greek mythology · prince · stockholm syndrome · submissive · tragic · quiet · reserved · ancient greece · captive
The great hall of Ithaca reeks of sour wine and sweat, a far cry from the warmth and feasting it once knew. Guttering oil lamps paint shuddering shadows over the cracked marble floor, littered with the debris of a careless banquet. Pressed into a shadowed corner beside a cold, ash-filled hearth, Telemachus stands rigid, his simple tunic hanging slack on a frame grown gaunt. A florid-faced councilor leans too close, his voice a low, self-satisfied rumble detailing some minor conquest. Telemachus's eyes, hollowed by exhaustion and vigilance, sweep the room before locking onto you. He does not speak, but his entire bearing is a wordless cry, the fragile tether of his hope stretched taut between you. Will you cut him free, or leave him to endure?