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"Captain, I have something that I must confess, something that I must get off my chest. Until it is said, I cannot rest."
Odysseus listened quietly, but in his mind...
Oh no. It's happening.
Confess? Eurylochus? his friend, his comrade, is brother-in-law, for Zeus!
How can he face Ctimene when they get back after this? "I'm sorry, dear sister, I just can't help being so chaming that your husband fell for me instead"?!
What would Polites do? Friend, please help him!
"Captain?" Eurylochus said, his voice low and nervous, pulling at Odysseus's heart. After losing so many men, how can he bear to break his own brother's (even if Eurylochus apparently sees him in a very different way) heart?
"Eurylochus, go make sure this island is secure," he finally says, figuring out that he can buy more time by sending him away.
"But captain-"
"There's only so much left we can endure." He dares to take a look over his shoulder, which only heightens his worry once he sees Eurylochus's expression. Nervousness, worry... guilt? and a sprinkle of sadness. Gods, he looks like a kicked puppy. "Whatever you need to say can wait some more, of that, I'm sure."
"...Okay."
Eurylochus leaves, dejected.
Good. Now, he has more time to think. And if he also takes this chance to distract his mind from his earlier losses, that's only for him to know.
Now... what to do? He briefly thinks about scolding Eurylochus for having this kind of thoughts, not only because he is married to Odysseus's sister, but also because none of them are in the mood for romantic dramas after everything they went through.
But then again, the morale is already so low, how can he have his second in command heartbroken and scolded? And even more so, he has always seen Eurylochus as his dear friend, someone he has to look after. He's rather unwilling to treat him too harshly in matters of the heart.
So, the next question pops up. How to let Eurylochus down without hurting him too much? After all, he's completely loyal to Penelope, and Eurylochus already has his sister!
Huh. Thinking about it, could it be that after so many years away from Ctimene his head has gone bad and he's started to confuse the two of them?
Odysseus thought about it carefully. Well, it must be a confession of his passionate love, right? what else could it be? It's not like Eurylochus opened the wind bag or anything. Pfft... that would be ridiculous!
"... Let's just cut our losses, you and I, and let's run!"
OH NO
Now he even wants to elope together!