[right][h2]Jay’s Catharsis[/h2][@Stanifly][@silver21][@Tlazolteotl][/right]
If the internet hadn’t taken its sweet time buffering, Jay probably would’ve blipped out of Catharsis before Silver Blade’s voice caught up with them. [color=lavender][i]“You misunderstand. It isn’t a matter of qualification.”[/i][/color]

Jay scrambled to cancel the exit—once, twice when the first didn’t register—and spun to face Silver Blade. Lag pretty much killed any chance of replying in real time, but at least she’d see they were listening.

[color=lavender][i]“I… apologise for making you feel unwelcome. I’ve been told I can be overly blunt at times.”[/i][/color]

Reflexively, Jay raised their hands. “No, no, it’s okay.”

It wasn’t okay. (Not that Silver Blade did anything wrong—she didn’t. The apology was nice. The hand was nice. Everything was fine, actually, except for the part where Jay wasn’t okay.) “It’s okay” was the automatic default setting for every people-pleaser who ever existed. Factory-installed, impossible to uninstall.

Silver Blade’s hand hovered between them. Jay’s gaze drifted past it, past her, to Sirpa.

Disappointment radiated off Sirpa, pressing against their chest like a physical weight.

[center][i]Get out. We don’t want you. Why are you even here?[/i][/center]
[color=808080][i]“Jay.”[/i][/color]

The Moderator’s voice interrupted what was shaping up to be a really productive spiral.

[color=808080][i]“You’re welcome here. Whatever is troubling you—I’d love to help. Even if all I can do is sit with you and listen.”[/i][/color]

Based on how Sirpa had gone quiet, visibly trying to shrink away from them, Jay had their doubts. They’d seen it. That flash of annoyance. That flicker of hope when it looked like Jay might actually leave.

The urge to do exactly that spiked. They were already composing the exit line in their head ([i]thank you all for your kind words, I’ll come back another time[/i]), without any intention of coming back. But Silver Blade’s hand came into focus again.

Jay looked up into the hero’s face. Searched her expression for anything that suggested she thought it would be better if they left.

Found none.

So they took her hand.