Mar 24
POLITEEEEEES
I could never draw polites good like this again tbh 🥲
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POLITEEEEEES
I could never draw polites good like this again tbh 🥲
You Can Relax, My Friend (Part 2)
(Photo Credit to WolfyTheWitch on YouTube (Full Speed Ahead Animatic))
a/n: The long awaited part 2 to this fic! This took me so long to finish oh my goodness, and I'm gonna be so honest, I don't like this one as much, but I'm still proud of it! After taking a kinda long break from writing to focus on my mental health, I think it's amazing, and I'm just happy that I was able to write it. I hope you all enjoy <3
Summary: The Lotus Eaters sure do seem to love the sound of laughter...
Word Count: 3.9k
Lees: Polites and Odysseus
Lers: Lotus Eaters, Polites, and Odysseus
Cw: swearing, sfw/platonic tickles.
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Wait… why was the fruit glowing..?
Odysseus looked around for some kind of answer. He didn’t have to look far, as he found a glowing pond surrounded by the fuzzy little creatures. There were some Lilly-pads floating on the water’s surface, sprouting the same fruit he was holding.
This reminded him of something he read about with Athena. Something about the fruits being extremely dangerous, trapping whoever eats them in a bliss-like dream… just for the rest of eternity.
“See Odysseus? This life is amazing when we greet it with open arms! Whatever we face, we’ll be fine if we’re leading from the heart,” Polites shouted from his spot on the creatures, as he brought the fruit closer to his mouth to take a bite, “No matter the place, we can light up the world, and here’s where to start! Say it with me, Ody, greet the world with-”
Odysseus quickly ran over and grabbed his wrist, pulling the fruit away from Polites’ mouth. The action pulled his friend off the creatures as well. “My friend! I wish that I could say that I agree,” Odysseus brought the fruit up to show Polites his observation, “but look at the way this fruit is glowing, and filled with glowing seeds.”
Polites’ expression turned worried as he looked at the fruit in his own hands. He cracked it open on his knee, like how Odysseus just did, and saw that his fruit was glowing as well.
“It’s a Lotus, it controls your mind and never lets you free.” The captain explained, pointing at the glowing pond. He dropped the fruit back into the pond. “That’s what we get with open arms.” He finished, walking away from Polites and deciding to try and climb up a tree that appeared to have some apples on it.
Polites, however, was crushed. How could these adorable little creatures want them to be mind-controlled? He wasn’t gonna give up. He had a point to prove, he wasn’t going to let Odysseus win this argument. He had to show him that he needs to let loose sometimes.
In one last attempt, he bent down towards the small creatures that were gathered around his feet. “Lotus Eaters, I’d like to show my friend that kindness is brave. Could you tell me where there’s other food to eat?”
“The cave!”
“A cave!” Polites exclaimed, a wide smile on his face as he turned around to shout up the tree at his friend, “They’re saying there’s a cave where we can feast!”
“Uh-huh… and what does the gave have? More lotus?” Ody sassed, attempting to balance on a branch to reach an apple.
Polites gave no mind to his friend’s snarkiness, turning back to the Lotus Eaters, speaking purposefully louder so that his hard-headed captain can hear him from his spot in the tree, “And… where do we sail to find this food-filled cave?”
“East! That way!” The Lotus Eaters responded, pointing in the general direction of a separate island.
“Thank you!” Polites couldn’t be more smug. And Odysseus heard it in his voice. Oh gods, this is gonna be a long day, he thought as he finally came down from the tree, but I’ll let him have this one.
“Welcome!”
A surprised giggle snapped Odysseus’ attention back over to his friend. A smile creeped his way onto his features as he witnessed whatever Lotus Eaters Polites was talking to covered him in one giant hug. He leaned on his spot on the tree as he noticed how the fuzzy little creatures climbed on his shoulders to give his face a hug.
That’s when Polites shrieked. “W-Wait! Friehends!” He squealed as he attempted to bite back his giggles, his face forming an adorable, wobbly smile. His attempts were fruitless though, as some more of the Lotus Eaters gathered, now some going under his shirt to nuzzle into his stomach and his sides, also climbing on top of his knees. Not again, not again!!!
Finding it hard to stay in the crouched position, Polites sat down, now fully giggling as he tried to gently remove some of the Lotus Eaters surrounding him. “G-Guhuhuys- Wahahait! Th- ahahaha! Thahat tihihickles!” Polites couldn’t hold back his laughter as the Eaters clung onto his body, refusing to let his take them off.
Odysseus chuckled as more eaters swarm around Poli, making him giggle out “nonono”s before falling into hysterical giggles once more. That’s when he finally put the pieces together. “Wait a minute… Are they attracted to your laughter?” The captain couldn’t be more amused as he began to walk over to the scene. He sat down beside his friend, “Is that why you guys came here to find us? You heard Polites laughing when I tickled him?”
“Yeah, yeah!”
“We like!”
“Laugh nice!”
Odysseus let out another laugh as Polites’ blush darkened at the words the Lotus Eaters were repeating. “Oh this is golden! Polites, I never want you to ever complain about your laugh ever again!” Ody said, watching as Polites shook his head, his cheeks turning a shade darker.
Suddenly he squealed again, kicking his legs out. “AH- N-NOhohot thehehere! OHOHODY! Ohohody, theehehey’re gehehetting my hihihihips!” Polites narrated. He was torn from grabbing at the creatures and keeping his hands away to not risk hurting them, making his hands to make this adorable flapping motion. And holy shit, Odysseus couldn’t stop laughing at him. Not to mention the annoyingly dragged out “awww” he let out in the middle of his laughter.
“Dohohohon’t lahahahaugh! Ihihit’s nohohot fuhuhuhuhunny!” Polites whined, shrieking again when the Lotus Eaters resumed the nuzzling on his stomach, “OHOHODYSSEHEHEUS, HEHEHELP!”
“Oh, well, if you insist, I will help!” Odysseus said as he pushed down on Polites’ shoulders, making him lie down. He then removed the Lotus Eater on his stomach.
“T-Thahahank YOHOU!” Polites was filled with false hope before Odysseus placed his claw-shaped hand on his stomach, shaking it into his stomach, just like he did earlier.
“I’ll help them tickle you! You know, you’re always so smug when you've thought you won something. Maybe you should remember how ticklish you are before you decide to show attitude to your captain” Odysseus laughed again as he started to drag his hand in circles around Polites’ stomach, relishing in the way the switch in tactics made him shriek before falling into hysterical cackles once more.
“OHOHOH FUHUHUHUCK YOHOHOU! *snort* ehehEHEHAHA” Polites yelled as he covered his profusely blushing face with his hands.
“Wow. Really. After I just said to not show attitude to me.”
“SUHUHUCK AHAHA DIHIHICK, *snort* YOHOHOU BIHIHITCH!”
“*gasp*! Polites! Such a dirty mouth you have today! Now I’m not sorry for putting you through this again.”
“Nonono- NOHO WAHAHAHAIT! *snort* OHOHOHODY!”
The Lotus Eaters found themselves to be completely entranced by the sound of Polites’ bright laughter, still being able to be heard from behind his hands. They wanted to make the kind man laugh like how his friend was, so they copied Odysseus’ movements, and all started to scratch at their designated spots, as if they were digging a hole in the ground.
However, they didn’t realize how unbelievably sharp their claws are. While it was effective, the giggly “ohohow…” Polites let out didn’t go unnoticed by Odysseus. He decided to stop his scratching to focus on informing the Lotus Eaters of the problem.
“Nono, not like that! Your tiny claws are hurting him!” There was a collective gasp from the creatures as they all stopped scratching, backing away from Polites, giving him a break.
“Oh no!”
“No hurt, nice man!”
“We no mean to!”
“No, don’t worry! We know you didn’t mean to.” Odysseus said quickly, turning to his still giggling friend to make sure he wasn’t hurt. When he got a weak thumbs up, he turned back to the eaters, “Here. Why don’t you guys tickle him like… this!”
Ody then started to rub the back of his hand along Polites’ stomach, using his other hand to gently run along his sides. He grinned as his friend tensed up, letting out anticipatory giggles as Odysseus was quite literally teaching them how to tickle him. Gods, this was so embarrassing.
There was another collective sound, this time of understanding. One of the Lotus Eaters that was in the dip of Polites’ waist began to rub its body around that little area. Odysseus’ smile grew at the squeal and frantic laughter Polites produced, and at just one Lotus Eater.
With the nod of approval from Odysseus, the rest of the Lotus Eaters began to copy the movement. Polites let out a combination of a snort and a shriek as he felt as if there were thousands of little fuzzballs all over his body. From behind his knees, over his sides, over his ribs, and (probably the worst ones) around his neck. Frantic, yet bubbly giggles made themselves known as his eyes and nose scrunched from the force of his bright smile.
“Wow, you just can’t take light tickles at all, huh?” Odysseus mused, deciding to add to the feeling again by lightly tracing circles around the giggling man’s bellybutton.
“OHhohoHO MY- EEHEhehehahaha! Shuhuhush!” Polites giggled, short squeaks and hiccups weaving their way in and out of his words, “Ihihits SOHOHoho- AHahaha!”
“Ticklish? I know! It’s almost like we’re tickling you!” Odysseus didn’t miss the jolt he made when he said the word, “They seem to be having as much fun as you are, Poli.”
“So ticklish!”
“More laugh! More laugh!”
“Nahahahahohoho!” Polites was going to die there. He was sure of it now.
That was, unless… he could get these mini tickle monsters to turn on their leader. “Hehe- hahahaha! Hehe’s tihihicklish tohoho! Rehehemehember?”
“Wait, what-”
That was all the captain got out when he saw all of the Lotus Eaters turn to him with hunger in their eyes. He attempted to get up before they all started to rush to him. “nonono- Polites you tr-AITOR!” He shouted as they all pounced on him, knocking him down to the ground once more.
“Thahat’s right, friends! Knohock hihim down!” Polites exclaimed triumphantly. That was easier than I expected, he thought as he pointed towards his friend’s legs. A few of the eaters followed his directions, climbing up Odysseus’ legs.
Odysseus gasped in surprise as his legs shook not to kick the little suckers off of him (what? They’re cute…). “Poholites, IhI’m sorry! Please- gehet them ohohoff!”
The plea would have sounded genuine to anyone who wasn’t Polites, but he knew Odysseus, and saw the excited glint in his eyes. He didn’t actually mind this little revenge stunt, and he knew his friend knew that. That sure as hell wasn’t gonna stop him from begging for his life.
“After what yohou just put mehe through? Noho way!” Polites giggled, happy that some of the Lotus Eaters already began to crawl into Odysseus’ shirt to rub their bodies against his ribs. He saw is friend about to snap his arms down, but refrain from following through, still not wanting to accidentally crush one of the fluffy creatures. Although he was finding it a lot more difficult than his best friend. So… Polites decided to help him out.
“Whahahahat ahare you- HEY!” Odysseus protested when he felt Polites grab his hands, pinning them above his head under his knees, “Whahahat the- N-noho fahahair! I never heheld you down!”
“Yeah, you’re right, but I don’t want you to hurt them!” Polites grinned, bringing his hand down to lightly tap his nose. He giggled at the way Odysseus’s nose scrunched up, before he quickly began to tickle his neck.
Odysseus snorted at the action, trying to tilt his head from one side or the other, just tying to block his friend’s hands, but being useless as Polites just tickled both sides of his neck. “Whahahat mahahakes yohohou think I wohohohould huhuhuhurt thehehem?”
Polites gasped, speeding up his tickling on Odysseus’s neck, and he honest to Gods squealed. He smiled widely as he said, “Aww so you do like them!” Polites then looked down at the pets, all still surrounding Odysseus’s legs and torso. He then got an idea, stopping his tickling for a moment, giving Odysseus a chance to breathe at least a little. “Can we keep one as a pet?”
Odysseus, still giggling at the feeling of the Lotus Eaters nuzzling into him, shook his head. “Wahahat? Absolutely not!” He said, as if the answer was obvious. What, he didn’t really expect him to say yes, did he?
Polites just sighed and shook his head, knowing his friend was gonna say no. He smirked, then shrugged, and Ody did not like the look in his eyes. “Okay, then…” the younger said, before addressing the little Lotus Eaters, “watch out, you guys!”
He waited for all of the curious creatures to back away from Odysseus before he got off of him, and rolled him over so he laid down on his stomach, surprisingly easy.
The captain’s eyes widened to saucers, and he quickly began to try and get up. “Polites- no!” was all he managed to get out before Polites pushed him back down to the grass.
“Can we keep one?” He asked again, as if Ody’s mind would change.
“No!”
“Alright, suit yourself,” Polites grinned impossibly wider. He then waved for the Lotus Eaters to come back, patting Odysseus’s back lightly, “come on, friends! Let’s convince him!”
The Lotus Eaters seemed to grin as well, wasting no time to scurry over to the captain and climb onto his back. Polites smirks as he hears Odysseus try to reason with him, his words growing more giggly with anticipation.
“Polites! Polites, let's not get too a-ahahead of ohohourselves- Juhust tell thehem to- to stahahahap!” He tries to sound commanding, he really does, but he also knows that this is Polites he’s talking to. Plus, it’s really hard to sound serious when you’re giggling like a child. “You’ve tihihickled mehehe already, dahahahamnit!”
Polites just smirked, ruffling Odysseus’ hair. “Awh, I did? Well, that didn’t seem to bother you before, now did it.” He teased, before turning his attention back to the little creatures on Ody’s back. “Okay friends, follow my lead.”
Odysseus dissolved into embarrassingly loud giggles when Polites gently took two of his fingers and lightly tickled the middle of his back. This seemed to catch the Eater’s attentions, and they began speaking.
“Oooh, grumpy man laugh nice too!”
“No grumpy anymore!”
The near-sighted man couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that they referred to Odysseus as “grumpy man”, hearing Odysseus’ groan of embarrassment was just the cherry on top. Then the Eaters listened, and began to gently scratch at his back.
“ShihiHIHIHIT! NONONOHOHohoho! Pohohohlites- AHahahaha! Get thehehem off, gehehet them ohohohoff!!” The shriek the king emitted was so loud, it almost scared the creatures off of him. But oh Gods, it made Polites cackle. And after the initial shock, the creatures made a very happy noise.
“Grumpy man happy now!” they all said in unison, as if cheering that they managed to put a bright smile on Odysseus’ face, despite he’s been laughing for the past two minutes.
Polites just smiled, pulling his hand away as the Lotus Eaters seem to have him covered. He instead crawls over to lay beside Odysseus on his side, smiling with his friend as he rests his head on his hand. “Soooo… did you change your mind yet?”
Odysseus blushed some more and turned his face away from his friend, not wanting him to see him so embarrassed. But he still managed to shout a “NO!” through his laughter. Polites just chuckled and moved to lay down on his back and still talk to his captain casually, as if he’s not being tickled by like 10 little creatures. “Come on, Ody! Let’s take some back to the crew! They would love them! I know Elpenor and Perimedes would, anyways.”
Odysseus still shook his head, not wanting to cave in. He swore he couldn’t live with even one of these laughter-hungry creatures on the ship, let alone a few of them! But after around 30 seconds, one of the Lotus Eaters began to lightly scratch behind his ribs, and he gasped and fell into very loud laughter. He shoved his face into the grass, but it did nothing to muffle his laughter.
Polites was surprised he even lasted 10 seconds before he weakly tapped onto the grass. “FINEFINE WHAHAHAHATEVER- WEHEHE CAN TAHAHAHAKE SOME- JUST MAHAHAHAHAKE THEM STOHOHOHOHOP!” he shouted through laughter.
And that was enough for Polites to laugh victoriously, springing back up to his feet and bend down near Odysseus’s back. “That’s what I thought!” He couldn’t help but stick his tongue out at Odysseus, even though the captain couldn’t see him. He then began to take the Eaters off of Ody’s back, “Come on, friends. That’s enough tickling now.”
The small monsters made a sound of disappointment, but began to back away from Odysseus. The king began to catch his breath, still giggling as the Lotus Eaters protested.
“But we make grumpy man happy!”
“Yeah! We like grumpy man now!”
“Why stop, nice man?”
Polites chuckled again at how they would refer to both of them. But he decided to humour them, bending down closer to the ground he can talk to them while Odysseus recovered. “My friends, grumpy man laughed too much. He’s too ticklish to be tickled anymore.”
“Hey!” Odysseus protested, now turning back over and still giggling, “I at least lasted way longer than you.”
“Oh please, just barely. You couldn’t even last a minute with them on your back.” Polites shot back, grinning.
Odysseus just rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face. He then felt something crawling on him, and his eyes widened again as he saw it was one of the Lotus Eaters. “Nonono- not again-” He sputtered out, before he cut himself off. The Eater laid down on his chest, tilting its head back to look at Odysseus with this almost smile etched onto his face.
The taller of the two let out a loud “AWWWW” at the sight, scooting closer to them. “See, Ody? They love you now! All you had to do was let your guard down.” He said, of course connecting this moment back to their previous discussion. He gently scratched the Lotus Eater’s stomach, smiling as it lets out a happy humming sound.
Odysseus rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but feel a fondness growing for the creatures. He really couldn’t deny it anymore, the little suckers were… adorable.
“Okay, okay. I guess they’re cute,” he looked at Polites, chuckling at how smug he looks from his admission, “we can take two. I’m taking this one.”
The younger chuckles, looking around at the creatures, looking for one he wants to take, “I knew they would grow on you, you know.”
He then felt a gentle nuzzling against his knee, and he immediately knew that’s the one he wanted to take. “Awww, aren’t you the cutest!” He was borderline baby-talking. He scooped up the little creature and brought it to his face, nuzzling it with his cheek, “you’re coming back to the ship! Yes you are!”
Odysseus scoffed out a chuckle, finally standing up and placing his Lotus Eater on his shoulder. “You are such a softie. How am I even friends with you.” He joked before he offered Polites his hand, who just chuckled and took it, pulling himself up.
“Because you aren’t as Captain Stone-Faced-Grumpy-Pants as you think you are,” He teased, gently shoving his best friend.
Odysseus chuckled and rolled his eyes. He was about to respond before he saw the Lotus Eater in Polites’ hands had a little leaf on it. He pointed at it, gasping. “You can’t take that one! That one’s the little monster who got my ribs!” He exclaimed, pointing at the creature.
But all Polites did was laugh and respond with an even more enthusiastic tone of voice, “then I’m absolutely taking this one!”
Odysseus huffed with another amused eye roll and looked back at the Lotus Pond, thinking of something. He walked over to the pond, which makes Polites kinda confused. “Captain? What are you doing..?”
The king took out his water container, dumping the remaining water out onto the grass. He then filled the container with the glowing water (he assumed it’s Lotus Juice) while responding, “This might come in handy. Just say goodbye to your friends, we’re going back to the crew to tell them about the cave.”
Polites nodded and turned back to the rest of the Lotus Eaters, waving goodbye. The Lotus Eaters surprisingly waved back.
“Goodbye! We miss you!” they all say in unison, which is only a little scary. But Polites doesn’t think of it, giving the Eaters one last friendly smile before turning around to begin walking back to the ship, Odysseus walking beside him.
It was silent for a few moments, before Polites broke it, him never being one to sit in silence, “Well, I definitely wasn’t expecting so much tickling today.” His comment makes Odysseus laugh, “Didn’t you start this whole thing? It’s all your fault!”
“Hey, it’s not like I’m complaining…”
“Ohh right, forgot you love being tickled.”
“Ah- Hey! I do not love it!” “Polites, I’ve known you for years- nay, decades. You can’t hide shit from me.”
“I thought you didn’t like swearing.”
“I don’t mind it. But me personally, I would never swear at my captain.”
“Okay, okay! I’m sorry, alright?” Polites laughed, shaking his head. He then put his Lotus eater on his head, allowing it to make itself comfortable on his hair. A few more moments pass before Polites speaks up again. “This life is amazing-”
“Polites, I’m gonna punch you if you say that again,” Odysseus threatens with a chuckle. Polites laughed with him, putting his hands up in a mock surrender.
“Fine! But just… I can see in your face, that there is so much guilt inside your heart,” He continued, his tone slightly more serious. Odysseus’ face hardened a little, knowing his friend was right. He couldn’t shake the guilt from a few days ago. He knew he could never forgive himself. He was honestly surprised his men didn’t think any different of him.
The captain looked at the grass and sighed. He then felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, making him stop walking. Polites stood in front of him, “look at me, Ody.” Odysseus hesitated for a moment before he looked up again, allowing Polites to continue, “why not… replace the guilt, and focus on lighting up the world? And here’s how to start… don’t punch me.”
Odysseus barked out a laugh. “I can start by not punching you?” He mused, just teasing his friend a little more. But he knew what he meant…
“No… well, yes, but that’s not what I meant, stupid,” Polites laughed with his best friend, “You greet the world with open arms. Go on, say it. “Greet the world with open arms”.”
Odysseus sighed. He was sure getting sick of his friend saying the phrase “open arms”. But he still let his words sink in. The king took a deep breath, clearing his mind and focusing on Polites’ way of thinking. He then let himself smile a little, his eyes still full of guilt and sorrow. But it’s a step in the right direction, seeing as he smiled without Polites needing to tickle him.
“Greet the world with open arms…” He repeated, a little slowly, but Polites still smiled. He moved back to his spot beside his friend, patting his back as they begin to walk again, already seeing the ships and some crew members on the shores of the island.
“You can relax, my friend.”
Hey EPIC fandom:
Happy National Pancake Day 🥞 (U.S)
“Lead from the heart, and see what starts”
“Everything’s changed since Polites”
Jay can you please stop trying to tear my heart into pieces
I woke up to this idea, it was funnier earlier