Epic: The Solitude Saga
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Listing Series
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What you do alone by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Iliad - Homer, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
30 Apr 2026
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Without saying anything, Polites wrapped an arm around his friend and buried his face in his shoulder. He could feel his eyes watering. "I'm tired of the war. I'm tired of the dying and the screaming. And I hate, I hate arguing with you."
"We're not arguing," Odysseus said at once, his voice softer than before. His hand was warm, stroking his back. "You're my best friend."
"And you're mine," Polites whispered.
***
Please don't make me do this, don't make me do this"You can't escape this, Polites. If you do, everyone will die."
She sounded sorry. Polites wondered if it was for him, or for the succession of days that would wilt the flowers on her crown."I'll do what I have to," he promised.
***
Or: The story where Polites betrays Odysseus, Patroclus and Achilles have a hope of a happy ending, and a doctor is traumatized.
Series
- Part 1 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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Solitary Interlude by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
15 Feb 2026
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It was the first time in ten years that Odysseus had lunch without Polites.
It was as if the entire Achaean camp had become deserted, populated only by ghostly whispers. The people seemed like shadows. The food was tasteless and the smell made him sick.
Odysseus knew that the people were talking to him and tried to answer. Plans, strategies, supplies. He was the king, of course he could take care of the new shipment of weapons.
***
It was the first time in ten years that Polites had lunch without Odysseus.It was as if the white and pure tablecloth was dripping with blood. Every drop of water spilled, every plate moved, every knife that cut meat seemed to Polites like the sound of battle. But none of these people had ever fought alongside him.
Polites was happy that no one was talking to him. He felt the eyes on him and knew that everyone was wondering about him, the king's son who had returned home. They seemed confused, almost frightened of him. He was like a lost childhood object reappearing in the middle of the living room. Yes, Polites thought, it was a good thing no one had tried to talk to him.
[It can be read independently from the rest of the series]
Series
- Part 2 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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The ways you win by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
30 Dec 2025
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Summary
Ody had thrown an object and Polites had clumsily caught it.
"What is this supposed to be?""Enlargers!" Ody had said, coming closer. He was smiling as if it were his birthday.
"Enlargers?"
Seeing his confusion, Odysseus had picked up the object and placed it on his face. It was heavy on his nose, perhaps because of the glass. His friend's face was bright as it always was when he could use an idea of his own.
"Okay, try looking at that tree. What fruit do you see?"***
He felt his grip on his weapon weaken as Polites reached out. He was armed too but did not seem to have any intention of drawing his sword.
"You" Neoptolemus tried to say but the word came out of his mouth like a prayer. "You..."
"Hey," Polites repeated. "I guess this madness is another one of Ody's plans, huh?"
***
Or: One day, Odysseus created glasses for Polites. Many years later, they are on opposite sides of a battlefield.
Series
- Part 3 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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I'm not alone, I have your love with me by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
09 Feb 2026
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Summary
Polites nodded. "I... I didn't think Achilles would leave you here."
Patroclus smiled slightly. "He didn't. He'll come back. We always find each other. If he can't come to me, I'll go to him."
***
Patroclus, a prisoner of the Trojans, misses Achilles. It doesn't help that Achilles' son is there too.
Or: a small deleted scene where Patroclus loves Achilles, Neoptolemus is confused, Polites is just trying to do the right thing.
[You can read this story independently of the series it's part of.]
Series
- Part 4 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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Alone in the dark by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
13 Oct 2025
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Polites, Odysseus noted, had regained some of the weight he had lost in the past ten years. He wore a simple chiton and the ever-present bandana in his hair.
The years had damaged it but he still refused to cut his hair, as Eurylochus had done at one point, or replace the headband. "My mom made it," he said. "She'll make me another when we get home."***
The Trojans have won the war. For some, it means the time to return home has come.
Odysseus, however, is not among them.
O: the story where Polites tries to return home, Odysseus loses his mentor and Eurylochus learns to listen.
Series
- Part 5 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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The third prince of Troy by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Iliad - Homer
15 Mar 2026
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Summary
And then he heard it. A soft song, delicate like few others. "Come inside."
Polites followed the voice. Songs had always brought him home.
***
Or: A six-year-old Polites gets lost in the woods. So, he meets a goddess with a sweet voice and deadly powers.
A prequel to my AU on Trojan! Polites.
You can read it without ever having read anything from the series.
Series
- Part 6 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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The old, dear rocks by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Odyssey - Homer
28 Mar 2026
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Summary
Penelope had let her husband go eleven years ago. Since then, every day, she waited for the news that she knew would come sooner or later. Since then, every day, she waited to hear those words: "I'm home."
"My queen?" one of the maids called. "They've spotted ships out at sea."
Penelope stood up suddenly and lifted her skirt with one hand. "Get everything ready and meet me on the beach. I'll be there. Waiting."
***
"No one else would understand," Polites had said.
"Why do you think I understand?"
Polites was a gentle soul. So Eurylochus knew he would lie. "'Cause we are friends, Eury."
Polites was gentle. And he didn't say what Eurylochus already knew. "You would understand. You would understand, because you could betray the one you love too."
***
Eurylochus returns home to find someone waiting for him. Penelope is also waiting, but there is no one for her.
Or: The plan is simple: kidnap Telemachus. The emotions behind it, however, are anything but simple.
Series
- Part 7 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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That one candle becomes a blaze by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
17 Apr 2026
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Summary
"You never swore to fight for my marriage," Helen began.
Patroclus' hand twitched before his gaze returned to where it was. "No, I didn't. Achilles did."
***
Achilles, brave Achilles, dropped his sword and ran to him. No one dared move as he grabbed his shoulder and a moment later Achilles's lips were on his and Patroclus was home.
"Oh, no," Polites muttered at the edge of his vision.
***
"It's fine," said Odysseus, surprising even himself. "It's fine, I want to see Telemachus. He and his mother are all I've fought for."
***
The story where a prophecy leads Achilles to Patroclus, Menelaus to Helen, and everyone else into a ditch.
Series
- Part 8 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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The things only you can do by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
08 Dec 2025
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Summary
Apollo nodded. "If that child is born, he will destroy Troy and Sparta."
***
"It will take a lot of hard work and extraordinary determination. But it isn't impossible, and that's enough."
Odysseus hesitated. "And how will this bring me home?"
***
Sometimes, take your destiny into your own hands means making compromises, giving up your pride, and trying to understand your enemy.
Or: there's an island to reach, and a team to assemble.
Series
- Part 9 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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We alone with the waves by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
29 Dec 2025
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Summary
"Of course you want to tell Hector."
"That's not what I said," Polites protested. "I said he's the captain. You decided that at the meeting I wasn't at. Don't be impulsive, Hector must know—"
"Impulsive?" Odysseus echoed, and Polites wanted to punch himself. Why had he said impulsive? Why not any other word in the world?
He was tired. And he could barely hear Odysseus' complaints. Polites was tired, tired of everything and everyone, and he understood Patroclus, who had taken refuge in bed. He understood Helen, who had carried him away and then simply sat there staring at the sea.
He wasn't Hector, and he wasn't Odysseus. He wasn't born to fight, and just because he knew how to do it didn't mean he could.
"Listen," he said, already forgetting what Odysseus had just said. "You have to tell the captain what a god told you. Not doing so is mutiny."
Odysseus looked at the sack, not at him. "Fine. But I'll be the one to tell him, and no one else will know."
***
Despite the effort, leaving isn't the hardest part. The worst part is not knowing who you can trust when everything falls apart.
Or: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Series
- Part 10 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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Walking with you I remember when I was alone by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Iliad - Homer, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
22 Dec 2025
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Summary
Athena smiled and removed her helmet, placing it and her spear against the wood. "Hello, Telemachus. Do you know who I am?"
He studied her, a little shy at first. After a minute of silence, he took courage. "Athena? The goddess of wisdom?"
"Exactly." She sat right next to him.
***
He had stepped away, and Polites had looked away for a moment. When he looked at him again, Odysseus looked...
"Aren't you tired, Polites? Of this.""Of being rejected?" he asked.
Odysseus nodded.
"Yes. I never know how you'll react, and once upon a time, everyone knew how you reacted to me. But there are no other options."
Eurylochus had told him to leave him behind. Eurylochus was stronger than him: Polites couldn't do it. Polites didn't want to go any further, he didn't want to lose anyone.
***
They've entered where even the gods don't dare. And now they must figure out how to get out.Also: the story in which the past comes to take its toll.
Series
- Part 11 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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Six hundred stadia by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, HOMER - Works, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
04 Mar 2026
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Summary
They moved as they had so many years before. Odysseus led the way, Polites following. And even as they fought for their lives, in his heart they had returned to the beginning, to the boar, and then to Troy, to the real war, the one they had fought together.
The magic lasted only an instant, then they had to dive to the ground to dodge a blow from the monster's tail.
The ship was not hit, the blow deflected by a spear similar to Polites'. "Dad? Uncle Poli?"
"We're fine, sweetie." Polites reacted more quickly, rising and walking alongside Telemachus. "Nice shot."
***
Cold reason had stopped her. It was simply illogical to go when she had no power to do anything.
Then everything changed.
"Athena!"
"Ody?" And then, before she could think about it, "I'm coming."
***
Or: The island of destiny is a place of change. Isn't it the perfect place to break something, or create something new?
Series
- Part 12 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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When solitudes meet by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
25 Mar 2026
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Summary
Andromache felt her knees buckle, and Hector's hands grasped her as they both fell to their knees, clinging to each other like rocks in a storm. "You're home," she murmured. "You've come back to me."
***
Or: Coming home is much easier than building one.
Series
- Part 13 of Epic: The Solitude Saga