Chapter VI
We all act differently around people than we do when on our own, and we all act differently depending on what people we are around. Very few people would act the same around their mother as they would around their partner, who again gets a different act to their enemy. Humans utilize different facades to interact with different people, to put across in a more eloquent form what that relationship needs, rather than throwing at it your whole personality. It is a matter of priority; those things needed in a singular interaction are put across in your mask, whereas those things that would harm it are held back.
Unfortunately, this method isn't perfect, and our inner nature often slips out, so things that are irrelevant, or things that aren't advantageous to the interaction can often appear and we do not gain a perfect interaction. The less you know a person, the less you know what is beneficial and what isn't, so again, the greater chance you will not complete the smoothest possible interaction.
Masking is the act by which we place a metaphorical mask upon ourselves, our personality, our persona. We then use this to interact fluently and efficiently with that which we wish to gain something from. It has the added benefit that we can gain something from those we would not otherwise want to interact with, or be able to interact with, because the other person does not see the real you, the thing that would contrast and clash and make interaction impossible or laboured, but instead it sees something that appeals to its senses.
Another benefit of masking is that it allows us to bury deep our deepest darkest truths and secrets within ourselves, that would otherwise, if leaked, cause a friction in the smooth running of our lives. You can also bury things that have connotations and biases that other people will misunderstand and inadequately judge and label you upon. For you are starting upon a darkpath, and the dark does have many many misguided connotations within the fearful halls of humanity's sheep.