Afterlife Lessons ( for @malcavianshrink)
The creature named Irres who was once a man kept petting the three headed dog, who, at that particular time looked more like a content puppy rather than a fearsome guardian of the underworld; and did not even have to turn to know who was standing behind him. Even though something inside of him told him he was invisible, his odd-colored eyes could discern every little detail of him, as if he was staring right at him.
"You know, this helmet of yours is food for the most exquisite metaphors of thr human mind." he said, rubbing the belly of the beast. "Mortals have this beautiful ability to ignore your existence even if you stand right in front of them; biased to think that a single moment assimilates eternity; thus they can't possibly die right here, right this moment. We are the ones bearing the dubious privilege of alleviating them of this folly. And we see you for who you really are. No point hiding from someone who's already dead, master Hades, is there?"
"Perhaps," Hades allowed. "Or perhaps it is they who are here to alleviate us of our folly. After all a few seconds can feel like eternity, even for us."
"Has a mortal never caught you by surprise, or bested you in some manner? If so, you're more fortunate than I. Or...perhaps less fortunate. Thinking I was stronger and smarter than everyone who came to my realm--and would be so for all eternity--was becoming a bit frightening. Not to mention, a terrible bore."
"Do you really see me for who I am, Doctor? I can't help wondering how that is possible. There are so many of you in there that it must be hard to reach a consensus about your own identity, let alone anyone else's."
"But in any case, it isn't you I'm hiding from, it's the cleaning lady. She's quite elderly and I didn't want to give her a fright."
