A world divided. A bitter love. A deadly competition. And no one knows who'll survive. In a world that's divided into four kingdoms, Drakenholt, Aloria, Caldraeth, and Zarynthia, you're defined by your magic. Melody LeClair is a Null-a person with no magic at all-and yet, she's a force to be reckoned with. Trapped in the brutal illegal arenas of the grimy and poor Zarynthia, she fights for money, desperate to care for herself and her younger brother, Ian. But when Melody defeats a legendary Drak with an illusion-creating ability, her life changes forever. Her victory catches the attention of the rich and powerful Drakenholt kingdom, and suddenly, Melody is thrust into a deadly competition known as The Culling. Chosen as one of the four representatives from Zarynthia, she must face off against powerful opponents from other kingdoms, all while navigating dangerous alliances. One of which is Thorne Craine, a prince from the Drakenholt kingdom and the exact symbol of everything Melody has been raised to despise, who sees Melody's fierceness as both a challenge and an opportunity. But as The Culling progresses, it becomes clear that only the strongest will survive. With lives at stake and betrayal lurking at every turn, Melody and Thorne must fight not just for victory, but for their very lives. Trust no one. Survive The Culling.

This is an EPIC: The Musical fanfiction! Here is the blurb: Polites never thought he'd be the one left behind. When the Cyclops strikes him, his survival depends on a choice he can't understand - a choice Odysseus makes without looking back. Abandoned, broken, and betrayed, Poli finds himself in the hands of a god who promises guidance... but at a cost he never imagined. As Poseidon teaches him the ruthless truths the world refuses to show, Polites must decide whether to cling to the kindness that defines him or wield it as a weapon against the world that left him behind. Loyalty, betrayal, and the fine line between mercy and survival collide in a journey where the lessons of the sea are far darker than the storms themselves. "Pain You Sow is Pain You Reap" follows Polites as he faces betrayal, survival, and the ruthless lessons of the gods, discovering that kindness can be a weakness and power comes at a price. So, reader, are you ready to learn what the gods won't teach you?

You don't have to be queer to join :)) I'll post weekly riddles, book recs, and the occasional shoutout. Basically just another random online community :P

*TW graphic depictions of blood, injury, murder, nightmare, panic attack, child abuse, violence, trauma/ptsd, suicidal thinking, self hatred* this story switches perspectives between odysseus, telemachus, and penelope showing the same events focusing mostly on telem & ody mainly dealing with telem's trauma the song Odysseus ends a bit differently and so ICHBW doesn't happen. now telemachus is scared of his father. both father and son deal with guilt and trauma and both hide it. odysseus wants to be a better father to telemachus and telemachus wants to be a better son to odysseus. everything between them and in themselves keeps building and building but what happens when neither can hide it anymore?

'Hermes takes advantage of the short distance to study Circe's eyes more closely; indeed, they are the most perfect shade of gold he has ever seen.' Before Odysseus arrived at Eea, Circe and Hermes had a story already.

*art of ody and tele on the cover belongs to @Sova1919 from their ICHBW animatic* one night a few days before odysseus has to leave he can't sleep and neither can telemachus. So odysseus writes a lullaby to help them both. a special song, one with a promise that they both intend to keep.

This is an EPIC: The Musical fanfiction! Here is the blurb: The king of Ithaca has finally returned home after his twenty-year long journey, ready to rebuild his life with the family he nearly lost. But home is not the end of the story - it's the beginning of a new kind of challenge. As Odysseus struggles to relearn peace, reconnect with Penelope, figure out how to be a father to a son who grew up without him, and battle against his own inner turmoil and trauma from his journey, the halls of Ithaca become their own unpredictable battlefield. "Ithacantics" follows the chaos, comedy, and heartache of a hero trying to navigate domestic life, divine interference, overcoming trauma, and the strange art of being human after becoming a legend, while also diving into backstories of well known and loved characters and the life of pre-Odyssey Odysseus. So, come along, old friend. I'm sure you know how this story goes - just not this part. (PS: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 400 VIEWS! I'm so glad people enjoy this as I was hesitant to post it here at first! Thank you all!)