#Ajax call example

[lyculuscaelus]

It’d be interesting to view the failed nostoi of Achaeans (which is the migration of Trojan War heroes to other places like Italy) in the context of the Hesiodic lore of the fourth age of men (Works and Days, line 156–175), aka the Heroic Age.

ἔνθ᾽ ἤτοι τοὺς μὲν θανάτου τέλος ἀμφεκάλυψε, There certainly the death’s end enshrouded some [of them],

So many of the Achaeans met their end in two campaigns against Thebes and especially the Trojan War.

τοῖς δὲ δίχ᾽ ἀνθρώπων βίοτον καὶ ἤθε᾽ ὀπάσσας  Ζεὺς Κρονίδης κατένασσε πατὴρ ἐς πείρατα γαίης. While to the others he sent with them a living and abodes apart from men, Father Zeus the son of Kronos, and settled them at the ends of earth.

They were sent to Italy (which is pretty far from the Mainland), for a living, the abodes being the cities they founded there.

καὶ τοὶ μὲν ναίουσιν ἀκηδέα θυμὸν ἔχοντες  ἐν μακάρων νήσοισι παρ᾽ Ὠκεανὸν βαθυδίνην,  ὄλβιοι* ἥρωες, τοῖσιν μελιηδέα καρπὸν  τρὶς ἔτεος θάλλοντα φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα.  And look, they dwell, holding a carefree heart In the isles of the blessed beside the deep-eddying Oceanus, Happy heroes, to whom the honey-sweet fruit Growing thrice a year—the fruitful earth bears them. * tell me I’m not the only one being reminded of this same word used in Teiresias’s prophecy—runs off to prepare for another post

Here, the Isles of the Blessed are depicted at the end of earth where the swirls of Oceanus flow. Note that in Roman mythology, the land of Hesperia (the western end of earth) was associated with Italy, and the colonies of Greeks (where Magna Graecia now lies) were also mentioned in Virgil’s Aeneid. Not necessarily what the Romans had in mind, but it’s an interesting connection nonetheless.

τηλοῦ ἀπ᾽ ἀθανάτων: τοῖσιν Κρόνος ἐμβασιλεύει.  τοῦ γὰρ δεσμὸν ἔλυσε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε.  Far from the immortals—Kronos reigns over them. For the father of gods and men released him from his bonds.

Isn’t it fascinating that the god Saturn, the Roman equivalent of Kronos, was one of the most important gods in so many Italian tribes back then? Now that these Greeks were far from their homelands, far from the realm of the gods they knew of, and submitting to the reign of Saturn, who was associated with Kronos in the Greeks’ mind?

τοῖσι δ᾽ ὁμῶς νεάτοις τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ.  And honor and glory attends to these greatest ones equally.

Considering how many heroa (ἡρῷα) there were in Italy, yep.

So personally, I do consider the failed nostoi working well within the Hesiodic context, even though they are later traditions themselves, which are inconsistent with Homeric epics. But that’s my personal view. (And of course you can argue that the Isles of the Blessed here are associated with Elysium fields which means that they’re all sent there after death but hey you guys are even putting the location of Hades in Italy which is literally saying “the hell is right here in Italy” which I’ve been wanting to shout at for this whole time…now just allow me to have fun)

[nacrelysis]

you've heard of the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny, now get ready for monoceros caeli: ultimate smackdown of ultimate proportions

[thewhizzyhead]

how genderbending the warriors (2024) is done not for the sole sake of "bad-assery"

okay here we go feminist ramble time for our newest chick on the block: warriors. now i'll be honest, prior to listening to the album, when i first heard that the warriors main girls were originally dudes in the movie and the novel, i thought that the decision for the genderbending, in lmm's perspective, were from the following: 1.) girl power move in like a very basic meaning of the word "bad-ass" 2.) simply a twist on a cult movie about big gang bros loved by the film bros, and 3.) a way to have the schuyler sisters back together gjfkdfldf

but when i read more about warriors and its development and how lmm took inspiration from the gamergate controversies of 2014-2015 aka among the peak of gamerbro misogyny campaigns, that's when i realized that Oh Shit Is Serious - because adapting a story about a group being framed and targeted and harassed for something they are accused of doing without any substantial proof other than a man screaming "THE WARRIORS SHOT CYYYYRUUS" with 21st century misogyny campaigns in mind makes the theme of fighting back a lot more complicated and a lot more resonant, going beyond just marketing a cast you can call "badass"

take the hurricanes' quiet girls, for example. the hurricanes (concept album version) is the only gang that lets the warriors off the hook and with a stern warning: quiet girls don't make it home. here, the hurricanes berate the warriors for not saying shit or attempting to defend themselves from accusations they know well aren't true. THIS MESSAGE IN PARTICULAR is what stays and influences ajax, fox, and swan til the very end of their stories.

literally one song after this does ajax show how easily she resonated with the hurricanes' lesson by finally sticking with her gut and actually choosing to fight back against both the baseball furies AND against the sleazy undercover cop. the latter encounter is one of the instances that really solidifies the recontextualization of the story because in the OG movie, ajax (a dude) WAS the sleazy fuck up harassing a woman in a park - and now with the literal character switch, ajax goes from being just a rebellious gangbro dude bro into someone whose want to fight is warranted. such a want to fight is seen in fox seeing as fox is the first to comment on the quiet girls scene and that, in the concept album, she is the one that instigates the rumble against the police in union square - saying that she is sick of being afraid of them and their 'fuckin powder blue' colors (also notice how she is the only warrior that really does say fuck the cops i think that's cool BUT I'LL TALK ABOUT FOX MORE NEXT TIME)

to a less obvious extent, swan also gets the receiving end of this recurring theme - by the album's finale, the usually violence-averse caution-first interim leader becomes a lot fiercer in protecting her crew. but perhaps among what i consider to be the biggest recontextualized change in the feminist sense is MERCY and her motivations to join the warriors in the first place. according to the wiki, her attraction to swan and the warriors and um seeing the orphans as wimps is what led her to switch sides BUT IN THE CONCEPT ALBUM, mercy's motivation to become a warrior is deepened, rooted in admiration rather than attraction - wanting to be like those women who hold their head up high. and again, we see this in Sick of Runnin' when she takes part in the rumble, finding her bravery within their ranks as they fight back. here, mercy becomes less of a swan tagalong and more of someone that wants what the warriors have: pride.

of course now that i type this out i realize that warriors is not based solely on the feminist rhetoric as with their theme of hope amidst adversity, the story is more intersectional and rooted in community struggle and wanting for more than that. but nonetheless, i genuinely believe that the twt filmbros arguments on why the genders should not have been changed in the first place just for "woke" points is kinda like,,,very shortsighted because not only does the narrative of women narrowly escaping unwarranted accusations actually fucking fit, but the act of learning to fight back amidst all odds - be it that of disbelieving, predatory men or the power of oppressive pigs - stays resonant for women yesterday, today, and the days to come.

ultimately, warriors (2024) is not solely a tale of female badassery - rather, it is a tale of the need for such "female badassery" in the face of past and present realities, which is why it somehow fucking worked.

[cheeseatlantic]

yuhh one look give em whiplash!!! beat drop with a big flash korean korean korean think fast!!!!

CoD characters as parents!

price, gaz, ghost, soap, alejandro, rudy, graves, valeria, keegan, hesh, logan, ajax, kick and könig… 😞

Price would be a very nice dad, as in would be the dad that LOVES his kid’s friends, takes them as his own and if a friend comes to his house they are eating at least a snack. but a partner? quokka fluffy price is being brutally stabbed and his cold captain comes into play, silently judging your kid’s partner and you have to hit him and scold him to be nice. eventually warms up and the two go on fishing trips together.

Gaz carries around two pink sparkly backpacks for his two daughters, loves them. And those bags have all the essentials, snacks, toys, change of clothes and hand sanitizer. Doesn’t matter where you go the backpack is coming too, and he insists on carrying it too! You just watch him take over and you just relax. Probably cried on the first day he dropped his girls off at school.

Soap, this man holds his son like a dad holding a fish, funniest shit ever. Accidentally swears in front of his son, his son is like a parrot and says the swears everywhere and Johnny thinks it’s funny, until you get mad at him for teaching the kid how to swear. Definitely makes explosives with the kiddo in the backyard, keeps them safe of course but scares the shit out of you.

Ghost? GIRL DAD THROUGH AND THROUGH. Him with a teenage girl is a dangerous combo, any boy looks at her funny to Simon and he’s pulling up to pick his little girl up in full tactical gear to scare off any potential boyfriends/girlfriends. Definitely helps her with school projects, except he’e massive and somehow accidentally makes minor mistakes. Or has stickers on his face, has his nails painted occasionally or plays princess dress up and drinks his tea pinky out and legs crossed, little plastic princess heels made for a four year old on his big toes.

Alejandro would definitely encourage your kid(s) to do extracurriculars, and at events he will be the absolute loudest person cheering. With signs, and everything. Let’s use soccer as an example he would be a soccer dad, got the van and everything. Makes sure the kids respect you, if not they will get a scolding and a firm tap with the slipper, he would never hurt him.

Rudy would be the most tolerant dad ever, want to stay out late? Maybe if he knows who his kid is out with, sure. A sucker for puppy dog eyes though, one time his kid saw someone selling bunnies on the side of the road and looked at it for a second too long, few years down the line you have a rabbit the size of a small dog and Rudy absolutely adores it.

Graves is the daddest of all dad’s if that makes sense. Does the weird throat thing at ungodly hours, the hand thing when the kids have snacks in the car and carries them around on his shoulders, probably cream abuses them (aggressive lotion application)… Makes sure his kids get outside and they will have a strict screen time limit until like middle school. Caught him playing Barbies with your daughter once.

Valeria is the definition of protective mother, she would be strict but means well. If one of her men lets say scares your kid she is yelling at the man until he cries. Definitely keeps her kids out of her line of work, but never her line of sight. HELICOPTER MAMAAAAAA

Keegan would be the type of dad to stay up with your baby when their fussing at night, or as you guys call it ‘the night shift’. When the baby starts babbling he just nods along, tells you that “Look at ‘em! Planning world domination, definitely my spawn.” Would tell them to take swimming classes and all that survival shit to be safe when their older. Made the baby a tiny version of his mask and carries a rattle wherever he goes in his pocket. (mandatory)

Hesh would definitely make Riley reveal the gender with a tennis ball filled with pink or blue pigment, trained Riley to bring him clean diapers, pacifiers and everything. Him and Riley are basically teaming up to raise this kid, and you don’t really have to worry about much.

Logan would be very interesting, would give your baby a whole apple to eat if their growing their teeth in but makes them wear an apron and keeps the area extremely clean if their painting. Frames every little painting and probably does those cute little crafts with them like the pumpkin butt thingy.

Ajax is probably the funnest dad quite literally ever, installed a whole play place in your guys’ backyard just because, makes sure to make the kiddos childhood as memorable as possible which means doing stupid shit with them and occasionally ending up at the doctors for a broken arm or something. Definitely freaks out when they get sick and buys everything, just piles the medications at the store in when you ask him for medicine.

Kick is totally becoming a soccer mom, Lululemon insulated mug, the van and a cooler with snacks in the back. Probably known as the ‘cool dad’ at your kid’s school. Definitely feeds into brainrot and such to keep the cool dad status. Your kid probably turned into a partial iPad kid.

Seeing König with a baby for the first time was absolutely hilarious to you because he was so big and the kid was so small, definitely refused to breathe on the baby incase he hurt it. But once he started holding the baby he turned into a jungle gym, let’s the baby use his mask as a baby blankie, made himself a new one. Spends way too much on the baby… A concerning amount.

i really feel sigma rn guys

[ravenwalkerx]

hi! can we get a general hc for the ghosts? thank you in advance ☕

Call Of Duty "Ghosts" headcanons

• David "Hesh" Walker

- big family man, i'm talking will do anything and everything just to make sure his family is safe and happy.

- adding on to that, he's a huge people pleaser - tends to put everyone elses needs before his own.

- protective over the people he loves. yes the motto of The Ghosts is to not leave their own behind, but his protectiveness over his team/friends/family goes beyond formality.

- he was absolutely reckless as a kid, climbed and jumped off of every surface he could reach resulting in Elias damn near having multiple heart attacks.

- definitely a dog person. he doesn't mind cats but loves Riley with his whole heart (i also can't imagine him with a cat).

- him and Logan were attached at the hip growing up, so his love for his brother grew into attachment issues, especially after the ODIN attack.

- whenever something happens and he had a chance to stop it but didn't, he beats himself up mentally for days after.

- feels a lot, even too much sometimes, but doesn't show it so as not to worry the people around him.

- hates being alone. he's so used to being around his family and team that the silence of being alone for a longer period of time just makes him feel uneasy.

- he's not really scared of anything but his biggest fear is losing the people close to him, especially due to the war.

• Keegan P. Russ

- has the driest humor that will either make you laugh or question all your life choices. he's not rude just insanely sarcastic.

- he was interested in weapons and the military when he was a teenager, so part of the reason he enlisted was to learn how to work with them.

- closed off and introverted, not due to any sort of trauma but because he believes that good things come to people who don't overshare their thoughts and feelings.

- unlike Hesh, he prefers being alone because noise and chatter isn't his kind of environment, and spending so much time with the team gives him very little time to himself.

- has a freakishly good memory. this man will remember something someone said to him 10 years ago even if it's completely irrelevant, making him a good asset to The Ghosts cause he remembers things about people most would see as not important.

- another part of why he enlisted in the military - apart from wanting to learn more about weapons and strategy - is because due to his quiet nature he was always disregarded, so a small part of why he enlisted so young is to prove himself as capable.

- pushes himself to his limits and simply doesn't know how to stop, doesn't know when it's enough. sometimes it leads to being so burnt out he can't function properly.

- hates feeling useless, hates feeling like he can't help. he has to be able to do something, he has to be good at something, otherwise the guilt eats him alive even if he doesn't show it.

- goes into full killer mode when someone he cares about is in danger, Ajax for example. when he was taken by The Federadion, before they found him, he killed that Fed out of pure anger.

- blamed himself for months after Ajax's death. for not getting there on time, for not being able to do anything but hold him as he died in Keegans arms. eventually got over it, but it still comes back to him occasionally.

• Logan Walker

- tries to be like Hesh in every aspect, so when he was little he would follow him around and do all the reckless stuff that his brother did.

- was never the most social but also prefers it that way, he prefers solitude over having 10 people around him at all times.

- isn't much of a talker, but will talk to his brother on occasions because he feels safe around him. same with Elias, he talks to people he feels safe with.

- even though he's technically Hesh's dog, Logan absolutely adores Riley. when they first got him, Logan took it upon himself to train Riley and they became inseperable shortly after.

- really likes the beach. he used to go to the beach often before ODIN, just to have some time to himself, and he grew attached to it.

- took the loss of their mother really hard. some days, he can't even look at himself in the mirror because he reminds himself of her.

- often thinks about how life could have been if it wasn't for the Federation taking everything away. he couldn't imagine himself anywhere other than where he is right now, but he thinks about what he would do if he werent a soldier.

- loves Hesh, but when he was younger he felt like he was constantly in his brothers shadow. he eventually grew up and out of it, but it messed with his head.

- he doesn't express it, but he feels the most out of everyone on the team. he's always been that way - feeling strong feelings but always bottling it up cause he didn't feel like they were important.

- always puts everyone before himself. he doesn't care what happens to him as long as everyone else is safe and okay. it's one of his best traits, but he also sometimes wishes he could put himself first.

• Thomas A. Merrick

- really dedicated to his job. he swore to himself that he would do his best and push himself to his limits as a soldier.

- he makes more dad jokes than an actual dad, but they're actually funny. yes, he's a serious man, but he thinks that even in the time of crisis there's gotta be something positive.

- he's determined by nature, never doing anything halfway. if a job needs to be done, it should be done fully and not half-assed.

- he strikes me as someone who plays loud music in a car, no matter if hes alone or not. doesn't matter which genre it is, he just has to have something to kill the silence.

- surprisingly good at cooking. you'd think that for someone who spends most of his time working, he wouldn't have time for other things, but he likes cooking in his free time.

- similar to Keegan, he pushes himself to his limits. the only difference is that he knows when to stop, but it still puts him out of it for a few days after a long mission.

- he has a hard time letting people in, probably due to how many comrades he lost. when the Walker boys first joined, it took him a while of working with them for them to grow on him.

- he's seen a lot. he's seen people die, people being tortured, he's lost some of the people closest to him during his time in the military. he still sees the images sometimes, even when it's peaceful.

- even though it takes him a while to let people in, when he finally does he gets mad at himself when something happens to the people he got close to.

- one of his bad traits is that he gets impatient often and acts on his impulses. when it feels like time is running out, he doesn't think before he acts and acts impulsively, which can sometimes be good but most of the time leads to chaos.

• Kick

- ever since he was young, he really liked technology. computers, gadgets, he was always interested in it and messing with something.

- stealthy as hell. yes, he's good with technology, but he could also be walking right behind you and you wouldn't hear a thing. he's so light on his feet.

- beside his interest in technology, he seems like a person who would be interested in weapons. not just shooting and stuff, he would open up a gun just to mess with the mechanism.

- always has everyone's back. he's a huge team player and if someone needs backup? he's there, no questions asked. insanely loyal.

- he's insanely smart. i'm talking, knows everything about everything. random facts about stars, animals, computers, people, you name it he knows it. this comes in really helpful when theres a crisis happening and he has to calm someone down.

- he tends to feel left out a lot. yes, he's a big help with intel and hacking into databases, but sometimes he feels useless in other aspects.

- constantly under stress. doesn't matter what he's doing, he's always thinking about a 100 other things and he can't focus on one thing at a time. this eats away at him often, even if he tries to ignore it.

- whenever he makes a mistake or something slips past him, he gets so in his head that he makes himself believe he's not capable of doing his job anymore. his mind is his worst enemy.

- he's always the happy, sociable one in big groups, but really he doesn't wanna be. he doesn't like being alone, but he also doesn't like having to be upbeat all the time when in reality his brain is constantly at conflict with itself.

- smoking is his guilty pleasure. he doesn't do it often, but when he does it's mostly to shut his mind up. either that, or he hits a punching bag until his mind and fists are numb.

• Elias T. "Scarecrow" Walker

- loves his sons more than anything. after losing his wife, he made sure to keep Hesh and Logan safe from anything and everything. they're the only thing he's got left in this world, the only ones he can trust. (iykyk)

- also really dedicated to his job. hell, he's dedicated to everything he does because he knows how easy it is to lose people. also a born leader through and through.

- takes Riley on walks to pass time. sometimes he needs to just unwind, and walks in the sun feel nice after all the chaos he's been through.

- likes telling stories about his wife. they make him feel better in hard times, like he didn't completely lose her.

- the tests that Hesh mentions he puts them through aren't because he doesn't trust them, but because he just wants to make sure they're ready for all the hardships life has for them.

- sometimes he feels guilty for letting go of Rorke. he said it himself, it's the hardest decision he's ever had to make.

- as well as Merrick, he's seen some things no one should see. the images still replay in his mind sometimes, but all he feels is anger at the injustice of some situations he's been in.

- as proud as he is of Logan and Hesh for following his footsteps, he's absolutely terrified of losing them, even if he doesn't show it. he can't lose them as well.

- he feels guilty for seeming biased sometimes, like he puts one son before the other, but its not that way.

- cracks jokes even when all hell breaks loose, but doesn't really know if he's trying to comfort everyone else or himself. he's so used to being a leader, the strong one, that he doesn't let himself admit he's scared too.

[ukiiseikou]

these hands that saved me, they're so fragile.

tartaglia x gn! reader. when you take a hit for him. he's referred to by his real name here.

you wouldn't really call yourself a fighter per say, more of an scholar or explorer. but like everyone else in the village, you knew some basic self defense - like how to hold a bow properly and the best way to wield a knife and cut through flesh. when you finally started dating ajax, he taught you how to throw a punch properly, with your fist as tight as possible and not with your thumb tucked into your palm, "because it'll break that way".

he's brought you on several trips already - fatui missions, you know, but he swears he has the time to lounge around and accompany you on your survey of various local offerings, and he makes well on his promises, despite the bruises and extra cuts he has to go through to clean up in time. you always scold him - don't go into a battle without a clear head! - but he laughs and says that it'll be a waste to come all the way here with his favourite person and not enjoy it.

you know he has his fair share of enemies - people who would do anything to take his head off. ajax jumps at any chance to fight - like a wolf that just learnt to bare it's teeth and fight tooth and nail with reckless abandonment. he comes home bloodied and bruised nine times out of ten, always with an apology hanging by his lips as you sit him down and wipe away the splash of blood on his cheek.

you've had your own close run-ins with his foes - even after ajax made an example out of the first group that dared to touch a hair of you, the fatui's enemies pinpointed you as the weakness of the eleventh harbinger - a surefire way of getting under his skin and catching him by surprise.

"i'll protect you," he murmurs every so often in your ear at night, arms tightening around your waist as he buried his head in the crook of your shoulder, "i'll be your knight."

"i know, ajax," you've always whispered back, smoothing back ginger curls and leaving a tender kiss on his forehead.

so that's why you didn't second guess yourself and threw yourself in the line of an arrow heading towards him in his blind spot. a sniper perched in a tree that quickly slinked off when the arrowhead pierced the flesh of your shoulder and you cried out in pain.

the overwhelming sensation of pain overtakes all your senses, you can barely hear ajax call out your name and you don't register him catching you in his arms and frantically patting you on your cheek. the taste of blood fills your mouth and your eyes water at the sensation - and smell of iron in the air.

your vision fades to black.

"i'll keep an eye on them. thanks for coming around, doctor."

ajax's voice finally makes it over the noise and his face finally makes it into focus in your vision. you vaguely register that you're on a bed and you can't feel the entirety of your left side.

"ajax?" you manage to croak out. you hear frantic feet against the floor and his face pops into view, brows drawn together in worry. the bed creaks under his weight as he sits on the bed beside you, leaning over your body.

"the doctor said that most people usually take 3 hours to wake up," he mutters, and you manage to catch it as he scans over you with scrutiny.

"guess i'm not most people," you manage to raise your right arm to give him at quick tap on his hand, which immediately moves to grasps yours and give you squeeze.

"does it hurt?"

"not really. can't feel it at all, actually."

he lets out a satisfied hum, before his blue eyes turn steely again.

"what you did was stupid. why did you do that - for me?"

"hey," you muster enough strength to squeeze his hand back in response, "it goes both ways, ajax. if you were me, you would done the same."

he fumes, because he knows you're right. he would rather throw himself to the flames than to watch anyone hurt you, and he knows that if he starts scolding you all you would do is do the same thing back to him.

he settles for sighing, playing with your fingers.

"i only wish it didn't have to be that way. i'm sorry, it's all on me. i should've been better."

he places your hand on his cheek, feeling the warmth against his skin.

"ajax," you say softly as his eyes close, "i told you before - i chose to be with you. i knew what i was getting into. so don't say sorry, okay?"

you watch as he inhales, then exhales, again.

"you really are the best, you know?"

not my best work but i suddenly felt the urge. like or reblog if you enjoyed thank you~

[blue-aconite]

the offside rule || j.h.s

Summary: Jake learns that his girl is crazy about football, but not the kind he expected.

Warnings: jake being a sweetheart, no use of y/n

Word Count: 1.5k

Pairings: Jake Seresin x f!reader

Authors Note: This is inspired by @roosterforme's Sundays Are for the Boys and @teacupsandtopgun's Jake and Flick universe. This is also very self-indulgent and somewhat based on parts of my life.

“What are you doing?” Jake emerged from the bathroom, only to find his girlfriend on the couch, watching what looked like soccer. 

“I’m watching football, what does it look like?” She didn’t take her eyes off the screen as she reached for the beer bottle on the coffee table. 

Jake didn’t know how to respond. He knew what soccer was, he wasn’t an idiot but he never knew that his girl enjoyed the sport. 

“Soccer, baby. It’s called soccer.” 

Jake knew it was the wrong thing to say as she turned around, an unimpressed look on her face. 

“I’m going to forgive you this time. But in the future, for your information, it’s called football. Not your ridiculous term soccer.” She was all business, a sharp edge to her tone that Jake hadn’t really experienced in their relationship so far. 

There was a sparkle in her eyes that told him she wasn’t as serious as her tone suggested though. Jake flopped down on the couch next to her, plucking the beer out of her hands. “Is this MLS?” 

She snorted, rolling her eyes as she looked him up and down. “MLS is a shit league. It only got interesting since Messi signed for Inter Miami and it’s still shit. You know, we call it the retirement league because it’s where all the greats come to wind down and just kick around.” 

“Hey!” Jake protested. “Doesn’t it have a somewhat good reputation?”

She shook her head. “Baby, I love you but you’ve been greatly deceived.” She patted his cheek, opening another beer, seeing as he had stolen hers. 

Jake grumbled, sinking lower into the couch. Granted, his soccer knowledge was limited but he thought that MLS at least was a popular league. 

“What’s this then?” He pointed to the screen where the game was playing. 

His girl clapped excitedly, tossing the cap onto the table. “This is the greatest league in the world. I give you the Premier League.” She dramatically spread her arms, as if showing him something of great importance. 

In a way, Jake guessed that she was. He had no idea she was this passionate about this but he found it endearing that she did. 

“I recognise that, it’s England, yeah?” Jake was 80% certain he was right but he could also be wrong. Like he said, his knowledge of soccer was limited. 

“Yes! PL is played in England and it’s hands down the most popular and watched league. But there’s obviously others as well.” 

He was a bit intrigued and Jake also wanted to know more about something that made his girl this excited. “Others?” 

“Oh, you’ve got La Liga for example, and Ligue 1. And then there’s Serie A and Bundesliga. My dad used to watch a lot of Eredivisie too. He was a lifelong fan of Ajax.” She quieted down a bit at the end, a sad smile on her face as she remembered her dad. 

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder, hand finding hers. He gave a supportive squeeze. He understood now why this was so important to her. 

“Did you guys watch a lot together?” He asked as the game seemingly was paused, the players leaving the field. 

“Yeah. He took me to my first game when I was 4. I barely remember it but I remember the feeling. And he coached my team for as long as I played.” 

That surprised Jake. “You used to play?” It wasn’t something that had come up but he guessed it was somewhat of a sore subject. 

“From the age of five til I was fifteen, maybe sixteen,” she paused. “Uh, I quit playing when he got sick. He wanted me to continue but it just wasn’t the same. It was our thing and then all of a sudden he wasn’t there and..” 

Jake pulled her into his arms, lips pressed to her forehead. “Baby, why haven’t you told me about this before? I would have loved to know more about football if I knew it meant this much to you.” 

She smiled when he called it football and Jake counted it as a small victory. “I honestly don’t know. You’re more of an American football fan and I just figured you didn’t care about this.” 

“I would have cared if you told me. Hell, I know you don’t really care about the Cowboys but you still hang out with me when they play. And wear the jersey.” 

She laughed then, leaning back from his embrace but kept their hands intertwined. “I wear the jersey because I know it gets you all hot and bothered.”

“Well, that’s definitely a perk. You do look very good in blue.” Jake kissed her then, hands sneaking under her shirt to trace her skin. 

She was blushing when they pulled apart and Jake grinned, proud to be the one to make her that way. 

“So is Ajax your team?” He asked, playing with the hem of her shirt. 

“No. As much as I respect and enjoy Dutch football, the Premier League always called to me more. And then I fell in love with Manchester United.” 

Jake’s eyebrows shot up, teasingly pinching her sides. “Fell in love, huh? That means I got competition?” 

She rolled her eyes, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you for the Red Devils.” 

“Good. Is this them then?” He gestured towards the screen, where the game had resumed. 

“No, they play Aston Villa tomorrow. This is Newcastle vs Arsenal.” 

Jake watched as the team in black and white kicked the ball back and forth. “Okay, you’re going to have to explain this to me. I know nothing.” 

She launched into the game, explaining what was happening as well as informing him about the rules and terms. Jake tried his best to keep up but figured he was going to have to do some independent studying to catch up. 

If this was important to his girl, it was important to him. He watched as she kept on talking, gesturing back and forth with her hands, eyes alight with excitement. 

“But there must be leagues outside of Europe, yeah?” He asked after learning that the ones she had rambled off earlier were all based in European countries. 

“For sure, but those are the most popular ones. And considering how much of an impact the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have, it’s difficult for leagues outside of Europe to compete.” 

Jake’s mind was reeling, trying to piece all the information together. “Wait, Europa League and Champions League? Conference? Where’s that?” 

“All of those are played by teams in Europe. You qualify for UCL when you win your league in your country, and the second tier goes on to play in the UEL and third tier in UECL.” At Jake’s confused expression, she smiled apologetically. 

“Sorry, this is way overboard. How about we keep that for another day and we just keep to the basics for now?” 

Jake breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes please.”

She handed him another beer, smiling softly. 

“So, do I get a Manchester United jersey? It’s only fair, I got you a Cowboys one.” Jake asked. 

He was comfortably leaning back against the armrest of the couch. Initially he had tried to get her to snuggle with him but quickly found out that she wasn’t going to sit still while watching the game. 

“Babe, you’ll get a jersey when you deserve one. Maybe earlier if you can explain the offside rule to me.”  

He was screwed then. “Never mind. I’ll wait.” 

“It’s really not that difficult. A player would be seen as offside if their entire body is in front of the last defender of the opposing team, on the opposing team's half.” 

Jake tried to imagine what it would look like but his mind came up blank. “You’re just speaking gibberish, that doesn’t make sense.”

She smiled softly, a gleam in her eye. “Don’t worry, I’ll make you a football fan. Just you wait.”

“I can’t wait. I’m also very excited to see you watch your team play.” 

The game was now over and she climbed into his lap, hands finding the back of his head. “Oh, you’re in for a wild ride.” 

Making the most of their position, Jake grabbed a hold of her thighs as he stood up, ignoring her squeal as he headed towards the bedroom. “How about I give you a ride right now?” 

Two months later, when Jake officially got the offside rule right, a package was waiting for him on the kitchen table when he got home. 

His heart swelled as he pulled out a bright red Manchester United jersey, embroidered with his callsign on the back. There was a note inside the box as well and Jake laughed as he read what his girlfriend had written. 

Now you’re a real football fan. Glory glory Man United! 

Ps. Come find me ;) 

“You’re playing a dangerous game, sweetheart.” He called, jersey in hand as he stalked the house. 

Her laughter echoed through the house. “Come claim your prize, cowboy.”

Taglist: @wildbornsiren​ @ryebecca @imjess-themess @reels-and-wheels @antiquitea @writercole @hederasgarden @yanna-banana @bobfloydsbabe @hollandorks @anniesocsandgeneralstore @ereardon @luminousnotmatter @roosterscock @thedroneranger @fandomxpreferences @honkytonk-hangman @princessmisery666 @bradshawsbitch​ @a-reader-and-a-writer @green-socks @angstybluejay @seresinhangmanjake @ayorooster​@notroosterbradshaw​ @indynerdgirl @gigisimsonmars @girl-in-the-chairs-void @bradshawbabes @unhinged-btch @horseshoegirl @sadpetalsstuff @bradshawbaby @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @ummjustfics​ @septemberrie​ @somenamewithepineapple​ @seresinsweetie​​ @crescentwolf​ @seresinhangmanjake​ @waklman​ @roosterforme​ @rosiahills22​ @dempy​ @i0veless​ @ilovewriting06​ @kmc1989​ @demxters @amortentiadrops @teacupsandtopgun @hangmanscoming @hangmanssunnies

[dock57]

i saw your shrike headcanons may i ask if ya have some for the big guy Beebs?

[Apologizes that it took me some time to come back to this ask. I been thinking and thinking if I do have any head canons for the beloved cube head. I'm not the best when it comes to thinking about head canons, honestly a lot of my HCs come from others and their HCs that I accepted as a good HC that I enjoy for the character. But let's see what I have thought about for Beebs: 1. A Mechanic. As someone who has cybernetic limbs, I would assume that Beebs have a pretty good understanding of being a mechanic, as well as in robotics. From EP 3, Us & Them, we see that Beebs seems to have an understanding at fixing mechanical, such as the Cat Brothers Ship, and when he mentions while getting a call from Us, "Great, ANOTHER thing to fix." I believe that Beebs does most of the fixing around the ship. I would never trust Shrike to "fix" anything that needs electricity to run...

2. Royalty. A stretch perhaps. From what we know so far about Beebs' species and their culture, I think Beebs comes from a pretty high ranking, or "royal" like house. Although Beebs does not match what is expected from the family, being an "aberrant" to some eyes, such as Ajax. I think Beebs came from a house, even in higher status than Ajax. I been wondering that the reason why Ajax wanted Beebs' as a servant was for his own status. Like "Look at me, I have the son of a higher house, under me, as a servant." That would be a blow to another house, since it seems Walarian take their status in society very seriously (Also I never can spell the species' name correctly, please forgive me on that).

This is also why I believe Beebs also takes on a very simple life, to move away from the complexation of the life he live before. 3. Speaking of simple, I like to think that Beebs is a man who enjoys minimum things. As in, I don't think Beebs enjoys complexity, not just in life, but even in technology as well. Beebs prefers things to be simple such as clothes, music, food, and even when it comes to working on issues that need solutions. Beebs will go all out to solve a problem, but I think he would prefer if the issue was not to be created to be complicated in the first place, it would have save a lot of time... 4. He lost his limbs. I seen some other who HC or theories that Beebs may have been born without his limbs at all, but I think I prefer the idea that he lost them. I think about this part at the dinner with Ajax in EP 4, Plague Walkers:

When Ajax looks at Beebs' cybernetic arm, then to his own, he mentions how he has "employers I know would TAKE the liability" which makes me think that Beebs lost his limbs from an incident that carried risk, a risk that Beebs took and losing his limbs was a consequence from it. 5. Beebs see Himself in Shrike. Not sure if this counts as a head canon, but I think one reason why Beebs has taken Shrike in and sticks to his side is because he see a younger self in Shrike. Someone who has been there and live through his mistakes, and perhaps he doesn't want the same for Shrike. So he takes Shrike as not just a friend, but as a little brother, one that he wants to see improve himself so Shrike does not end up making the same mistakes that Beebs may have made in his own past.

I cannot think of a good example from the show to see where this though comes from, but I think its when Beebs gives Shrike a soft smile that tells me that Beebs see Shrike as a little brother that he trying to take under as someone he can mentor as well.

6. Heavy Weight Drinker. This one may actually be more close to a Head canon than the others, but I like to think that Beebs can handle his alcohol well. Beebs doesn't drink as much compare to Shrike, who is quick to become intoxicated, Beebs can have quite a bit before even showing sides to be a bit tippy. He always the "designated" driver for any gathering. 7. Prefers a Monogamy. If Beebs' kind and society is expected for the males to have a harem of females, I do not think Beebs vibes that same way. Beebs come off to me as someone who has a lot of people in life he cares and love for, but only one he would treat as a partner. As in Beebs is someone I see who would take a LONG time to develop a romantic relationship with just one person. That one partner is his everything and he cannot think to divide that affection to another. Here's an ask from the MW official server about Walarians having a harem of females.

I think that's all I got for now! Hope you enjoy!]

[v3suvia]

On Diomedes of Argos.

Typically, when people think about their favorite heroes of the Trojan siege, they think of the likes of Achilles, or Odysseus, or even Agamemnon (or if you’re based, Hector.) And while these are all valid to whatever extent— because let’s be real, no one is choosing favorites based on who has the purest moral standpoint— they’re not exactly remembered for the noblest of reasons.

Achilles spends half of the Iliad inside his tent as a sulky burrito, and the other half slaughtering Trojans and crying over the consequences of his own actions. Odysseus is a chronic liar, and Agamemnon is Agamemnon. But at the end of the day, they’re still remembered (for better or for worse, really.)

Though, on the topic of Homeric heroes, I feel there is one who is often overlooked despite achieving great feats over the course of the epic; Diomedes of Argos. (Note: arguably the most metal of the Achaean heroes at Troy.) So, let’s rant talk about him!

Diomedes was one of the key players in Homer’s Iliad— a recount of the last year of the Trojan siege. Being summoned to fight under oath, Diomedes headed his fleet of 80 ships to Ilium. As well as having a whole chapter dedicated to how kickass he was [read more about that whole thing here], the king of Argos was also a master strategist, and extremely noble— not just in his war efforts.

For example, there are multiple points in the Iliad where he checks the leader of the Trojan expedition, Agamemnon, calling him out on his cowardice or for otherwise being an inadequate leader, [Book 9; ‘Agamemnon, I will begin by taking issue with you over your proposal… do you really believe the Greeks are the cowards and weaklings you say they are? If you for one, have set your heart on getting away, then go.’] [‘Zeus has granted you many things… He gave you the sceptre of power and the honour that comes with it, but he did not give you courage— and courage is the secret of authority.]

And one instance where he truces with the Trojan hero, Glaucus— both of them exchanging armors (on an active battlefield, btw) to honor the fact that their grandfathers had been allies, [Book 6; ‘So let us avoid each other’s spears... And let us exchange our armor so that everyone will know our grandfather’s friendship has made friends of us.’]

He is also one of the only soldiers in the war who avoids committing hubris in the entire epic, which is probably the most telling of all his virtuous traits.

Diomedes also has a proverb named after him! ‘Diomedean Necessity/Diomedean Compulsion', which basically means when someone does something for the greater good (despite the reluctance of the person in question.)

This is taken from the myth of Odysseus and Diomedes taking the wooden statue of Athena— dubbed the Palladium— from Ilium. During this heist, Odysseus tries to stab Diomedes in the back to steal the acclaim of taking the Palladium for himself.

Rather than punishing Odysseus on account of betraying his ally for personal gain, Diomedes ties him up and drags him back to camp instead, because he knew the Greeks couldn’t win the war without Odysseus’ wisdom.

Anyway, why the rant? Sure, I could sit here and convince you that he’s the coolest Greek hero, but what would I be trying to accomplish in doing so? Well, it’s simply because while every other Homeric hero is recognized and represented in modern media, Diomedes isn’t.

He wasn’t even mentioned once in Troy (2004), the film adaptation of the Iliad! Despite him being the focus of multiple chapters in the book, as well as playing a big role in the Achaean army’s over-all victory.

I’m sick of everyone (and by that, I mean most modern media) depicting him as though he was just some dude™ in the Iliad when he was actually (from a mildly biased standpoint) one of the best of the Achaeans at Troy.

TLDR; Diomedes of Argos = Based. He solos ur favs (probably. He almost killed Ajax the greater at Patroclus’ funeral games 💀)Put him in more movies/shows/games so me and the other two Diomedes fans can be happy.

[amostcuriousmythicist]

Sophocles lost Play: Teucer

A tragedy that was thematically close to Sophocles’ Ajax, though the relationship between the two plays is unknown…Teucer was in some sense a sequel to Ajax, dealing with the aftermath of Ajax’s death and the fraught relationship between Ajax’s father Telamon and his surviving son Teucer. The play centred on Teucer’s homecoming to Salamis and on Telamon’s rejection of Teucer for failing to save Ajax’s life, an eventuality predicted by Teucer in Ajax. Apart from F577, in which we glimpse Telamon lamenting his son’s death, the fragments tell us nothing. But additional information is provided by Aristotle, who cites Teucer twice in his Rhetoric. Aristotle reveals that the play included a debate (or agôn) between Odysseus and Teucer, in which Odysseus used Teucer’s family connections in order to claim that Teucer was on the side of the Trojans; Teucer maintained that he was not a traitor, for if he had been, he would have denounced the spies. Aristotle also notes that the play contained an example of the technique whereby an opponent’s argument is refuted by quoting his own words against him (though no precise details are supplied).

The Lost Plays of Greek Tragedy (Volume 2) by Matthew Wright. Page 116-117

1) it seems Sophocles switched up Odysseus’s characterization from his Ajax from Teucer’s advocate to being the leading voice that calls for his banishment (it’s safe to assume actually that Odysseus is supposed to be the one that convinces Telamon to send his son into exile)

2) as for how this works within the continuity of the Odyssey…it probably doesn’t work at all but feel free to try and make it fit in

[kailoraurelius]

📣📣📣 AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT SWAN, I shout into my empty room. @sun-mo0nshine reblogged my post about Swan being the baddest bitch and said they love the way Jasmine says, "Swan". And I have a headcanon about it that idk maybe y'all would like?? So here it is lol. Sorry it's monsterously long.

We all have animatics in our heads, I'm sure. Or full stage or cinema productions or whatever. We're picturing it as we listen. I have a full stage production in mine. There's a few parts that are questionably possible with today's technology, but whatever. It's entertaining and gets me through very long hours at work sometimes.

POINT IS, in my head, Swan almost never smiles. She sounds nearly bored the very first time she says her name in Survive the Night. But we know her better now! We know she was worried even then!! And all the girls are saying their names in ways that seem to match how they'd be feeling in that moment.

Cochise, vibey, positive. Shown by her share of the lyrics in the rest of the song, because she's the one that sings about Cyrus holding the crown and wanting to see what happens with Cleon.

Cowgirl, more excited and rambunctious, down for a good time. That one is simple lol.

Fox, short and fierce. She's already trying to show she's tough in the first moment of her in this. You can hear her lifting her chin when she fuckin' says it.

Cleon, the loudest and most open voice of all of them. Representing basically her whole character in her intro. She is the one that believes fully in Cyrus and is open to her dream.

Ajax, just above monotone, a little extra emphasis on the "s" sound. It feels a little darker, even snake-like for a moment. Not to say she's a snake by any means, but she is ALMOST an antagonist for her own crew throughout—questioning Swan over and over, picking the fight that ends up taking her away—and this bit of darker voice and imagery kinda hints at that to me.

Rembrandt, always saying her name in two parts, the last syllable usually leaning more toward her feelings. (For example, the first time Mercy adds herself to the Roll Call later, Rembrandt speaks after her and there is very clearly a ???? In the middle of her name and an annoyed emphasis on the T at the end, like she's thinking, "who is this bitch? It was MY turn next.") And in this first Roll Call, her voice seems to fall somewhere between Ajax and Swan's vibes. Not as worried or displeased, but in between. Which makes sense because she is the one that echoes Ajax when she openly questions the plan throughout this song.

NOW. Swan. Worried. Monotone. Mind elsewhere, on what the future is about to bring them. I do not picture her smiling in this.

In Warriors' Cypher is the first time we hear some brightness in her voice, but even then she's talking about "peace so far" and stating that she has everyone's backs if that changes. She's STILL worried, even while they're fooling around and having fun. I do picture her almost exasperatedly laughing at the others' parts or smirking at Cowgirl's line, but not full on grinning. She's still focused on her worry, but she's allowing the bit of fun. And, in If You Can Count, I do see her starting to smile as it seems like the peace is going to be a real, lasting thing.

But, as Swan later says in A Light or Somethin', everything goes wrong from then on. Cyrus, running for their lives, the Turnbull ACs trying to kill them, the track fire. In Track Fire and a Phone Call, everyone is again kinda goofing off. Blowing off steam, razzing each other. But Swan is serious and stern. "When we get there, that's when we've made it." No smiling. She's too focused on protecting her crew.

Then we get to Orphan Town and THIS is where I think Swan's first full, genuine smile would come in. Again, she's worried, she's strategizing. The Orphans are taking some convincing. Swan and Fox start their flirting, where I imagine she would have a placating smile on, at least. Then Mercy comes in.

And I think Mercy amuses Swan. I think she comes out, singing about the Orphans, saying "Witcha hand on your BCACK" and, in my head, Swan laughs, startled into amusement, then quickly hides it so Sully won't turn on her. Then Mercy turns on her.

She starts demanding Swan's vest and this is the first and only time in the album that we hear Swan sound a little dumbstruck. That "What?" absolutely sounds like 0.0 She recovers, offers to try and get Mercy one if she helps them through, and Mercy says she wants the vest off of Swan and what do we hear? A laugh. A small one, entwined with her, "No chance" but a laugh. The only amusement we hear in Swan's voice until A Light of Somethin'. So yeah, I think Swan finds Mercy ridiculous and unhinged and kinda hilarious. Still though, I don't see a full-on smile happening here.

But then everything goes sideways, Swan defends Mercy, Sully changes his mind about letting them pass, and Swan decides to blow their shit up. They start putting together the molotov and it's when Swan calls for a piece of fabric and Mercy offers it up that I see the smile happening. The line "Let's make their world a little brighter" is the brightest we've heard Swan's voice be. In my headcanon, feature film, stage adaptation, I see Swan asking for the fabric and Mercy jumping forward to offer it up and Swan, startled again into amusement and gratefulness, fully grins.

I think it goes away very quickly as she focuses on her task and puts back on her leader face, but I think that quick look is when Mercy starts falling.

Back to everything is hard and sucks for a while. Swan is busy trying to ignore Ajax and Mercy's beef and protecting her crew. Her sole focus is getting them home. Then they lose Ajax and she has to lead the cops away. Mercy goes with her and they end up alone.

Which brings us to A Light or Somethin'. We know Swan was likely freaking out inside. Her Warriors are out there somewhere and she can't help them, can only hope they're waiting for her at Union Square. Ajax is gone, Cleon is gone. So she's quiet as they walk through the tunnel, understandably. But, again, Mercy manages to amuse her. You can HEAR the amusement in her voice. She laughs, saying Mercy won't like initiation. She is playful when she says, "Well, you split from the Orphans, are you loyal?" It's a legit question, but it's said with such a lighter feel. You can tell Mercy has broken through the stern, stoic face she's been putting on for just a moment. I think this is the closest we get to another real smile before the Finale. Not the full blown grin I picture in Orphan Town, but a smile nonetheless.

And when Swan rejects Mercy, her voice drops back down to that more monotone, worried voice we're used to. Except it also has a bit of a rasp to it now. A pain. She doesn't want to be pushing Mercy away. Desperation and agitation fill the rest of the song and then it's, once again, everything sucks and we're running. They lose Fox.

And I feel like there's a smile after the kiss in Same Train Home. It definitely feels like there's a few in the Finale, when Swan says "Anyone sick of runnin", when she tells Mercy she's a Warrior, when Cleon shows up, when Swan and Mercy sing "When I am with you" together.

But I think the only full, unguarded or untinged with sadness/worry, grin is in Orphan Town. When this woman Swan doesn't even know shows up and startles her into genuine happiness she wasn't expecting to find anywhere. Much less on the run for her life.

[katerinaaqu]

This is a silly one, but based on what you have read, how tall do you imagine our heroes to be? Odysseus, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Achilles etc. Not exact heights, but in relation to each other. Thank you in advance :)

Hmm that is a really tricky one hehehe and I would be speculating of course, given how the average height of the time is generally lower than modern times.

So many of the heroes (see for example Agamemnon) were described as tall to signify their ideal proportions (in one way the...models of their time! hehehe) while others have other features. That being said I would pull some numbers out of thin air but here goes

Agamemnon: around 170 cm tall (Homer calls him "enormous" but he also admits that there are others taller than him so I can assume he is tall-ish for ancient standards but not like the hugest guy around)

Menelaus: around 173-175 cm tall (Yeah for some reason I think Menelaus would have been a bit taller. His height is not specified but he could be one of those that are taller than him. Plus the way he seems to draw attention on himself and all could be not just because of his rare hair color but also his height)

Ajax the Great (Telamonian Aias): 2 meters tall (The behemoth of Achaean army, described as a head and shoulders above all other Greeks, Ajax strikes me for the Heracles-like height of his group -Heracles was described by some of my books as 4 arm-length tall and if we count one arm length to be around 50 cm then that makes him around 2 meters tall- so he has a height that is rare, rare for every greek standard even nowadays)

Teucer: around 167-170 cm tall (I imagined Teucer to have a more average height for the time he lived in but still towards the tall side, taking a bit more of his mother instead. I figured he should be slightly taller than Ajax's massive shield so that he could shoot from over it and hide successfully back down)

Achilles: around 175-180 cm tall (I imagined Achilles to be pretty tall himself, at least as tall as Menelaus. That is because his armor could fit Hector who was described as quite tall, for example in Dares the Phrygian, so Achilles would have to be pretty tall so that his armor would fit him or fit him with the slightest of adjustments plus he would have to be of a reasonable height for Ajax wishing to claim his armor but not like THAT tall so that Odysseus would do the same, although I suspect the latter would want it more for glory than actual wear but I wonder)

Patroclus: around 180 cm tall (Similarly Patroclus would have to have a very similar physique to Achilles in order to fit successfully in his armor without the need of THAT many adjustments )

Odysseus: around 165-169 cm tall (Speaks on its own since he is described "a head shorter than Agamemnon" and by Dares the Phrygian "of average size" so combining these together I fathomed he would be average towards the short side and around the same height or barely one or two inches taller than his wife Penelope who is tall for a woman)

Diomedes: around 170-173 cm tall (Yes I know I am a minority that I say this but I do not imagine Diomedes to be of a massive height. Definitely taller than Odysseus but not like Ajax or anything. His father Tydeus was described as a "small man" so his father was not that tall so he took from his mother plus Dares the Phrygius describes him as "square of body" and some people translate it as "stocky". In one way I imagined Diomedes being taller than average but not spectacularly taller. Hence also fitting in the armor of Glaucus out in the battlefield and vice-versa

Nestor: around 163-167 cm tall (I imagined Nestor to be of average of size towards the tall direction as a young man but having lost some points due to age. Especially at the events of the Odyssey)

Ajax the Lesser (Aias the son of Oileus): around 170 cm tall (Similarly to Agamemnon or Diomedes I imagined him to be closer to average)

Idomeneus: around 173 cm tall (That number I pull again out of the air. I imagined him to be tall-ish but not that drastically taller but definitely with an impressive body structure for his age)

[dootznbootz]

Me: Almost done listening to the Iliad on audiobook, and planning to listen to the Odyssey next

Me: Goes on youtube to find a quick summary to listen to before hand

Me: Clicks on a promising video

Video, in the first 30 seconds: Haha he cheats on his wife!

Me, in a bad mood now, even though I should have seen that coming: Never-fucking-mind, then

Yep. ;~;

Quick tip for ya: Honestly don't trust really ANY "Youtube" summary of it. Especially the ones where they are mostly trying to be "entertaining" and/or "funny" instead of educational. Also they mostly likely won't be "respectful".

I'm not saying this as a "don't trust any academic source! Historians are evil!!!" I'm saying this as a "there are very biased and very opinionated folks out there and I recommend going over multiple sources just for you to get your own opinion formed on it as well!".

I mean...Madeline Miller?

And you know what? I'll vent about how much I hate Robert Graves' takes on Greek Myth. >:(

I once got an old used book about mythology by Robert Graves and I was excited to read it! But it was genuinely just...so fucking MEAN. Insulting to stories, calling them stupid, flip-flopping on "Goodhearted" to "malicious". It seems like he was a bit more of a critic and/or thought his "headcanons" as "fact". (I say this as someone who has many headcanons and gets real silly with it. At a certain point though, YOU GOTTA STATE THE FACTSSS)

An example from it: (talking about Menelaus and Helen's marriage) "Yet their marriage was doomed to failure: years before, while sacrificing to the gods, Tyndareus had stupidly overlooked Aphrodite, who took her revenge by swearing to make all three of his daughters--Clytemnestra, Timandra, and Helen--notorious for their adultries"

Very much dislikes Odysseus, (like holy crap, even his good deeds are said mockingly) while he seems to "like" Menelaus, still calls him stupid. Seems to really like Paris?? like "Oh yeah, he needed Aphrodite to help him steal a woman who didn't love him but he's just a guyyy~"

"Athen now inspired Prylis, son of Hermes, to suggest that entry should be gained into Troy by means of a wooden horse; Epeius, son of Panopeus, a Phocian from Parnassus, volunteered to build one under Athene's supervision. Afterwards, of course, Odysseus claimed all the credit for the Stratagem"

He implies Helen and Odysseus possibly having romantics when he sneaks into Troy to steal the Palladium. Implies Odysseus made up Cassandra's rape by Lesser Ajax, as "Cassandra did not support the charge".

"Little Ajax's alleged violation of Cassandra was dismissed by reputable mythographers as an Odyssean lie"

Implies that Odysseus was only angry about Pallamedes embarrassing him, NOT BECAUSE HE NEARLY KILLED HIS BABY AND MADE HIM GO TO WAR. He implies "Icarius' daughter (Penelope)" to be another "victim" (???) of Odysseus? He also kissed poor Calypso goodbye and seems determined to never talk about how much Odysseus cares about his family. only that he wants to go home, Penelope being an afterthought.

This is a "Greek Mythology book"...and yet it's biased as fuck. :/

And ofc, people deny Odysseus being a victim.. Obviously there is sexism at play here, with the "Oh Odysseus loved it! He was getting laid!" despite being held at PigPoint and literally getting fucking raped and crying everyday. ;~; it's very disheartening and honestly disturbing.

Honestly I recommend reading/listening to at least 2 (or more) to try and get a "full picture" as just like Madeline Miller and Robert Graves, there are biases in each one. (Emily Wilson is very biased for example) Some of them while favorable toward Odysseus, also favor Circe and Calypso. Some mock Menelaus and Helen. It depends.

Like I've read 8 translations of the Odyssey (I like it :3 you don't have to be insane like me though. <3 ) and all basically say the same thing with the Goddesses as "It was not a good time. He adores Penelope."

Two or three is probably enough, and that's also if you just wanna know if there's any differences between events based on the translator. so sometimes if you wanna know the differences in wording (as some translations have very cute wording) you can just find that part in the Odyssey that you are curious to see if there are differences. :)

I hope you have fun!

[greeneyedsigma]

Call of Duty Incorrect Quotes: Ghosts Edition

Hesh: *Gasp*

Keegan: wHAT??

Hesh: What if soy milk is just milk introducing itself in Spanish?

Keegan: *inhales*

Merrick, in another room with Logan: Why can I hear screeching?

**

Keegan: The path to inner peace begins with four words… not my fucking problem.

**

Kick: You wanna fight?! You got one!

Logan: Okay! *raises fists*

*Keegan runs in, scoops Logan up in his arms, and runs away carrying him*

Kick:

Kick: What?

**

Logan: I tried to write ‘I'm a functional adult’ but my phone changed it to ‘fictional adult’ and i feel like that’s more accurate.

**

Logan: I love cooking breakfast. It makes the whole house smell like bacon.

Elias: That’s true, but it also smells like fire and panic.

Logan: You and the smoke detector need to get off my case.

**

Keegan: When Kick has daiquiris they get really into how beautiful they are.

Kick: Hey, I dare you guys to dare us to make out.

Logan: Hey Kick, you know that’s a mirror, right?

**

Kick, T-posing in the doorway: Greetings, Elias.

Elias, not looking up from his coffee: Good morning, problem child.

**

Merrick: Small creatures are much more vicious because they have a smaller body to bottle up all their emotions.

Ajax: Ridiculous. Give me some examples.

Hesh: Wasps?

Logan: Terriers?

Keegan: Logan.

**

Logan: Fight me!

Keegan, standing behind them and holding a knife: *mouths* Do not.

**

Keegan: Wow, this sucks. I’m gonna kill *remembers that suicide jokes only worsen your mental health and that the first step to healing is stopping* you.

[desmon1995]

After Dark: The Park, Power, and Abuse

Alright, let’s talk about The Warriors Album—specifically The Park at Night, which I’d argue is one of the most gut-wrenching songs in the entire album. If Sick of Running was a blazing, victorious high, then The Park at Night is its dark reprise, dragging the characters and us into a chilling, sobering low.

We just left off Sick of Running on a triumphant note. Ajax, fresh off advice from the Hurricanes, finally rallies the girls to fight back against the Furies, who’ve been pushing them to the brink. It’s this powerful, adrenaline-fueled moment that feels almost like a win. But just as we’re feeling that rush, The Park at Night drops us straight into a scene that feels like someone cut the lights in an alley.

The tone shifts immediately, with Mexican indie artist Elain’s haunting sample—“Folks go missin' in the park at night”—whispering through the track, setting an eerie, predatory vibe. It’s as if the girls are being watched, hunted, and in this fog of tension, we meet Barnes.

Barnes is played by James Rainer, the original Ajax from the 1979 Warriors film, and here’s where the casting choice really lands. The original Ajax was a vicious character, driven by toxic masculinity and a hunger for power. He’s homophobic, sexist, and would rather use strength to bully than find any real connection. Barnes inherits all of these traits. If you’ve never seen the original, you’d just think he’s a sleazy cop. But for those in the know, there’s a dark irony in Rainer’s casting, like Barnes is a shadow of his former self, or maybe an Ajax in a system that empowers his worst traits.

The timing couldn’t be worse. The Warriors have been through a nightmarish journey already, chased, ambushed, and betrayed by gangs across the city. They’ve likely lost Cleon, their leader, and with it, a sense of safety. So, when Barnes sees Ajax and reduces her to a “sex worker,” it’s not just creepy—it’s an abuse of power, this cop using his authority to exploit vulnerability. It’s heartbreaking.

And let’s talk about Ajax’s reaction. She’s not about to let this pervert slide. After everything she and her friends have endured, Ajax snaps and unleashes all her pent-up fury. This moment is raw and heartbreaking because it’s not just about Barnes; it’s about every man and gang that’s used and abused her and her friends. But Barnes, clutching his badge like a shield, retaliates by arresting her—not because she did anything illegal, but because he can. In this moment, Barnes embodies a brutal reality: men in power often get away with preying on those they deem “lesser.”

And, honestly, the symbolism here is haunting. Barnes calls in backup to hunt down the rest of the Warriors, making these taunting catcalls, even echoing the sound of a police siren. It’s both a literal threat and a grim commentary on how those in power dehumanize and hunt down anyone who doesn’t “belong.” It’s unsettling, especially when you consider that Ajax is a young woman—likely a teenager—which makes Barnes’ actions even creepier. He’s not just harassing her; he’s flaunting that no one will stop him.

As pointed out by @Genzwriter on The Warriors Album Reddit, this scene is a searing critique of how sex workers are brutalized by cops who see them as disposable. Barnes doesn’t see Ajax as a person or even a gang member; he sees a powerless girl he can intimidate. And Ajax? She’s rightfully enraged, and she’s finally done being quiet. But, of course, her fight back is met with punishment, as Barnes flexes his badge and power to silence her.

What’s amazing, though, is that Ajax gets the final word. Despite being overwhelmed, she declares herself a Warrior—a small act of defiance, but one that ripples out to inspire Fox later on in Reunion Square.

The Park at Night is a brilliant example of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis bringing their unique strengths together. Lin, with his deep love and understanding of The Warriors, uses the original Ajax’s character to reinforce this nightmarish descent for the group. It’s a painful homage, but one that works. And then Eisa’s contribution adds a whole new layer—the way she infuses this number with an authentic, powerful female perspective that wouldn’t have hit the same if this story was solely told by a man.

And then there’s the bleak reality of Barnes. He isn’t punished. There’s no justice served, no moment of reckoning. He walks away unscathed, and that’s so infuriating. The album doesn’t fault Ajax for her choice to lash out—she did what any of us would do after being pushed to the edge. But the reality remains: cops like Barnes are empowered to hurt the vulnerable without consequence, a message that lands painfully close to home.

The Park at Night is dark, relentless, and all the more powerful for it. It doesn’t pull punches, and it doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it shows us the breaking point for Ajax and her friends, and while it’s a bitter scene, it’s one of the album’s strongest. This song hits hard because it shows that sometimes, no matter how hard you fight, the system will do everything in its power to break you down.

[lordmartiya]

Again on Epic: The Musical, this time on the song "Ruthlessness" - and specifically Poseidon's first lines: "In all my years of living/It isn't very often that I get pissed off/I try to chill with the waves/But damn, you crossed the line/I've been so gracious". And the context, even how accurate his claim of not getting pissed off actually is (yes, I know how it sounds, but bear with me):

In myth Poseidon is relatively chill - certainly calmer than many of his relatives, and while he does tend to be petty, his wrath is rare, and he's more than willing to go for arbitrations (such as when he and Athena had a contest for becoming Athens' patron deity). It takes quite a lot for him to actually get furious, and it's usually for objective reasons, such as Ares murdering his son (and not only this is one of the times he went for arbitration, when it came out Ares had been acting to stop or avenge the rape of his own daughter he quietly dropped it), Minos scamming him by not sacrificing the sacred bull Poseidon had sent to help him cement his control over Crete (end result: Minos' wife went and slept with the bull, giving birth to the Minotaur), Laomedon of Troy refusing him and Apollo the payment for the building of Troy's invincible walls (cue sea monster and Apollo's plague that would only be recalled if Laomedon sacrificed his daughter to the monster. And when it happened Troy was safe even with Laomedon hiring a passing Herakles to slay the monster - after all, Laomedon was stupid enough to refuse HIM payment too, and they knew Herakles would make him pay for everything when he was free of his Labors), Cassiopeia committing Hubris (the worst sin) against HIS WIFE Amphitrite, one of the Nereids, by claiming her own daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than all the Nereids (cue sea monster that would devastate the kingdom until he was fed Andromeda. And while a passing Perseus slayed the monster, Cassiopeia had fulfilled the condition), and Odysseus blinding his son Polyphemus and then TELLING HIM HIS NAME after Polyphemus had claimed being the son of Poseidon (and even then, Poseidon was chill enough that Odysseus was able to finally get to Ithaca because Poseidon FORGOT TO CHECK ON HIM, as he had been going through the motions for years).

Odysseus had been committing sins against the gods for ten years, but never quite enough to earn divine wrath, especially because when anyone tried to do something major he was the first to call them out. First there was his attempt to skip the Trojan War by feigning insanity, something that would have constituted oath breaking (a serious sin against the gods) had he actually managed to pull it off; then, at Patroclus' funerary games, he faced Ajax the Greater in a wrestling match and straight out cheated with a groin shot; later there was the Wheeled Horse, with the horse being a symbol of both Troy and the god and the Wooden Horse being claimed to be a potential replacement for the Palladium, the magical statue that made Troy unconquerable until stolen by Odysseus and Diomedes (that's why the Trojans brought it in, they had no illusions on their ability to resist the Greeks once they came back); and finally there was the blinding of Polyphemus, and finally, finally Poseidon had enough of this arrogant human. Not even his acts of piousness and common sense (for example, when Ajax the Lesser broke Sanctuary by raping Cassandra on the altar of the Temple of Athena and then had the gall of going at the same altar and claim Sanctuary when the Greeks decided to kill him for it, Odysseus suggested to throw rocks at him while standing out of the temple, thus killing him without breaking the Sanctuary. The other Greeks failing to heed this suggestion got them hit by a massive sea storm aimed mainly at Ajax) could save him now.

In short, by human standards Poseidon is a monster, but by godly standards he DOES try and chill with the waves... And Odysseus had been messing with the gods for years now and had finally stepped over the line.