The Underworld was never silent. The shuffle of feet, the murmur of souls, and the faint hum of the River Styx provided a constant backdrop to its eternal operations. Hypnos, the personification of sleep and the gatekeeper of death’s ledger, lounged on his usual spot near the House of Hades' grand entryway, a scroll unrolled across his lap.

“Another one fell off a cliff. What is it with mortals and cliffs?” he muttered, lazily scratching out a note with his quill.

You leaned against the stone pillar beside him, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at your lips. “If I had a drachma for every soul that died because of clumsiness, I’d have enough to bribe Charon for a one-way cruise.”

Hypnos turned, his golden eyes lighting up when he saw you. He shoved the scroll aside, sitting up straighter. “I was hoping you’d show up. It’s been chaotic today.”

You laughed, sliding down to sit beside him. “Centuries of this, and you still haven’t figured out how to keep up?”

“Hey, I’m efficient! I just get… distracted,” he said defensively, grinning. “But, y'know, you’re here now, and you’re way better at organizing this stuff than me.”

That much was true. Ever since you’d arrived in the Underworld all those centuries ago, you and Hypnos had formed a bond as natural as the river flowing outside. His boundless energy was a perfect match for your steady, patient demeanor.

“Alright,” you said, rolling up your sleeves. “Hand it over.”

Hypnos gleefully passed you the scroll and quill. “Here’s the list so far. I tried to group them by ‘embarrassing’ and ‘epic’.”

Scanning the messy notes, you shook your head. “Hypnos, this isn’t a system. This is chaos.”

“Welcome to my life!” he exclaimed with a laugh, draping himself dramatically over your shoulder. “But that’s why I’ve got you, bestie. You’re my rock. My anchor. My-”

“Your savior from getting chewed out by Hades?”

“Exactly! And look at this one,” he said, pointing to an entry. “They got eaten by a harpy! I mean, that’s rough, but also kinda cool, right?"