#poseidon never forgives

[flwrkid14]

Tim Drake: Haunted by Gods He Can’t Outrun

Tim Drake knows better than to believe in peace.

It’s not the crime, or the sleepless nights, or even the constant pressure of being the world’s youngest, sharpest detective. No, it’s something older. Something deeper.

Something… divine.

He’ll never admit it, but the ocean terrifies him. The weight of Poseidon’s gaze lingers over every wave, every distant shore. Even in Gotham, far from the sea, he can feel it—an unspoken threat. The god never truly forgave him, never let go of the grudge, the insult of Odysseus’ defiance. Every ripple of water feels like a pulse, a reminder: You can’t escape me.

He doesn’t go near the docks. Can’t even look at the ocean. Not without his stomach knotting in fear. Because Poseidon? He’s still out there. Still watching.

And then there’s Athena.

If Tim’s life as Robin was an echo of anyone, it’s her. The endless push to be better, smarter, faster. To solve the unsolvable. He can still hear her voice in the back of his mind, urging him to make the right choice, to outthink everyone—Batman, Ra’s al Ghul, even Bruce. But living up to the goddess of wisdom and war? That’s a pressure he can never shake. Every victory feels like it’s never quite enough, like he’s still chasing her approval.

He tries to forget her teachings sometimes. Pushes them down. But when he’s alone, going over case files at 3 AM, it’s her words that come back. Plan for every outcome. Calculate every risk. Don’t disappoint me.

As if he could ever stop trying.

The rest of the Olympians? They never really fade, either. They whisper in the moments when his guard’s down, when he thinks maybe he’s free. But they never let him forget. Gods never do.

Tim’s haunted by them all—the weight of their expectations, their grudges, their games. He’s not just Robin, or Red Robin, or even Tim Drake anymore. He’s the legacy of someone who once defied gods and outwitted fate.

And the thing is? The gods remember. They never truly let go of what they once owned.

When Tim walks down the streets of Gotham, he’s not just keeping an eye out for the usual dangers. He’s watching the shadows for something more. Something bigger. Because he knows, deep down, that the gods are always watching, always waiting.

No matter how hard he tries, no matter how many lifetimes he lives, he’ll never outrun the past.

The gods don’t forgive. And they sure as hell don’t forget.

[cassandra-silver]

This came to me earlier, and now I am utterly obsessed: While it was clear to me that Odysseus stabbing Poseidon wasn't any kind of Vengeance, there was one act of Vengeance after all, even if inadvertent—it was Odysseus disproving Poseidon's "Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves" belief right in front of his very eyes. With him as the subject, even.

Think about it—the fact that Poseidon remained ruthless and insisted on punishing Odysseus was the only reason he got stabbed repeatedly. If Poseidon had been merciful, if he had accepted Odysseus' offer of forgiveness, he would've been fine. His own ruthlessness backfired so hard on him this time that I am sincerely hoping it haunts him forever.

I am actually utterly obsessed with Poseidon thinking back to Odysseus "Maybe you could learn to forgive?" on a daily, no an hourly basis. I cannot and will not lie to you that is unironically my favorite moment in the whole Vengeance saga just because of what it says about both the characters—about Odysseus for offering and Poseidon for declining (and also because Odysseus sings it in Poseidon's own motif which is just absolutely brilliant.) And this makes me love it even more.

Poseidon was going to decline, we all know that. I don't think anyone watching—even Odysseus, probably—expected him to accept. But then I'm picturing him lying there, bleeding into the stone, and, against his will, wondering whether maybe he should have. Maybe if he had, he wouldn't be in pain. Maybe if he had not killed Odysseus' fleet ten years ago, he wouldn't be in pain either. Maybe this one time ruthlessness wasn't mercy upon himself—maybe this time, his one grand belief was wrong. Maybe ... it was always wrong.

Obviously, he would never admit to these thoughts, he would slap himself for having them one second later. But I simply need this self-proclaimed god of ruthlessness to be utterly haunted by that and question whether he made the right choice or no—whether he's even lived by the correct philosophy all his immortal life—and no matter what, be too stubborn to admit he was wrong.

He's trying to pretend like nothing changed, but the thoughts still remain. They pester him. They won't leave him alone. Especially every time someone—anyone—is kind to him for whatever reason, they come crashing back into him and they won't leave.

"What if my own ruthlessness hurt me that time?"

"What if ruthlessness isn't mercy upon ourselves after all?"

"What if I'm wrong?"

"What if I have always been wrong?"

The most dreadful thoughts imaginable to a god as proud and stubborn and old as Poseidon, but they're there now and he can't do anything about them. You all don't understand how much I NEED this god to jolt up in his bed at 3 am after having a dream or nightmare about something related to one of his many ruthless deeds (maybe even sinking Odysseus' fleet) and go "BUT WHAT IF I HAD LEARNED TO FORGIVE?? WHAT IF I STILL COULD??" only to immediately slap himself for it because that's absolutely ridiculous.

He is left to watch this belief shatter before his very eyes as he's clinging to the remains of it desperately, trying to keep it all from crumbling. Not because he genuinely believes he's right anymore, but because he simply cannot imagine ... does not know how to live by any other philosophy.

No matter whether it's objectively correct or not, it's the very thing that defines him. The thing he's known for. He has built his entire image around this, he cannot give it up no matter what ... at least not quickly or without help.

But as much he would seek to deny it, his core belief has now been proven wrong; he has actually lived through an instance where it was wrong, and he can do nothing to erase those memories or conclusions from his mind no matter how much he yearns to go back to simpler times.

And that was the real Vengeance, guys—possibly the biggest, most painful existential crisis of Poseidon's immortal life. I rest my case.

Although before I disappear back into the void I simply must give a shout out to @o3o-lapd-o3o (this came to me during a conversation in one of their comment sections for the glorious Friends In Higher Places AU, which is quite possibly my favorite piece of EPIC fan content that exists ...)

[likethexan]

The ideal Zeus Hera and Hades dynamic can only be described as the popular girl in school, the star athlete who’s dating her and their goth brother who sticks around them because he uncomfortable with everyone else

[monsieur-kazzle-dazzle]

i feel like we don’t talk about sally jackson and smelly gabe enough. he wasn’t just a joke, he didn’t just smell bad, he was at the very least emotionally and physically abusive towards sally and percy. he was horrible, and sally still stayed. to protect her son. percy didn’t even live with them for the majority of the year, yet sally still had to live with gabe. she protected her son the best way she thought she could, and it worked. she is hands down the strongest character in the books. out of heroes and gods, titans and monsters. sally jackson is stronger than them all.

[celesrangeepic]

Greek Apologies

I keep hearing people say that Odysseus never apologized properly to Poseidon but in the Greek way he did.

Basically the Greek word that apology is derived from- Apologia means “Speaking in Defense”.

Basically the Greeks would explain why you did what you did while expressing sympathy and remaining respectful.

The reason why Poseidon didn’t accept the apology was because Odysseus permanently crippled Poseidon’s son which was like, a great disgrace for that time period- it would’ve been more honorable to kill Polyphemus.

But anyways- my whole point was that Odysseus DID apologize correctly but due to the disgrace of what Odysseus did, it’s why Poseidon was so angry and said, “This totally could’ve been avoided had you just killed my son.”

This is why Odysseus was quiet when Eurylochus apologized for the wind bag- because he didn’t apologize correctly per the time period, he just said “I’m so sorry, forgive me.” He didn’t give a defense or reasoning, he just begged to be forgiven.

[kittenscookie]

Dear god Epic is slowly pulling me back into Percy Jackson so it's time for a mini crossover idea. (If I get some details wrong please forgive me, it's been a hot minute and I've got the memory of a walnut). Okay, let's say they've gotta get Odysseus's Bow for whatever reason. As the group's contemplating how they're gonna find this thing the gods all just slowly turn to Poseidon.

Poseidon: ...

Athena: You gonna give them her address or should I?

Poseidon: *Groans as he pulls out a pen and post-it note* Okay boys, you're gonna go to this address in Ithaca, knock on the door, ask for [Insert Name Here]. If she's not there go to this address in New Jersey.

Tyson: Who is she?

Poseidon: Your older sister

Percy: We have a sister? Why didn't you ever tell us about her?

Poseidon: ...

Athena: 🤨

Poseidon: .....Go visit your sister

So they do their adventure, escape a couple rough situations, slay a couple monsters. They eventually get to the address, knock on the door, and a young(in terms of appearance) woman with the bluest eyes known to man opens it. She's all smiles, offers them some snacks while she gets the bow.

Nico: Okay, just wondering, why do you have this thing?

Sister: ???

Sister: It's my dad's...Why wouldn't I have it???

Tyson: Huh?

Sister: Odysseus is my other dad

Silence for about a good fifteen seconds before a sly smirk spreads across her face.

Sister: You want the tea?

Percy: Hell yeah!

She pulls out her phone, sends someone a text and not even five minutes later Athena is bursting through the door.

Annabeth: Mom?

Athena: Hi honey. *Points to [Insert Name Here]* You, put the kettle on. *Points to the group* The rest of you, sit down and listen up because I'm still pissed about this shit.

Over the course of the next hour and a half she tells them the juiciest tea they've ever heard. By the end of it they're not surprised that shit never got written down because why would Poseidon and Zeus ever allow future generations know they were fighting that hard—caused a whole second war—for a damn mortal.

[brabble0920]

I've got a theory about the wisdom saga that I haven't really seen anyone else talking about.

(please keep in mind that I studied biology and not literature)

I've seen everyone talking about what happens to Athena at the end of God Games, wondering how hurt she is or if she died. I know the pop culture image of Zeus, that he is a hot head narcissist who cannot see past his own pride and would absolutely attack his favorite child for winning a game. However, I recently read the Iliad and the Odyssey and the vibe I got was more like a Good Omens style "ineffable plan" type personality. He had a plan for everything even if nobody else totally knew what it was.

He would get mad at the other gods who tried to trick him, like Hera distracting him so Poseidon can help the Greeks in the Iliad, but he was never quite so unreasonable as he is in God Games.

I think he lied to Athena about what the game is. He says, "But if he's worth the risk of going under, why not make it a game" and then set up a game in which Athena risks nothing. He told her to prove that Odysseus was worth her losing everything, but she has nothing to lose if she cannot convince the other gods. The only thing at stake is Odysseus' freedom.

I think he knew that she would be able to convince the other gods easily (and she did) and the real test would come when she reached him. When he started getting mad Athena could either back down, beg for forgiveness and admit defeat or risk everything and continue begging for Odysseus' freedom.

I think the reason the song ends when it does is because that is when she really won Zeus' game. By continuing to beg for Odysseus after being attacked, she proved that she really felt so strongly about this that she was willing to lose everything to help win him his freedom.

[wukyma]

Can you elaborate on that silly AU of yours ? 👉🏻👈🏻 (the one about polites and poseidon changing each others)

(it was indeed silly in the beginning. now it's heartbreaking and I have no one to blame except myself)

Part 1 is here, finally ✨ also forgive my little human weakness for unrequited love, I've been listening to Open Arms on loop

The action starts right after Troy is conquered – they went to lotus eaters' island (⬆️ those scenes) and blinded Polyphemus. Polites survives (yay!) then Poseidon shows up (not yay). When Odysseus' half baked apology doesn't work Poli steps in,,, let's say Poseidon is intrigued and proposes an interesting deal (mostly because he wants to see them fail miserably and maybe amuse himself in the process)

I've got a whole plan written for this AU trust!!

Can you tell that I have no idea what I'm doing? I've never actually illustrated any lengthy ideas of mine so this one's running on pure intuition and enthusiasm; if u have any questions feel free to ask!

[regnumveritatis]

'Compromise comforts Guidance'

This event began as most of Hermes's tales do: with a theft. In this instance, the trickster deity stole the net of Loyalty amidst her celebrations in Corinth. Wit accomplished this task so quietly it that seemed no mortals or gods in attendance noticed. However, in his hurry he failed to account for the golden oriole hiding in the trees and the bird quickly told lady Logikos of the deed.

Not wanting to disturb the festivities but also unwilling to allow the crime against her twin, Arsinoe excused herself then proceeded to chase Hermes. To avoid detection she pursued him underwater till they both reached the narrow entrance to the Black Sea and Hermes tossed the net into the waves.

Her plan to confront him dissipated as Reason noted the frantic pace in which he was throwing Loyalty's net. No mirth at his accomplishment was present and Wit knew the correct way to fish for pearls so he wouldn't use it for that so far from the bay. It was more akin to how she pictured Demeter in her search for Persephone than any trick or treasure hunt. As she observed him beneath the waters, the shade of a girl's voice cried out to the sky in the direction where Guidance was casting his net again and again. Thus revealing the motive behind his impromptu larceny.

Instinct took over as the goddess found the soul Hermes was looking for and rose from underwater to place the youth in Loyalty's net. Shocked by her arrival, the god beseeched forgiveness for the deed and insisted it was not done as an insult towards the lady of demigods. Sensibility replied that she did not wish for apologies, merely an explanation which he could provide once they'd delivered the child to Elysium. Hermes agreed to the terms and surprised the goddess by falling on his knees to sob upon 'my unforgivable failure' as he recounted the events leading to the girl's death.

The girl's name had been Helle. In life she was both princess and demigod as the daughter of king Athamas (son of Aelous) of Boeotia and the cloud nymph Nephele before the nymph left court upon the relationship failing. She and her brother Phrixus enjoyed a prosperous life until their father remarried to Ino, daughter of Cadmus who loathed the children of her husband's first marriage. Things came to heel when drought hit the kingdom for through bribery of various messengers, Ino convinced Athamas that the Oracle had proclaimed that only through the sacrifice of Phrixus and Helle could the draught be lifted.

Cephele was informed of the monstruos deed and sought aid from Hermes (she did not know if Hera would answer as Cephele had been created by Zeus specifically for Hera to not suffer Ixiom so the sight of her might prove unwelcome and Perse was a risk as her children were further proof of Helios' infidelity towards her sister Rhodes) to help her children escape this gruesome fate, to let them run away to the furthest corners of the earth if needed so that they may live out their days in peace. Hearing her pleas, the protector of travelers answered and provided Nephele's children with an escape plan by dispatching the Golden Ram Chrysomallos (child of Poseidon and Theophane) who promised to fly the children away since Aelous would not dare harm a child of Poseidon.

The plan was for both children to cling unto the fleece of the Ram until they had reached the kingdom of Colchis where Ino would never think to look for the children. Before their departure Hermes warned each child not to look down or let go of their ride until they'd touched soil. Nonetheless, Aelous sent winds that were not harsh enough to kill Chrysomallos but did force Hermes to negotiate with the winds as they could cause the children to freeze midair. All seemed well until Helle felt drowsy and loosened her grip, causing her to fall from Chrysomallus' back and drown in the strait between the Black and Aegean seas (later named the Hellespont for this reason). Phrixus reached Colchis safely and begged Hermes to recover his sibling's soul so she would not wait for him at the edge of the river Styx before seeking out the land's hospitality. He swore and went to seek Loyalty to borrow her tool for drowned souls but upon seeing the festivities, Hermes did not wish to ruin her feast with the tragedy so he 'borrowed without telling' thinking that he could fish Helle's shade and return the net before anyone would notice. An idea proven wrong as Arsinoe had taken note and found him.

Knowing that by stealing from the Athenide he had committed a crime against Poseidon, Guidance raised his hands and awaited to be taken for whatever punishment ensued. But Common Sense had a widely different opinion of the events transpired than what he expected. According to the golden Athenide, he didn't insult her ebony twin: If anything, the Luck Bringer had honored both her and Perse by answering the call of those forsaken and of godly origin. And poor Helle's death was tragic yes but the messenger could not be faulted for the girl's fall as she had disobeyed his clear instructions unlike her brother whom Arsinoe saw would live a long happy life thanks to Hermes's intervention. She did not order him to cease his tears, merely laid his head upon her lap as he grieved. Providing the gentle touch which heals the soul.

Sappho considered this the moment Hermes fell irrevocably in love with Arsinoe Athenide, despite the fact he would not propose until centuries later. For love is easy when one can admire splendor yes but only hardship can give a bond that outlasts passion and carefree days. Only those who can be counted for in sorrows along with joys will have a blessed union when married. The story was cited as her inspiration for a poem, of which we preserve this fragment:

'Thank you, my dear

You came, and you did

Well to come: I needed

You. You have made

Love blaze up in my breast- bless you!

Bless you as often

As the hours have

Been endless to me

While you were gone'

Real painting name is 'After the Storm' by Antonio Paoletti.

[anniflamma]

I never asked, and I feel bad. I made art/fanart of your Poseidon in a more realistic style (which I haven’t done in ages), but I forgot to ask if it was allowed. I am so sorry. 😭 Please forgive me.

(It ain’t my best work. As said, I have not done this kind of style like 5 months.)

-Azz

AAAAAHH ITS SO PRETTY!! 😃💙💙

No worries, its totaly ok to make fanarts! Its so nice!

[muletia]

ok this is really long, I'm sorry. so I remembered someone had an idea for the reader in the merformer au to be "rescued" so imagine they're taken from Optimus and their guppy. so they escape from people interested in how they changed to being more mer like from the bonding. and now they're like Odysseus spending the next few years fighting to get back to their wife, optimus. the reader runs into other mers and maybe some of them are interested in them? the reader isn't fully aquatic but has some enhanced strength from the bond changing them so they can actually stand a chance against them bc we know they would get demolished as a full human lol. maybe Megatron is like Poseidon, chasing the reader as they try to avoid him. at first he's going after them bc they mention being close with Optimus and he's like "oh I could kill them or kidnap them to use it against him". then seeing the reader's ferocity, is like "oh damn, I'm keeping them for myself". then starscream is circle, he hears about Megan's interest in the reader and wants to keep his trine safe from the human, so he tries to fight the reader but loses so he goes fuck it, I can take them, just not in a fight and tries to rizz the reader up, but like Ody in There Are Other Ways, they just go "no I can't... ugh I miss my wife, it's been so long since I've seen him and I love him so much ❤️❤️" he's like "ew that's disgusting but ig I'll kinda help since it'll piss off Megatron". so he gives u some vague directions for how to find the og mer island since that's where Optimus was at. back there maybe ratchet is trying to encourage Optimus to leave and bring the guppy to a new pod, since it looks like you won't be coming back and the guppy shouldn't be isolated to this island with a depressed sire. Optimus is super against it and he knows you'll come back to him and your baby. cut back to the reader, what are they up to, uh oh looks like they're being held captive by coral snake naga knockout. he's Calypso, a naga that lost his mate and was stranded on an island after being washed too far out to sea in a storm. he's desperate for attention and becomes obsessively attached to the reader. so after months of barely being able to get a moment alone, they secretly make a raft and pull an Appetite and make a run for it. sorry KO. they finally are within sight of the island and boom, Megs pulls up like sike bitch. so they have a big confrontation and maybe the reader beats him some and gets it across to him that they will never be with him. if he took them they'd fight every second of the way. so he maybe has some respect for this warrior and leaves them to go home. when they're home they have a Would You Fall In Love With Me Again moment where they apologize for being gone for like 5 years maybe? definitely not 20 like the Odyssey, but a good amount of time and I don't think optimus would survive a decade or more lmao. Optimus would ofc forgive them and says he'd always loved them. then they're a happy family. I just think we should have a full spectrum of reader: moron to badass

-💕

Average Tuesday in an x reader land

No, but this is genuinely great! It’s hard for me to add much, since I’m not too familiar with the source material, but I really love the concept of Optimus as your waiting wife hehe

Oh, I can totally imagine how, once you finally return to him, he kisses every single inch of your face and refuses to let go of you for the next few weeks. You’re completely grounded trapped between his torso, your little guppy, and Optimus’s arm

[cassandra-silver]

Let's talk about "Monster" ... and one of Odysseus' criminally underrated traits: his lack of judgment.

I was re-listening to "Monster" the other day and it kind of just hit me... Overall, that song isn't my favorite (it's somewhere in B tier; the lyricism is great, and the part after "So if we must sail through dangerous oceans..." absolutely slaps, it's just not one that I go back to frequently.) But there are some things I genuinely adore about it because I adore the way it progresses Odysseus' character arc as clearly not a "corruption" and how this is conveyed through the way the song is set up and presented.

First of all, I simply have to yap about how Odysseus isn't justifying his foes' actions the way that I have seen some people falsely assume. He's describing what they did or do and essentially saying, "They aren't letting themselves be stopped by guilt from doing what they think they have to do, so why should I?"

Polyphemus doesn't overthink whether it's right or wrong to kill some people because they harmed him or his sheep.

Circe may deep down feel guilt but isn't letting that stop her from turning men into pigs to prevent any more harm from befalling her nymphs at their hands.

Poseidon isn't losing sleep over drowning a fleet because that is what gods do to retain their infamy and status.

Odysseus and the rest of his soldiers didn't use the Trojan horse tactic out of malice or bloodlust, but out of pragmatism. It was the most efficient way to win a war that would have only cost more lives on both sides if they hadn't ended it then and there.

You look at that and you may think, "That's all very fair, but that doesn't mean any of those actions are justified" ... and you'd be right. None of the actions above are actually right or justified.

But the thing about "Monster" that I love so much is that it's specifically NOT something like, "These people I've encountered are all evil and ruthless and they are right and justified in being that way; I'll be the same." It's actually, "These people I've encountered act with ruthlessness; it clearly aids them in achieving their goal, and they seem to have figured out how to not feel guilt over their actions. I want to reap those benefits too. So far, I've been acting with mercy, which seems to have disadvantaged me. If they can do it, I can and should do the same to level the playing field."

Odysseus isn't saying that their actions are right, wrong, or justified. He's simply exploring why these people act the way they do. And he does so entirely without judgment.

I'm not surprised about him not judging Circe; while she was still wrong since she went overboard and struck preemptively against people who were not guaranteed to ever cause harm, she was pretty much redeemed in the end and her point is the easiest out of these to understand.

But the rest? Polyphemus killed his best friend. Poseidon drowned his whole fleet. The Trojan horse? It never comes up anywhere else but since he mentions it here, I think it's safe to assume that Odysseus feels guilty for using a tactic such as this. And still... Odysseus talks about his foes' actions with understanding and an open mind. He acknowledges their points of view—all of them, even if none besides Circe ever acknowledged or understood his.

The only time we genuinely see Odysseus act out of resentment is when he tells Polyphemus his name... After that, he never shows anything of the sort ever again. If he ever held any resentment toward any of his foes, I feel like this is where he lets it go for good.

Hell, even Poseidon, whom he would have by far the most reasons to resent, Odysseus doesn't actually judge or resent. I wrote a whole mini-essay on why the Vengeance saga proves that Odysseus doesn't actually seek or want vengeance on Poseidon. One might argue that he sounded like he was avenging his crew in "Six Hundred Strike" but it's important to remember that he offered Poseidon forgiveness one song earlier. He didn't lead with vengeance or resentment, but he rekindled his anger when Poseidon rejected his mercy.

My point is that Odysseus doesn't judge or resent any of the people who attempt to stand between him and his home... which shows incredible character strength in and of itself. This occurs later, but he acts similarly toward Calypso in "Not Sorry for Loving You" as well.

This is such an underrated trait of his, especially considering it fits perfectly with EPIC's themes, which revolve around seeing every perspective and balancing between ruthlessness and mercy. Honestly, I don't think those themes would even work with a protagonist who isn't so open-minded.

Coming back to "Monster," as we've established, Odysseus doesn't pass judgment on his foes. Similarly, he isn't saying that his decision to embrace ruthlessness and "become" a Monster (read more to find out why I put that in quotation marks) or any of his future actions as this Monster are justified.

I genuinely despise it when people call his arc a "villain arc" or "corruption" because that's pretty much missing the entire point. He isn't actually becoming a monster, corrupting, or genuinely changing his personality—hence why I put those quotation marks earlier. He is deliberately choosing to embrace a certain ruthless way of acting, fully knowing that it is not actually right or justified. "So what if I'm the Monster?" is self-gaslighting. He knows it's not "so what?" But he's doing it anyway because he has seen this way of acting aiding his foes. He literally says, "I must become the Monster / And then we'll make it home." He is convinced that this is what he must become because he keeps being told this by everyone.

From the top, his values or person isn't actually being corrupted. He's not really internally changing. He's merely adapting a way of behaving because he thinks it's the only way he'll still get home, and only because of that. It's really f*cking sad actually. Especially because he is wrong; his not being ruthless is not actually the problem, as we find out later.

Genuinely, his monster act lasted exactly 3,5 songs; in the second half of "Mutiny" it's already all gone because he is so afraid for his crew and what they're about to do to themselves that he instinctively goes back to wanting to save them despite how they just led a mutiny, despite how they don't listen to him regarding the cows.

Odysseus' entire arc can be described as, "He tries out mercy, and it doesn't get him home. He tries out ruthlessness, and it doesn't get him home either. In order to get home, he needs to learn balance, in Hermes' words "Every trick in his domain"." And that is also, as I believe, the main theme of EPIC: Neither ruthlessness nor mercy by itself is the solution. Both have their place; one needs balance. Or: treat people as they ask to be treated.

Only by the time of the Vengeance saga does Odysseus seem to have finally figured this out, and that's where he genuinely starts succeeding.

So no, Odysseus is no longer "The Monster" by the time of the Vengeance saga, no matter how much the visuals in "Six Hundred Strike" try to convince us otherwise. But he isn't "Just a Man" either. Did anyone besides me notice how he stopped calling himself this or justifying his weak moments like that in "Monster" and how he doesn't go back to it even after dropping the monster act?

And here we have the perfect segway into an essay I haven't written yet that might answer the question, "If now he's not a man and not a monster, what is he then?"

Well, technically Odysseus told us himself that one time he acted out of resentment... "Neither man nor mythical." But that's an essay yet to be written... I'll get to it soon, and there we might answer what actually happened in "Six Hundred Strike" and why the line "If you dance with fate I know you'll enhance your state", that I see is mostly overlooked, matters so much more than we probably all think.

Until then, know that I am not actually the first one to address the "Neither man nor mythical" significance. Credit goes to @glisten-inthedark; coming across her post on this matter genuinely enhanced my understanding of what happened so much and I need all of you to read it because it's a truly brilliant conclusion. I'll write my own essay on this topic soon, I promise. But without that post, I would've probably not come to this realization for a long while.

Either way, we end this essay with words that I will never tire of repeating: Stop villainizing Odysseus, y'all. It's not cool, not only because it's undeserved but also because it pretty much shows that you have successfully missed the point and core theme of this musical.

... See you when we inspiration for another essay strikes me. In the meantime, have a brief introduction to what that essay will cover in meme form because I can.

[witless-winion1]

MY TOP THREE FAVORITE EPIC ANIMATICS THAT HAVE BEEN OPEN ON A TAB ON MY PHONE SINCE I WATCHED THEM

(Ranked by how much I’m going to scream about them, I guess.)

3. @laritamiauu’s 600 Strike (tumblr/YouTube)

THE SMOOTH ANIMATION. THE EMOTIONS. THE POV SHOT AT THE BEGINNING. THE FIGHT SCENE. THE WAY POSEIDON IS TRYING TO ESCAPE AND ODY IS DRAGGING HIM BACK. IT ITCHES MY BRAIN SO GOOOD

FUCK, LOOK AT THAT COLORING. AND YHE HALF-DARKENED SCREEN WHERE HE’S HALF BLIND. WOW.

2. @neal-illustrator’s Just A Man (tumblr/YouTube)

Neal. I am never, ever, ever going to forgive you for adding baby noises.

the way he cares for the baby, bonds with him, holds him close and soothes him, sees his own baby boy in his arms…all the men watching, not intervening, even holding Astie’s mom back….the BABY SQUIRMING AT THE LAST SECOND AND HIM TRYING TO STOP IT WHILE ACTIVELY PREPARING TO DROP HIM…THE BABY NOISES

3. @kisu-doodles’ Mutiny (tumblr/YouTube)

I saw a lot of buildup/hype/process for this, and it still couldn’t soften the blow for me. This fuckin hurt. I mean…

the men caring for each other…being so sick with scurvy, trauma and injuries, aftermath of Scylla, starvation, LOOK AT THAT 9th ONE. The comforting among the suffering (🧜‍♀️), it hurts me so much. and then there’s the contrast of Eurylochus and being the only one to care for Ody…the part where he’s all homoerotic taking care of him, even though he was the one to deal him that blow…

he’s wiping his tears and checking him temperature. I WANT A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS GUYS

(k maybe not exactly like this but…yk.)

also the way EURY’S SMILING in that last panel, that’s where he says “we’re never gonna get to make it home, you know it’s true.” He’s trying to comfort Ody instead of confront him. I’m sobbing. Also in the fourth panel we can see that Eury’s also suffering from scurvy, on his shoulder/back??? Ughhhh

The sun god statue watching this shit play out is fucking MAGNIFICENT(ly horrifying). Not to mention Ody helping Eury back into the boat after the final blow. I’m sobbing I am a wreck. This is worse then that tragic boyfailure gay shish kebab couple, I think they’re called Patillies or something

(clears throat) so. Uh. Yeah. There are too many talented people on this earth using their talent for evil. And then posting the evil on tumblr. Thank you to the creators for these devastating pieces and for the frens with the patience to read this. Drink water

[k-nayee]

Wife to the Winds Epic: The Musical | iii

wc: 1.8k a/n: turned into 4 instead of 3 parts lol. Here's the animation for this part

Traveler M.List

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recap

Your hand flickered down to the weight in your satchel. With trembling fingers, you rummaged through it.

A Lotus fruit and bundle of dried Nepenthe and Poppy herbs are pulled out the bag, now in your hands. 'Please Gods....please. This has to work...'

|

|

You pressed against the cold stone wall of the cave as Polyphemus' voice boomed, shaking the very earth beneath your feet.

From your hidden position you could see Odysseus standing tall even when facing such an overwhelming force.

"There seem to be a misunderstanding," His voice was steady, though you could hear the weight of strategy in every word. "We never came here to steal nor kill what is precious to you."

The conversation was enough of a distraction. And so, while all eyes were on the Cyclops and Odysseus, you seized the moment.

You carefully slip from your hiding place, your eyes locked on the jug of wine sitting nearby.

Using a passing sheep for cover-up, you crept low across the stone floor until you reached it.

Your fingers shook as you uncorked the jug, working quickly despite the adrenaline coursing through you.

With a practiced hand, you pull out the bundle of Nepenthe and Poppy, crumbling the dried herbs into the wine.

You pause at the sight of the Lotus Fruit before quickly squeezing the juice into the mix as well—hopefully it would make him more susceptible to the mix.

As you finished, Odysseus raised hand in a placating gesture. "But now I see the damage we've caused. Maybe you and I can make a deal?"

This was your cue.

Taking a deep breath, you stood up and walked out from behind the sheep with the jug of wine cradled in your arms. 

A soft smile spread across your lips as you called out to the Cyclops.

"Great Polyphemus!" voice laced with awe, your footsteps were light and graceful as you approached. "Forgive my interruption but I could not resist the chance to gaze upon such greatness. At last I find you in all your glory."

Polyphemus' anger faltered, his fiery gaze shifting toward you, massive eye narrowing slightly.

You approached slowly, keeping your movements reverent. "I have been searching for you," you lower your eyes and bow your in show of humility.

"I have heard tales of your strength and power, Son of Poseidon. No mortal can stand against you. Not even these men," you add, casting a glance at Odysseus and the others. "They are beneath you."

The men stirred at your insult, muttering among themselves. Even they seemed to believe your words.

Polyphemus however was intrigued. The light in his eye softened slightly as he observed you, taking in your visage and apparent devotion.

You lift the jug of wine higher, offering it to him. "As a token of my loyalty, I bring you this—wine from distant lands. It is said to have the power to rejuvenate even the mightiest of warriors. One sip, and you shall possess the strength to end them all in a blink of an eye. You needn't waste your time with mere mortals."

You felt the weight of Odysseus' men staring at you in disbelief. You ignore them, focusing only on Polyphemus.

"Knew she was too good to be true!" one of them hissed. "Should've thrown her overboard when we had the chance!"

Hostility simmer as some of the men stiffened, fists tightening around their weapons. Even Eurylochus glared at you with mistrust.

Polyphemus grinned, yellow jagged teeth glinting in the dim light. His ego was clearly pleased by your flattery.

"YOUR WORDS ARE AS RADIANT AS THE FACE THAT SPEAKS THEM." he rumbled, leaning closer. His breath washed over you, foul and warm. "TELL ME, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?"

"I am nobody," you said smoothly, holding his gaze. "Nobody...but a humble servant for thee."

A flicker of understanding passed through Odysseus' eyes. He caught your gaze for a brief moment and you saw the gears turning in his mind.

His lips twitched.

His gaze hardened as he gives a slight, almost imperceptible nod—just enough to show he was on your side.

He trusted you. And that's all that matters.

Polyphemus chuckled. "NOBODY, YOU SAY? THEN NOBODY SHALL SERVE ME. COME CLOSER, POUR THE WINE."

You suppress the shudder crawling up your spine and force your feet to move closer as the Cyclops extends an enormous hand toward you.

For a brief moment the overwhelming stench of him—the musk of sheep, sweat, and earth—fills your senses. It nearly made you gag.

But you keep smiling, even as your hands began to shake when he takes the jug from you.

Slow and deliberate he raises the jug to his lips and take a long drink.

You fought to keep the anxiety from showing on your face, hoping the herbs and lotus fruit in the wine would work.

"AH...STRONG, THIS A FINE WINE." His eye fluttered with a contented sigh as he lick his lips in satisfaction.

"PERHAPS I WILL KILL THEM SLOWLY, JUST TO HEAR THEM SCREAM," Polyphemus muses, more to himself than anyone else. But the momentary distraction gives Odysseus an idea.

"BUT YOU..." He continues, glancing down at you, voice lowering with a hint of possessiveness. "YOU SHALL REMAIN BY MY SIDE AS MY WINE-BEARER. I WILL KEEP YOU TO ADMIRE FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE."

Your stomach churned at the thought—blood running cold at his words, but you kept your sweet smile fixed.

"No!" Odysseus declares stepping forward, his voice rising with protest. "You can't take her!"

The call of defiance took the Cyclops aback. "OH?"

"She's mine. And if you intend to claim her then I demand a fight. Surely a warrior such as yourself knows not take what belongs to another without challenge."

A collective gasp ripples through the men as they stare at their captain in disbelief.

Polities grabs Odysseus' arm, pulling him back with panic in his voice. "Captain wait! You can't—!"

The King of Ithaca shrugs him off, his eyes never leaving the giant.

Polyphemus blinked in surprise before releasing a booming laugh. "YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME MORTAL? A FIGHT AGAINST YOU WOULD BE CHILD'S PLAY."

Odysseus raised his chin with a steely gaze. "I'm willing to take that chance. Let her fate be decided by strength."

The son of Poseidon grinned at the Hero's audacity. "VERY WELL. LET US SEE WHO IS THE STRONGER."

"AND WHEN YOU FALL..." He grabbed his massive club, the sound of it scraping against the stone floor sending shivers down your spine. "I WILL CLAIM HER AS MINE."

But Odysseus stood his ground, hands loose by his sides with a calm expression.

With a low growl Polyphemus lifts the club. But as he prepared to swing, his movements slowed.

He blinked sluggishly, confusion clouding his face as it began to glaze over. The massive club wavered in his hand.

"WHAT IS...THIS?" he slurred, voice thick and heavy. His lidded eye shifts back to you, suspicion dawning too late.

He staggered, the weight of the club suddenly too much for him to bear. "WHAT...HAVE YOU...DONE....?"

Your heart race as the adrenaline coursed through you.

His enormous body swayed as he tried to keep balance. His grip on the club faltered, clattering to the ground with a deafening thud.

Polyphemus clutch his head as his body struggled against the effects of the spiked drink.

Odysseus wasted no time. "Now!" he barked.

In a flurry the Ithacan warriors rushed forward. You watched as they grabbed sharpened stakes and rushed into the Cyclops' single unguarded eye.

Polyphemus released a bloodcurdling roar, the sound shaking the cave walls as he thrashed in agony.

He staggers back, howling in pain, before collapsing with a thunderous crash. Defeated.

Odysseus was at your side in an instant, his eyes sharp and gleaming with pride. "Let's go. Quickly."

You didn't need to be told twice.

You scrambled to the entrance with the men, dragging the spoils of food and sheep along as you made the escape.

Once outside the cool air hit your face like a blessing. You were alive. All of you had survived.

When you finally emerged back onto the shore, the sight of the awaiting ships filled you with relief.

The men were abuzz with energy, laughing and cheering now that they were free of the giant's clutches.

Those who stayed aboard crowded around with cheers as they helped haul sacks of food and provisions on deck—enough to sustain the journey ahead.

You followed behind the last of the group, watching Odysseus make his way up the gangplank. 

But just as he stepped onto the deck he was immediately met by two men—Lycus and Alexander.

The pair looked uneasy, their eyes darting nervously between each other as they shuffled toward him.

Pale-faced, they wrung their hands anxiously and avoided eye contact with their captain.

Odysseus halted with slightly furrowed brows as he glanced at them. He said nothing.

Lycus shifted from foot to foot, voice trembling as he tried to form the words. "C-captain...w-we...uh...we may have..."

"Lost..." Alexander finished, the word barely a whisper as it left his lips.

The King of Ithaca remained silent as he waited for them to explain further.

Both men looked like they were about to buckle under the pressure. Lycus stammered, trying to find the right words. "W-we um...we uh...might have—"

You slid into view from behind Odysseus with a bright smile.

"Huh?" you asked innocently, tone light and playful as though nothing unusual had happened.

Both men froze with wide eyes at the sight of you standing there unharmed and cheerful.

They blinked rapidly, looking between you and Odysseus in disbelief.

Still facing the two men Odysseus only gave a slow confused blink and raised eyebrow.

He glanced back at you for a brief second, then returned his attention to Lycus and Alexander, silently waiting for them to finish their explanation.

"W-what was that?" you mockingly added, your smile never wavering as you watch them squirm.

"N-nothing!" Lycus blurted out before looking to Odysseus in slight panic. "Nothing at all sir!"

"Y-yeah nothing Captain!" Alexander echoed, nodding frantically in agreement. "Everything's perfectly fine!"

Odysseus tilted his head slightly. Though his expression was neutral, a flicker of amusement glinted in his eyes.

Without saying a word he give a curt nod, dismissing them with a simple gesture.

Lycus and Alexander didn't waste a second—they quickly stumbled out of sight, muttering hurried excuses.

As they fled, Odysseus turned back to you. He crossed his arms over his chest as he regarded you with a knowing look. "Well...care to explain that?"

You met his gaze with a grin and offer a casual shrug. "Your guess is as good as mine."

[aphroditelovesu]

What about a Yandad! Poseidon with his mortal/ demigod daughter??

❝ 🌊 — lady l: I got carried away and ended up writing a mini imagine. This is not canon and is based on the voices in my head lol, but I hope you like it and forgive me for any mistakes! 💙

❝tw: threats and a slight yandere!Poseidon, but other than that, nothing else.

❝🌊pairing: platonic yandere!poseidon x daughter!reader.

❝word count: 683.

You grew up at Camp Half-Blood, surrounded by other demigods and learning to control your divine powers. Your relationship with Poseidon was complex; on the one hand, you benefited from his protection, but on the other, the shadow of prohibition hung over you. The sea god, your father, had a clear interest in your fate, and the other demigods couldn't help but feel the aura of power that surrounded you.

Your relationship with Percy Jackson, the already known hero and son of Poseidon, was a highlight. The two half-sibilings trained together, shared experiences, and supported each other in battles against monsters and other threats. The bond between them grew, consolidating a formidable partnership, feared by many enemies. Poseidon was more than pleased to see his two favorite children get along so well.

In the years that followed, Poseidon's presence in his daughter's life was constant. He guided you in training, sharing secrets of the seas and teaching you how to control your aquatic powers. As time passed, your abilities stood out among the rest. Poseidon's influence ensured that the instructors at camp also paid special attention to you, preparing you for even greater challenges. However, the constant gaze of the god of the sea also generated distrust among your fellow demigods, fueling rumors and jealousy.

Life at Camp Half-Blood wasn't easy. Monsters constantly threatened the perimeter, and quests were often assigned to the most skilled demigods. Poseidon, in turn, began to discreetly intervene in your life, providing help at crucial moments and ensuring you were one step ahead of impending dangers.

However, your relationship with the sea god was not just one of benefits. In dreams and visions, you began to receive cryptic messages and warnings from other gods and titans, warning you of the implications of being so close to Poseidon. A god can never be involved in his children's lives, well, the demigods children at least.

Tension between the gods grew as your bond with Poseidon deepened. Zeus, in particular, viewed the increasing influence his brother had over you with suspicion. The warnings from the other gods increased, and the shadows of destiny began to manifest themselves more clearly.

One night, during a vivid dream, Triton, the son of Poseidon with his wife and your half-brother, appeared before you. His eyes expressed concern as he warned of the consequences of ignoring divine warnings.

"Proximity to our father can bring blessings, but also curses," Triton said, his voice echoing like the waves of the sea.

Quests abroad became more dangerous, with more powerful monsters and mythological creatures challenging the demigods. Poseidon continued to intervene subtly, but now his help was under the scrutiny of the Olympian gods. Zeus, in his wrath, explicitly prohibited any divine intervention in your quests.

Once, during a battle against a colossal sea beast, you found yourself on the brink of defeat, your companions also injured. Desperate, you silently cried out for Poseidon's help. He responded, sending a furious wave to defeat the monster, but the price of this intervention was high. On Olympus, Zeus' anger became uncontrollable.

The situation reached a critical point when an oracle prophesied that the proximity between Poseidon and you would trigger a catastrophe that would affect not only the demigods, but the entire balance of the mythological world. The gods' prohibition on interfering in the lives of their children became an unbreakable decree.

Poseidon, however, didn't care one bit. You were his daughter and he would help you if he wanted.

[7s3ven]

can you please do poseidon/reader and she finds out luke is the lightning thief?

THE GRUDGE. luke (pjo)

( master list )

IN WHICH… Y/N L/N can’t forgive Luke for his crimes despite loving him more than she loves herself.

“I know in my heart hurt people, hurt people. And we both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal.”

Warnings : spoilers, small angst (in my opinion lol. I’m more sensitive to family/friendship angst, not relationship angst), short(ish) oneshot

A/N : to any other writers, do you ever act out the situations you’re writing so you can write a better descriptions of reactions and then you realise that you’re actually a good actor?

Because I literally just acted out Y/N’s reaction and either I’m great at fake crying (which has been a talent of mine) … or my heart-wrenching sobs were real 😨. Also, the song one of us from the Lion King suits Luke perfectly.

—

The life of a half-blood wasn’t easy, especially not when you were a forbidden child. Y/N flipped through her fashion magazine, aimlessly swinging her legs as she lay on her front. “Y/N.” Luke called out, pushing the creaky door open. She lifted her head, staring at him curiously.

“Hey, Luke.” She smiled at him, clasping her hands together. He grinned back, slowly walking over to her side.

“You feeling okay?” He asked, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder. With Percy, her half-brother gone, she was alone in her cabin. Again.

Y/N gazed at him through her lashes. “Yeah. I’m good. I’m fine.” She whispered, reaching out to grasp his wrist. Luke bit the inside of his cheek.

“I have your phone.” Luke uttered, handing Y/N her device. Phones weren’t allowed in camp but Luke found a way around that, much to Y/N’s happiness. She had spent far too long in the mortal world to give up scrolling through social media.

“Thanks, love.” Her pink-tinted lips curved into a soft smile. “You have no idea how much I need this now that Percy is gone on his quest. It’s so lonely here.”

Y/N always hated being in her own company. Her cabin got messy and she never had the motivation to clean it. She was thankful for Luke because he always helped her with the mundane task that should have been easy, but not for her.

“No problem, princess.” Luke lightly kissed her forehead while she laughed. “I can’t wait until Percy is back because I have a feeling that things are about to change.” Nothing good lasts for long. Y/N, more than anyone, knew that. She stalked through the thick vegetation, harbouring a heavy sword. She had heard rumours of Luke… and she needed to confirm it for herself, even if it meant endangering her safety.

“Luke.” She called out, her voice shaking. She didn’t want to believe the rumours but Luke was unpredictable. Ever since returning from his quest, he hadn’t been the same.

Y/N had been at Camp Half-Blood for longer than most and she had seen demigods come and go, desperately searching for glory but never finding enough of it.

“Luke.” She said again, repeating it like it was a mantra that would save him from the terrible fate he had chosen. She dragged her sword against the ground, her eyes scanning for the slightest bit of movement amongst the trees.

She sighed, thinking of returning to camp before she spotted a flicker of orange. "Luke?" She whispered, but he still heard her. She stepped towards him, breathing heavily.

"Luke... what... is it true? Did you..." Y/N couldn't find the right words. "What did you do, Luke?" She asked, grabbing him by the front of his shirt when she noticed how he avoided her gaze and how his eyes looked so guilty. "What did you do?!"

"I did what I had to, Y/N. The gods... they don't care about us." Luke stiffened as Y/N glowered at him, her eyes filled with so much rage and hate and sadness and everything in between.

"You're wrong, Luke!" She exclaimed, harshly shaking him.

"I'm not like you, Y/N! My father doesn't care about me. Yours might give a shit about you but that doesn't apply to anyone! Look around you. Poseidon ignored Percy for years while nurturing you. My father abandoned my mother and I when he could have helped us. Ares hates Clarisse for being a girl and forces her to train harder until she collapses. They try so hard to find every little flaw in us that they ignore what we've done for them."

"But why this, Luke? Why betray us? Me! You betrayed me, Luke! And all your friends and family! Hermes may not give a shit about you, but I do! I have loved you since we first met, Luke! I fucking love you and you betrayed me!" Y/N slammed her fists against his chest, screaming until tears welled up in her eyes. "What did you do to Percy?" She muttered, her voice barely even a whisper. "Tell me. Tell me now and I might spare you! Please… please.” She hiccuped, her hits growing weaker.

Luke wheezed as Y/N gripped his throat for a split second. "He'll be fine... he only got stung."

"I hate you." Y/N seethed, rage engulfing her soft heart until it spilled out and poisoned her body with its toxins. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you! Gods, I hate you, Luke! Fuck you! Fuck… you!” She screamed, the sound echoing around the empty trees.

But she still couldn't bring herself to stab him. "Get out of here, Luke. Go! Leave! I never want to see your face again!" Y/N's voice shook as she shoved Luke away from her.

Heart-wrenching sobs slipped past her lips as she pointed an accusing finger at Luke. "The gods have fucked up, Luke, but you are no different. Maybe you had the right idea at first... but you went with it the wrong way. And it cost you everything. Don't go near Percy again. Don’t you dare touch him ever again! You don’t deserve his kindness! Don't even look at him because I promise you, if you do, I will drive a stake through your heart!” Y/N's confident voice faltered for a moment. She shakily inhaled. "I hope you're happy with yourself." That fated day still haunted Y/N's mind. She often had nightmares about it, where things turned out different had she stabbed Luke. She always woke up with a loud gasp, covered in a light layer of sweat.

On her nightside table, her phone rang. She hadn't been using it much since Luke left. She slowly reached for it. Nobody had her phone number except her close friend, who lived in Tokyo, her cousin, and... Luke.

Her heart was beating unusually fast as she shakily turned the device over to peer at the screen. Her stomach churned and she dropped her phone in horror. Percy was in the infirmary, still recovering from the pit scorpion attack. She was somewhat thankful for that.

She let the phone ring, letting out a sigh of relief when it finally stopped. But it started again, and again. Until on the third ring, she finally clicked the green button.

She didn't say anything, flinching at the sound of Luke's voice. "Y/N? Y/N. Thank goodness you picked up! I knew you weren't going to answer my iris message so I was hoping your phone was working."

Y/N cut Luke off from his ranting. "Luke... don't call me again."

"Wait, Y/N. Please listen to me. I love"-

She hung up before he could finish. She stared at her phone, gripping it tightly. With a guttural scream, she threw it across the room. It landed safely on Percy's bed and a part of her was glad that it did. It was one of the only things she had left from Luke.

She didn't know if she could ever forgive Luke for betraying her trust. And the worst thing was that she still loved him from the bottom of her heart. "You good?" Y/N quietly walked towards Percy, helping him sit up. He groaned.

"Yeah. I'm sorry about Luke... I know how much he meant to you." Percy's eyes softened as he stared at Y/N, intertwining his fingers with hers.

"He, uh... tried calling me last night." Y/N pressed her lips into a thin line.

Percy tilted his head to the side. "So what'd you do?"

"I ignored him until the third time... then I hung up after I told him to stop contacting me."

"You don't have to be so tough all the time, Y/N." Percy uttered, pulling her into a tight hug. His arms wrapped around her waste and she sighed.

"I really want to scream, Percy. I just... can't believe he could do that so easily. I mean, leave us... leave me. I'm trying not to care and I'm trying to say I'm fine but I can't let it go." Tears welled up again, dripping down the red apples of her cheeks.

Y/N would be lying if she said she hadn’t tried to figure out why Luke did what he did. She tried to piece everything together but it only hurt her head and heart to think.

After ensuring Percy was comfortable, she stepped outside. The camp was in utter chaos after Luke’s betrayal and they were trying to find more spies amongst them. Most people suspected Y/N because she ran into the woods to confront Luke and she was closely associated with him, which didn’t help. But she loved her friends and she could never leave them as Luke had.

She wandered into a small clearing, dipping her hand into a cold river nearby to calm herself. She didn’t even notice someone was watching her from behind until they cleared their throat.

With a panicked gasp, Y/N looked over her shoulder. She was expecting a fellow camper, maybe even Luke, but not Hermes in all his glory. The pair stared at each other for a minute before Hermes finally broke the awkward silence.

“You’re Y/N, right?” He hesitatingly pointed at her, worried he had the wrong girl.

She nodded.

“I know I’m probably the last person you want to see after Luke left.” Hermes started off, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck.

“Luke is the last person I want to see.” Y/N retorted, “You’re second on that list.”

“He really did like you, you know."

“It wasn’t enough apparently.” Y/N shrugged, already accepting that she could tear Luke from his fate, “Maybe I deserved the betrayal… but not from Luke. He practically made me into the person I am. I guess he wanted to see how high he could build me before I fell. He had everything yet he still wanted more.”

“He cared about you. Dare I say, Y/N, he love”-

She cut him off just as she had cut Luke off. “Don’t say he loved me because if he did then he wouldn’t have done this! He… he wouldn’t have done all this!” Y/N choked on her words as she bit back a sob.

“He still loves you. Not loved. Not past-tense. Never past-tense. I’ve seen him, you know. He misses you and for a while, he tried to contact you in every way he could just so he could hear your voice. Even if you were screaming at him. I know that in another life, he wishes he didn’t have to leave you behind.”

“There shouldn’t be another life!” Y/N exclaimed. Getting angry at a god was dangerous but she was so frustrated and angry and hurt. Hermes didn’t seem to mind. He nodded his head, understanding her emotions. “Don’t you get it? You also have to take the blame. You’re part of the reason why he betrayed us!”

“He’ll forgive me eventually.”

Y/N shook her head. “No. You and every other deity thinks that your neglected child will forgive you but they might not. They might forgive but they will never forget. If I can’t even forgive the boy I love with all my heart, how do you think Luke will ever forgive you?” She furrowed her eyebrows.

“Forgiveness takes strength." Hermes whispered, barely loud enough for Y/N to hear. "Luke is much stronger than I originally thought and you, the mighty daughter of the sea god himself, are too.”

“Yeah, well,” Y/N shrugged as she stood up, brushing the dirty off her pants. “I don’t think I’m quite there yet.”

“It takes time.” Hermes said, “Meanwhile, I would suggest answering that.” He pointed at her phone that was ringing in her hand. Y/N didn’t even notice with how distracted she was.

She briefly looked down at the screen and raised her head again, her lips parting when Hermes was nowhere to be seen.

She hesitatingly pressed the accept button and raised her phone to her ear. She heard him quietly gasp, surprised she even answered again. “Luke… hi.”

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