"The mask is protective. Of me. It keeps me from...leaking. I can take it off, when I'm ready, but leaving it off too long is draining. Exhausting."

Stark sighed again.

"It's not...it's just part of me, the energy. That part that isn't my body. I can...share memories, if I choose. Usually I give them, to offer some comfort. Or just to share something with someone."

He relaxed, a little, uncurling his body a bit to take a proper sip of his coffee.

"And usually...usually I'm just there to help. To ease the passage. There isn't anyone else there. Just them and they go. Sometimes they're ready. Sometimes they aren't. But they go and I help and there's no pulling. Just this side and the other. They go to different places. I don't know until the end where."

Different beliefs, different destinations and all that.