[right][h2][s]J̶͙̝̹͖͒̅̂̏͝͝ā̶̪̘̾̇̎̕y̷̗̦̖͊̀̑ͅ's̵̤̪̰̓͝[/s] [color=8882be]S̲͍̏̂͜͡i͑̏҉r͎̲͞p̰͔̅̏ȃ̷͍҉̥͒'̶̝̰͍́ͅs͖҉̲[/color] C̸̭͓̤͓̘̱̑̀̾͝͠ą̸̟͈̯͖͐̉͛̾̕͠t̴̩̺͆̂̓͐̕ḣ̵͉͍̣ȧ̷̫̙̞̐͘r̴̛̛͉̟̓̌̿͛s̴̛̮̞̫̝͉͆̈̀ị̸̗͓͍́͑ș̴̛͊̐̋͝t̸̞͗͐[/h2]
[@Tlazolteotl][@JJ Doe][/right]

[color=8882be][b][i]"Oh."[/i][/b]

How did she not see it before? The vision of the therapy space snapped into place and once it was there, it felt as if she had been there for hours. She could see the creature as therapist. She felt the uncomfortable folding chair beneath her. The soft yellow of the room stripped her of her comforts, all but for her tea which was now sitting in a thermos at her feet. There was nowhere to hide now.

She sat stiffly as she watched the images controlled by the therapist. Things were starting to make sense. The involuntary wave of sadness made her stomach lurch, and she pulled her legs under her chair. She thought of her tea, but did not move to retrieve it.

The view of Jay's perspective was disorienting. It was like she was a cartoon character that learned it was just a drawing and a voice. Was she even real? She must be. But seeing herself represented as an idea orchestrated by another person... It sent a shiver through her bones. But there was still more to think about.[/color]

[color=808080][i]"Waiting to hear someone out is a kindness. But I think what Jay was asking for was not to be heard to the end. They are asking to be met in the middle. Right now, silence will hurt them more." [/i][/color]

[color=8882be]That was confusing too. All her life, "listening" meant "shut your mouth and open your ears." Her parents had trained her to attend to conversation without speaking, lest she be disciplined. Excited or introspective interjections were to be stifled. It hadn't occurred to her that someone would actually [i]want[/i] that. Why couldn't there be a instruction booklet about how to interact with people?

When Sirpa looked back at Jay, the room settled. The lights brightened, then dimmed slightly to a tolerable brightness. Not comfortable, but not overbearing. [b]"Um,"[/b] she started awkwardly. [i]Should have thought of what I would say first before talking.[/i] [b]"Did you...want to keep going? Did your, um, 'RP' group fizzle out?"[/b][/color]

[color=808080]━━━━━━ ◈ ━━━━━━[/color]

[hider=What Is Perceived]
When Sirpa looks at Jay, her words and actions are perceived by everyone.
[/hider]