{"id":589,"date":"2026-08-17T16:25:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=589"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:18","slug":"it-was-only-the-mask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=589","title":{"rendered":"It Was Only the Mask"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If a persona gives you permission to say what you truly think without consequences, are its actions separate from yours\u2014or does the mask simply reveal what you were unwilling to own?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask was ugly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not frightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ugly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had a long wooden nose, enormous eyebrows, one gold tooth, and cheeks painted such a violent shade of red that it looked permanently embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell found it in a box of theater rubbish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He put it on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His friend Davi immediately said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTake that off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell turned toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou look terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell deepened his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYOUR MOTHER LOOKS TERRIBLE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell laughed harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the birth of Mister Rattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell was not funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell was pleasant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reasonably intelligent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People liked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But when Kell told a joke, people often smiled in the compassionate way normally reserved for injured animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle was funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell wore the mask to a tavern performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He insulted the owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mocked the musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked a wealthy merchant whether his enormous hat was compensating for a tiny personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room exploded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People loved him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell had never experienced anything like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAgain next week?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tavern owner asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell hesitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle answered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cONLY IF YOU LEARN TO COOK.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The owner laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNext week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle became popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People came specifically to be insulted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell learned something surprising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were things everyone noticed but nobody said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle said them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mayor really did begin every speech by mentioning himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The baker really was cheating slightly on loaf sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The priest really did pronounce ancient words differently depending on whether anyone knowledgeable was present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People laughed because the jokes contained truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell began paying closer attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outside the mask, he remained quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That became part of the appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone would say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKell, did you hear what Rattle said about the council?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell would shrug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe&#8217;s terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As though Mister Rattle lived somewhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi noticed first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re getting mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, Rattle is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s the joke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen why aren&#8217;t you laughing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause I&#8217;m your friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next performance, Mister Rattle discussed Davi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell hadn&#8217;t planned to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone shouted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDO DAVI!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audience cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell should have refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead Mister Rattle leaned forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDAVI? WHICH ONE IS HE?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOH! THE MAN WHO HAS BEEN ENGAGED THREE YEARS BECAUSE HIS FIANC\u00c9E KEEPS HOPING SOMEONE BETTER WILL GET LOST AND WANDER INTO TOWN?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room went silent for half a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then erupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi was sitting near the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell saw his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He continued anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the part he remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not the joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision after seeing Davi&#8217;s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi waited outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat wasn&#8217;t funny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEveryone laughed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell removed the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCome on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was Rattle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know I can see your legs under the costume.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell apologized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mostly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m sorry you were hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi laughed once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInteresting wording.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat do you want me to say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat you hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t mean to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid you say it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRattle said it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi looked at the mask under Kell&#8217;s arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then back at Kell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGoodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The performances grew larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle became famous beyond the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell traveled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People paid well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The jokes became sharper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then political.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rattle could say things Kell could not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corrupt officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hypocritical merchants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abusive nobles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some deserved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People began calling Mister Rattle courageous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell liked that even more than being called funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One night, Rattle accused a magistrate of taking bribes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audience roared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The magistrate did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following morning, Kell was summoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvidence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The magistrate asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell swallowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was a performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou accused me of corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMister Rattle did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The magistrate stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell immediately realized how stupid that sounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you have evidence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen why did you say it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI heard rumors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom whom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell refused to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The magistrate fined him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audience considered this proof that the accusation was true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rumor grew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The magistrate eventually resigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Kell learned the man had never taken a bribe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That one stayed with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped performing for a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle opened with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGOOD NEWS! APPARENTLY WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. NOBODY TOLD ME.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Huge laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell felt sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He continued the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually, he no longer knew whether he liked performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He knew Mister Rattle liked performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rattle was fearless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rattle was clever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rattle could walk into a room of powerful people and say exactly what everyone else whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell admired him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was strange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Admiring a thing you operated with your own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then someone asked Rattle about Kell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It happened during a performance in the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A woman shouted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWHAT DO YOU THINK OF KELL?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audience laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Mister Rattle answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKELL?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBORING MAN.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNO SPINE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHIDES BEHIND ME BECAUSE HE&#8217;S TERRIFIED NOBODY WOULD LISTEN TO HIM OTHERWISE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The laughter softened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell&#8217;s mouth continued moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHE PRETENDS I&#8217;M THE CRUEL ONE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBUT HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THESE LIPS MOVE WITHOUT HIS?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room was completely quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone laughed nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell removed the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The performance ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He sat backstage for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask rested on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi had been right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But not completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask had done something real for Kell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had allowed him to experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To challenge people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To say uncomfortable things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of those things needed saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem was not that Mister Rattle was false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem was that Kell used falseness as an escape hatch whenever truth became expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He changed the act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People hated it at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before every performance, Kell walked onstage without the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He introduced himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEverything Mister Rattle says tonight is something I chose to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Occasionally applause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he put on the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The jokes continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes cruel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Rattle made an accusation, Kell needed evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Rattle injured someone unfairly, Kell apologized without sending the mask to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The act became less reckless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some critics said less funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell accepted that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Davi attended a performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Afterward, Kell found him outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWas it good?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cParts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhich parts?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m not doing your job for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi pointed at the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStill blame him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cConstantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoes it work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davi laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They went for a drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Near the end of Kell&#8217;s career, a young performer asked to study with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She had created a character called Sister Knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe says things I never could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat can be useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe makes people angry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAlso useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe gets me in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The performer frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo what&#8217;s the rule?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell picked up Mister Rattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The paint had faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ridiculous gold tooth was missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He placed the mask over his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Rattle said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTHE RULE IS THAT THIS IDIOT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING I SAY.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The young performer laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell removed the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s basically it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut she&#8217;s not me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell looked at the old wooden face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNeither was he.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He set it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut separate isn&#8217;t the same as innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The young performer considered this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He handed her the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNow make fun of my nose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was devastating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kell laughed hardest of anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If a persona gives you permission to say what you truly think without consequences, are its actions separate from yours\u2014or does the mask simply reveal what you were unwilling to own? The mask was ugly. Not frightening. Ugly. It had a long wooden nose, enormous eyebrows, one gold tooth, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>It Was Only the Mask - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=589\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"It Was Only the Mask - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If a persona gives you permission to say what you truly think without consequences, are its actions separate from yours\u2014or does the mask simply reveal what you were unwilling to own? 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