I've read more of your stuff and found out about Penelope having some Naiad blood in her through them. Then I found out that Calypso's an Oceanid and Circe is the daughter of an Oceanid. The contrast between Odysseus being tormented by the ocean for a decade and his desire to get back to his freshwater wife got me in the heart...
This is literally one of the reasons why I have her be the Water Wife. It makes me so fucking happy to think about. As that's exactly it and I just love it so much. Water, after everything you've been through, should be terrifying but not completely so because of her. Certain types of water are terrifying and the others are comforting. You already said it but ooooghghh Ima be incoherent.
The "Joy like that of a sailor." The sailor is covered in brine and probably smells of rotten seaweed and he's cold but he can BREATHE again. He can be CLEANED.He can get better, he's kissing the sweet earth of his homeland (Penelope). It's a start.
It makes me so fucking happy. Water Wife, save me. Save me, Water Wife
