare, before she moves away, the woman tracking her with a grin.

E
By the time they eat, it was far too late
The men start drinking the wine and eating the food placed in front of them, digging in like they hadn’t eaten in a while, and they likely hadn’t but manners are still important.
For inside the meal
One man flashes gold, his eyes going wide in horror.

“Shit, she’s got magic.” Odysseus breathes out in horror, any amusement he might’ve felt disappearing in a cold wash of fear as he realizes she could do many things to his men with that.

“How are you supposed to combat someone who uses magic?” Tele demands incredulously, because he hadn’t thought his dad was lying, but seeing this, he gets the feeling her magic and actions are far stronger than he had said.

“Not even a God’s blessing will help you much there, you need to have an affinity for magic, a resistance to it or something only gods can handle in order to beat her.” Ath admits because she hates that none of them can help their chosen ones against magic, but it’s the way things are.

“Shit, they didn’t even check it or anything, were they expecting her to act on Xenia?” Polites groans, because technically she should, but he gets the feeling that gods don't much care what other immortal beings, or at least long living given he doesn’t know what she is yet, do for or against Xenia.

“Is she even really expected to do Xenia given she has magic and appears to be living on an island away from the gods anyways?” Penelope isn’t certain if it's because she’s been around her husband and his goddess so often, but she doesn’t sense much by way of gods anywhere nearby on the island, almost as if they’re ignoring the island.

“Yeah, she has magic and it's gonna kick our damn ass, without fail for certain if we don’t get help somehow." Ody muses, trying to give hints without revealing anything just quite yet, though he’s not quite certain yet when they should tell them, because they’ll eventually reach a point where they do have to tell them.

“She had better not touch you if she doesn’t want me to test the bounds or her lifespan.” Pen mutters darkly, gaze watching the other woman her darling had told her was helpful, despite initial misgivings, which has her wondering exactly what those misgivings were and how they got past them.

“To think she would truly use it on mortals, she really hates men.” Athena can not entirely blame the woman for acting as she does, but to do it to every man without listening to them or giving them a chance, that seems a bit much.

“We’re so screwed, my counterpart isn’t going to manage to stop you from going, not that he should, but you need to take a few men at least, just in case, as well as at least rest, eat and drink some before you go, but something tells me my counterpart’s gonna be an idiot.” Eurylochus almost wishes he had hair to fist and yank at because his counterpart is about to drive him fucking insane with the lack of loyalty, care and basic humanity he’s showing towards his brothers.

C
Think of your past,
C has a small grin on her face, standing off to the side.

E
She had cast a spell
A wine glass falling and spilling on the floor -

C
And your mistakes
-Before continuing to roll empty near the table.

E
They began to squeal
The men, one grabbing at his throat as he drops the food, another covering his mouth in horror, other hand still clutching food.

“What the hell is she doing to them?” Polites stares in horror, clutching at his arms, because that looks painful and horrifying.

“Holy shit, I see why you ran the hell away.” Odysseus huffs, because he’s not certain he would want to watch that either, not happening to people he’d known for ten years.

“Yeah, this is definitely something I was happy to not see.” Ody grumbles, a twine in his heart of sympathy and guilt towards those men even though they’ve long been dead that they had to suffer under his command.

“You are not at fault for that, they were the ones being stupid, Fledgling." Ath scolds Ody, gently smacking the back of his head with her wing, ensuring no actual harm but getting her point across.

“We are so fucked if she can turn people into animals.” Eurylochus knows damn well there are only a few animals that can squeal, but if she can do that much she can likely choose other animals as well and that terrifies him.

“I sincerely hope that we don’t have to see the complete transformation, because that will not be pretty.” Penelope grimaces at the thought alone, because she doesn’t want to see these men turn into any sort of animal, let alone the pain it must bring them.

“I don’t think we have much choice in watching.” Tele mutters, tightening his grip on his dad because he is extremely grateful the man had not gone with the search party, he’d have entered with them to try and stop them from being stupid, or stopped them from entering completely, which means Cir would’ve turned him as well and Eury would’ve left them behind almost for certain.

“I can’t say I much like the way they are reacting to this, I had thought it would at least be painless, but then again, given the way men can act, I see why she might want it to be painful, but she should at least wait for proof first.” Pen frowns because those men might be eating greedily but they were starving, they had not touched or made any moves towards her girls or herself, there was no reason to make it painful.

“I shall not be leaving you, you run into so many dangerous beings the moment I stop being there.” Athena exhales in horror, because how the hell does her mortal Owlet run into so many dangerous, potentially fatal beings, and survive without godly intervention?

C
They’ll be the last
The man drops the food from his hand as he turns to face his crewmates on the chair, the one clutching his throat has a drop of something golden drips from his mouth, but they all appear to be in pain.

E
And grow snouts and tails!
The men are still in pain, food dropped.

C
Mistakes you’ll make
C finally moves, pacing to the side from where she was, observing her nails as her eyes glow a gold color.

E
She changed them
The one clutching his throat has gold dripping from his mouth now, while the one covering his mouth starts to move, the third only just able to be seen hunched over.

“One of you try to stop her or something, there’s got to be something you can do.” Eurylochus almost begs, wondering why his counterpart is not rushing in because those are his brothers and she might have magic, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be hurt by swords.

“I truly do not know if they would be able to hurt her.” Athena does not know whether Circe coats her skin in magic to protect her from blades or if she only uses it for other things solely, so she can’t offer advice.

“I think she might’ve used it only for other things, given my own experience.” Ody mutters softly, because he had more or less been completely out of Holy by the time he had his sword to her neck, so he was no longer canceling out her magic, but she seemed scared of his sword meaning she had no defense against it.

“That seems stupid to me, to not at least have some defenses just in case against swords and the like, but hey, she has managed this far so she must be strong.” Pen can appreciate another strong woman, when she’s not trying to be a threat to her other half, despite this already happening.

“Eurylochus, we might need to work with you in battles or something, because you should’ve moved in or something, at least tried to do something, dragged them out, attacked her, left sooner to give a warning.” Polites frowns, uncertain if it was the war or the cyclops that has his brother freezing in the face of this danger.

“I have to say, seeing this it looks like they might be trying to do something, but the magic is targeting their throats first? Is it their voices or their lungs that are being affected at that point?” Penelope is curious because that also lets her know how she might need to beat the shit out of this woman if she tries that on her darling.

“It is honestly likely that even with all her strength, she does have defenses, but they are either on the palace or the girls, so she can’t spare any for her own personal ones… and she’s not had any real trouble with a man in so long she likely doesn’t think she needs any.” Ath admits as she watches Cir, because she had seen the woman, but this does not appear to be the moment she saw, making her wonder when that might be.

“How are you planning to combat her magic when you go to free them?” Tele asks because surely there’s something his dad can do, he wouldn’t just rush in to rescue them without a plan… except the man thinks about it and yeah, with how many of his crew had just been murdered in front of him, he would rush in with no plan.

“I really don’t know how I’m going to face her and live, let alone get a chance to actually talk to her without getting turned into an animal or killed.” Odysseus is trying to think of something, but with little godly blessing or intervention, he will not make it past this woman.

C
I’ve got all the power, yeah
The man grabs a knife from the plates, sliding from his chair as he keeps a hand on the table for some balance as he lands on a knee.
I’ve got all the power
The man lurches forward, determined as he thrusts the knife toward her eye, but it stops mere inches from her glowing golden eyes, a smile still on her face.
No I’m not a player, I’m a puppeteer.
Vines grow from the ground, wrapping around his further back leg, stopping his speed and thrust, continuing to wrap around his calf.
No I don’t play, I puppeteer, yeah
Another grows tall enough to grasp his arm and yanks him down, the blade tumbling from his grasp, gold starting to line his eyes and drip from his mouth.

“Shit, she can use more than one magic, damnit.” Odysseus feels his heart kick up in panic at seeing his brothers in pain, unable to defend themselves against it, part of him not feeling bad about it because they brought this on themselves, but a larger part worrying at how he’ll save them.

“She really is just puppeteering the situation for herself, huh?” Polites hums thoughtfully, curious as to why the woman is going this far, wincing at the man being pinned down by vines.

“Can’t believe I really thought nothing of it when he mentioned they started squealing, though to be fair I was so sleep deprived I really wasn’t certain he was real for a bit there, let alone the words coming from his mouth.” Ody winces and shivers at the sight of the vines pinning who was one of his men, a brother,who he truly doesn’t feel all that bad about being there because he was the one who chose to enter with no guard up, trying to ignore the feeling creeping up his legs, around his arms, around his waist - hands gently start massaging the scar on his leg, another pair clasping one of his between them, while a third gently runs through his hair.

“Is that why you were keeping touch on him? To know he was real because you could feel his warmth?” Pen asks gently, running her fingers along the back of his hand gently, tracing shapes and other things without pattern.

“Hell, I don’t care if you have to fuckin shake me, as long as you know I’m real, you can do whatever you need to. I shouldn’t be telling you any of this yet, because you should be goddamn asleep, this should be something I tell you after I fix it or you wake up.” Eurylochus groans, upset and angry with his counterpart, hopes somewhat selfishly that the man was in so much pain he really didn't feel hitting the ground.

“Things are going from bad to worse, she didn’t even have an issue with him and he was certainly not a better warrior, but much taller and stronger but physical means alone than you, Odysseus. She will not be an easy enemy.” Athena knows most people underestimate her warrior because he is short, shorter than the average man, shorter even than his wife though only barely.

“I can’t say I blame her, they were almost acting like the suitors, but they were still better than them at least, she could’ve chosen another spell, one that influences them to tell the truth, or be honest or something.” Tele thinks that immediately for her to attack seems extensive, especially since she has to have defense spells set around the palace, his fingers tracing the scar he had only known about in stories and images for years and only recently gotten the confidence to ask to start touching it whenever he wanted, something he possibly abuses.

“There were definitely other spells she could’ve gone with, that is an extremely violent and painful one to start off with.” Ath had looked up a bit more about Cir when Ody mentioned maybe going to see her again someday, or inviting her to come to Ithaca and the woman has other spells under her belt she could’ve used that were easier and much less painful. She continues to run clawed fingers along Ody’s scalp, a feeling she thought for a moment during his memories, she might not ever get to feel again, after seeing her King strike at him with lightning. (Her scars twinge at the thought.)

“You are going to face her, that I don’t doubt, but you make damn sure to be really careful.” Penelope knows it might be pointless to tell her darling that, considering this is over ten years in the future, but she still needs to say it, to let him know she would be there with him if she could, that she wants him home, no matter what.

E
They transformed,
The one man, finally having enough of the pain, starts to tip back in his chair, gold almost pouring from his mouth.

C
This is the price
The man and his chair hit the ground, his eyes almost completely gold, as is his mouth, lines flowing down his body, and though he doesn’t appear to scream, pain can be read in his entire body.

E
And it wasn’t quick
The gold continues to flow down.

C
We pay to live
C is standing by the curtains, gaze certain and knowing, as the man continues to shift, his back hunched over, glowing.

“What the hell?” Athena breathes because she knows of few spells that can do that kind of pain, even transformation ones, but this seems to be dragging the process out, almost.

“Damn, she really holds a grudge, doesn't she?” Tele winces, because he just knows despite his dad knowing little about the woman, that she has to have had something happen that would make this her first reaction to guests.

“I can maybe get why she chose that as her first reaction, but still, to make it painful simply because she has a grudge against men or guests? That’s cruel.” Pen frowns because Cir is someone they plan to have visit soon and she might have to ask her some things about her past or rules around her palace to get more information.

“I don’t know if I want you to face her anymore, I don’t want you to abandon the men, but I don’t know if we can do anything against her either.” Eurylocus hisses, hands fisting, because those are brothers, but they can’t really stand against magic, especially since she seems to have good control of it.

“I’m not certain anything your counterpart says will stop me, not when I’m as guilty and sleep deprived as I am.” Odysseus grimaces, trying to desperately not imagine how painful that must be, but doesn't doubt he might soon know if he’s not smart about this.

“She was not doing anything wrong, given she is not forced to comply by Xenia, the gods don’t much care for her island.” Ath shifts as her scars itch and get annoying, planning to take her helmet off once they get a break or moment of time just to let them breathe.

“Can’t really say I like that she made it more painful, but at least she has the means to change them back and she seems like you can at least talk to her about it.” Ody just knows Cir is better than that bitch, not in some of her actions, but she could at least be reasoned with, unlike that plant asshole.

“I hope someone goes with you or at least helps, because there is no way you are in any state to actually do anything alone as you are.” Penelope just knows he’s moments from collapsing, had seen him in similar stares - though not this bad - after working hard to get through his duties.

“Yeah, especially since there’s no way you aren’t still sore, bruised and injured from the run in with Poseidon.” Polites groans, wants to strangle his brothers for their lack of care towards themselves, despite their willingness to give all of their soul and everything to help others.

E
She turned our men
His back glows brighter, bones shown clearly as they shift under his skin.

C
The world does not
The man still pinned by the wines, eyes glowing gold and dripping gold, the gold traveling up his shoulder.

E
From men to pigs
The man closes his golden eye.

C
Tend to forgive
Which has the glow increasing, until the eye opens, completely black and the skin around it pink.

“Why pigs though? Cows or sheep would’ve been useful as well, cows more meat and sheep for their wool.” Penelope frowns, curious as to why pigs were what the woman had chosen to turn their men into.

“Pigs? They weren’t going to eat them were they?” Tele demands horrified because he thinks he saw a pig among the things the girls had carried into the room, there’s no way they were eating people, right?

“No, I’m pretty sure they didn’t eat the pigs they turned, though I can’t say for certain.” Ody admits because he hadn’t seen much of the island, so he doesn't know if there were natural animals for them to eat or not.

“I sincerely think pigs make sense for her, from what little I know.” Athena grimaces because there’s no need to turn them into animals, much less pigs in such a painful spell, but the woman does not follow their rules since most had forsaken her, so nothing to be done about it except avoid her.

“I really think avoiding her is something that would be extremely important.” Polites mutters, unable to help his pale face or the way he gently reaches out to grab his brothers, wanting to know they’re fine despite knowing they haven’t been hurt at all since this started.

“I don’t like the way she is moving.” Pen frowns, trying to watch closely because that’ll tell her how much experience the woman has with attacking outside of her magic, but something in her gut says Cir relies mostly on her magic, so without it her darling stands a chance.

“It’s a clear sign she has no formal training in her magic or fighting, but she can use one while the other she has no ideas about, at least not enough to do much without the first.” Ath knows that Cir might’ve known how to fight once upon a time, but without up keep even a champion can lose their skill.

“Holy shit, you were right to run away, I don’t think there was anything you could’ve done if she put that in the food.” Odysseus breathes out, taking Polites hand without hesitation, wanting desperately to know they are well and alive near him, at his sides.

“I am starting to get why my counterpart ran, but he didn’t even try anything, didn’t try to negotiate, to stop, to do anything.” Eurylochus is a bit upset, because he might not have a silver tongue like Odysseus, but he knows what he’s doing well enough so why hadn’t he tried to talk them out of it enough for him to get their king and brother there another day to help out?

E
She changed them
Gold is still dripping from its eye.

C
I’ve got all the power, yeah
C’s eyes still glow gold as she finally moves, heading towards the pigs.
I’ve got all the power
Three of them on the ground, gold still leaking from their eyes.
No, I'm not a player, I’m a puppeteer
She stops, her golden gaze shifting to look to the side, locked onto something.
No, I don’t play, I puppeteer, yeah
E is standing in the doorway, looking terrified at what he had just seen.

“Leave before she decides to do something to you as well, Eury.” Polites panics because the woman had just turned three of the men to pigs with no real effort, he doesn’t want to know if she needed the foot as a catalyst or chose it because she had planning time.

“Leaving was the best thing he did at that point, though I have a feeling she let him leave.” Ody says, more an observation than anything from his own run in with the woman, because she uses fear to get men to leave her island and girls alone.

“I could see that, who wants to face a woman who wields magic in such a way?” Pen muses, grinning widely at the thought of what she might manage to get across to the woman when she visits.

“Leaving is wise, but I don’t doubt she already knows where you are as well as how many there are, so maybe move.” Athena cautions because Circe had clearly expected them, with her food prepared and everything.

“Damnit, getting the men to move for any reason after they settle down is going to be hard as hell, though I sincerely hope they developed some habits from war that makes it easier.” Eurylochus has known some of these men for a while and they are hard as hell to wake up in the mornings, nevermind after such stressful events.

“She was really making a point with everything.” Tele chuckles, because he can appreciate someone who makes a bit of a show, moving with purpose to entertain or frighten or whatever, of something.

“I swear, how did I end up with you as the ones I chose to be my Warriors of the Mind?” Ath teases as she ruffles Tele’s hair as she gently tugs at Ody’s, amused at the almost identical, indignant, amused sounds she gets from both of them.

“I think you might need to leave them. You have nothing to fight her, but I am more than aware you’re going to at least try, especially after losing so many, so promise me that if this ever happens that you are careful.” Penelope tucks her husband closer to her, grateful to him for just following her actions, tucking Telemachus into his own chest as he shifts to get comfortable, gently soothing her with his warmth.

“I promise, but if we’re being honest, if I end up at her island, we probably fucked something up we didn’t mean to.” Odysseus just knows that means they definitely messed up in changing this future if they end up there, assuming they don’t just have really bad luck.

O
We have to go save them
O rises to his feet and turns, already making plans and thinking this through somewhat.

E
No, we don’t!
He hasn’t made it very far when E grabs his wrist, almost yanks him really.
Look at all we’ve lost, and all we’ve learned
O turns back, looking startled and bothered. E looks desperate, his gaze locked on his brothers, before it falls to the ground, the desperation fading to sadness.
Every single cost is so much more than what we’ve earned
He lets O’s wrist go, hand falling to his side, where his fingers curl into the sand and drag some of it up. He knows exactly what he’s saying, he looks sad but not uncertain.

“Eurylochus, what?” Polites can’t believe what he’s hearing, because those are their brothers, their friends, and even if they weren’t they’re still Odysseus’ people, he is their King, he can’t just leave them without trying. (It doesn’t help that he naturally just wants them all to get home and always wants to help.)

“No, we have to at least try, especially because of all we’ve lost recently.” Odysseus counters without much thought, surprised and a tad bit upset his brother had even thought of giving up on those men.

“Besides, I can’t even say we would’ve been able to leave without some sort of permission or something, given Cir and her magic.” Ody admits it doesn’t make much sense, but he isn’t certain whether Cir had set a barrier of any sort preventing people from leaving before a certain event takes place or not, but he wouldn’t put it past her.

“Yeah, trying to leave while she is aware of exactly where you are might prove to be a bit rough anyway, given she knew you were coming, so she has to have eyes on you.” Ath can’t even imagine how rough that must’ve been, because feeling eyes watching you just to see an animal or tree instead would make her paranoid if she didn’t know who was there.

“He’s the King. He can’t not try to rescue them, nevermind that those are likely his friends, as well as yours. Why are you choosing to lose more after you just lost over 500 to Poseidon?” Penelope demands of Eurylochus, unable to understand where he’s coming from.

“I mean, I get why he thinks that, sort of, but that’s still not the solution for this.” Eurylochus heaves a tired, annoyed sigh because his counterpart is making him realize he really didn’t know himself as well as he thought he did.

“I can’t blame him much, though I certainly don’t agree with him either.” Tele knows he had certainly retreated with others distraction a few times while the suitors were at the palace, but those were willing and understood what they were doing, unlike those men.

“That’s not a great idea either. If you leave without those men, what are the rest going to think? They’ll assume it was Ody’s idea because he makes the final choice, and given everything, something tells me Eury wouldn’t have told them otherwise.” Pen hums, but there’s an edge to it that has them all wincing because none of them can really argue with that at all.

“How the hell did you mortals manage to make everything so complicated?” Athena bemoans because her Owlet has managed to make her feel something she never thought she would for another, for his family as well, and it amuses her how he managed that, at the same time it bothers her the slightest bit.

Think about the men that we have left before there none.
E rises to his feet, while O seems surprised still by what he’s hearing, but that sentence seems to hit him hard as he lowers his gaze to the side and down.
Let’s just cut our losses,
E looks like he’s begging almost, pleading, while O is serious, worn down and weary.
You and I and let’s run
E raises a fist in front of his chest, before lowering it as he shifts it to an open palm, offering this solution and showing there will be no hard feelings for accepting it.

O
Of course I’d like to leave now
O turns as he admits it, facing the forest.
Of course I’d like to run
He shifts again, his side now shown, his gaze looking tormented and tortured by the very thought of it but still accepting it.
But I can hardly sleep now
He turns again, almost deflating as he does so, seeming to lose some of his energy.

“You need sleep so bad it’d be funny any other time but now it’s just sad.” Athena mutters, running her clawed fingers through his hair, angry that he hasn’t gotten his rest and likely won’t for a while.

“At least tell me you stayed and rested for a bit here?” Pen demands because she honestly doesn’t recall her husband saying anything about them resting the night there at all, nevermind getting any sort of rest.

“You definitely need sleep, you’re running on all sorts of fumes. Also, Uncle Eury, I love you, but while you might not have hard feelings about him accepting that plan, the rest of the crew probably would have." Tele mutters, unable to help himself, not caring if the past version hears him because he’s telling the truth, maybe that’ll have the man rethink this plan.

“Why the hell would you even offer that as a plan? You know he won’t take it and even if he did, the rest of the crew would eventually mutiny for leaving those men behind.” Polites can’t believe the words that just came from Eurylochus’ mouth, they break his heart almost as much as Odysseus’ do.

“I certainly can say I certainly wouldn’t leave them, not as I am now, and while the war seems to have worn me down and made me different in others ways, that doesn't appear to be one of them.” Odysseus shakes his head, it would be a valid plan if there weren’t so many risks, plus his heart would never forgive him for doing it.

“You got into so many messes after I left, Fledgling.” Ath gently tugs his hair, to let him know there are no hard feelings - sometimes they both need the reminder - between them when it looks like he might apologize, before going back to petting him.

“I genuinely think that there was never going to be any avoiding this, however much I would’ve preferred to.” Ody knows that he did nothing to deserve 20 years away from his family, is well aware of that, but apparently the Fates thought he needed to prove himself or something.

“I am officially giving up on my counterpart, now he’s not only disowned, I don’t fucking care if he regrets any of this later, it’s unforgivable and I reserve the right to beat his ass if I ever see him.” Eurylochus has his head in his hands, staring dead eyed at the bed under him for a moment, before he pulls himself together and levels a furious glare at his counterpart.

“You’ll have to get in line or not mind if someone is at your side because quite frankly, I wanna kick his ass too. That is not a plan, and he knows damn well Odysseus is in no shape to be making plans, nevermind potentially facing a threat.” Penelope hisses, gaze hard as she grips her beloved closer, he is precious to her but apparently only to her and their son, given how everyone seems to be treating him. (Athena gets a pass for the moment, since her future self seems to have made amends, but it’s still on the edge.)

Knowing everything we’ve done
His gaze gets narrower, the bags under his eyes almost appearing darker.
There’s no length I wouldn’t go
E is further back, hand still held up, while O is staring forward, being honest and determined.
If it was you I had to save
O lowers his head the slightest bit, while E lets his hand lower and then drop to a fist as his side, his own head lowering.
I can only hope
E is looking down, a look in his eyes that seems to say something, but what exactly is unclear.
You’d do the same
E’s brows draw in, his gaze still down and his head turned, almost as if he's turning on his captain.

“You had better fucking say obviously, or Imma fucking invade the future to beat some ass.” Eurylochus growls, because that is his brother saying there’s next to nothing he wouldn’t do to get him home, he had better fucking repay that the way it deserves.

“He really just doesn’t seem to care anymore, somehow. Has he already lost hope?” Tele tilts his head, trying to read an uncle he’s never known, and is honestly not sure how he feels about it, given his past self and his reactions to everything.

“I sincerely need to know why he thought this was the time to turn his gaze and head away, he couldn’t have made it clearer he’s feeling guilty or ashamed of something.” Ath pins Eury on the screen with a look she hopes he feels in the Underworld wherever he is.

I’m honestly hoping I’m wrong on this but it makes sense and his actions aren’t helping him.” Penelope grumbles, because everything she knows says that Eurylochus was likely the one to open the bag that sent them to this island.

“I really want to know why you won’t look me in the eye for most of this. Is this about whatever you were trying to tell me earlier?” Odysseus murmurs, well aware his on screen counterpart likely already had an idea of what the man was going to say, but he’s really hoping he’s not right on what he thinks it is.

“You were so tired you missed every sign, huh?” Pen hums soothingly, unable to really feel like her husband had any sort of advantage here when his men had let him get weak enough anyone could beat him with no effort.

“I was ignoring the signs honestly, I knew if he sad anything we were going to fight and that would’ve split the crew, but they were all I had left beyond getting home at that point, so I refused to let him break something I was still clinging to.” Ody knows he should’ve let the man speak then, told the truth, asked Cir to help them find another way home or something while he left with whoever stood by him, but he was still reeling from losing 500 men and his other support, he wanted to believe the best of his brother.

“I think this might be the one time I didn’t know either of you so well, because you’re both avoiding each other, just in different ways.” Polites sighs heavily, well aware why that might be for both, but surely things hadn’t already drifted that far, right?

“He is definitely hiding something, but you are so impaired you stand no chance at finding out what, especially since he makes sure you’re not looking at him when he gives clues about it.” Athena narrows her eyes, wondering what on earth this man could’ve done to her Owlet that her future counterpart still hasn’t forgiven.

E
I can hear her still…
He noticeably doesn’t respond to that, lifting his head and moving closer.

C
No one will find
C in a different part of the palace, a snake on her shoulder.

E And her voice deceives
A door slamming open as the pigs flee.

C
Their way between
The legs of several people, likely C and the women, are still by the door.

“I ignored it?!” Eurylochus doesn’t even know what to say to that, because his brother had just admitted he would do pretty much anything beyond give up his own family to save him from anything, and he was going to ignore that declaration?

“Oh, things must be worse than we thought." Pen winces because for the man to ignore that means he was already doubting her husband so much he was only helping because it meant the men were getting home.

“He’s kind of a dick. Wonder what happened?” Tele knows from his Uncle’s reactions here that the man didn’t think he was capable of this, which means likely something in the war broke some part of him, but when and how?

“Goody, things are falling apart so quickly.” Polites grimaces because the woman appears to have animal companions, which means there’s more danger than even Eurylochus is aware of.

“You are going to need a plan, but I don’t trust any one you come up with, given how tired you are.” Athena clicks her claws together, unable to help herself, something she had picked up from Odysseus at some point likely, given how he drums his fingers are something depending on his mood.

“At least we know for certain he was already this far gone long before I was aware, I just didn’t have the time to deal with him.” Between his duties to the remaining 43 men, trying to get them home safe, and catching up on everything he had missed - sleep, food, water - things had been pushed aside that Ody had never meant to not talk about.

“I am extremely grateful to Herm for what he did, though it’s not surprising given you are his grandson. He’s always cared for his mortal family well when he knows of them.” Ath had not understood her brother on things like that before, not until she had let Ody and his family get through and she thinks she understands now why Herm lets himself get so close to and love his mortal family, despite knowing they will die quickly in comparison to a god’s lifespan.

“He really ignored that and moved on like it was nothing…” Odysseus feels part of his heart break because his brother had ignored a heartfelt, honest moment where he had let the man know that as long as his family and his chances of seeing them were not impeded, he’d do everything to save him if he got in trouble.

“It’s his own fault, not on you at all, darling. I swear, he is nothing but trouble, but even our Eurylochus knows better. This hasn’t happened yet, trust your brother and his will to change.” Penelope coos to her husband, gently shifting in order to nudge Telemachus to get him to distract her other half for a moment from his thoughts so they would stop turning dark.

E
What if she can’t be killed?
C and several of the girls, though C still has glowing eyes and watches with disdain, while the women just appears relieved.

C
My nymphs and I
Two of the women move forward, grasping at the handles of the doors.

E
Will you choose to leave?
C’s eyes still glow.

C
Their loving queen
There is disdain and disgust on her face as she turns away.

“Oh? They’re nymphs? That should be able to feel my claim on you then.” Penelope growls, because if even one of them touches her husband or makes a move, she might tear their throats out. With her teeth.

“They really don’t like men, huh?” Pen is honestly amazed at how much hate and disgust can fit in Cir’s eyes, especially since her nymphs just look relieved to no longer have company.

“I so want to know exactly what happened to have her go straight for pigs, but I also don’t know if I wanna know.” Tele grimaces because for a woman with that kind of power to choose to turn men into pigs, they must’ve really pushed her, broke something in her for that to happen.

“You really messed up by not having better control of your men.” Athena knows exactly how much control and obedience the men should have to their Captain and Second in Command, given the two work to keep them alive, so for the men to ignore Eurylochus and go in anyways, it’s a mess.

“I swear to god, they would deserve it if that wasn’t a painful transformation.” Polites throws his hands up, because some part of him says the woman is not entirely in the wrong, especially since he’s seen how some men act towards women, but still.

“We truly did not think that through at all. Should’ve sent different men with him, if we’re being honest." Ody is well aware the men he sent had been a bit antsy and weren’t the best at listening, but he thought they’d gotten better during the war.

“She goes much too far, but can’t really blame her. Also, I’m certain there is a way to kill her, though I’m not entirely certain how immortal she is or isn’t given her magic.” Ath has met the woman a few times since then, to try and gauge her, as well as thank her for helping her friend, but still isn’t quite certain.

“God, I should know stopping you isn’t going to work and be working to come up with a plan with you, stop talking and shut up, just fucking help him out.” Eurylochus is soul tired of his counterpart, wonders briefly if the man might be able to be extracted from him so he can beat the shit out of him for failing to be the friend his brother needs.

“I’m honestly extremely concerned about why you’re like this. You almost never act like this, you know me, you would try to temper me or make a plan that keeps me safe, not outright try to stop me.” Odysseus is aware he can be a pain to work with sometimes, but plans have to be dangerous on occasion to work, and his friends have more than learned how to work with him.

O
I don’t know
The doors slam closed.

C
I’ve got all the power, yeah
The girls move freely about the palace now, one petting a cat with her feet resting in the fountain, another gathering the dishes, while C leans against a pillar with a glass of wine. A wolf approaches.
I’ve got all the power
C is watching the girls, as the wolf tilts its head up at her.
No,I’m not a player I’m a puppeteer
She looks down as the wolf leans against her leg, a snake slithering down the pillar she leans on. Her eyes still glow and she grins.
No, I don’t play, I puppeteer, yeah
She lifts her gaze as the snake’s head appears over her shoulder, looking at it fondly.

“She can control animals as well, she has excellent control of her magic. A plan is a must before facing her.” Athena knows that might seem extreme, but magic is not something you mess with lightly.

“Like you would ever leave even if the enemy can’t be killed, you’re just gonna end up talking to her at that point to try and free your men.” Tele scoffs at the very thought, his dad only runs if the fight is not something they can win, that they stand no chance against, otherwise he always tries.

“I’m starting to realize how lucky I was.” Ody knew she could control animals and had magic, but while she didn’t go easy on him, the Holy must’ve really thrown off her magic for him to win the way he had.

“Truly, she has some dangerous things in the palace with them.” Penelope watches, wonders if maybe she can find a way to train something like that for protection, and for fun, because a wolf or a shark for company would be great.

“I’m a bit more concerned on what that means for me, since I appear to be going in alone.” Odysseus winces because he and Eurylochus only know a bit of what she can do and he’s so sleep deprived he’s honestly amazed he’s still standing, nevermind planning anything. Telemachus shifts in his arms, grabbing a section of his hair and tugging, which has him biting back a small yelp, instead shifting to get a hand free to gently remove his hair from the fist, offering a finger instead.

“She had better not touch a hair on you with those animals.” Pen can’t help the snarl in her voice, after all nymphs are known for being possessive, especially ocean ones and that is her damn husband, even if this has already happened, she can more than hold a grudge.

“I am more than willing to help if you need it.” Ath offers Pen, because she had only caught a glimpse but something in her says that Cir is going to deserve anything the Queen does to her, without question.

“Why the hell am I not at least trying to help the way I should be? I’m currently hindering you if anything.” Eurylochus groans and just knows he’s changing himself if nothing else, because like hell will he become someone his brother will have to work around and against.

“Somehow, you two need to make up and work together or things are going to fall apart more.” Polites is trying to figure out how they might make that happen given the trouble that will follow them at sea, but they also have no choice but to travel by sea.

E
She’s a clever witch
E has a hand raised by his torso, palm flat as if trying to get O to accept the idea without forcing him to.

C
This is the price
C is moving towards the doorway, leaving the palace, the wolf at her side.

E
And she’s hard to slay
She grazes a pillar with her hand as she passes it by.

C
We pay to live
The vines on the pillar proceed to start growing rapidly, likely on purpose.

“The wolf seems to be the only thing you’ll have to worry about for the moment, at least.” Penelope sighs, because who knows how many animals, poisonous ones at that, she could control in the forest.

“The wolf was the least of my problems.” Ody mutters, because the creature had truly not caused him any problems, had been pretty chill after everything.

“So that isn’t something you had to face?” Tele tilts his head, because he could see his dad easily taking the wolf down, but now he’s curious because he’d thought that was what his dad faced, but if not that what?

“I wonder how in tune with her the animals are.” Athena muses with interest, watching the vines grow at a touch and the wolf follow her without command, speaking to a close bond via her magic.

“I feel like there are very few islands that we could’ve landed on that would be worse than this one, which means we just have terrible luck because there are probably better ones nearby we just can’t reach them cause the boat’s fucked.” Odysseus groans, that would honestly be just his luck after everything.

“I still think this is part of something larger, though why you had to be part of it, I don't know.” Pen is not impressed by the Fates for having her husband gone from home so long, and plans to either have a long talk with them or just beat their asses, whichever works better.

“I am truly grateful to Herm, with his help, things went much better than they would’ve.” Ath watches with worry, because this is a strong magic user, their Cir even more so that the one on screen.

“I didn’t see any of those things, she was waiting, hid everything she didn’t want known, we need to have never interacted with her, not without a gift or something.” Eurylochus wishes desperately that his counterpart had thought to stop the men from entering an unknown palace without their king and captain.

“Seems we’re gonna have to have a very long talk with them about what we expect from them.” Polites says with a wide grin, but there’s a slightly malicious tint to it, because he will let many a thing go, forgive it, but choosing to put themselves in danger because they’re stupid, or endangering Odysseus and Eurylochus because they didn’t think, is one of the few things that will get him to be harsher.

E
Its a game of wits
E runs up to O, whose gaze is located down before he glances at his brother.

C
We draw the line…
O sheathes a sword at his hip.

E
But you don’t have to play
O reaches out to his side and grasps something.

C
…watch from above
He whips his cape around himself and then latches it.

“You aren’t getting through to him at this point, it’s clear, offer him help instead or else he’s just going to go alone.” Polites suggests because there’s a chance he might not accept, feeling guilty for getting the 500 men killed - which he didn’t - but he’ll still blame himself.

“I don’t know if I’d be willing to take backup at that point, not after all the men we lost.” Ody shudders at the thought of having lost any more at that point in time, he isn’t sure he’d have been able to keep going.

“I don’t know how you kept going without support, dear.” Pen sighs in his ear, gently curling her fingers between his, always amazed at how they still fit together after all these years.

“I can’t even blame Odysseus for being stupid on this, he hasn’t had sleep, and my counterpart is dropping the ball so hard I think it broke the floor and went to a whole other floor.” Eurylochus runs his hands down his face, wondering how he could let it get this far.

“Things had better change or worse will happen for certain.” Athena has seen far smaller things break apart long time crews and lovers, if they do not work on this then the crew will shatter at the seams.

“You had better be careful, I'm not certain how much the sword will do, but don’t get hurt.” Tele warns his dad, though it’s really more of a threat kind of, but he just wants his dad to be okay for the moment, to be alright.

“He’s certainly trying his hardest kiddo, but there’s only so much he can do alone.” Ath assures the boy, gently ruffling his hair with a hand, amused when he squawks indignantly.

“You sound just like Odysseus when you do that. Also, dear, you had better think this through.” Penelope watches in love and hope at their future son sounding like his dad, though she also notes that it looks like the cloak she had given her husband as he was leaving, had he not changed it in years?

“I’m not certain how careful I can be with this, never mind what plan my sleep deprived self will come up with.” Odysseus admits, a bit nervous because there’s few things he can do when weakened like that and taking on a Queen of nymphs is not one of those things.

O
I have to try!
O turns to E, sounding frustrated and serious, gaze looking just as so.

C
I’ve got all the power, yeah
C is moving through the woods.
I’ve got all the power
She comes out on a grassy ledge. The boat is seen further away and below.
No, I’m not a player, I’m a puppeteer
The shoreline is long and curves, the faint shapes of the man and their camp able to be seen as well.
No I don’t play, I puppeteer, yeah
C stops near the edge, looking down on them with golden eyes, as the wolf watches with a narrow gaze, looking ready to pounce at any given moment at whoever it must.

“Well shit, this just keeps getting worse. She knows where everyone is if we don’t manage to convince her to return the men or if she decides to use hostages.” Odysseus runs his hand through his hair, careful to keep Telemachus close with the other one, glad this is being shown the way it is so he can make plans and thoughts before they ever run into these beings.

“Honestly, I’m still more surprised at the wolf just following her, it had better not be some sort of dig at dad.” Tele narrows his eyes, well aware that his dad had been compared to a wolf often, so to see one of the actual creatures following willingly behind Cir, that had better not mean his dad gets enchanted or anything.

“Holy shit, she’s going to have so much to answer for she won’t know what hit her.” Pen promises, a wide grin on her face that shows just a bit too much teeth and anger in her eyes. That is her husband, who she waited 20 long years for, and who was stuck with that annoying ass bitch for far too long, if Cir crossed any lines she’ll be making moves with her spear.

“She knew exactly where we were to begin with. Does she have some kind of connection to the forest as well, maybe?” Eurylochus frets because they really can not afford to have any of the men used as hostages against their brother and king.

“She might, if she has lived on that island long enough, given she grew those vines with a touch, it wouldn't surprise me if she is connected to the forest as well.” Athena doesn’t like that because it means that Circe would be able to mess with Owlet’s mind before he even reaches her palace, especially with him so tired.

“I don’t think she did anything while I was in the forest, though given Herm showed up pretty quickly it could be his presence overpowered her magic." Ody had felt watched in the forest, he won’t lie, but he can not say for certain whether it was all Herm or if it started as the forest - and thus Cir - and changed to Herm or not.

“For all that he can be annoying, I’m really glad he decided to let himself get close to you once he knew, he would’ve regretted it otherwise.” Ath is secretly glad to know her brother so well again as well, with how busy he is it's hard to get time with him usually.

“I really don’t like her.” Polites declares, because he has a problem with how she chooses to deal with people coming onto her island, if she doesn’t want company she needs to use her magic to direct them away, and if they truly are eating the pigs turned men, then that just means they need to find a way to trade with nearby islands.

“If she makes even one wrong move, she’s gonna find out that immortality either has a limit, or my anger will make her wish it did.” Penelope snarls, practically smothering herself to her husband, gently pulling his head for a kiss - ignoring the squeak from beside them - before burying herself so thoroughly into his shoulder only her angry eyes can be seen.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

Before the screen can start or do anything, there’s a harsh shake, everyone bracing themselves, both goddess’ spreading their wings in order to block any debris or items that might fall just in case, only to blink as a figure calmly glides into view, wings fluttering, before with a cackle, he wraps Ody, Pen and Tele in a hug, catching Ath as well when she closes her wings, pulling them close.

Odysseus and the rest move away a bit, avoiding the wings and flailing limbs as they’re caught in a sudden embrace, looking amused and confused because his senses tell him that’s another god, but who is it?

“Darling, this is where you’ve been? When I lost track of you, all of you at once, I got worried, had to scour everywhere and you’re hidden so well it took me ages to get here.” Herm pouts as he sits back, checking over his family discreetly, before glancing at the others, blinking at seeing what has to be his family, only several years younger with 2 men who are dead.

“Yes, we’ve gotten into a bit of a circumstance, Herm.” Ath says fondly as she straightens some of her feathers.

“They’ve from the past, Herm, and some being wanted to show them the future.’ Tele lowers his voice just a bit, enough for the god to catch what he says next but not let the past people aware he said anything. ‘And show us anything Dad left out of his explanation.”

“Alright, then. I’ll happily join in, no worries!” Herm exclaims, shifting gently, moving to sit on the backboard, feet dangling near his family but not currently wanting to be smothered in bodies and warmth, maybe in a bit but not at the moment, no thank you.

Odysseus walking through the forest, sword at his hip. He has an arm resting on the hilt, hand on the very end, ready to pull it out for any motion. His hair is pulled up into a bun.
H
(giggle.) (giggle.) (giggle.)
O looks up and around as a second giggle rings out, likely at least somewhat aware of the figure standing on a branch high up behind him, but not exact location.The figure has their hand resting on the branch, and then throws their leg over as well, revealing tiny wings at the heels.
I must say… what a brilliant speech you gave
His arms are crossed over his chest, sharp teeth in his mouth, curly hair, a helmet with wings either peering through gaps or under its placement. He places the second knuckle of his ring finger under his chin, the rest of his fingers curling. O is looking backwards, not turned, simply looking towards the voice. His gaze narrows at the damning statement that says this being has been watching him a while.

“Oh my god, I thought you were exaggerating." Pen slumps so her head rests against her husband’s neck, enjoying the full hearted laugh that brings out of him, even if she’s being honest.

“No, is that who I think it is?” Athena seems torn between amused and horrified at which god this might be coming to her students' aid.

“I mean, he literally just joined us, so I guess that makes sense, but why on earth is he helping?” Polites tilts his head, peeking at Hermes, trying to get a hint or anything that might tell him why the god is deciding to help.

“Oh, so I popped in right on time then.” Herm giggles to himself, unable to help it, because he really had enjoyed meeting his grandson the first time, at least after the war given he’d interacted with the boy a few times through his childhood.

“Yes, you really did.” Ody grins, gently petting the feathers on the ankle wing closest to him, a deeper meaning in his words that only the future family gets, which has them tensing minutely, a bit more worried now.

“I can’t believe it. Another god?” Penelope had thought interactions with gods to be rare things, so why is her husband running into so many of them? And they seem to largely be not good interactions either.

“This is not the time for me to be getting the anger or attention of another god.” Odysseus winces at even the thought, given what Poseidon had just done to his fleet, but he also can’t afford to ignore the god either. He shifts a bit, getting comfortable as he lets Telemachus sprawl on his chest, to give his arms some rest, and just in case the viewing gets a bit more graphic.

“I almost can’t believe that I am saying this, but it will never be enough : thank you, Herm, for being there. I was not a good mentor and you had to cover for me, chose to even, and I’m grateful for that. It gave me the time to make up with him.” Ath runs her fingers through Herm’s feathers, careful to not pull any of them as she does so, amused when they twitch under her touch.

“I can’t wait for this.” Tele breathes, because he’s seen how his dad and the god interact now, he can only imagine what the first meeting must’ve been like.

“I swear to the gods, my counterpart was useless. I sent you into a situation on no sleep, no food, little water, no backup, nothing, and now there’s a god, damnit. You had better not die.” Eurylochus shifts closer to his family, because while his counterparts' actions are starting to make him think he doesn’t deserve them, he’s also well aware that he and his counterpart are no longer the same person, so he refuses to let the man’s actions reflect poorly on him.

O
Who goes there?
He turns, sounding curious and wary, a single brow raised.

H
Just a friend…
The figure from before, slumped over a branch, an arm casually hanging off the branch, the other curled under his head.
Who can help you save your men
Two fingers being walked along a branch.
A foe like Circe’s not to be messed with
O is still looking around suspiciously, but misses the shadow with a smile that passes behind some trees behind him. He turns as it disappears behind another tree.

You want to beat her? You’ll need the blessing of a certain god…
The figure has their hand open in front of them, palm up, as they continue to move, passing trees and fog. A glimpse up as if the helmet and wings should identify this god.
Divine intervention
O looking over his shoulder.
Someone who’s not afraid… to send a message
He turns to face in front of him, where there is a ram, horns curling. O shifts, running into the figure who towers over him from behind, looking startled. He glances up, to see the beings eyes are covered by shadows, a wide grin with those pointed teeth.

“I hope things get at least a little bit better now that he's there.” Pen gently runs his fingers along her other half’s shoulder, which also lets her ruffle her sons’ hair the slightest bit, two for one in her mind.

“Holy shit.” Polites exhales sharply, always forgetting that the gods can and are technically eldritch abominations, they just choose a human form because that gets them the most worship.

“I can’t even believe the nonsense you manage to get yourself into.” Tele shakes his head, though he is grateful to Herm for helping his dad, still, to run into so many gods and dangerous beings?

“I always told you you had the worst luck.” Penelope crows to her husband, who groans at her getting them over him as they always knew she would eventually, in order to hide her own worry at what might happen yet.

“This was a mistake, I forgot some of what happened here, oh no.” Ody whispers in horrified amusement, because his lack of sleep - and what he is later told was his hours-long nap, since Herm had put him to sleep the moment he touched him, after coaxing his exhausted self to drink the Moly - had blotted out parts of this.

“I sincerely hope you can help him where I would not.” Athena looks pained at the very words, but her future counterpart, looks extremely approving, because she had not been willing to reach out to him at the time, which could’ve easily led to his death.

“I was more than happy to, after all, he’s family. Besides, any reason to stick it to Cir, I take because why not?” Herm giggles, because he loves to mess with her, especially since she never gives him a boring reaction.

“At least someone is helping.” Eurylochus is angry, in a way he can’t put into words, because this is a god, one who has nothing to do with them or their journey - or maybe not completely, given he’s apparently related to Odysseus somehow? - offering to help his brother when his own counterpart would not.

“I can’t even say I’m surprised you decided to mess with him like this instead of just greeting him normally.” Ath sighs tiredly, well aware of her brother’s tricksters nature and how much of it her students got.

“Wait, why is Hermes there? Did we draw his attention or something?” Odysseus is suddenly more wary, because gods don't just appear to help for no real reason, especially not for him.

O
Hermes?
O’s look of shock quickly turns to happiness and relief, a grin on his face as he relaxes slightly.

H laughs
Hermes has his left leg bent at the knee, arms crossed behind his back as he giggles. He raises a hand and snaps his finger, bringing a spotlight down on him.
Wouldn’t you like a taste of the power?
O has his arms crossed and looks entirely unamused or impressed, while H dances while pretending to lean on something to his left, then slides and jumps into the air on his right, the man following him with his body and eyes.
Wouldn’t you like to use more than words?
O seems confused as he looks at H, who covers his entire lower face with a hand, causing the man to close his left eye out of instinct.
Deep in the night, the fight lasts for hours.
H reaches a hand out, the other on O’s back, between his shoulders, the man watching curiously. H shifts, floating in front of O, holding a finger in front of his face, the other hand resting on his right wrist. O looks entirely done with this already.

Tele bursts into laughter right away, because the god really is just messing around for the moment, but this is not what he was expecting.

“Oh my. Do I need to be worried, beloved?” Penelope teases, though there’s a certain edge to her voice, one that suggests she would be more than willing to fight the god for her husband.

“Right there.” Herm throws his head back at the annoyed jab he gets, which lets him know his grandson had remembered about as much as he expected the man to.

“Are you offering him a bit of support or…?” Eurylochus is trying to understand what Hermes is offering to his brother, because he’s almost certain there will be side effects of some sort no matter the gods' response.

“I sincerely doubt you have to worry about anything, flirting is just part of Herm’s nature.” Pen says easily, amused, especially since she can see the slightly mortified look of her sweetheart’s face, telling her he doesn’t remember much of this.

“You are a lot more chill than I thought you’d be.” Polites muses to himself, because gods had always appeared strict, almost harsh even, and then there is Hermes, throwing that all out the window.

“The only thing you really need to worry about is Herm adding to Ody’s already trickster personality.” Ath had already accepted and become more amused than anything by the addition, but her counterpart looks horrified.

“So he truly is no longer our Warrior of the Mind?” Athena seems broken, lost almost at the very thought despite seeming them separate, she thought they’d eventually reconcile, but the way this is going, it doesn’t appear that way, at least not any time soon.

“Sorry, even now, I’m not your Warrior of the Mind, honestly, I’m not entirely certain what I am anymore.” Ody admits easily, because he still thinks himself at least part monster, but he knows he’s got some of Ar, Her and even Posei blessing, so he’s not certain if he’s a bit of them all or none of them.

“I don’t think you have to worry about it, but honestly I'm not certain? So we don’t make up with Athena?” Odysseus looks to his counterpart, who seems uncertain how to answer, instead looking to his goddess who grins down at him and gently flicks his forehead, snickering at his squawk. That eases his mind, adjusting Telemachus, because if they’re able to act like that, then they more than made up, they got closer.

You can be hurt or you can beat her.
H turns O around, holding his hands from behind him, the man’s arms bent at the elbows, while he merely looks tired and like he desperately needs a nap. H raises his arms, which forces O to his height limit, who looks marginally more concerned especially since the god has him by the wrists. He pulls the man along, barely giving him time to catch his feet or balance. H shifts backwards, changing their momentum, which leaves O struggling to balance on one leg, his left arm stretched high and his right one bent at the elbow and lower. He looks much more worried now. O looks dizzy, H supporting him by his lower back with an arm, while the other is up by his head.
Wouldn’t you like to have some of the magic?
H puts a hand on O’s shoulder, the man watching closely, looking more serious. With a wide grin, H opens his hand to reveal it glowing a pale white or blue, while O looks amazed. The reflection almost completely overtakes his eyes, even as he looks at the flower.
Wouldn't you like your outcome preferred?
The white reflection does in fact become entirely white eyes, whether from H’s influence or just an illusion is unclear.

“You know, Herm, if you give him a chance, he’s actually a good dancer.” Pen grins at the laughter that gets her in response, she’s been expecting it honestly, even as Ody pouts beside her.

“You’re going to throw up or something despite not eating anything.” Polites frets, he’s done that himself, been spun so quickly he got sick, they were stupid kids at one point and each of them had learned the consequences of it, so to see Odysseus being that dizzy has him concerned.

“Don’t worry, dad manages to hold his food down pretty well no matter how dizzy you make him.” Tele tries to reassure his Uncle, though the worried and amused glance he gets in return means he probably didn't quite manage.

“Yeah, the kid is right, relax Polites, besides, that just means a better chance at me getting a chance to get some food in that dumbass because he’ll actually be hungry then.” Eurylochus puts his arm around the man, giving Tele a wink when Polites relaxes under the double reassurance and words, which has the kid giving him a wide grin in response.

“Can you not? Herm, was this really necessary?” Ody groans a bit, especially since he was asleep, the man had to have done this in his dreams or he knows he would have definitely thrown up.

“If you really think about it, isn’t this good? Hermes can put him to sleep in no time.” Penelope sincerely hopes the god does, because she doesn’t like how tired he still looks.

“Don’t you worry’, darling, he got what he wanted and I got what I wanted.” Herm grins widely, especially since he had desperately wanted the man to just sleep, had enjoyed cuddling with him while messing with his dream thanks to a favor.

“I sure hope that means this will be a bit easier then.” Athena already knows that isn’t like to be true, it will be somewhat easier, but whatever Hermes does will be temporary, no matter what it is.

“I wish you had been able to give him your blessing back then, but mine was still too strong and engrained.” Ath sighs tiredly, with some regret, because the only reason he has more than one gods blessing now is because they’re all co-existing inside him now, none of them able to or willing to overpower another, which wouldn’t have been the case when he still had solely her blessing.

“Some help is better than no help, at least.” Odysseus isn’t certain what the god is offering or what it will do to him, but he has no doubts he’ll agree, because he needs to get home, to his wife and son, no matter what.

Deep in the night, the fight can be tragic.
Hermes lifts his hands, images flowing in a circle within them, a sword, a blood splatter, a moon phase and caduceus, a pair of eyes in the middle that start to bleed.
I’ll help you conquer her.
O looks surprised, shocked and a bit wary as the god floats in front of him, a hand raised that has the image of the caduceus floating above his palm. O glances down as H closes his hand around the image.
She can turn you into an animal that’ll end up on her plate
H lifts his hand, an apple appearing from nowhere that he grabs, O raising an eyebrow at the fruit, before looking a lot more confused and terrified when the god promptly shoves it into his mouth. O tied up, on a large plate, with an illusion of C holding a knife.

“Hey, you better not do anything to my husband!” Penelope exclaims, pointing a finger at Herm who merely gives her a grin and wiggles his fingers at her, because his grandson is handsome, but he doesn’t want to fuck the man, merely care for him.

“Why were you making it so literal? Ath sighs tiredly, gently tugging her brother’s feathers, because there was no need to frighten him like that, though she can appreciate that he was honest with her friend.

“I mean, he’s just being honest, if it happens to scare Odysseus, good, maybe he’ll fucking be cautious.” Polites has zero fucks to give at this point, he’s spent years trying to keep their brother alive, if a god has to scare the man to help keep him alive since he went and got killed by a cyclops, then he’ll take it.

“Oh? So you want him to scare me, because you think he might actually make me cautious?’ Polites nods and Ody gives him a deadpan look. ‘Have you met me?” The groan he gets in response has Ody laughing, because his brother had really hoped he was wrong.

“I mean, it’s the truth though, Hermes is definitely not sugarcoating it or anything, he’s literally showing me what she’ll do if I’m not careful or don’t take his help.” Odysseus is well aware that might be manipulative of the god, but he really doesn’t have room to stand on.

“Sometimes I think Herm is the only reason you got home safe.” Pen mutters tiredly to her husband, because he seems to be the only god that actually helped, though she’s certain Ath did as well given where her husband was trapped for years.

“I still should’ve sent someone with you. Damnit, you’re never allowed to go this long without sleep, ever.” Eurylochus groans as he tries to recall when he will need to intervene.

“Don’t you worry, once you reach home you can just leave it to mom and I, he’ll never get away with no sleep around us.” Tele grins widely, because his dad is a cuddler, something he’s certain everyone here knows, and cuddling with him and Mom had helped the man sleep through his nightmares more than once.

“I swear, you are being honest, but there are far worse things she could do, given who Odysseus himself is.” Athena mutters, rubbing at the bridge of her nose, well aware that in her students eyes, offending his wife and/or son would be worse.

“Oh, I am well aware, but Cir doesn’t usually resort to those methods first, she tries for other far easier ones to not have to deal with men.” Herm admits easier, his wings fluttering behind him as he continues to watch everything, because this will let him know what he missed after he left the mortal and spent seven long years searching for him in his spare time.

She can all but make you fall in love like you’re on your hundredth date
The plate shifts, and O opens his eyes, covered in sweat, looking terrified, the way one would wake from a nightmare. He exhales once to get himself together, only to blink in confusion, and surprise, not certain he’s seeing correctly. An illusion of C sitting across from him, but H is sprawled across the table, legs up in the air, arms crossed under his chin, a rose between his lips, with no clothes on and chest down. H turns as O raises a hand to block his peripherals and turns away from the table, looking so damn done and confused, maybe even a bit disgusted.
She can conjure up a monster that’ll grind you to the bones
O has a faint blush across his cheeks, hand still raised, before one fades and the other lowers, as a bit of light to his left catches his attention. The light is a pair of eyes. O has his sword back, pulled from it’s sheath, raised at his side, facing the shadowy image of a creature not able to be depicted as one thing.
She has all the ways to haunt ya, when you take her on alone
O is sprawled out on the floor, looking exhausted, arms out to his side, as H walks up to him. He promptly sits by the man, hands going from crossed across his knees to up by his throat, in a sort of claw motion. H offers the man a hand, which the other takes.

“He really put you through the works, didn’t he?” Tele grins widely, because he just knows that his dad works out well for his age, but he also still gets exhausted and pulls him down with him if they train together.

“I don’t blame you, he’s hot for certain.” Penelope whispers to her husband, who is in fact also blushing the slightest bit, though it had faded at the sight of the monster and his collapse.

“No remorse for you.” Herm cackles as he tips his head back, so amused because he had extremely worried for the man, but he couldn’t let any gods potentially looking see that.

“So the next best thing is to hope whatever you actually offer helps?” Eurylochus is worried because he knows the god might be offering help but not one of them has offered it for free.

“I swear to god.” Pen rolls her eyes, because she knows her other half had not cheated on her - that bitch had taken him by force she didn’t count - during his trip.

“Hermes, I hope that what you give him works, but remember the consequences.” Athena narrows her eyes, because there’s not many things a god can give a mortal that’ll help in this situation.

“I still think you went overboard with that.” Ody grumbles, because his wife and son are never going to let him live that down, he just knows it.

“Cap’n, is there something we need to know?” Polites grins, amused and wishing desperately to see this in person, which means he has to live past both the cyclops and Poseidon.

“I swear to god, this is why I never wanted the two of you to meet.” Ath rolls her eyes, exasperated and completely unsurprised by everything she’s seeing.

“No!” Odysseus yelps, hiding his burning face in his baby’s hair, refusing to look at anyone, not currently trying to think of a plan because he can’t.

H + EN
Wouldn’t you like a taste of the power?
O is watching over his shoulder as H shimmies his shoulders and moves closer to him, before placing his right arm past the mortal’s other shoulder, a glowing white leaf hovering over his hand, that has O raising an eyebrow in curiosity and thought.
Wouldn’t you like to use more than words?
H appears right where the flower was, a wicked grin on his face, both hands on either of O’s shoulders, before he grins with those teeth in view, which has O jolting up defensively, likely remembering what happened the last time he was told those words.
Deep in the night, the fight lasts for hours.
A hand holding a wand, aiming at nothing-

“You really didn’t like him covering your face like that, did you?” Tele seems amused, though he also gets exactly why his dad feels that way, given he’s had the suitors take his strongest weapon several times to make him weaker, and his dad has always been known for his silver tongue.

“Truly, you are messing with him just as much as you’re helping.” Athena at this point is uncertain whether she’s grateful or upset, though she is at least certain she’s happy he will survive this encounter.

“You were so easy to mess with, even asleep.” Herm cackles, because he isn’t certain any of them have even noticed it, so he has to point it out.

“He’s asleep? Since when?” Penelope blinks becauses he had not noticed anything that pointed out the god putting him to sleep or him falling asleep, nothing.

“Ody has been asleep since the moment Herm touched him, he likely coerced the exhausted man to drink something and knocked him out afterwards.” Ath admits, because she knows Herm had the man drink Holy before putting him to sleep, in order to let it work, but also he’d needed the liquid after everything.

“Thank you for taking care of our Captain when we were too stupid to do so.” Eurylochus thanks the gods because he knows damn well his counterpart will likely never know and honestly, likely doesn’t deserve to know either. (He’s got some beef at this point, if the other man is alive - and he’s not blaming Ody if his counterpart got in his way, he'd better have killed his ass - he’s gonna get a few hits in.)

“Please tell me he didn’t actually do that.” Pen almost begs her husband, who gives her a sheepish grin in response that has her grumbling, because that means her exhausted darling will take drinks from strangers, she’ll have to keep a close eye on him at parties.

“I can absolutely believe that, after all, it’s Odysseus.” Polites crosses his arms, staring deadpan at his best friend who has no offense and damn well knows it.

“It’s not like I would’ve been able to deny it if I were more awake, no way was I gonna potentially insult Herm!” Ody protests the looks he gets, because he had already pissed off two gods, one of whom was his mentor and the other who had killed over 500 of his men, he wasn’t risking it at that point.

“He’s got a point, more awake or not, I couldn’t risk angering a third god after everything, especially not when I was trying to rescue men. Besides, I am almost certain I was so sleep deprived I’d be a miracle if I thought of a plan to trick him.” Odysseus defends himself and his counterpart because they really didn’t need this right now, plus he’s extremely curious what the god will do.

You can be hurt or you can beat her.
-Before O appears, bare handed with no sword in sight. The wand turns to a sword and the O is replaced by what must be C, who holds no wand.
Wouldn’t you like to have some of the magic?
H hovering by O’s left shoulder, hands fisted around his waist as he pumps them up and down twice, wings on his heels move in sync, O has a hand covering his mouth, gaze downwards as he thinks this over. H moves to over his other shoulder, hands up by his head, palms towards the sky.
Wouldn’t you like your outcome preferred?
O looks up at H, face carefully blank even as his eyes exclaim ‘ what the fuck is wrong with you?’ The god has a wide grin on his face. O is standing straight, eyebrows raised as well.

“You’re already so done.” Ath laughs, because it’s so damn satisfying to know she had managed to at least temper his trickster nature some, enough for him to know when to use it at least, and while he is somewhat playing along with Herm, he’s also thinking things through.

“You’re so lucky he didn’t smite you for a look like that.” Polites raises his eyebrows, because something tells him Odysseus might know Hermes more than he’s letting on, though it’s also possible he doesn’t remember.

“Herm, did you just get a special enjoyment out of trying to get him to smile?” Tele asks, because he gets the feeling there is more to the god than just trying to get his dad to sleep, drink the Moly and everything else. Not that it’s not just that, this is Herm, he likes messing with people.

“I mean, given everything, I’m all for Herm doing whatever he’s doing, he’s taken more care of my husband than some of the others we’ve seen.” Penelope shrugs her shoulders, ignoring the way Athena hunches her shoulders, because the goddess has not done anything to redeem herself in the Queen's eyes, not yet at least.

“Yeah, I was the one who came upon the 500 men and helped escort some of them before I recognized them as Ithacan and set out to find your dad when I didn’t find him amongst the men.” Herm admits, because he’d wanted to see Ody alive, but also lift the man’s spirits.

“Surely that is more than enough reason, but to intervene for him? You are risking a lot there.” Athena knows her brother won’t be put off by that, because that is his family, but she’s definitely upset because her future counterpart through the viewing should’ve already moved past this, surely she knows Odysseus will never make the first move, she will have to do so.

“I swear, knowing I am asleep for so much of this makes so much more sense.” Ody groans, because he had thought he remembered this a bit too well, considering how tired he was, but a dream manipulated by a god makes more sense.

“Ody at this point you could tell us just about anything happened and my counterpart on screen won’t believe a word of it, but I know I damn well will.” Eurylochus groans as he buries his head in his hands, wondering if he damns his counterpart if that damns him too.

“Please, you do not get to make that face at him darling, you have done the exact same thing to many others.” Pen scoffs at her husband, recalling the number of times he’d talked others into less than ideal trades for their kingdoms but beneficial to Ithaca, hands on their shoulders and giving them more alcohol, anything for the advantage but use his body since he knows that would piss her off, because he deserves to be treated better than that.

“I think at this point, the entire thing is just a fever dream or hallucination.” Odysseus sighs, because he really can’t argue against his wife, current or future, given he knows both are looking out for him despite everything.

Deep in the night, the fight can be tragic
A screen of nothing but purple, before a dark red liquid starts to flow down, likely to indicate injury or death.
I’ll help you conquer her!
An eye opens in the blood, though whose exactly it is is extremely unclear.

H
Oh!!!
H has his hand palm down, before he starts to shift it, a glow growing along it before it takes the shape of a flower.
Here in the root of this flower
The flower glows, a pale white color, held gently in the gods hand.
There lies such a power to take her on
H is being very clear on this, though he has a grin on his face still, the flower hovering over his right palm. O looks at the flower, his gaze thoughtful and wary.
You must consume and digest it
O looks up at H suspiciously as he moves, hovering in front of him, the hand with the flower held back behind his head.

“What kind of side effects would that have?” Odysseus demands because his counterpart is likely far too sleep deprived and guilty to even think of those in his state.

“Oh nothing bad, I assure you.” Herm grins, because like hell would he give his family anything that might have long lasting after effects.

“Why on earth do you just have that on you?” Polites is curious, because it could mean the god is always potentially willing to help mortals, but it could also mean the god got it specifically to help Odysseus, which could be dangerous.

“I can’t believe you just have that on you.” Ath sighs, rubbing at where her nose would be, the helmet blocking the move but conveying her exasperation well, even if it does rub the scars a bit.

“Honetsly, if it gives him a chance, I can’t see him giving that up, not now.” Penelope groans, because she gets it, she’s certain she would do the same thing, but still, this is why they should never be separated.

“I think this will be interesting. Is it like a drug?” Tele asks ‘innocently’ as he tilts his head, but the wide grin on his face kind of ruins it, especially since it’s an amused one.

“I mean, I really hope not? Also, can we please not just take things from gods, even if they have the best intentions?” Eurylochus is both amused and exasperated by his best friend's determination to help the men no matter what.

“Surely there was a better way to do this?” Ody bemoans as he buries his head in his hands, though it’s not entirely possible since his family are smothering him.

“I mean, there probably was, but its Hermes, what are you expecting?” Athena points out in slight resignation and silent amusement.

Pen just laughs because she can’t wait to see this, well aware they’re seeing more of her husband in the last few months since he’s started to recover some, but that these videos will truly show him before and during the change, which is something she will hold close, even if that includes what will likely be a drugged one.

Then you’ll manifest a being of your creation
H moves, hovering behind O with a hand on his shoulder, before letting his feet touch the ground, gently directing O’s head to face in front of them from where it had turned to look at the god. H presses himself against the man’s back, no space between them, as he puts an arm over his shoulder and in front of them, a being appearing outlined in white, looking a lot like a cyclops.
All you need’s imagination
O looks horrified and terrified, while H has a wicked grin in his face, though there does appear to be some regret sprawled across his features. He has his hand still on the mortal’s shoulder, the other lifted with a finger bent and out, pokes O’s head with twice.
Though it’s only for a moment till you’ve beaten your opponent
O lifts a hand, seeming uncertain, but H grabs it quickly, gently, floating in front of him, with the right hand holding a finger up as if to say ‘wait, think this through’ as clear a warning as a god can give without saying so, even gently shaking that hand side to side. An outlined eye opens in the shadows of H’s eyes, looking soft, worried, gentle, like he knows this is helping, but that it will still have affects.
And I call this root : Holy moly!
H holds the flower up to O’s face, the roots directed towards him. O takes a bite of them without another thought. H has his hands held in front of his lower face, creating a sort of triangle with his fingers, with a wide grin. H waves his hands up and down as if trying to cool himself off or calm himself down.

"You're so excited that he didn’t even wait to follow your plan.” Athena huffs as she crosses her arms, unable to help as her feathers puff a bit, because she knows it was his only choice, but still.

“I really hope your plan is good, Ody.” Pen levels her other half with a look that has him giving her a look, one she recognizes with a silent groan as his ‘ it was a plan, but not a good one’.

“I mean, any plan he makes is going to be on the fly and made by his sleep deprived brain, it was going to be a disaster from the start.” Polites has decided he’s going to be more blunt and done with his friends obviously from now on, if he might still die may as well, right? Besides, someone’s got to poke some holes in the faces they show the crew.

“I swear to god, it really can’t be that bad. Well, maybe worse since Herm has given him the Moly, but it probably wasn’t a bad one before that. Maybe.” Ody can’t really defend himself since he doesn’t recall what his plan was before any of that anyways.

“That’s not really reassuring.” Odysseus can’t help but eye his counterpart at the words, though he also gets that it’s the truth, since there’s still no quite telling how long it’s been for them, obviously a while, but when he got home and all that is unclear, as well as if this is his exact journey or not. He shuffles Telemachus, bringing the babe a bit higher, wanting to feel his little pulse, even if it means spit on the collar of his clothes.

“I think you’re still seeing some of the things from the Moly sometimes.” Ath mutters quietly to Ody, who gets an indignant, offending look at her words, something she expected from the way her shoulders shake with laughter.

“Please tell me he at least ate and or drank before you put him to sleep, anything to make up for the crew being idiots, my counterpart included.” Eurylochus almost begs Herm, because he needs to know someone took care of their captain and king when they wouldn’t.

“Oh, I sure did, don’t quite remember what, probably some crackers or such since they’re easy to carry, as well as Moly tinted water, but he did get something.” Herm nods his head, because like hell was he gonna send his family, sleep deprived,hungry and thirsty into a fight with Cir.

“Good, at least someone managed the bare minimum of what was required for the crew, which really isn’t that hard if you know Odysseus.” Penelope doesn’t feel bad throwing jabs at dead men, least of all when several of them are the reason for all the deaths, including their own.

“I can’t help but agree with you, caring for the captain since he protects you should be something that’s not even needed to be said, yet his crew couldn’t manage. They were really disappointing, honestly.” Tele can’t believe he had once looked up to the people who had gone to war with his father, especially after hearing what they had done to his dad, he couldn’t explain the emotions that hit him.

O
Ah
O seems particularly unimpressed with that name, but obviously isn’t going to argue with a god on that, not after he’s eaten it and certainly not when the god is helping him.

H laughs
H hugs his torso as he hunches over laughing, before he flies forward, appearing before a startled, but mostly calm O. H has an arm behind the mortal's back, the left one gently cradling O’s right that he seemed to offer out of habit maybe, or he trusts the god and is taking his hand.
H + EN
Wouldn’t you like a taste of the power?
O is a lot more concerned when he uses his grasp on that hand and around his waist to pull him off the ground, easily switching it so the mortal is being held under his knees and shoulders, as he starts to spin through the air, O looking terrified and uneasy, while H has a huge grin on his face.
Wouldn’t you like to use more than words?
O’s gaze is directed down, staring at the ground who knows how far beneath them, his right arm thrown over the god’s shoulder, looking nervous. H gives him a grin, obviously asking for more trust and enjoying himself, especially as they more or less lock gazes.
Deep in the night, the fight lasts for hours.
H shifts, holding O under his arms, under him as he starts to fly horizontally, before shifting to hold him around the waist, O’s left arm on his own hip while the right is on top of H’s. H fully turns, resting on his back, arms crossed behind his head, one leg bent up while O clutches at his waist, head resting on his stomach. H has a hand resting on his head, O’s other arm resting on the bent leg, still uneasy and uncertain.

“If you drop my husband, we’re gonna have words.” Penelope threatens because she doesn’t want to see him falling, uncertain what that might do to her heart since he would entirely be at a god’s whims.

“Darling, I would never hurt Ody. He’s too cute for that.” Herm protests, but does not say anything about not dropping him, because he’s almost certain he did, pretty certain he might’ve, even if it was in a dream.

“You really are not having a good time, huh?” Eurylochus can’t even be certain he wouldn’t throw up after all that movement, dream or not, he can’t even imagine how dizzy he might be.

“I’m not cute! And you’re extremely lucky I didn’t throw up on you, regardless of it that was a dream.” Ody grumbles at Herm, who chuckles, especially since Tele is cackling next to the man, well aware he’s not going to get out of being called cute.

“I feel like as long as he’s helping, I don't mind if he’s messing around a bit, especially since he said he wouldn’t hurt Odysseus.” Polites is well aware gods can be weird and having one who wants to help with a bit of mischief is the best thing.

“I really think that at this point, there’s nothing you could show me that I wouldn’t be able to believe anymore.” Pen sighs tiredly, because she’s not happy with all the shit her husband saw on his journey, but at least few things phase or surprise him anymore. (She’s not certain it’s worth it anymore.)

“I think at this point, his help is required, but if you hurt my Owlet, I am going to make sure your next few pranks fail.” Athena threatens Herm, who raises his hands in surrender, because she’s one of the few gods who might be able to actually do that..

“I did something similar, except I was facing someone else and something far worse in order to save my Fledgling.” Ath does not regret facing Ze for her family, she regrets not getting to him sooner in order to never let him be traumatized the way he is.

“I am not certain whether I’m enjoying this anymore, let alone whether I am regretting it.” Odysseus rubs at his face, letting out a startled grunt, as tiny fingers take the chance to yank his hair, causing him to laugh despite himself, even as he tries to detangle himself. At least Telemachus is enjoying himself.

“I can see how much of you I got despite your absence.” Tele smiles widely, giggling to himself, because he had never thought his mom a liar, but he could never truly believe how much of his dad he had in him either, having never met the man.

You can be hurt or you can beat her
O’s eyes go white completely again, though he winces through it, meaning it’s either painful or he’s fighting the process unintentionally. A wide grin appears on his face.
Wouldn’t you like to have some of the magic?
H has shifted them upright, one of O’s feet on his, the other lifted into the air, their hands held gently as H places his other hand on the mortal’s waist, O placing his free one of the god’s shoulder. They shift back and forth, the best they can do with only one of them able to fly, before H moves them again, his right arm around O’s shoulder, while the left is out behind him, O has a leg out as if preparing to brace himself for something, looking more curious than before. H shifts them completely, flying horizontally again, holding O’s arm under the elbow, while O has his arm bent and holds the god’s arm.
Wouldn’t you like your outcome preferred?
O grins up at H, truly happy and excited for the first time in a while. H easily gives him a wide grin in return, equally as happy.
Deep in the night, the fight can be tragic
H continues like that over the forest, completely at ease.
I’ll help you conquer her!
H has moved yet again, his hands holding O’s arms close to his armpits but not that far, keeping the man with him as they fly. It’s clear O is enjoying himself, eyes watching everything in curiosity and awe.

“I really hate to say it, but I’m grateful that you were there and got his spirit up.” Ath already knows she’ll come to regret saying that at some point, but at the moment, it’s the truth.

“I thought you said it wouldn't hurt him?!” Penelope knows those winces, recalls them from times when Athena would drop by suddenly with little warning and flood her aura by accident, or when he got a bad headache.

“You’re welcome darling. And I did, but I wasn’t expecting him to fight the Moly’s attempts to help, given everything.” Herm had truly not expected his grandson to fight in, but he didn’t need the gratitude from his sister, he was happy to lift his family’s spirit.

“I can see why I might be fighting it though, given everything that’s happened recently.” Odysseus knows Athena’s aura, in general the gods as well, but an unknown one working its way through him would be something he fights out of habit.

“Was there a reason you would fight the Moly beyond the encounter with Posei?” Tele tilts his head because he gets the feeling there is more there that he’s not been told, maybe something his mom doesn’t know either given her look.

“Honestly, just seeing him happy and smiling again is worth all of this, though I deeply regret that my counterpart and the crew were not the ones to do it.” Eurylochus wants to desperately do a soul search because he thought he knew himself, but his counterpart continues to show he really doesn’t know himself.

“I mean, there were a few times when I was younger, and after I married your mom, where other gods tried to infect me with their blessings, in order to make it so I was no longer Ath’s champion.’ At the look Ody gets from his son, he grins a bit. ‘A forceful blessing tries to mark you as another god’s and can lead to wars, offering a blessing and layering as some of them did then is another thing entirely.” He had felt the blessing of several gods during his killing of the suitors, and had offered them offerings afterwards to make sure he did not get on their bad sides.

“At least you are enjoying yourself, but please remember you are going to face an enemy. Also, if he’s asleep, are you watching over his body while doing all this or…?” Polites is not certain he’ll get an answer from any of the gods, but he wants to know his friend is safe.

“I swear, despite so many years of marriage, I continue to learn something new about you even now.” Pen doesn’t know whether to be amused or if she should be concerned that he managed to hide things even now. (She’s a bit of both, though concern usually overwhelms it because that means he was hiding his pain and that’s not ok, not from her and not from Tele either.)

“Hermes does not need to put any of his effort into affecting the dream, so he is either watching over Odysseus’ body or carrying him to the place where he needs to be.” Athena knows her brother and is extremely grateful that they do not need to worry about Odysseus at the moment, not with him nearby and watching over him.

O
Ohhh!!!
O blinks and H suddenly tosses him.

H + En
Wouldn’t you like a taste of the power?
O starts to twist and fall, as H remains above. The flower he ate, as well as some spiral orbs, what appears to be H’s outline but might be C, as O falls with his back to the ground.
Wouldn't you like to use more than words?
O shifts suddenly, moving to his stomach, as a sword appears, just an outline as before.

O
Ohhh!!!
A sun and moon appear, even as he shifts back to his back.

H + En
Deep in the night, the fight lasts for hours
The sun and moon continue to circle him, while the hands of a clock appear, before moving so fast they become a blur.
You can be hurt or you can beat her
An outline of O, looking over his shoulder, before a splatter of red appears roughly where his eyes would be as outline shifts, like it took a hit, even as O himself twists onto his stomach. An outline of C with a sword at her neck.

“Well shit, you better not have gotten hurt fighting her and just not said anything.” Pen eyes her other half, because she hasn’t seen any scars by his eyes, but it might not have scarred - which she doubts - but something tells her that was more what could be if he isn’t smart about this.

“Oh, shit. I should’ve sent men with you, should’ve followed you, should’ve paid more attention…” Eurylochus continues to mutter to himself, hands clutching at each other desperately as he goes through everything his counterpart could’ve done to not have his brother going into a dangerous situation.

“You dropped him and he didn’t give a shit, is that potentially an effect of the drug?” Tele knows his dad isn’t scared of heights, not a single bit, given he often goes for heights for his bow and arrows, but to be dropped from so high, has his own stomach clenching in fear and hoping the god catches him.

“I swear to god, things are going to get so much worse, aren’t they?” Odysseus just knows that things are going to go wrong somehow, because there’s no way in hell this Circe is just going to give up after being defeated,not with people to protect, so what can she do?

“Oh definitely. It certainly helps that by that point he was completely convinced he was dreaming, given he didn’t remember falling asleep in the first place, so he had no fear of falling.” Herm gives a wide grin, because he also is well aware it’s because Ody had trusted him to catch him before he got hurt.

“At least one of you was being smart about this, though I really wish it was my Owlet and not my brother.” Athena rubs at her forehead, because her brother is showing the illusions without a doubt, meaning he is taking this seriously.

“I mean, are we really all that surprised? It’s me, I was gonna go along with just about anything after a certain point.” Ody shrugs his shoulders at the looks he gets, but with both Ath and Herm there, they really can’t argue because they definitely are the reasons he started going along with things.

“I think at this point, we just avoid this island as well, however much we might need the food, which means we really need to avoid pissing off Poseidon, which means either not bothering the cyclops, or asking for his help instead of killing his sheep, but we’ll see what works best.” Polites hates that he’s trying to figure out a plan for this, but if it means his brothers are safe, he’ll become a strategist for a bit.

“I’m just grateful that there is someone there to hopefully ensure my Fledglings survival though given how Herm can be at times, some might doubt his ability to do so.” Ath has been at her brother’s side for ages at this point, the two of them visiting Ithaca and the Royal family often, so they both know each other better than they had previously. (They plan to continue to visit until they no longer can, whether because Ithaca falls, or because they can no longer stand to see Ody, Pen and Tele’s descendants, they will find out.)

“So, is there any chance at all that we might face consequences for changing Fate, given we are being allowed to see this and everything?” Penelope throws out there, which has everyone pausing for a moment, honestly not certain.

Your memories shall remain as well, and the Fates are only so powerful, there are beings older and wiser than them.

The words both say nothing and everything, each of them exchanging glances and moving a bit closer because they are not going to waste this moment given to them.

O
Ohh!!!
O twists to his back yet again, as an outline of a hand appears, the flower appearing again as it starts to spin around O.

H + En
Wouldn’t you like to have some of the magic?
The motion seems to turn O onto his stomach, the petals of the flower flowing around him.
Wouldn’t you like your outcome preferred?
O is turned back to his back, as a hand raises as if to catch him, before disappearing as the hands clenched on where he was.

O
Ohh!!!
O is still falling from the sky, bags under his eyes, his gaze a mix between concerned and just trust, because he knows he can’t save himself.

“Even with the sleep you’re getting, those bags aren’t going to go away any time soon.” Pen sighs because she knows what her husband wanted to tell her, but is still well aware it took him most of the last 2 years just to sleep through the night without nightmares or being unable to sleep.

“This isn’t going to be nearly enough to make up for the 9 days of sleep you lost, especially since I’m pretty sure the crew only let you sleep for a few minutes before opening the bag.” Polites crosses his arms, hating the part of him that says he already knows who opened the bag, but until he sees proof he’s not going to say anything.

“Please do not kill my dad is his dream, Herm.” Tele gives the god a look, who places an offended hand on his chest and tilts back, but can’t really argue because while he would never harm his family on purpose, he sometimes forgets how fragile mortals are.

“I’m more concerned on where the hell this might go, because you’re still overpowered even with the Moly and she might yet hold your crew hostage given everything.” Athena is running through plans her Owlet might yet be able to use in this situation, but none are all that great.

“Things just really don’t go your way, huh? I’m starting to wonder who’s luck you got.” Ath runs her fingers through Ody’s hair, actually curious because Herm has pretty good luck, but her Fledgling has some of the shittest she’s ever seen.

“At least I appear to have some sort of plan after everything, given the images he showed me as well as the information he gave me, I should be able to come up with something." Odysseus winces though, because while he would usually believe in himself, even sleep deprived, he’s not certain he can this time, given how sleep deprived he is, as well as how poorly he cared for himself.

“I can’t believe this worked as well as it did. I wonder if my bit of blood came through to help a bit.” Herm muses to himself with a glint in his eyes, because Ody is related to him by a bit, so some divine blood runs through him.

“Can I please get a curse or something placed on me so that if I do let my brother get this bad I like, get smacked with some common sense or something?" Eurylochus is not trying to offend the gods, but to have his counterpart force his brother to rely entirely on a god’s help, it bothers him.

“I mean, to be fair, even if that had happened, I’m not sure how much it would’ve helped in this situation. You would be better off getting a curse to help you find your heart and work on that.” Ody counters gently, because he had thought he’d known his brother until moments like these, so he thinks his brother needs to do some soul searching, find where his heart truly lies.

“Well, here's hoping that means everything goes okay, but I’ve still got a bad feeling.” Penelope hisses, digging her fingers into her husband’s skin a bit more, hoping to bruise him so people know he’s hers, damnit.

H + En
Deep in the night, the fight can be tragic
He glances down, looking terrified, his arms stretched out at his sides, spotting a huge white palace amongst the trees.
I’ll help you conquer her
H comes from behind him, swooping in and grabbing him by the arms, careful not to hurt him due to the speed or angle of how he grabbed him. O is gently placed on the ground, on his feet, as H appears to wipe at his forehead, maybe nervous that he might've mistimed that.

O
Hermes!
O shifts to face H, who hovers nearby for a moment before going to leave, though the mortal grabs his arm by the wrist, gently.
Thank you.
O looks grateful, relieved, like some of the burden had been taken from him, the bags under his eyes not gone but lighter, especially with him still smiling and happy.

H
Don’t thank me friend
H has a grin on his face, before he turns to hover closer, left arm raised with his palm facing towards viewers, looking amused, relieved and happy. O seems surprised.
You very well may die
He slides closer still, not moving his pose. O blinks and seems uncertain how to take that.
(Giggles) Good luck!
H moves away his arms crossing behind his back as he giggles, before he raises a hand to wave goodbye, flying off.

“I mean, you’re not wrong, and I’m grateful you caught him at that moment, but still, was that really necessary?” Penelope tilts her head, because she has a feeling he did more than just catch her husband and cheer him up, he took some of the burden that Eurylochus had not, and she is extremely happy about that.

“Don’t you worry a hair, dear. I gave him some of my blessing too, careful enough that it wouldn’t fight Ath’s claim still, but enough to hopefully help some.” Herm knows he shouldn’t have, but he couldn’t help himself, not if it meant his family might be safe. (He’s also really happy that he made the transition from sleep to awake so gentle Ody barely noticed it, that catch in the dream had been him gently shaking him to wake him and by the time he set him on his feet, he had been completely awake again.)

“Watching this, I can see how things went wrong, but also just, who the hell did things go so wrong?” Polites huffs, because even watching it, he still can’t quite believe how badly things have gone already, and they are now so much further from home.

“Idiots, that’s how. Well, that and Ody’s piss poor luck.” Pen deadpans, though amusement lifts the second sentence into giggles.

“I just want my counterpart to support him, take some of the burden and be smart about this, why is this what my future is? Fuck that shit, I’ve had enough, things are going to go down if I ever meet him. Don’t care how or if it happens, no questions asked, hands are being fucking thrown.” Eurylochus mutters, his head buried in his hands, because if he ever sees Ody’s Eury, he’s not gonna question why or how, he’s just gonna start a fight.

“I can definitely confirm some of this, but as I was gone for all of this, all I really know is what I’ve been told and this is truly just a bad case of situations falling ways they should not have.” Ath knows there are other ways that interaction with the cyclops could’ve gone, it just so happened that one of the worse ones was the way it happened.

“I still don’t know if I like this, but at least I got some sleep, food and drink, as well as a bit of help from somebody, and I am in the place I need to be, so things have a bit of a better chance than before.” Odysseus doesn’t know if that’s great odds or not, but he’ll take them. He shifts Telemachus, cooing at the boy when he whines and grasps tighter to his clothes, refusing to let go even as the man shifts in order to get more comfortable in his wife’s grasp, long used to being covered in bruises because she wants others to know he’s hers. (He can’t blame her, he does a similar thing with hickeys on her neck, though hers are equally her and her nymph desires, while his are just his desire.)

“I just want to know how the hell you actually dealt with Cir, she won’t ever tell me and you always are super vague on that.” Tele grumbles to his dad, who chuckles, though it sounds a bit strained, as if he’s perhaps bracing himself for something.

“I just hope the Moly lasts long enough for you to come to an agreement of some sort before she uses her magic again when it’s able to affect you.” Athena can already feel her wings puffing up in her fear and anger at what the woman might do to her student at that point.

“I wish the Moly had lasted that long as well, though I think I’m honestly just lucky it helped as much as it did.” Ody grimaces at the thought of his family watching what’s about to happen, but he also knows they aren’t going to blame him however much he still does at times - at least he’s pretty sure they won’t blame him, right? - and however much he doesn’t want his son to see this, his boy is a man and can make his own decisions.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

The palace torches alight on the front, as the sun either sets or rises in the background, its light reflecting off the water. O climbing the stairs, a feather falling from him as he does so. He looks almost nervous, a hand gripping his sword as he looks down at it, the other resting on the door to open it. He takes a deep breath, then turns to the door and releases his sword, both hands raising to them. His wedding ring almost appears to glow on his left ring finger.
O
Lady of the palace
O has opened the door, his silhouette in the doorway, C has a glass of wine in her hand, her back to him, but her eyes and focus are completely on him, a hard look in them.
Sorry that I ask this
He bows to her, right fingers and hand coming to rest over his heart, while the left is in the air behind him, his eyes and head lifted to keep an eye on her.
But I hope I’ve been misinformed
C is standing by the table, left hand holding the wind glass by its rim, while the right is resting on the table, her back still to him. She places the glass on the table, not quite gently, but not harshly either.

“Both being polite but not taking your eyes off of someone who has magic. Smart.” Athena praises her student, though she’s not certain it will work on this particular person.

“I don’t know if that counts as polite, he looks almost like he’s mocking her.” Tele utters amused, because he gets the feeling that even though Cir and his dad are friends now, she had not taken her defeat or surrender well.

“She’s not happy you are there at all, huh.” Polites raises his eyebrows at the way she sets the glass down, almost passive aggressive, but not quite.

“I mean, she already dealt with men, she probably thought the rest would flee and leave their comrades, not come to her.” Herm knows Cir well, she doesn’t like leaving things unfinished and she really thought they would leave, not come to her.

“I don’t think this is going to go well, but at least I’ve been taking care of my ring.” Odysseus doesn’t like the things her body is saying to him, but he’s glad that ten years at war and who knows how much time on sea like this has not stopped him from taking care of his ring.

“I’m interested in why she really thought they’d leave. You can’t be the first king or person to have come for their men back.” Pen levels an unimpressed glare at the screen, because that seems to be suggesting that Cir had judged her husband as the type to leave his men behind.

“I think she read Eury and he was definitely more than willing at that point to leave men behind, that dickwad. She assumed he would be able to convince his leader or captain or whatever to leave without them.” Eurylochus is not certain he’s ever been as done with someone as he is his counterpart.

“I honestly would’ve been surprised if she had, especially since that moron only did it because of the stress.” Ody doesn’t know the reason for most of what Eury did, but he does know this one was from stress and grief and everything at that point, which he sort of got.

“I swear, she better keep those claws to her damn self.” Penelope glares at the woman, daring her to try something on her husband, refusing to even believe for a moment he might’ve broken her trust.

“I am more concerned about how long the Moly will last and the side effects it might have.” Ath grumbles as she shifts and flares her wings, making them bigger, in order to cover her family just because she wants to.

I’ve sent out some scouts to take a look around through here,
The reflection of many shadowy men in the wine and glass, that shifts to the one person currently in the room other than C.
And they wound up at your doors
O still has his left arm extended to his side, palm up, behind him three nymphs peer through the open doors, looking curious, his right arm folded behind his back.
Through the years we seldom get a warm welcome
The nymphs look angry, disgusted and unimpressed as they look at him, before they pull the doors closed, which has O looking over his shoulder at it in suspicion. He looks wary now.

“So the nymphs are helping her out, great.” Eurylochus groans, because as if facing a witch isn’t enough, his brother is facing creatures that don’t appear to like him either.

“I think you are definitely going to regret not having any sort of back up.” Pen winces because no way does he not get somehow injured during this, whether physically or emotionally she doesn’t know just yet, but she knows.

“She sees all men as monsters then?” Polites doesn’t like the way the men had looked like creatures of shadows, sure they hadn’t been super polite or anything, but for her to only see them as monsters? Something must’ve happened and it’s having her lash out at everyone.

“They took your only exit from you with that move.” Ath is alert now because she’d caught a glimpse of this, she thinks, but it had been later in and she had not known he was alone, with no escape or anything, to help him.

“The Moly had better work on her well or else things are about to get much worse.” Odysseus can’t help the weirdness he feels worrying about himself, but it is what it is and currently he’s worried for his on screen counterpart, as well as his future counterpart. Telemachus seems to pick up on that as he wiggles closer to his dad and starts sucking on the closest thing to him - which happens to be his dad’s shoulder, even if it is through the chiton.

“It should, but there’s really no telling how Moly will affect mortals since it varies from person to person.” Herm admits, because he’d known it was the way with the least side effects but they’d be pretty unknown ones.

“I don’t think this is going to end horribly, but it won’t end favorably either.” Penelope winces, trying so hard to figure out exactly this will go, but there’s no telling with the few things they’ve seen.

“I think it might be a bit much to expect a good ending given how Cir has been treating everybody we’ve seen her interact with so far.” Ody points out easily, not giving any hints towards how much he had not felt comfortable or okay with what Cir had done after the end of the fight, but at least she hadn’t gone as far as that damn bitch.

“Things are going to get worse, I can just tell.” Athena murmurs softly, feels her wings twitch as the desire to spread them and protect her Owlet rises in her, because he should not be facing this alone, she should be there, but her counterpart had made a mistake.

“I don’t like the way this seems to be going.” Tele groans because the nymphs trapping his dad in the room with Cir means that they are using some sort of premade plan his dad has no knowledge of and thus no way to counter, will have to entirely improvise his plan.

So I must ask just to be sure
O has moved closer, his left arm resting on the hilt of his sword, while C swirls her wine with two fingers.
Did you do something to them?
He starts up the steps, hand still on his sword, looking unimpressed and tired already, clearly hoping this will go well.

“You still need more sleep, but you’re at the best you can be after so many days of neglecting yourself.” Penelope frowns, extremely unhappy about her husband’s state still, because he should’ve been cared for by his crew, but instead some of them betrayed him.

“I still want to know who the hell opened the damn wind bag. A was pretty damn clear, and so was Ody, that the bag was to remain closed for a reason.” Herm frowns, because he had never dared ask Ody for fear of setting him off into an attack, and none of the souls he gathered from the man’s crew would tell him either.

“I sincerely wish I could say this is the only time, but even having not gone to the war yet, I’m willing to bet I was the one most catching him doing this which is why they didn’t do anything.” Polites sighs, crossing his arms, because he’s certain he would’ve told others how best to help their brother and captain, they chose not to do so.

“I think you should be more careful approaching her like that, she’s got magic and is feeling protective.” Tele mutters softly, scooting closer to his dad, gently petting some of the lightning scars on the closest arm, making sure to be gentle. (He had found this to be the best way to assure his dad that he doesn’t blame the man for the choice that led to this scar, in fact he approves of it given everything.)

“I wonder how much of that is sleep deprivation and how much of it is the Moly, because I’m being a bit too confident for my own tastes.” Odysseus winces, approaching her and getting that close seems dangerous, almost arrogant even, which he can be at times but not usually when his men are on the line. Telemachus coos, grabbing a strand of brown hair and gently tugging it, giggling around the clothing in his mouth. Penelope giggles as well, before reaching over to help her beloved since his hands are full with the babe.

“I can safely say those men could’ve been perfectly fine as pigs, though at the time this was a choice I could easily see you making. Still kind of wish you left them there given everything.” Pen isn’t certain how many of those men had been part of the mutiny, but she’s still unimpressed by the fact her other half had tried his hardest to rescue them just for them to turn on him later.

“I’m more concerned on why the hell none of the men have complained or demanded to know what happened, given there’s no way they were on the deck when everything went down, so either someone is quieting them and building a mutiny in the background or they’re holding it in.” Eurylochus frowns because neither of those is ideal, but he’d prefer they were holding it in, because then only a few of them might go off rather than almost all of them taking another side.

“I wish it had been that damn easy to figure out which it was, but my own duties left it impossible for me to know and my SIC -who should've informed me of those things - was leading it.”Ody grumbles, still a bit bitter despite it being more than 5 years since that had happened, because he had loved Eury like a brother, even as the man doomed them all.

“I swear, you just get worse when you’re left alone.” Athena sighs tiredly, but she really can’t blame her Owlet, not when he’s working with the best he’s got under extremely poor conditions, and with the problem of other gods wraths as well.

“I would almost swear you get a joy in pissing off gods if I didn’t know you so well, Fledgling.” Ath coos at her former student, cackling as he sputters in indignation even as he turns red at the words.

C
Who, me?
C is standing with her back to the table now, right hand resting on the table, left one still with two fingers dipped in the wine. She has an eyebrow raised and her eyes are glowing gold. She gives a small smirk.
All I did was reveal their true forms
She moves closer to him, leading with her shoulder, showing she’s taller than the man, who is staring at her in slight anger and largely just looking tired, his arms crossed over his chest.

O
You turned them into pigs
O points a thumb past him, where a pig runs into the room with a nymph chasing it, looking tired and done already, before turning his gaze back to her with a raised eyebrow as the nymph walks out with the pig caught in her arms.

“I mean, can’t even blame you for that one. Honestly, you’d think she would’ve had them under control by now.” Ath grumbles as she crosses her arms, hiding the way she digs her claws into her elbows in anger and disgust, not wanting to give away anything to the past group. They need to see everything as best they can without knowing their time yet, though she gets the feeling they’ll learn soon.

“I sincerely think that might’ve been on purpose, except it’s hard to get a pig to follow a plan, so I doubt that.” Polites frowns as he watches the nymph flee as quickly as she can, so it’s not just Circe that has a hate for men, the nymphs don’t like them either, something had to have happened and bad at that. (Not that it justifies this, but it will give him a clue as to why they all react so strongly.)

“She really needs to get some better methods." Herm growls, willing to let the past group think he means about taming the pigs, but he means the way she chooses to go about things when she loses a fight, which he knows damn well she will.

“Are you trying to tell me that she does this for a sincere purpose that might actually be a good reason?” Odysseus demands as he stares at the woman, because he can tell there’s something driving her, obviously about her nymphs, but what could it be?

“That’s just not the way to go about this at all. Also, love that you are literally shorter than pretty much everyone.” Tele snorts in amusement, especially at the betrayed look his dad gives him, which just has him sticking his tongue out in response.

“I think at this point, you might’ve needed to back off instead of staying right there. Also, why on earth did she let you get so close? Is she that confident?” Penelope demands, tightening her hold on her husband and son, pulling them close, refusing to lose either of them right now.

“She certainly appears pretty confident, but to be fair, she’s used to her magic being able to handle any man she runs into, and is unaware of the Moly running through his system, so she’s unaware it won’t work.” Ody knows full well the Moly runs its course quickly, for all that the headaches and bone deep pains afterwards lasted what felt like forever.

“Things are going too well already.” Athena growls out, because even if the witch is confident in her magic, she has animals and she has to know some basic sword skills or fighting or something, to still be so confident.

“At least I know you can do this, though I still wish you had not been forced to resort to such means.” Pen sighs as she rubs circles into her darling’s back, around his shoulders, where the lightning scars start and then branch along his shoulders and to his elbows on both arms, but it gets tense on his shoulders since that’s where it struck and she refuses to let him be in pain just because of that.

Eurylochus doesn't even know what to say, simply folds his hands under his chin, then decides that’s not enough and rests his forehead on his folded hands, letting a tired, angry, upset sigh leave him because his counterpart is going to get them all killed at this rate.

C
Huh
C has moved closer, her right arm on O’s chest and the other arm dangling over his right shoulder, his arms crossed lower than her hand. C looks a bit angry, while O just looks tired and slightly upset. She then pushes him down all the steps and to the floor, the man startled.
I don’t know who you are nor why you’re here
C’s eyes are glowing where she is still at the top of the three steps, O on the ground, a bit surprised.
But let me make this one thing clear
O looks unnerved, as he scoots back a bit, clearly able to tell he crossed some sort of line, but not how angry she might yet be.

“Well shit, what set her off?” Pen groans because she knows her husband had not betrayed her in any way, not of his own choice, she’s more upset the woman had shoved her husband to the ground. (She chooses to ignore the amused look her husband and son send her as she growls, angry another woman is touching her darling.)

“She better her goddamn hands off of you if she doesn’t want to fucking lose them.” Penelope snarls, because that is her beloved, the man she had married, who she is well aware would not cheat on her, but she is still a nymph and he is hers.

“I am not surprised, I doubt she was completely certain on what to do yet.” Herm mutters as he shifts, the wings on his heels fluttering in some anxiety, because he had stuck around to watch, but he had not enjoyed it completely.

“I am honestly not certain where she's going with this.” Odysseus blinks confused because she looked like she was trying to seduce him, and then had shoved him.

“I swear, I'm still not certain how on earth you became friends with her after everything.” Ath sighs tiredly, feels her wings slump a bit, then promptly decides her brother is too far and extends her wing to scoop him into her - their - mortals, ignoring the sputtering, groaning and complaining, just watching them get comfortable.

“I want to know if her magic will truly not work.” Polites is watching closely, trying to figure out a plan, or her reasoning or just anything his friend can use to his advantage in the room but there’s not much.

“I hope you know getting hurt here is not allowed.” Tele shifts against his dad, getting comfortable after a god was shoved on them, though none of them had been hurt, amused as Herm cuddles into Ath’s side.

“I mean, he doesn’t really get that choice? He can minimize the injuries and such, but no injuries at all is not his choice since he doesn’t have home field advantage.” Eurylochus knows his brother and king, he likes to do anything to ensure his men are not hurt, killed or otherwise under his command if he can avoid it.

“I don’t think this was ever going to be without injury, she’s a witch with magic.” Ody feels the urge to point out, even if he’d had a plan, a weapon and ideas, nothing he did would’ve done anything without the Moly, and even with the Moly, there was a fight, there was always going to be a fight honestly.

“Owlet, you are a trouble magnet worse than I thought.” Athena sighs tiredly, because she’s got an idea where he might’ve misstepped, but she could be wrong as well given everything.

I’ve got people to protect
C’s eyes are gold still, not glowing as strongly, but definitely gold, her gaze determined and almost angry.
Nymphs I can’t neglect
Her right hand is clenched in a fist and her right grasps a wand as she starts down the stairs her eyes glowing a bit more.
So I’m not taking chances, dear
O has gotten back to his feet, if only just, still partially rising from his crouch, as she points her wand at him, clearly done trying to negotiate with the man, already planning her actions.

“I still don’t quite get what set her off, but if she had just waited a moment, you two could’ve worked something out, given you’re both trying to protect people at the moment and you just want yours returned to normal in order to leave.” Polites frowns, Circe seems to be a bit too quick to act.

“Oh, she was certainly not going to wait that moment, she has magic she thinks she’s got the upper hand so she won’t bother to negotiate." Ody grumbles as he shifts, trying to get in a place where Herm’s feathers stop poking him in the back, sighing when they shift away enough to simply be petting him rather than poking.

“Yeah, no. She’s acting way too familiar with you, especially since you might not smell like me all that much anymore, not after ten years, but there’s no way she can’t tell another nymph has claimed you.” Penelope hisses, upset her smell is gone, but her mark remains, even she can sense it faintly, so the woman must be able to as well.

“She must be assuming that since the smell is so faint he is either no longer with that nymph or something is off about their relationship, if it wasn’t just a one night stand or drunk night.” Pen murmurs, because she had not had reason to ask Cir why she had not known Ody was hers, but now she does and she’s gonna get an answer, damnit.

“I get she might not like people, but you have made no moves to threaten her nymphs. This seems extreme as a reaction.” Athena growls, wings spreading a bit in her anger before she curls them, fingers curling and uncurling with her desire to grab this woman and know why she seems so damn confident she won’t be punished.

“I want to know why she doesn’t seem to realize the Moly is being used here.” Tele would assume a witch would know the items that might affect their magic, but Cir really doesn’t seem aware his dad has used Moly.

“I think that might be because she’s not expecting a mortal to have it. Something tells me, given that Hermes gave it to me, that mortals are not usually able to acquire, let alone find Moly.” Odysseus would recognize the signs of a gift that is not common for mortal hands anywhere.

“I sincerely doubt she truly expected Moly to be involved in this, but then again, she might've been stressed or low on magic or any other reason as well.” Herm isn’t certain what exactly is stopping her, since Cir usually can sense Moly, but it might be Ody’s divine blood coming into play.

“You just need bodyguards. All day. Every day. For the next several years until we get home.” Eurylochus mutters as he already tries to figure out who he might convince to do that, who will be a good enough fighter for that position as well, anything he can though he doubts his brother will accept it.

“I wish it were as easy as simply putting body guards on him.” Ath sighs, recalling the numerous owls she had sent to watch her Fledgling, only for him to still be kidnapped, injured or otherwise somehow involved in trouble despite her guardians.

If you make one wrong move then you’re done for
She is still pointing her wand at O, who has his back to a pillar, a wolf at her side now, eyes glowing gold, a snake wrapped around the top of the pillar, its eyes also glowing gold, while O seems startled, even a bit fascinated. C lowers the wand, her right hand to her side, palm up, as if to gesture to the wolf in front of her.
Anything I don’t approve and your done for
O has his hands on the pillar behind him, gaze locked on the wolf, well aware his sword will take too long to draw at this point, as C pets the wolf’s head. The wolf has moved back, C moving closer with a smug look on her face. The three nymphs peer out from behind a pillar past C, one covering the middle nymph's eyes, while the other two look entertained.
I could put a spell on you and you’re done for.
C leans in, her arms rising to cage O between her and the pillar, mere inches between the two of their faces, O still seeming startled by this, like he perhaps had expected her to be more civil or open to negotiation. She grabs his chin between one hand, which finally seems to get his attention, as he gives her an angry look.

Eurylochus bursts into laughter, can’t help it. Oh, sure he’s upset the woman is touching his brother and captain without the man’s permission, but to see the man immediately get angry because she’s not Penelope is hilarious to him.

“Good to know you never grew out of that.” Pen hums in amusement, since she had not been certain if he had or not, always backing away from extremely pushy women or shivering at unwanted touches from women even before they were married.

“She’s got you in a corner with animals nearby, that’s not ideal.” Athena had not been aware the witch had her animals nearby still, since they had not appeared to be anywhere, but maybe she had summoned them.

“She is way too close for just a conversation or anything.” Tele grimaces, because currently Cir is reminding him of the suitors and he doesn’t like that, because his dad doesn't deserve that. (Especially since the man has no one there to protect him but himself, which often isn’t enough against people like that.)

“She really needs to make up her mind on what she’s doing.” Polites growls, fingers gripping his arms tight where they’re crossed, because she is threatening his friend with death, but also appears to be flirting with him.

“I wish she had used her senses a bit more, we could’ve avoided this if she had.” Ody flinches a bit, remembering how tight her grip had been and how much he’d just wanted it off of him, but unwilling to upset her more since she had his men still.

“She had better stop flirting with you, the ring on your hand is obvious and you are still marked.” Penelope snarls, gripping her husband tight to her because she had waited for ages to be at his side and longer still to bear his child, no one else gets to just swoop in and try to snatch him without consequences.

“I swear to gods, I have told her personal boundaries, I don't even know how many times.” Herm hisses slightly, because they can all tell his grandson does not want that touch at all.

“Can she not?” Odysseus groans as he tilts his head back, resting it on his wife’s shoulder as he stares at the ceiling, at least until Telemachus grumbles and starts dragging his hands along the man's throat, who jumps at the cold fingers especially since nails occasionally catch him, which has him lowering his head with a wince.

“She had better not.” Ath rumbles as she forces her wings to not move, despite them wanting to puff up and spread wide in order to appear bigger, scarier, larger, in order to protect her family.

Boy, you better run or soon you will be done for.
She releases his chin and almost teasingly trails her fingers down the air by his throat, as if to show what she could or would do, a teasing gleam in her eyes with her raised eyebrow as she looks down at him. She tips her head to the side, clearly enjoying this.

O
I don’t mean to tip your scale,
O grabs her wrist with his hand, an eyebrow raised with a small grin, before he tilts his head and tips her hand back slightly.
But you will fail at placing any spells on me
C is the shocked one now, an eyebrow raised, clearly she’d never had anyone talk back to her like this, maybe not be affected by her magic either. He leans in closer, clearly making a point.
I just ate a flower
He places his right hand on his chest, while his left is up in the air, palm up, fingers curved slightly, but no higher than his shoulder. The wolf moves towards him.

“Is that wolf safe now?” Tele watches it, because he knows most people compare him and his father to wolves, but he just can’t quite see it, at least not completely for himself, for his dad though, yeah.

“I doubt any wolf is ever safe, but as safe as it could be.” Athena responds easily, because wolves are wild, dangerous creatures, intelligent as well, but they can still easily be taken out by other things that are stronger and smarter.

“I really wish she had not made that gesture, I really didn’t need that damn feeling.”Ody grimaces because he had not liked the way the gesture had made him feel, but between the Moly, sleep deprivation and his half assed plan, he’d ignored it in the moment.

“Keep your hands away from him, he’s mine, bitch!” Penelope snarls as she pulls her husband completely into her lap, ignoring the amused look he gives her and the deadpan looks from others nearby who are far too used to her doing such things.

“Depending on how far she goes, I may need to place some punishment on her.” Herm mutters to himself, because he had not stuck around as long as he wanted to, duty had called and better to not call attention to where he was.

“Was it smart to tell her that?” Polites isn’t certain whether telling the witch he could counter her power was a great idea, but if his brother went with it, he was probably still trying to solve this with no bloodshed.

“I swear, every damn woman and even some of the men you meet.” Pen growls lowly, pulling her boys closer to her, refusing to leave one out over the other, because they look so similar, she can only imagine the suitors her boy will get.

“I don’t think letting you go alone, let alone high on a plant, was the way to go, but at least you might have a plan and way to get yourself out of that.” Eurylochus knows his brother and the plan had better be a good one or else the man might not make it which isn’t allowed at this point.

“I don’t know if this was the best plan you ever made, but it certainly wasn’t your worst one either.” Ath knows because she had some pretty insane, out there ideas from her Fledgling and they would’ve certainly shaken things up.

“I really hope there’s a good plan in place here or I might be dead soon.” Odysseus winces because death by wolf or witch does not sound great, but if things do not go to plan, he at least can know how to do better.

One that claims your power
Without any hesitation, he pets the wolf that’s moved closer, its eye now blue.
So you better cower now and flee
C already looks done, while O crosses his arms, looking a bit more amused and clearly focused now.

C
You must be a liar
C looks uncertain, her wand raised up by her shoulder, left hand still grasping it, as she observes the mortal in front of her.
Mortals can’t acquire
She jabs O in the chest with a finger from her right hand, the left one lowered at her side, wand still clutched in her fingers. O barely moves, looks almost amused by her words.
Moly without dire consequence
She switches the hand her wand is in, left one holding it now, right one lifted palm up where she creates an illusion of Moly. She proceeds to crush the illusion, a nymph shedding a tear behind her.

“At least the Moly is working, clearly.” Herm had known it would work, but sometimes it can take a bit longer to work with some mortals and he really had to hope his grandson wasn’t one of them.

“The wolf let you pet it, and she clearly knows what Moly is, so maybe this can be peaceful yet.” Polites knows the hope in his chest is not likely to hold, given that Circe seems determined to have her way, but he can still hope.

“Please, the Moly was working from the start and you knew it. Her magic would’ve worked earlier if it wasn’t.” Ody mutters in response to his godly relative, amused because the god really thought he didn’t know - or learn - that Moly takes a while to work for some people.

“You’re extremely lucky so far, but you must be quick now. The Moly won’t last long.”
Athena urges, still not happy her brother had given such a dangerous item to her mortal, but it is proving helpful and it’s not happened, so no real changing it.

“I wish we could have pet wolves, but we definitely don’t have the things required to watch over them.” Tele pouts, well aware he shouldn’t, but after losing Argos, he has been wanting another dog, and wolves are close enough.

“I am certain we can change the palace to ensure we can care for wolves. Have to admit, I wasn't certain the Moly would work for a second, but glad to see it is.” Odysseus already has plans in his mind to create a palace for them, though that would mean having to run into Circe somehow to get her help taming them…

“I really wish you had not been required to rely on such a material, but it was my own foolish actions that led to this, so I can only apologize.” Ath reaches out and runs her claws gently through the hair of her Fledgling, grateful when he leans into it, something she wasn’t certain she’d get a chance for during the ten years apart, and after their argument, nevermind when he turned down being her champion again in the palace.

“Please tell me she stops getting into your personal space, I am about to grab a damn sword and show her the meaning of boundaries.” Penelope growls, letting her fangs show without hesitation, because damnit, her husband has always loved them and she’s angry enough she can’t be bothered to hide them.

“I will certainly be right there at your side if she doesn’t get the message, and if we ask, I’m certain either Ath or Ar will be willing to lend us a bit of help, all things considered.” Pen growls out, her fangs never hidden, not since the moment the suitors were removed from the palace permanently, because her family loves seeing them.

“I sincerely hope this works out because she seems to know more about Moly than you do at the moment and that might be your downfall.” Eurylochus frets the slightest bit, especially since he had kind of hoped to see some of the men sneaking around or showing up late because his counterpart had asked them to, but so far nothing which means it’s unlikely he did anything, the dumbass.

O
Then I must be a god like you
O takes her wand in hand, C looking surprised he dared to do that, or maybe that he could at all. O just seems to be almost teasing her now.
Cause I got this root from the ground with my bare hands.
He leans back against the pillar, left arm crossed almost at his waist, while the right one rests its elbow on the wrist of the left, letting him create his own illusion with the wand at his shoulder of him getting the Moly, his gaze focused on the illusion. C seems skeptical, and there’s a feather in O’s hair.

C
Hermes gave it to you, didn’t he?
She grabs it, looking more amused now, clutching it between two fingers, right hand resting against the elbow of her left, an image of Hermes heels and the wings there hovering past the feather.

“Oops, my bad, darling.” Herm giggles, amused because he had not realized it was his own feather that had given away his involvement, but can’t deny he’s glad the woman knows the man had his favor.

“I doubt she’d have believed you even without the feather, given mortals don’t know much about Moly to begin with, but it was certainly a decent try to get her to back down.” Athena knows her Owlet well, and he is trying so hard not to shed anymore blood, which after ten years of it, she gets.

“You both are just teasing each other now. I think I see why you two get along.” Pen hums in amusement, still not happy with how close Cir is to her husband, but well aware he only has her in his heart, though she wouldn’t mind adding others.

“How do you continue to find people just like you?” Eurylochus despairs, because some of the jokes he has been subjected to when Polites is in the mood are terrifying - because they are hilarious - and he can only imagine how much worse it got during the war.

“I think dad just had really good luck at finding similar people.” Tele laughs because he knows damn well that his dad just enjoys teasing people if he thinks he can get away with it and clearly his uncle was one of those targets.

“Surely this just means she might be a bit more likely to negotiate, but also, there’s just something that tells me she won’t change her mind.” Odysseus runs a hand through his hair, stressed and so damn tired already, and he hasn’t even experienced any of this, though he’s certainly had some strong emotions.

“I think at this point, it’s more something guiding them towards each other rather than luck.” Ath sighs tiredly because she knows damn well she is also one of the people he teases and teases with, but considering how many he’s gathered, it’s definitely not a bad thing.

“I want her out of your space as well, but maybe knowing you have a god's favor will have her backing down?” Penelope knows its a long shot given the woman has magic, but it’s still a hope.

“I am more concerned that the Moly might run out early, given everything that she’s doing with all her magic and such, as well as myself.” Ody knows damn well the Moly had been used a bit more when he used her wand - his own mistake really - so it hadn’t lasted as long as expected.

“I don’t think anything will change her mind at this moment. You might need to be her in her own game in order to actually get her to stand down or help you out in any way.” Polites grimaces even having to say that, but he desperately wants his brother to leave and for his brothers to mend the gaps and breaks already forming of some of their bond, as well as the trust of everyone in general.

O
Okay, fine yes, but regardless!
The feather floats away, C looking indefinitely more amused now, as O slumps and looks disgruntled. C watches the feather float away, while O tosses her wand past his shoulder and lifts his left hand with a finger raised to make his point.
You and I are now evenly matched
O finally brings the conversation back around to where it needs to be, gaze focused on her completely. He’s clearly preparing himself for a fight.
Our fates are intertwined, they’re attached
C doesn’t look impressed, but she won’t back down either at this point. They get close, both almost in the other's face, mere inches separating them at best, looking determined and slightly angry.

“You are really challenging her at this point.” Polites groans as he slumps a bit, so done with his brothers and their stupidity, but also aware this was a possibility.

“Are we really surprised at that?” Pen asks dryly as she lifts an eyebrow, because she had known there was no way this wouldn’t end in a fight, but it had better not turn into anything else.

“I mean, not really but we could still hope, right?” Eurylochus joins Polites in slumping, both of them more than used to Odysseus’ antics and actions as well as how he works.

“I think they’re giving me a bit too much credit.” Ody mutters equally dry, well aware his plans and actions had mostly been instinct and gut some times and other times he had thought it through… before choosing to change it based on his instincts.

“You always had some of the more interesting plans. At least she no longer has the wand for the moment, though I doubt that will completely stop her, she can likely summon it or might even have a spare.” Athena can’t help the way her wings fluff with her tension, because she is not there to help him and hates it.

“I still think there was no reason for her to be so up in arms, but she is protecting her nymphs, so I get it.” Tele understands why Cir is wary of men, after his years with the suitors, but for her to immediately go for turning them into pigs? He doesn’t get that.

“I mean, there really was no reason for you to do that beyond because you were trying to make a point.” Penelope seems amused at the very thought, especially since she’s aware his height has always made it difficult for him to be taken seriously. (She loves her short king though.Especially since his height is the only short thing about him, his personality, his heart, his love, his… well everything has made up for his shorter height.)

“Cir, please, just this once, when he beats you, don’t take your usual actions or else things are going to become tense as hell in here.” Herm almost begs, because he knows how much Penelope loves his grandson - the emotions are more than reciprocated - and he fears for his life if the woman tries to use her magic to force the man to sleep with her. (He has tried to talk her out of that for years, because her magic takes away all consent on the man’s part, but she won’t listen to him.)

“I don’t like how similar we are. I know full well how far I’m willing to go for my men, but if she’s willing to go just as far for her nymphs, this might not end well.” Odysseus grimaces as he shifts his son a bit, amused when tiny gums start to bite at his chiton again, especially since that part is now so soaked he can feel his boy's attempts against his skin.

“Yes, she is just as dangerous as always, that one.” Ath watches carefully, because this is going to be the moment that makes or breaks this tension between them, either into a fight or a really tense talk and she just knows the woman is more likely to fight.

O + C
I’ve got people to protect
C glancing back, at a nearby doorway, the three nymphs peering through it at her in worry or looking unimpressed with the mortal. Clearly she’s checking to make sure they’re not in range.
Friends I can’t neglect
O glancing at a doorway past him, where there resides several pigs, likely his turned crewmates. His own way to make sure they won’t get caught in this fight.
So now there is no turning back
They both level a glare at each other, still mere inches from each other's faces, as a bit of smoke appears at the edge of the screens, clearly both having firmed their resolve.

“Oh, so it truly is going to end in a fight, and we are definitely not going to get out of this perfectly fine.” Odysseus groans because she had looked at his nymphs the way he looked at his crew, they are both equally willing to go far for the ones they protect.

“Yeah, maybe should've taken that into consideration, but Eury didn’t mention any nymphs or anything, so we really can’t be blamed for not accounting for them.” Ody rubs the back of his head, he would’ve gone with a different approach if he had been aware of the nymphs.

“There really is no turning back, not at this point. You can’t afford to give ground if you want to rescue your men.” Athena hisses, wings puffing up a bit, trying to determine how this might go, but she doesn’t know the woman’s scope or power and variety in magic, so she doesn’t know who might win, however much she believes in her Owlet.

“Wait, he really didn’t tell you about the nymphs? I thought maybe it just wasn’t shown but he truly didn’t tell you?” Tele waves his hands about before looking into his father’s eyes, unable to believe that his uncle would truly do such a thing.

“Yeah, wait, hold on, my counterpart was a moron who didn’t even tell you about all the enemies? How was he expecting you to do anything with the information he gave you?” Eurylochus rubs his fingers over his head, careful to keep his nails away from the skin there, even as he tries desperately to not do it so often he rubs it raw.

“I should think your counterpart either thought they would not interfere, was under magic to not mention them or he truly did not think Ody would go to get them and saw no reason to mention them.” Pen knows damn well Eury likely thought Ody would abandon the men - how dare he! - and so he didn’t mention the nymphs because he didn’t think it important.

“I think we’re gonna have to have a long, deep, extremely emotional talk after all of this is over.” Polites smiles at his brothers, but there’s an edge to it that promises retribution if either tries to avoid it, so they both nod. (They want to clear this up before it comes to a head anyways. They’re brothers, damnit.)

“So there truly was no other way, huh?” Herm slumps, because he had still hoped they might’ve talked it out or something, maybe had a telepathic conversation since those are hard to fake emotions or tell lies in, but obviously that was wrong.

“I don’t think we could truly expect anything else, not with them both protecting something dear to them. I get the feeling, given what Hermes said, that Circe is willing to go lower than Odysseus to protect her nymphs however.” Penelope has not forgotten the god saying she could make you fall in love, because the mere word ‘make’ in that sentence means the man no longer can give consent, and she refuses to see her husband treated that way.

“She’ll regret her actions, I’m certain, especially once we return to our times.” Ath can’t help the sly grin on her face, because she just knows Pen is going to have so much fun with the woman the next time she visits. Even more so because she knows the Queen won’t break her relationship or bond with the witch, merely make a really strong point.

You’ve made you’re one wrong move, now you’re done for
Smoke appears past both of them, shapes taking form in it. The one beside O becomes a cyclops with a blue eye, while C’s becomes a chimera, the snake, lion and goat heads all having gold eyes. O starts to draw his sword.
I will be the one to prove that you're done for
O races between the two opponents, clearly trying to get to a better angle and out of the way. The snake sinks its fangs into the cyclops eyes, blue blood running down its face, as it grasps the snake’s neck.
Not even a spell saves you cause you’re down for
O makes a cut, completely severing the goats head, golden blood splashing everywhere, which has the lion turning to him with a roar, O looking startled and scared, not quite in the right position or place to counter it currently.

“Shit, that’s a really fast reaction.” Odysseus continues to cuss under his breath, because he’s not sure he’s going to manage to counter that without some help and the only one he’s got is his cyclops summon, who might not notice.

“Trouble maker.” Ath sighs tiredly, well aware the men could’ve chosen a couple other creatures, but the cyclops had been the most recent and likely most traumatic, so it was the first one his mind latched onto.

Eurylochus bursts into hysterical giggles. “She knows what you used, has more experience-’ His voice changes to anger know. ‘- and I still haven't sent goddamn reinforcements?!”

“I mean, to be fair, it’s possible you sent reinforcements and the forest made sure they never made it to the forest given she has it enchanted with her magic." Herm kindly points out, eyes the man who later betrays and hurts his boy, curious as to what had caused such a drastic change of heart - and suspecting godly intervention somewhere.

“That summon is doing much better than expected given it’s your first time.” Penelope notes, wonders distantly if perhaps there was magic in his family or something at some point and so he has the instincts for it despite not having it.

“What a mess.” Ody groans as he recalls that moment, where he almost got fucking eaten by a huge ass lion, though he is forever grateful to the cylcops for trying so hard.

“I sincerely hope you sent people and they just got lost or else your future might not be all that great, because there are some gods who don’t take kindly to you ignoring debt you owe.” Athena winces, she can no longer say she will protect her Owlet, but there are some gods who had to have fought in the war who won’t allow the man to get away with letting the man who kept him safe die.

“So cool.” Tele watches with wide eyes, watching everything because he might spar with his dad, and Ath, but neither is willing to go all out on him, especially his dad, so to watch the man go all out and beat something is awesome. (Plus, somewhere inside him, is still the little boy who wanted to hear all the stories about his dad.)

“I really, really wish that this is not proof that you are having nightmares as well as still traumatized from the cyclops, but it’s good to have that confirmation despite it already being pretty damn clear.” Polites rubs at his fair, adjusting his headband, something he notices the screen Odysseus wearing everywhere, always on his body somewhere, though he seems to place it in different places to avoid damaging it.

“I can’t say I’m surprised, the thing did kill you and several of his other men right in front of him, you all are close to him, you especially Pol, so to see you killed like that, he’s still hurting from it even now, though for different reasons.” Pen is well aware part of the reason her husband feels so bad about it, hurts for it now, is that he can barely remember the man’s voice - or at least couldn’t - and he had trouble remembering the color of his hair or eyes as well at this point.

Oh you better run or soon you will be done for
The cyclops, blood still down its face, the snake’s head completely twisted from where its meaty hands had broken the neck. The cyclops seems startled, surprised, eye opened wide, before it lunges, forcing the lion head to the ground, O raising his sword up. He stabs it in the face, blood splattering. The dead chimera on the ground, the cyclops the victor despite everything, O still with his sword in the lion head, C standing just past him. The cyclops closes its eye. O grabs C’s right hand in one of his, his sword pressed to her neck with the other.

O
You’ve lost
O gives her a serious look, clearly hoping she’ll let his men go now, that she’ll surrender or admit defeat at least, blood splattered on his face from the lion. C seems surprised.

“She underestimated you as many do.” Athena gives a sharp, almost feral grin because she loves watching people underestimate her Owlet, because he is short or a king of a small island or even because he’s pretty. (For all that he doesn’t seem to believe the last one.)

“You look hot covered in blood like that.” Pen sighs in satisfaction at the sight of her husband like that, cackling at the embarrassed sputtering she gets in response from Odysseus and exasperated, fond, and slightly indignant call of “Pen!” from her Ody.

“You are such a nymph and at times like this, it really shows.’ Polites promptly tells Pen in amusement. ‘I’m glad the summon came to your aid.” He might not like the cyclops, but at least the one he summoned protected him.

“This is why I love spending time with you two.” Tele grins at his parents, amused by the faint blush on his dad’s face, as well as the happiness on his mom’s, things he had not known often or at all before his dad had returned.

“I can’t even say I'm surprised. I’m just glad you got out of that ok and managed to catch her by surprise enough to get a weapon on her.” Eurylochus knows a great deal of men who would’ve been taken by surprise in an ambush after assuming they won, but his brother rarely does that.

“You fared far better than I expected.” Herm admits freely, clapping. He had truly only expected his grandson to make it a draw at best, not beat her like that.

“I really wish that was not the first thing you said-’ Odysseus sighs, though that turns to amusement when Telemachus shifts and lets out an excited shout, the man easily giving his finger to the baby. ‘- but I’m not surprised either. At least she wasn’t expecting me to win either.” He’s really glad the woman was close by as well.

“I don’t even want to hear anymore, the things I’ve learned are already more than enough.” Ath groans in exasperation, because while her family know that’s largely just Ody and Pen being adorably cute and sweet, especially towards their son, the past group don’t, as shown by Athena’s horrified look, Polites and Eurylochus cackles, Odysseus’ groan and Penelope‘s wide grin.

“I can’t even say how pretty my husband looks, covered in blood, whether it be gold or red?” Penelope pouts, enjoying the laughter, as well as the red along her husband’s face, but also more than pleased to note Ody’s face is red enough for her to see and he really is just as pretty, who knows how many years later, especially with a blush.

“I think we need to move away from this topic.’ Ody says with a cough as he tries to calm the heat on his face, well aware both Pen and Penelope’s goal had been to get him and Odysseus to blush. ‘ It was probably just luck that had her so close, if we’re being honest, since she left the fighting to her chimera.”

C
My nymphs are like my daughters
She moves her head further into the sword, not cutting herself but making her point clear.
I protect them at all costs
The vines on the wall closest to the nymphs move closer to them, while the nymphs in question wince and look angry.
The last time we let strangers live
O glances at them, before returning his gaze to C, clearly having no interest in them since they were not fighting him and he has a wife.

“Is she going to ignore that?” Polites asks with a slight growl, because he just knows other men would’ve attacked the nymphs, but his brother had ignored them because they weren’t part of the battle, something that should touch her.

“Good, I’m glad you still remember that lesson because it was one of the more important ones.” Ath had never fully seen all his memories, but seeing him continue to follow her lessons to the best he can in order to survive, makes her happy, though she still wishes she had been there, damnit.

“She can still control the vines,even from that far away?” Penelope frowns in worry because her husband is mostly human - she knows as well as he does that he has some divine blood, not enough for him to be a demigod or anything, but enough to make it so he ages slower - and can only hold up so long.

“Swear to god, she ignores everything outside of what she thinks men are.” Herm growls in annoyance, wings flaring out, though he makes sure they hit no one, because he is friends with Cir, but she really should’ve been able to see that nothing more was required.

“Where the fuck is she going with this?” Odysseus himself asks, frowning in confusion because he had made no moves to hurt her nymphs from the start anyways, so what is the point of this?

“Is she trying to prove how far she’ll go?” Pen demands in surprise and incredulously because the woman must know her other half shares similar thoughts and actions after their fight, so why is she continuing?

“To think she would not pay even that much attention.” Athena is not impressed by how well the woman is blocking out reality in order to not feel guilty or wrong in whatever she is about to do and has already done in the past.

“So she really is going to go too far in whatever she plans to do next? We can all agree on that?” Tele can already tell that Cir is going to push and cross boundaries she should not, for reasons she should not, and that are - honestly and at that moment in time - completely irrelevant.

“All the way, kid. I’m not certain what she has planned, but your dad is going to get the brunt of it without a doubt, because my counterpart is an idiot, and I can only hope it’s not too bad.” Eurylochus gently pats Tele’s because he just knows that somehow, his counterpart, as stupid as he’s been acting, must’ve done something far worse since the kid seems to sort of hate it, but it’s the detached sort, where he hates without knowing him.

“I mean, she definitely pushed in places she shouldn’t have, but I really can’t blame her given everything.” Ody murmurs, well aware his family have always disagreed with him on this, despite his attempts to get them to think otherwise. (He is aware, in some part of himself, that Cir was in the wrong, but after all those years with the bitch, he has a hard time remembering that, let alone accepting it.)

We faced a heavy loss
C looks down, angry and upset still, shadowy figures behind her, likely the strangers they let live.
You’ve given me no reason to bestow you with my trust
O seems surprised at the words, perhaps even remorseful. C locks gazes with him, something changed in her, no longer looking for a fight, almost sultry one might say. O still hasn’t moved his sword from her neck.
But everyone’s true colors are revealed in acts of lust
C reaches out with a hand and with two fingers, lifts O’s chin. C has a wide grin on her face, eyes completely gold, no white in sight anymore, clearly casting some sort of magic. C leans closer to speak into his ear, making her actions pretty clear on where she’s going.

O
I’m not sure I follow
O looks grossed out, confused and tired still, but his eyes are glowing gold now, speaking of the potential for a spell having been placed on him now that the Moly has run its use.

“She did not.” Pen and Penelope growl out together, angry and hurt in equal parts at whatever this woman is going to do to their significant other, both tightening their grips on their husbands, refusing to let them go at that moment.

“I can’t agree with her.’ Polites gets surprised looks, but he can’t help himself. ‘Unless it was a life lost or something of equal value, changing men to pigs and forcing them to live like that is not something she gets to decide, and even then, I feel like continuing well after the loss just creates a horrible cycle for this to happen again, except it will be her fault at that point.” He can’t blame her following Xenia, and getting revenge after they hurt her nymphs, but for her to continue to hurt men afterwards in such a way, she’s eventually going to get attacked for taking men like that and she will lose more nymphs, which will be her fault for choosing to turn them to pigs.

“You’re probably not wrong, but I don’t know if she was willing to see reason like that.” Ody admits easily, snuggling closer to his wife, getting comfortable in her grasp as he does so.

“So she truly has no reason to do this but to satisfy herself and in truth, it is really not helping at all.” Athena can almost understand that, given how many people need that knowledge, but having not quite ever experienced it herself, she can not fully grasp it either.

“She was always a bit too recklessly emotional, in my opinion, especially during times like this.” Herm hisses, because she is dragging his grandson down as well now, using her magic when he is vulnerable and tired.

“I think she is going too far regardless.’ Eurylochus admits easily, because she can easily use magic, so in his opinion she can choose other methods. ‘Listen, if she can use magic, it shouldn’t be too hard or difficult to hide her island or manipulate the memories of mortals to either forget it existed or make them think they were on another island and move them there while they’re unconscious, so why choose this method?”

“She is merely trying to soothe herself and in doing so, unable to see past her past mistakes, is creating a bigger one.” Ath murmurs gently, softly, because she knows that Cir has to be aware of that on some level, subconsciously at least, so she feels no remorse for the woman.

“So after all that effort to fight and convince her, winning fairly at that, she’s going to use her magic to win in the end?” Odysseus can’t call her methods underhanded, given some of his own, but he’s extremely unimpressed by Circe choosing to fight him and being such a sore loser she decided to take another method instead of just freeing his men.

“Ugh, she kind of really reminds me of the suitors right now and I don’t like that at all.” Tele shudders, because he is friends with her and he would rather have never known this, but if it means he can help his dad and face the woman head on, he will because she can’t get away with anything just because his dad has a hard time with boundaries, especially if she used magic to help.

Chapter Text

3rd pov

C has her head lowered, eyes closed, the pin holding her clothes to her chest gone, the tops of her boobs barely able to be seen, but nothing more. She does not look happy, but she changes real quick, tipping her head back, a small smile on her face.
C
There are other ways of persuasion…
She raises her hand from her side, her boobs fully in view as O’s sword - held around her collarbone - comes into view. She gently starts to fondle the tip of the sword, petting along the sharp edges.
There are other modes of control…
O looks nervous and uncomfortable, but he’s not going to move his sword away from a dangerous enemy's chest, not when she could easily kill him with one move but he needs to be close now. He also looks tired and weary. His face gets tight and even more uncomfortable on the last word, brows drawing down, frown getting deeper, shoulders curling up.
There are other means to deceit…
She gently holds the sword in one hand, the other caressing the tip, as she has shifted to face him, putting the tip against the base of her neck, as she gives him a lustful look. There is a bracelet on the wrist of the hand holding the sword.

“She better back off.” Penelope narrows her eyes and hisses, because she is not going to let her husband go if she knows he’s going to be made uncomfortable by other women on the journey home.

“This entire thing is going to be such a mess.” Herm sighs, though he can’t help the slight twitch of his lips because he had been trying to get Ody to see Cir had not been right with her actions, regardless of intent, but the man just hadn’t listened to him.

“Back up, maybe even someone who can simply get you the fuck out of there.” Eurylochus bemoans, because there is no way he’s letting this happen, especially if it gets any further.(He is well aware their brother loves his wife, if he sleeps with Circe, it’ll be magic and nothing short of it.)

“Ugh.” Tele wrinkles his nose and buries his face in his dad’s chest, not wanting to see the woman like this, especially because all he can see is the suitors overlapping, especially because he’s never much cared for intent unless it was good. (Cir might be trying to protect her nymphs, but there are other ways than this.)

“She is taking this much too far given her power." Athena glares at this woman who is bothering her Owlet in a way she is not certain she’d be able to help with even if she were there, though the magic certainly wouldn’t be working.

“She really had better back off, but even if she doesn’t, I will be marking you extensively before her next visit.” Pen mutters, because she knows nothing he does with any woman will be willing, not in the slightest, but her idiot doesn’t always accept that.

“This is not going to end well, but please let it end better than I think.” Polites really thinks that Circe is taking this way too far, much too far, given her power and the fact that their king came in politely, merely asking her to undo something she had done unjustly, and now she is breaking him.

“She truly has the worst method.” Ath had hoped she was wrong, given everything that bitch does later, she was sincerely hoping Cir had a different method that did not involve trying to sleep with the man. Her Fledgling deserved better.

“I would never, there’s no way…” Odysseus seems entirely uncertain all of a sudden, because he loves his wife, but he no longer has resistance to magic and his eyes had glowed at the end of the last one, suggesting he had been put under the influence.

“She really wasn’t all that bad.” Ody murmurs quietly, softly, gently, trying to soothe his son and wife, as well as his godly patrons, because they are all overreacting. (Yes, he had not wanted it, can barely remember this beyond a blur to a certain point, yet remembers other things far too vividly, but she had not gone nearly as far as that bitch later.)

There are other roads to the soul…
O is still sweating, watching her closely for a move to attack or injure him, but he looks like he wants to back away as well. He grimaces, narrowing his eyes, looking like he’s just tasted something sour.
There are other actions of passion…
C lets go of the sword and moves around, until she is behind him, though O does not take his eyes off her, refusing to be attacked because he lowered his guard near an enemy. She places her hands on his shoulders, leaning her head to the side before losing all the space between them, O glaring at her for it, even as she looks down at him from over his shoulder.
You have so much left to learn
She gently cups his face with her right hand, which has him nervous and looking a bit scared, especially since three of her fingers are near his neck, making it easy for her to slide her hand down and choke him out. His eyes pulse faintly.

“She’s pushing too far.” Athena tenses and growls, wanting to lash out and smack that woman’s hands off her Owlet, who looks more and more tense and tired with every look she takes.

“Dad, I really don’t care how far she goes, this is just so wrong.” Tele mutters softly to the man, not moving from his position, aside from bringing a hand up to clutch at the chiton over the man’s heart, well aware his neck can trigger him at the wrong time.

“There has to be some mark left over, even after ten years.” Penelope - well to call what she did as a snarl would be an insult but - snarls, especially because she can see her husband, the idiot in her arms, getting tenser and tenser the longer things go on, seeming to ignore the pulse of magic in his on screen counterparts eyes, meaning he can’t deny her.

“She’ll have learned her lesson once we get home.” Herm chuckles to himself, unable to bring himself to cackle or be too giddy when this woman is assaulting his grandson in such a way.

“She needs to get her hands off of you right this moment.” Polites growls, fingers digging into the bed under his hands, wishing he had his sword and his counterpart was alive to intervene.

“She was definitely not completely in the wrong either, son. She was just trying to protect her nymphs, the people under her. As much as I would hate it, I would sleep with someone if it kept the two of you safe.” Ody admits softly, almost uncertainly because he would do it, but he can’t deny the very thought has him wanting to be sick.

“No, never. If that is ever the option, you fight because I refuse to be the reason anything like that ever happens to you.” Pen knows she is breaking the order of things, but damnit, she’s not going to just let him get away with something like that. She gently cradles one of his hands in hers.

“I wouldn’t, I swear, I would never, I promise…” Odysseus starts to chant to himself, clutching Telemachus - a piece of the two of them that he loves more than her - closer to his chest, because there is no way he would truly sleep with the witch, right?

“I will never let this happen, and if it does, it’ll be over my dead goddamn body.” Eurylochus hisses, baring his teeth in a way he normally wouldn’t, unable to believe his counterpart anymore.

“I sincerely hope that she has a contingency plan for if she sleeps with the wrong man.” Ath tightens her grip on her spear, wondering if Pen will let her get in on this or if she should just leave it to the woman, because she just knows Cir was being unbearable likely because her blessing was still faintly on him.

Want to save your men from the fire…
The fireplace in the building, past two of the pillars that hold it up, a fire roaring strongly inside of it.
Show me that you’re willing to burn
O is staring, terrified, horrified and looking even a bit disgusted at the words, clearly understanding where she is going with this, even as her hand moves away from his face. She starts to slide them down his chest.
Whoa
She tugs his shirt and the cape around his shoulders down a bit.

O
Who’s to say with the mistakes I’ve made
O moves finally, almost shoving forward, leaving his cape behind, his sword still drawn but he doesn’t seem willing to use it, or perhaps due to magic can no longer think to use it against her.

“There’s no way I’m considering it…” Odysseus mutters in horror, but he thinks he might get it as well, because his on screen counterpart has just lost over 500 men to an angry god, he doesn’t want to lose more, but he also can’t give up on his wife and son. He gently, but strongly pulls Telemachus closer to him and snuggles firmly into his wife.

“I can see why you might have but I am extremely glad to see this appears to all be magic.” Pen murmurs softly to her husband, well aware he has some insecurities about this because he has tried to describe it somewhat to her, but he always seems to stumble, which she’s assuming to mean he barely remembers it. (and now she knows why, between sleep deprivation, betrayal, magical exhaustion/ whatever the hell Moly had done and the magic of Cir.)

“I swear to god, this had better be the damn magic.” Athena snarls because she knows her Owlet and he would never even think this, not with her support and his devotion to his wife, not even after losing over 500 men to a god.

“Oh it definitely is, I don’t know about you, but I can almost see it trying to swallow him completely, but he’s still fighting, which is impressive for someone in his condition.” Herm says with a wide grin, but it’s not nice, it’s not kind, it promises pain and chaos and bad days to whoever argues with him.

“Love, we both know this is not you, calm yourself and try to keep an eye on anything that might help you.” Penelope murmurs softly to her beloved, still angry, still upset, but smothering it in a calm, because she can use that anger later, when her husband doesn’t look like he’s moments from panicking at the thought of sleeping with another woman.

“I still can’t believe you think I was fighting it.” Ody grumbles to his godfather, who gives him a sharp look, because he is not allowed to argue with him about this either, but he is also well aware the god had been trying to tell him this for ages, he just couldn’t believe it because it felt like an excuse.

“I swear to the gods-’ Eurylochus heaves a tired, exhausted, fucking soul deep sigh, before turning to his brother. ‘I am giving you a whole new oath once we get back home, I don’t care if you want it, you’re getting it.” He doesn't give his king a moment to argue, simply turning away and ignoring his protests.

“I mean, I sincerely hope you do manage to change given everything we’ve seen so far.” Ath says evenly, because she would love to see if he can in fact change or if he is destined to always betray her Fledgling.

“I want to know how the hell things have already gotten this bad. Obviously we’ve missed some things in between some of the videos, maybe a week or so, perhaps even a month, but for everything to fall apart this completely?” Polites had spent years setting his brothers up to be each other's support nets, as well as him and his, but to see them completely estranging each other this easily, he can’t even with them.

“I think this might be the most messed up thing I’ve seen so far, because all I can see are those damned suitors, and I don’t want to think of you stuck in a situation like that, not this early on.” Tele knows his dad got stuck in a worse situation, but to realize it could’ve happened even earlier in his journey, it hurts. His dad doesn’t deserve this.

C
Don’t be afraid
C gives him a gentle look, her hands outstretched from where he escaped. She pulls them in and rests them, crossed, against her collarbone.

O
That they will be the last
O sheathes his sword, his teeth grit and already looking like he hates the choices and decisions he might come to, as he closes his eyes, looking resigned almost.

C
Think of your past
C is still watching him, but a closer look reveals a golden glow in her eyes, shaped almost like a heart.

O
Mistakes I ever make
He lifts his head, still looking uncertain and unconvinced of this path.

“Shit, her magic is so damn strong, what the hell?” Athena hisses, wings flaring at the strength she’s sensing, because even with her fading blessing her Owlet should be winning, but this Circe is overpowering it.

“You look so uncomfortable and she is not paying a lick of attention.” Tele grumbles, burying his face in his dad’s neck, needing to feel his pulse and warmth, not wanting to be pulled into any flashbacks of the suitors if he can avoid it.

“I’m surprised you’re managing to fight back at all, dear.” Penelope knows magic, not enough to use it or anything, but she knows enough to know that her husband is fighting real hard with strength he really doesn’t have.

“I think at this point, we need to ward you against so many magics and gods, you’d be better off wrapped in a bubble or something, to keep you safe.” Herm mutters, already trying to work out how they might go about it if it keeps his grandson and family safe.

“She is practically trying to suffocate you in her magic, isn't she? There’s no way you give in without a fight which just tells me that you are pushed to exhaustion and/or cornered.” Eurylochus is worried about that, because his counterpart is the one who is going to let this happen, and that is a disgrace, a goddamn betrayal he can’t even imagine.

“I think she might’ve been trying to build it up and layer it, like Ath sometimes did with her blessing, but instead she sort of fucked it up.” Ody winces as he remembers something vividly, the feeling of her magic under his skin, as well as the feeling of drowning on land, which he never wants to experience again.

“So there has to be a way to stop magic like this, even if we are mortal, or else there would not be a reason to show us this. Obviously we could try to avoid this happening, but if we can’t, there has to be something we can do to interrupt or stop her magic.” Polites hunches forward, hands clasped in front of his mouth, already trying to go through anything he knows about herbs that might help, recalling everything he learned from Chiron.

“She is going to get so much backlash once we return and she stops by next.” Ath seems amused by this, wings fluttering slightly in her amusement, not even her armor rubbing against her scars managing to dissuade her from it.

“I really wish I had thought this far ahead, because there had to be more to the plan, but I either forgot it or never got that far between the exhaustion and the sudden energy from the Moly.” Odysseus grimaces at even the thought of experiencing something like that, only able to imagine how uncomfortable it was, never mind how much his body had to ache and be sore.

C
Don’t break when
C finally moves closer, circling around his right side, before she grabs his wrists.

C+O
There is much power
O pulls back, but C pulls him towards her, which he fights yet again.
So much power
C tugs him towards her but he yanks back, clearly still fighting this.
But there’s no puppet here
C yanks him this time, but he pulls back again, despite the fact this isn’t working, and O looks sad and terrified as he realizes he really can’t do anything to stop her. There are no tears in his eyes, but it looks like he could cry at any moment. C has sat on a desk in front of a mirror, placing his hands on her still uncovered boobs, and he looks, not lustful, but terrified, like he wants to pull away but can’t, and given her hands are still on his wrists, he likely can’t.

“Fuck no, she needs to get her hands off of you now!” Pen snarls, because her husband had put up a fight, had clearly not wanted it, despite the magic, and sleep deprivation and everything, but Cir is forcing it now.

“There’s no damn way…’ Odysseus stares in horror then passes Telemachus to his wife, turning to his future counterpart. ‘How far into the future are you? There is no way in hell we just give in, so tell me how fucking far you are so I can get my damn answer!” It’s almost a snarl, except it’s all desperation, no anger, so none of them move.

Ath had been waiting for this and had figured this might be the moment it came up so she reaches up to start unbuckling her helmet as she responds.” We are from-’ She pauses to not have her words muffled by her helmet as it comes off, before turning to face them. ‘-22 years into the future.”

Odysseus flinches back as if struck, looking horrified and so confused, as he whispers, “22 years?” because he should not have taken that long to return home, if they account ten of that to the war, so how many more does he spend on the sea, away from his son and wife? (A distant part of him notes how his wife still looks so damn beautiful after that much time.)

“22 years?” Polites demands in a whisper, because it should never have taken all that long to get to Ithaca, but it’s already been 2 years on sea since they left Troy on screen, how much of that is travel, how long has that Ody been with his family before coming here?

“Yeah, it certainly wasn’t an easy time, but I got to finally meet my dad and everything, I was just really glad he returned home alive.” Tele rubs the back of his head, before nuzzling into his dad, always savoring the warmth and love he can feel from the man.

“What the hell did we do?” Athena demands in a whisper, sounding horrified and confused and so hurt, because she has noted the scar, only her father’s weapon could do that, but also 22 years, at least potentially 12 of that after the war, and a good chunk of it without her, meaning she caused a great deal of her Owlet’s hurt and pain indirectly.

“It will not get much better, I'm afraid, but I won’t spoil anything.” Herm wants to have their raw reactions, their visceral emotions, so he knows they will in fact change this, not just try their hardest because he tells them what happens.

“She dares try and force you into this despite you fighting? If you were pulling away, she should know you could be reasoned with.” Penelope hisses, cuddling her baby close, but then he makes a small, sad noise, and she yanks her husband closer by his clothes, cuddling him to her and Telemachus, to soothe them both. (She glances at their counterparts and can see how it had been 22 years, can only imagine how painful they were, but her darling still looks great.)

“Yeah, things got real rough a lot, but I got home to my family after everything, and we’re moving forward together, that’s all I’ve wanted for years at this point.” Ody knows it sounds horrible to condense the journey down like that, but they’re already going to see everything, so no point in trying to give them more.

“I failed you so bad we spent years more on the sea trying to get home?” Eurylochus knows he’s not entirely to blame, but why the hell hadn’t anyone scouted the cave the cyclops was in, why did they not search for another island, he gets the war changes people but to change so drastically like that, he hates it.

C
This is the price
C has a grin on her face, clearly happy her plan is working out.

O
I’m just a man
O is looking away, his eyes tired and sad and despondent, even as he finally closes them.

C
We pay to love
There is no line

O
I’m just a man
C opens her eyes, glaring at him almost, with golden eyes bright and strong, clearly using magic somehow.

C
Never enough
So much power
So much power
O still has his eyes closed, looking torn and so disgusted with himself.