Santiago
Deep within the Citadel is an opulent chamber where the god of the Underworld holds court. A massive obsidian throne sits atop a dais, and the room is adorned with dark tapestries depicting scenes of the afterlife. This is where Hades makes decisions on the fates if souls and oversees the working of his domain.
Stephen
It had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Momus over the last twenty-four hours, but the one at the forefront of everything was *Shock.* It wasn't a new emotion for him, but it was an unfamiliar one. As a jester of the court and overall critic of all things god-related, politics-related, world-related, and well, anything-and-everything-related, he was usually the one surprising everyone else. 

But finding out that *He* Was the god of satire and mockery was a pretty big deal, and something he didn't expect to learn while stuck in a stocks.

Body bent over at the waist, head and hands locked in a row, Momus found himself in quite the predicament after calling out a *Certain* King about *Certain* Tax laws that were *Certainly* Going to harm the lower class. He had put on a public song and dance on the steps in front of the palace walls, drawing a small crowd who began to get a little *Excitable.* Laughter turned into conversation, conversation turned into outrage, outrage turned into shouts and calls for change. Momus successfully riled everyone up, but that was where his plan ended. 

After all, he wasn't a rebel. Just the shit-stirrer. 

Whatever traction the crowd had was quickly lost when guards were released onto them. Momus was called out as the problem and he was quickly taken into custody. From there, an example was to be made of him. Since he liked attention so much, the king hoped to break his spirit by putting him in the stocks in the city center. What he couldn't have guessed was that Momus would use that opportunity to continue his usual routine and spout of jokes, insults, songs, and all kinds of entertainment for the public.

That's when he caught the attention of none other than Hades, King of the Underworld. For whatever reason, the god was passing through the city and was drawn to Momus - for his charming good looks? His humor? Who knows? - and approached him to get a closer look. Thus, the surprise was revealed to him. Momus was a god himself. 

That would explain how he had yet to grow old or die like normal mortals.

Reminded of who he truly was, Momus's memories seemed to flood back into him like water breaking through a dam. He set himself free of the stocks, thanked Hades for finding him and refreshing his memory, and snapped his fingers to make the clothes disappear off of the king's body which made him a mockery of all those in the public square. His work in the mortal world done - though many would argue that the things he did was hardly considered "Work," - he dedicated himself to Hades' and followed him into the Underworld. 

It had been a few centuries since he was banned from Olympus, and only slightly less time where he was living as a mortal believing himself to be just that. He wondered how many gods had forgotten about him. Would his mother and siblings even recognize him anymore? It was one of many thoughts crossing his mind as he passed through the different parts of the Underworld, following Hades all the way to his throne room. There, he was told to wait while Hades left the room. 

Nerves filled his gut - another unfamiliar feeling - as he waited in the large room, still slowly remembering parts of his past that he had forgotten for so long. He couldn't remember exactly how he looked, so he tested out different faces while he stood around, shifting from man to woman, then back to a man while he tried on different looks.
Albert
Nyx Nocturne hall, an awe-inspiring sanctum, was carved from obsidian and illuminated by a soft, otherworldly glow emanating from flames flickering in onyx sconces, casting eerie shadows on the walls. High above the vaulted ceiling, the night sky was adorned with constellations. Tall, shadowy columns wrapped in intricate carvings depicted the myths and mysteries of the Night. Sharp talon-like nails ran across the golden carvings, reminiscing over fond memories of her children until her dark eyes settled on a particular carving that brought great sadness to her.

**"My mockful child. . . Momus. . ."** Her voice was gentle, yet sorrow laced her words. 

The primordial goddess had not seen her son for a few centuries. Momus, unfairly banished from heavenly Olympus, was the personification of mockery and blame; how was it his fault for criticising the gods? Despite what occurred, Nyx was proud of him; she believed the pantheon needed to be humbled occasionally. After his banishment to the mortal realm, she would scour the land for her son every night, her heart heavy with longing and hope. Yet, despite her best efforts and the cautious advice of others, nothing came of it.

With her eyes closed, Nyx contemplated the situation until a creature of the Night timidly entered her hall. **"Speak plain."** She commanded, her eyes still closed, but the primordial goddess could sense its presence. "O' Mother Night. Momus has returned-!" Before the creature could finish, Nyx had lifted her hand to demand silence. Without a word from her lips, the creature of the Night understood and immediately shifted into the shadows, where it disappeared from sight. The tiniest smile cracked at the end of her lips as she exited the hall.

Upon discovering where her son was, Nyx swiftly entered Hades' throne room, where she observed the nervous god from the darkness as he repeatedly shifted into many forms: from a man to a woman, then back to man. His confusion was palpable, his struggle with his identity evident. Did he not recognise himself? Would he not recognise his mother? Questions plagued Nyx's thoughts as she watched. Clearly, he was wrestling with his identity, which made her heart ache. However, she needed to confirm her suspicions.

Suddenly, the flickering flames that lit the throne room extinguished one by one. Gradually, the room lost its light source as a towering shadow, mixed with the colours of a nebula as if galaxies were being born, emerged before Momus. Its wings extended outwards, almost threatening to sweep the furniture away before the wings gracefully settled. Her face was hard to see except for the two pure white eyes, resembling twinkling stars, that gazed down, studying the nervous deity.

**"State your name and business in the Underworld, child."** Despite her terrifying presence, Nyx's voice was motherly. An instinctive feeling screamed that the god was her son, but she needed confirmation to settle the clawing doubts in her head.
Stephen
To normal people, being in the Underworld might have been unnerving. Uncomfortable. Completely unheard of. And maybe if Momus was a normal person, he might have felt all three of those things and more. Hell, earlier that day, he was just living what he thought was a human existence in a world that didn't accept criticism and damn good jokes. Now he stood in Hades' throne room waiting for a punchline. Surely this all had to be a big joke, right? Though he didn't exactly see Hades as the joking type. 

As his face shifted from one form to another, the room darkened. He paused, his face stuck on an old woman as he looked toward the extinguished flame. His brow furrowed before his face changed again, this time into a young man with blonde hair. Right when he switched, another flame went out. His back straightened and his frown flipped over to a smile. He assumed he was somehow putting the fires out with each change. He shifted again. Another flame. Again, and— 

"*State your name and business in the Underworld, child,*" A voice boomed behind him, making him jump forward with a shout as if he'd just been shoved. 

He spun around, eyes wide and mouth agape as he took in the sight of something that should have petrified anyone. Darkness filled the room, but it wasn't pure black like one might expect; it was deep and full of hues of blue, green, purple, and sparkled with two bright white orbs that looked like stars among the vast expanse of a mini galaxy.

Momus was shocked, but not for the reason many would assume. 

Everything flooded back into him all at once; memories that were long forgotten while he was a "Human." There was a time before, when he was a god and both loved and hated in Olympus. He was banned from the realm only to get lost in another for centuries. 

His face shifted again, but this time it became its original form - a picture of youth that the darkness would recognize. Only he knew that darkness without hesitation and his surprise brightened into a wide grin. 

"Mother!" He barely registered her demand, and stepped forward with his arms wide open. "Mother, it's me! Momus!"