alyscat

[alyscat]

Homecoming Snippet

Note: While I was inspired to write this after the Ithaca saga came out, the story is based on the Odyssey, so there may be some variations from Epic the Musical! Master page here. Enjoy Penelope being a badass and tearing into the suitors!

I straighten. By now, everyone in the feasting hall has noticed me. The suitors conversations around the table carry on quietly. The beggar has retreated to a corner of the banquet hall, next to one of the pillars, where he nibbles at his plunder. Today is the Feast of Apollo. The food is excellent, the wine is plenty, and it seems a fitting day for the challenge I have prepared. “Telemachus,” I call softly. He hasn’t gone far, and the young man hurries to my side. “Fetch your father’s bow from the storage room.”

That shadow crosses his face again, but he nods. “Of course,” 

The moment he leaves, I raise my voice. It echoes across the room in a booming thunder that grabs the attention of all within. “Listen to me, all you suitors!” Even the servants stop their work. On either side of me, Agathe and Melantho take a small step closer to show their support. “You have been a plague upon this house, draining our resources with your constant eating and drinking while you do nothing to show gratitude for my hospitality. Your only excuse was to take me in the absence of my husband, who fought valiantly in the war against Troy. If that is your pize, to marry me and make me yours, come then! Claim your prize!”

I step forward, approaching the head of the table, and the nearest of the men flinches away from me. Telemachus returns with that great bow in his hands and offers it to me with a nod. A tear has fallen from the corner of his eye, and I turn away, raising the weapon to the sky. “This is the bow of my husband, the god-like Odysseus. If one among you can easily string this bow and shoot through the twelve axes placed in the courtyard without error, that is the man I will follow. I will leave this house of my life with Odysseus behind, only visiting in my dreams.” My stare dares any of them to speak out against me as I lower the weapon. “This is my challenge. An honest test of skill. This is a task my husband would do for sport, nearly every day. Who among you is worthy?” 

Tag list! Let me know if you want to be added or removed @adastra36 @dorcaloveskotlc @apolloinaplaguemask @hatima-cries-epicly @fireflychaosdemon

[alyscat]

Homecoming

This is the first part of my post-Odyssey WIP! Masterlist here No TWs I can think of

As the child of morning, rosy-fingered dawn stretches across the sky, I see that the thread is knotted. 

It seems so obvious as I sit back, examining the tapestry before me. I misstepped. Seven rows back, there is a spot where I knotted the weft thread, doubling over a row. How I made such a novice mistake is beyond me. My jaw works as I carefully begin unwinding the thread. It will all need to be redone now. I can hardly display this with such a glaring error in the tapestry. 

A soft rap on the door shakes me from my thoughts. Lowering the shuttle, I square my shoulders. There is no more time for this now, anyways. Morning is upon us. “Yes?” 

Ctimene pokes her head into the room, and tension instantly eases from my bones. “Good morning, Penelope. My, have you been up all night?” 

She comes to stand by me at the loom, the only sound of her passage the subtle brush of fabric against her legs. I run a palm over the half-finished tapestry. “Sleep is…. Difficult. I find comfort in remaining busy.” Lately, weaving and attending to the suitors is all I seem to do. It began when potential husbands first approached me. When it became clear they wouldn’t leave me alone, I insisted that I could not wed any of them until I had weaved a shroud for my father-in-law, Laertes. His health worsened the longer Odysseus was gone. For four years, I distracted them with the promise of finishing that shroud. I would weave all day. At night, I would undo any progress I made. The fools didn’t even question it until my handmaid Melantho confessed the truth to Antinous. I can’t find fault with her, though. The men are relentless. 

“I understand.” Her voice is low and melodic as she fidgets with her braid. The resemblence between Ctimene and Odysseus is undeniable, down to the slight hook in their nose. A deep olive complexion and wiry build is shared between them. They are even the same height, since my husband has always been a little short I have to remind myself of the differences between them, such as the subtle shade in their curly hair. Odysseus’ was a dark blonde, while his sister has an auburn tint Day by day, his memory seems to fade from my mind. If I didn’t have someone who shares such a similar appearance I might have forgotten him entirely. Ctimene studies my work, where the form of a man stringing a bow is taking shape. “You could hold out for longer, m’lady. You don’t-”

“No,” I whisper. I rise from my stool to turn away from her and my foolish tapestry. “They already plotted to kill Telemachus once. They are wrecking the estate, raping my maids, and I cannot allow this behavior to continue. It has been ten years since the war, Odysseus is dead or unable to return home. Waiting another day will not change that.”

The words have never stopped hurting. ‘Odysseus is dead.’ Time is meant to ease the pain of old wounds, yet it hasn’t for me. It hasn’t for Ctimene, either. Her husband was a part of Odysseus’ crew. He is likely dead as well. Though we are both widows, she is not required to remarry as I am. The title of queen does not force her to choose someone else to sit on the throne. I gave my husband as much time as I was able. For ten years, I’ve held them off. I have raised Telemachus on my own. Expectations were just so crushing. I cannot put off the demands of the people. Had I given my father his wish, I would have wed as soon as news of the old king stopped coming. “Ctimene, thank you for checking on me. I appreciate your companionship.”

It is a clear dismissal. I don’t look to see the emotions flicker across her face. “Of course,” she murmurs. Her hand briefly settles on my shoulder. “I will be in the hall with you.” 

Then she is gone. I prepare myself, draping a veil across my face. Perhaps I should have heeded my father’s words years ago and remarried already. Maybe I would have grown to care for one of the suitors downstairs, or at least spared my maids some of the torment. There is just a part of me that refuses to believe Odysseus is truly gone. My head bows as I murmur a familiar prayer. “Athena, Daughter of Zeus, my husband was always a favored of yours. If you have blessed him, and he still lives, let him come home.”

One way or another, my suffering shall end today. My suitors foolishly believe that a lucky soul among them will claim my hand before the sun sets. Little do they know I have set them up to fail. It is my final act of devotion for the only man who will ever hold my heart.

Tag List: Please let me know if you want added or removed!

@dorcaloveskotlc @apolloinaplaguemask @hatima-cries-epicly

@fireflychaosdemon

[alyscat]

Homecoming

Link to Master Post

After the decade-long Trojan War, Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, eagerly awaited her husband Odysseus’ return. Months became years without any word until he was assumed dead by all but Penelope. Soon, vile suitors from across Ithaca and the surrounding nations came to vie for her hand. They were distasteful men who held no respect for her lost husband’s land or her now-grown son, Telemachus, but Penelope was beginning to fear that Odysseus would never return. She could only hold off the demands of the people for so long. 

His return ten years after the war brought bloodshed and death over the final test she had posed to the suitors; An archery contest where the winner would claim her hand in marriage. With a hundred royal men slaughtered, a husband who has been gone for twenty years, and a son who mistrusts the shadows in the eyes of his estranged father, Penelope is eager to tie up loose ends and move on with their lives. The past tends to cling closer than a shadow and is not eager to abandon its victims, but this matters not to the Spartan-raised queen. She will do whatever it takes to keep Odysseus by her side. Her family will mend, and her kingdom will welcome the return of their king. She will not accept any alternative.

Tag List, please let me know if you would like to be added or removed!

@dorcaloveskotlc @apolloinaplaguemask @hatima-cries-epicly @fireflychaosdemon

[alyscat]

Homecoming Master Page

Homecoming is my current writing project about what happens ‘post-Odyssey.’ Told from Penelope’s perspective, it will explore the family dynamics, trauma, all those good things after Odysseus finally makes it home.

A little bit of a synopsis/Who Wants To Be Tagged post

A just for fun letter from Penelope to the author

Official Synopsis

Part One

Penelope Challenges the Suitors

[alyscat]

Homecoming

For my creative writing course, we had to write a letter from the main character of our current project. It was supposed to be directed to the author saying why we should write their story. This is my letter from Penelope!

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I was fifteen when I first met my husband, Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. My cousin Helen had hundreds of potential suitors vying for her hand in marriage, and I was there to support her. The men were crude and unimpressive. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, they only wanted her for one thing. Who would not want that?

Odysseus. That’s who. This is how our story began, with his clever mind twisting the field for his advantage. Ithaca was a small kingdom, he knew that he had no hope of winning Helen, nor did he want to. He had been there out of expectations alone. She was a vapid creature, and he needed someone who could match his wit. That someone was me. By proposing a vow that would swear each of the suitors to fight in defense of whoever Helen’s future husband would be, Odysseus proved himself and won my hand. Within a year, we were wed. Love is not something that many women are fortunate enough to gain. With royal blood in my veins, it was expected that I would marry for political gain and nothing more. If I was lucky, with time, my husband and I would grow to respect one another. My marriage with Odysseus was different, as the gods saw fit to bless me with a love that was true.

We matched each other’s wit and cunning. Our courtship, if one could call it that, was spent with challenges and attempts to surpass each other’s accomplishments. On our wedding day, he showed me the new palace he had built for us. Carved by his own hands, the heart of the palace was a wedding bed formed from the olive tree where we had our first meeting; he told me it was a sign of our undying love for each other. That was the moment I knew I must be favored by Hera, Aphrodite, and Eros, for I had been blessed beyond belief.

However, this is not why I am here today. My wits must be used to persuade you why a woman’s tale should be told. You wish to portray my beloved husband as a creature of darkness, a monster forged by blood, hatred, betrayal and isolation. I am here as his defense. The gods favored us with blessings, fortune, a healthy baby boy, so that we lowered our guard. They then shed their wrath upon us. My husband was tormented. Athena turned her back on him, his crew lost their faith, and immortal deities stole what was meant to be mine. When he returned, he only wanted to keep Telemachus and me safe. Instead, they brought back the ghosts of his past and demanded he continue to fight for his peace.

The monster is not my husband. It is the people who have wronged him and left him to suffer alone. The suitors deserved to perish for their lack of faith, their audacity, and their selfish behavior with our land. If he assumed anyone who showed violence was a threat, who could blame him? He was at war, a man of sorrow. History forgets what happened after he returned home. I will never forget. For all intents and purposes, Odysseus is my husband, and I shall stay by his side until the day I die. That is the story you will write. One of unwavering devotion. One of a man whom the gods pushed past his breaking point, and a woman who loved his shattered pieces.

You will not use my story as a way to demonize a man of such sorrow, for he has suffered more than enough.

Eις το επανιδείν (until we meet again,)

-Penelope of Sparta, daughter of Icarius, wife of Odysseus, Queen of Ithaca.

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Tag list, let me know if you want to be added or removed: @dorcaloveskotlc @apolloinaplaguemask @hatima-cries-epicly

A collage I made for Penelope. The images are not mine!

[alyscat]

Crying

I heard this song while drawing them and just afsgdjsk they're so

[alyscat]

Homecoming

I’m working on a new project, titled ‘Homecoming,’ that is about what happens after the events of the Odyssey (Not the Epic version, though I will be taking some inspiration from the musical!) Written from the perspective of Penelope!

The story will begin when Penelope poses the bow challenge, with Odysseus disguised as a beggar within the palace. Over the course of the story, they will deal with the political turmoil after slaughtering the suitors, Odysseus’ trauma, and Penelope being forced to face how her husband has changed. (Plus an appearance from our favorite witch Circe🫣)

There are some myths discussing what happened with them after the events of the Odyssey, but Homecoming will not remain entirely faithful to those.

I’m so excited about this!!!! I’ll be posting snippets of it on here. Let me know if you would like to be tagged for any posts about this!

[alyscat]

Please this is amazing, I love it

my favorite hc is that penelope was told by the ladies in waiting to go and stay in her room and not to come out for anyone

and she hears screams and whatnot and is like oh fuck now theyve done it, the suitors are gonna destroy the place

only to hear the screams lessen in volume and being like ? are they killing each other?

but then she hears a scream clear as day "THIS WILL BE YOUR FATE" and she's like🧍‍♀️no fuckin shot my husband is down there on a murder spree

and she immediately starts pacing back and forth like "LADIES HELP ME PREPARE I NEED TO LOOK DIVINE" and it's a full makeover sequence

and they're posing her and being like "hold on, tilt your chin up a little bit, turn to the side like 12 degrees- BOOM my lady you are serving such cunt"

and then they hear odysseus' loud ass steps going up the stairs and all the ladies scatter while penelope tries to look nonchalant like "AHEM....😳 is it you? have my prayers been answered?"

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Potential TW: Sort of su!cide. Be safe❤️

This may be obvious to everyone, but I like cried when I realized this.

If you pay attention in The Challenge, the last ‘Though I never thought’ ends with ‘it would end like this.’ Penelope is sitting on the other end of the axes. I don’t think she had any plans of living through the day.

She knows there is a chance that Odysseus is dead. This is an impossible challenge for the suitors. For her, this day would end with her husband’s miraculous return, or her death. The suitors would be furious afterwards and would try to kill Telemachus, maybe her, too. (Hold Them Down) If it ‘ends like this,’ she’ll be waiting in the afterlife for her husband.

Sitting at the end of the axes is her saying this is it. If someone succeeded, she would die. If none did, she’s fully aware of what the suitors will try. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Penelope overheard ‘Hold Them Down,’ and it just confirmed her suspicions.

I love this musical so much.

[alyscat]

Psssssst my current writing project is about what happens after the events of ‘The Odyssey.’ The family after Odysseus comes home, conflicts with other kingdoms, is he a ‘monster’ and do his loved ones care?

post-Ithaca saga

Penelope: (sleeping peacefully in bed after some of the best sex of her life) (wakes up to some strange mumbling beside her)

Penelope: (looks over at her husband, who is dead to the world, but also-)

Odysseus: (cuddled up to her) mnnngnhmhhh mmhhhgmppmm… ‘mm the monster rawrrr rawr rawrr

Penelope: …

Odysseus: raaawwwrrrrrr

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Gasp I love how this artist made Odysseus look thin and showed his age, it’s so well done. (And the tears in both their eyes and the blood-perfection)

My boy, sweetest joy I’ve known ;-;

[alyscat]

Oh my goshhhhh this is amazing

"we must do what it takes to survive."

Scylla inspired by the song from the thunder saga! Epic the musical my beloved how I love you

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Hi I didn’t ask to get my heart broken today

brain chemistry changed from no longer you and monster btw

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Penelope will always be a girlboss because by sitting behind the 12 axes she told the suitors to shoot through cleanly, not only was she

mocking them by being showing she was fully confident they wouldn’t succeed

But also BASICALLY TELLING EVERYONE THAT THEY WILL NEVER BE BETTER THAN HER HUSBAND WHO ACTUALLY COULD SHOOT THROUGH 12 AXES.

AND ON TOP IF THAT PROVING HER LOVE TO ODY BY SAYING THAT IF ANYONE WERE TO EVER SUCCEED THE CHALLENGE AND BECOME KING, THEY WOULD’VE KILLED HER BY DOING SO. QUITE LITERALLY, SHED RATHER DIE THAN RULE WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN ODYSSEUS!!!

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Y’all I want to make a playlist for Odysseus and Penelope, any song suggestions? (Outside of the musical of course)

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Ctimene🥺💔

Odysseus wasn’t the only soldier who had a wife waiting for him. His baby sister is now a widow. (No hate to Odysseus or Penelope!!!!!) If I write my post-Odyssey story, I really want to explore Ctimene

My hand slipped :')

[alyscat]

Sixteen hours, yes, I will appreciate this it’s so detailedddd you go queen

Bruh I spent more time on the suitors' dead bodies than on Odysseus and Telemachus. But like, have this picture of "I Can't Help But Wonder", and also this took 16 hours, please appreciate it.