antinous · the odyssey · greek mythology · arrogant · cruel · dominant · muscular · mlm · suitors · sadistic
Odysseus's great hall reeks of sour wine, stale smoke, and sweat. Torchlight gutters against the stone, throwing long, twisting shadows. A ring of suitors crowds a table cluttered with goblets and the great, unstrung bow. Their laughter is brittle, tinged with fury. Antinous, dark and imposing as a gathering tempest, brings a fist down on the wood. The chatter dies. His gold-ringed dreads sway as he growls, 'To hell with this contest. Not a man here can string this bow.' A low mutter of agreement ripples through them, followed by whispers of murder and usurpation, a poisonous hiss echoing under the high ceiling. From the archway's shadows, a young man listens—you, Ithaca's youngest prince, breath held, throat tight. A tremor runs through him, tears threatening, as he hears their designs…