An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
HI, FOLKS! So, I’m posting this survival horror zombie apocalypse fic and I thought it was finally time to share it on tumblr, so here we are :D Hope you guys take an interest in it and give it a chance!
Chapters: 3/?
Fandom: The Odyssey - Homer, EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Relationships: Odysseus/Penelope, Odysseus/Penelope (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Penelope & Telemachus (EPIC: The Musical), Penelope & Telemachus (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Antinous & Penelope (EPIC: The Musical), Neoptolemus | Pyrrhus/Telemachus (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Neoptolemus/Telemachus (EPIC: The Musical), Ctimene/Eurylochus (EPIC: The Musical), Ctimene of Ithaca/Eurylochus the Same (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Odysseus & Telemachus (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Odysseus & Telemachus (EPIC: The Musical), Eurylochus & Odysseus (EPIC: The Musical)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Zombie Apocalypse, Survival Horror, Blood and Gore, Child Death, Antinous is His Own Warning (EPIC: The Musical)
Summary: "Crouched down, twisting the glass in her fingers, she realized that, until this very moment, the thought that she might need a weapon hadn’t even crossed her mind. But it made sense, didn’t it? When face-eating cannibals roamed the streets, you wouldn’t want to be caught off guard.“
-x-
In the span of a few weeks, Europe is taken over by a new disease, which makes those infected by it violent, impulsive — and hungry. When their town finally collapses, Penelope, Odysseus and Telemachus have to find a way to reunite with each other and escape back to Ithaca, one of the last safe places in Greece, before their only ride sails off and leaves them for dead.
I'm sorry to say this, but this fic will be on hiatus for a little while. I'm not very happy with where the plot is going so far and I think I should rework it to fit my vision better.
I don't intend on abandoning it, though! It's always been an objective of mine to write about zombies, it is my favorite genre of horror, and I want to make sure I do it proper justice. Not to mention, I've learned much more about the characters portrayed here ever since I've begun the fic, and I think they should also be reworked to be more accurate to how I see them now. So I hope you all understand my reasons and have some more patience with me <3
I'm really, really grateful to everyone who's reblogged this and has supported me so far, I fully intend to give more back to all of you! It'll just take me longer than I expected.
To me one of the saddest things about Agamemnon's death is that he fought so hard his whole life to keep Menelaus alive, to make sure his brother had a future, that at least one of them had a happy and fulfilling life. But then Menelaus gets stranded from home for another 7 years and Agamemnon dies without knowing that his brother is alive, without knowing that he is safe and sound, that his wife is next him and that he eventually gets to reunite with his daughter. The one person that he sacrificed so much to protect and then he dies without knowing what truly happened.
BABS BE HONEST does header neo need some squiggles to fill in the space? or does it add to the isolated vibe gjfdsjkkgjf im conflicted
Hmm, honestly?
HE'S PERFECT AND I ADORE HIM AS IS!
But it's your art and I want you to be happy with it so we both can display it with pride (as we should), so if you wanna make any changes cause the current design is bothering you, then I definitely don't mind changes! I have the original picture saved to my phone anyways, so we can always play around with it and change it back to the original if we decide we prefer it that way :) <333
What’s Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS), and why do so many autistic people have it?
I learned about this the other day, when I posted about palinopsia (visual trailing/afterimages) being common in autistic people, and a couple of our followers told me about their VSS. I did some more research, and discovered that I also have it.
Visual Snow Syndrome is a neurological condition that interferes with visual processing. It’s caused by hyperactivity and hyper-excitability of nerves in certain areas of the brain that process visual information.
The core feature of VSS is constantly seeing tiny, fuzzy “feedback” in the environment. It’s kind of like seeing the world through a staticky TV screen. Some people’s visual static is larger than others. Mine is relatively fine-grained, but it gets bigger and more obvious in low lighting.
Some of the other symptoms of VSS include:
Palinopsia (visual trailing/afterimages)
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Increased and enhanced ectopic phenomenon, such as floaters, phosphenes, and Scheerer’s phenomenon
Seeing glare, starbursts, and halos around lights
Difficulty seeing at night/in the dark
Seeing random flashes of light and/or color, without cause from the environment
It’s common for people with VSS to experience comorbid migraines, but VSS is not the same thing as migraine aura.
So, why do autistic people often have VSS?
It comes down to the fact that VSS is caused by the hyper-excitability of neurons in areas of the brain that process visual information. A core feature of autism is hyper-excitable neurons, especially in areas of the brain that have to do with sensory processing. So it makes sense that autism would often inadvertently cause VSS.
Here are some illustrations of visual phenomenon that VSS causes, in case you want a better understanding of what the world looks like for me and many other autistic people.
Visual snow/static:
Palinopsia/image trailing:
Scheerer’s Phenomenon (tiny bright moving dots):
Starbursts around lights:
Floaters:
I hope y’all have learned something :)
I’ve found it very intriguing to realize that the way I see the world is more unique than I once knew!
I love Deidamia, but the idea of Iphigenia being Neo's mother is just so fascinating to me. It changes the dynamic between Agamemnon and Achilles, because now it isn't only Agamemnon losing something precious to him twice (by Iphigenia's sacrifice and then giving up Chryseis), but it's also Agamemnon taking something precious from Achilles twice as well. And would Agamemnon even let Odysseus bring Neo to war? The only thing left of his daughter now? Would he unconsciously try to shield Neo from battle, to keep him safe? Or would Agamemnon just hate him even more because Neo is proof that Achilles touched something that was never meant to be his?
Sometimes I think about Electra growing up in her sister’s shadow but somehow it’s even worse because her sister is dead.
Iphigenia was the gentle and selfless martyr who their father murdered, and Electra is betraying her by having such longing for him. Her mother spits venom whenever his name is mentioned. He is banned in their conversations. She lost both of them when the winds blew, and they’re still haunting her house.
She can never live up to the daughter that Clytemnestra lost, so why should she try? Her mother resents her no matter what, clinging to the faded memories of her oldest daughter like a lifeline even if it means casting out her remaining VERY ALIVE son and daughters.
And if Iphigenia was the kind and loving and innocent child, Electra must be the angry one. She must rebel enough for the both of them because otherwise she has no identity other than Iphigenia’s sister. Electra needs to be someone other than a woman carved by tragedy. She needs to control her place in the narrative, even if that place is hateful and rage filled.
And Electra doesn’t hate Iphigenia, because that’s her older sister who played with her and taught her how to dance and would steal food from the kitchens if she was hungry, but she absolutely loathes the idea of her and what her name has become.
And poor Iphigenia returns from two decades away from her home to find her parents dead and her baby sister destroyed. And Electra cannot differentiate between the Iphigenia she knew and the Iphigenia who her mother weaponised.
a decent chunk of iliad 10 and the poetics of ambush (still a clunky title) is an almost line-by-line analysis of book 10, it's activating all my nerd neurons.
the funniest bits so far:
nestor gathering the boys [10.44]:
Nestor, who is the most diplomatic of the heroes in the Iliad, addresses Odysseus in connection with both his lineage and with two of his traditional epithets, thereby using an entire hexameter to address him.
you know that old man wants something from you when he uses EVERY syllable in a line available to him just to greet you.
nestor: O mighty son of laertes and seed of zeus, resourceful odys--
odysseus: WHAT
in contrast, when nestor talks to diomedes next (after kicking him awake), he uses ZERO epithets and only addresses him curtly as tydides. NO respect.
on dolon's descriptor as "ugly" [10.316]:
When we think of Homeric heroes who are explicitly labeled ugly, the first to come to mind is Thersites, who is described as “the ugliest man who came to Troy" (Iliad 2.216) [...] Pairing Thersites and Dolon based on their looks might also suggest that, in the Iliad, Odysseus, whose own appearance is not unequivocally impressive (Iliad 3.209–224), seems to have the role of confronting ugly men.
the way the end of that sentence comes at you??? HELP. "why do i have to do it?" UGGOS DEAL WITH UGGOS BUDDY. GET GOING (yes i know it's in reference to odysseus' lack of height but omg)
how odysseus and diomedes seem to be an established pair in tradition for doing nighttime raids together (the doloneia, the palladion heist, wooden horse buddies) so conversely this book refers to sthenelus as "Diomedes' daytime fighting partner". TWO KINDS OF FRIENDS I GUESS.
Penelope, as Clotho who spins the thread of life. Helen, as Lachesis who measures the thread of life. Clytemnestra, as Atropos who cuts short the thread of life.
Might I present: my personal interpretation of Icarius and Penelope's relationship.
Now this is a relationship I've been pretty torn about. I used to prefer the version where Icarius and Penelope have a strained relationship, as at the time I was considering the myth about Icarius throwing Penelope into the sea when she was a baby, however, upon further research, I couldn't really find much evidence about this myth outside of more modern sources/retellings, (eg. The Penelopiad), so I don't quite include this myth anymore. Then I started preferring the idea that Penelope was really close to her father, considering the citation below. But now, I like to think it's pretty complicated.
I heavily hold the sentiment that Icarius does love his daughter, especially when you take into account how unwilling he is to let her go, take this instance for example:
[3.20.10] The image of Modesty, some thirty stades distant from the city, they say was dedicated by Icarius, the following being the reason for making it. When Icarius gave Penelope in marriage to Odysseus, he tried to make Odysseus himself settle in Lacedaemon, but failing in the attempt, he next besought his daughter to remain behind, and when she was setting forth to Ithaca he followed the chariot, begging her to stay.
[3.20.11] Odysseus endured it for a time, but at last he bade Penelope either to accompany him willingly, or else, if she preferred her father, to go back to Lacedaemon. They say that she made no reply, but covered her face with a veil in reply to the question, so that Icarios, realizing that she wished to depart with Odysseus, let her go, and dedicated an image of Modesty; for Penelope, they say, had reached this point of the road when she veiled herself.
(Pausanias, Descriptions of Greece)
The way I see it, a man who is willing to go through such lengths for his daughter would surely love her. But I also like to think it isn't as simple as that.
I find something really interesting in this passage:
They say that she made no reply, but covered her face with a veil in reply to the question, so that Icarios, realizing that she wished to depart with Odysseus
Of course one could just say that Penelope felt duty for her husband, therefore she chose him — however Odysseus himself allowed her the choice. He was not willing to give up his place as king of Ithaca, but he gave her a choice. He did not demand she stay with him, and the choice was Penelope's own.
This is where I like to draw in the "it wasn't as simple" part of their relationship. Because yes, Icarius loved Penelope, but it was clear Penelope was not so attached to him that she would choose to stay. Instead, she chose to leave with her husband, and I like to think there's a larger reason at play for that.
Another thing that's interesting to note is that Icarius had several sons too — most sources say he has five sons with Naiad Periboea (Penelope's mother) whilst Penelope was their only daughter).
[3.10.6] Icarius and Periboea, a Naiad nymph, had five sons, Thoas, Damasippus, Imeusimus, Aletes, Perileos, and a daughter Penelope, whom Ulysses married.
(Apollodorus, The Library)
But, in the Odyssey, Homer cites Penelope having a sister named
And again the bright-eyed goddess Pallas thought
of one more way to help. She made a phantom now,
its build like a woman's build, Iphthime's, yes,
another daughter of generous lord Icarius
(Homer, The Odyssey, Fagles Trans. Book 4)
But, Penelope herself does mention that she herself rarely ever sees Iphthime, so there is clearly a disconnect between them. I like to think they were born far apart, with Iphtime being far younger than Penelope.
Now Tyndareus and Leda had five daughters besides Castor and Pollux (who were their only two sons):
Tyndareus and Leda had daughters, to wit, Timandra, whom Echemus married,194 and Clytaemnestra, whom Agamemnon married; also another daughter Phylonoe, whom Artemis made immortal.
(Apollodorus, The Library)
(+Phoebe if we consider other sources, and Helen considering she still looked to Tyndareus despite being born from Zeus!)
So, back to my headcanon, I like to think that Penelope spent most of her childhood with Tyndareus and his daughters. To Icarius, it would be more befitting for a daughter to spend more of her childhood with sisters, and as most kings did, I like to think he favored his sons, so Penelope spent most of her childhood in Tyndareus' palace with her cousins then she did with Icarius and her brothers.
I also headcanon this as one of the reasons why Odysseus went to Tyndareus (as opposed to Icarius) for Penelope's hand during Helen's ceremony, considering Penelope was in the care of Tyndareus.
But when they grew older, When Clytemnestra and Helen were already married off and Penelope was growing to be woman instead of girl — that's when she started spending more time with Icarius and her brothers, and this was also when Icarius started growing fonder for his daughter. This was also when he started to regret, leading to him so vehemently refusing/delaying Penelope's marriage.
He has already seen so little of his daughter, if he were to send her away now, he would barely see her at all. The regret would be worse, and the longing for the years he had missed with her would also grow worse. So it was then that Icarius, desperate to keep his daughter for just a little longer, refused to marry her off. But of course he had to eventually, which led to the whole incident where he begs Penelope to stay. (After which, he builds a statue of modesty for her too!)
So after Penelope's marriage, they do not get to interact much, but he was more present than he was when she was a child. Perhaps it is not enough to make up for it, but it is what Icarius could have and so he takes it.
Then there is the war and The Odyssey. This is where, again, their relationship grows worse, partially due to Icarius' lack of support about Penelope's waiting for Odysseus.
Even now her father and brothers urge Penelope
to marry Eurymachus, who excels all other suitors
at giving gifts and drives the bride-price higher.
(Homer, The Odyssey, Fagles Trans. Book 15)
Seeing the way Penelope is in the Odyssey, I feel as if she would be absolutely furious with this, resenting him a little more every time he insists. Even if Icarius only wants the best for his daughter. She would likely struggle to speak to him after Odysseus' return.
So, essentially, to me, their relationship is loving, but very much complicated.
Nestor kicking Diomedes awake in the Trojan War and ten years later Pisistratus inheriting his karma by getting kicked awake by Telemachus is such a small detail but so very funny to me.
