something about diomedes and his adoptive brothers just OUGH.
like at first, when he's young, its aegialus - his sister's husband, heir to the Argive throne. aegialus teaches him how to use a spear. how to calm a horse. how to speak in a way that men will listen to what you have to say. diomedes is easily the youngest of the epigoni - he feels more at home when aegialus takes him under his wing. saves a seat for him amongst the older boys when they eat. makes sure his bedroll doesnt end up too far from the fire. aegialus braids his hair for him before they seige thebes.
but then aegialus is gone, ripped apart in a chariot wreck with the theban prince laodamas. diomedes almost is the one to put aegialus out of his misery, but then sthenelus is there, tugging him away from the carnage.
sthenelus, who is so excited with the summons to aulis comes. talking about glory and honor and trojan gold. and diomedes is older, more capapble now, and it feels good to be on the battlefield with his brother. for a while. yet suddenly its been a decade and the infighting is ridiculous - but he can vent to sthenelus about it and sthenelus hates it too. sthenelus still braids his hair before they dive into battle so that it doesnt get too matted with blood. diomedes brings back the horses of aeneas almost as a gift to sthenelus, to make their chariot faster, better. they watch each others backs. sthenelus sits in silence with diomedes after odysseus tries to kill him in cold blood.
sthenelus volunteers to go in the wooden horse since diomedes and odysseus had a falling out.
sthenelus is mortally wounded by a son of priam in the sacking, and its diomedes who has to finish him off so that he doesnt die slowly and painfully.
and its just. what if you had two brothers who taught you everything and kept you safe and were there for you even though they werent really your brothers at all. and what if they died. and what if you almost had to kill one and did have to kill the other. and then after that you find out your not-nephew usurped your throne. OUGH.