The first few days after the new emotions arrived in Headquarters were a bit... messy. But now that everything was settled and Riley's Sense of Self had healed and grown anew, it was back to business as usual - with the added help of five new emotions to help out the core five (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear) pilot their girl through high school.

But for one jittery orange emotion, she was still trying to deal with... well, everything; everything she had inadvertently caused because she felt it was in Riley's best interest, to protect her... but she was wrong. Oh gosh, was she wrong.

Anxiety was already a tightly-wound bundle of nerves, but trying to pretend like everything was fine (even if the other emotions, old and new, assured her she was forgiven) wound those nerves up even tighter. She wouldn't take it out on the console, though; she'd done enough damage.

When she found one of the other new emotions - one who she'd continuously pushed aside and patronized at first - manning it solo, fully mentored by those who had been the best in the game for thirteen years and running, she felt like... like she needed to say something to them, to get it off her chest. But what could she say? Would she mess it up? Would they hate her and never wanna speak to her again?

No. You are Anxiety, yes, but... you need to let go.

So, with a deep, unsteady breath, she approached them with a wave.

"Hey there. So, uh... how's the console treating you, huh?" Anxiety asked with all the energy she could muster, the meek grin on her wide mouth wavering a tad.

Silence.

Anxiety deflated, her smile falling. "O-Okay, look, I... I'm sorry for not giving you a chance. For... for trying to take control of something I was absolutely not prepared to handle on my own. But..." Her breath hitched. "But I'm really trying here so if you hate me please just tell me now and I'll stay far far away from you and you'll never have to deal with me again-"

She was spiraling again. Where was her chair, WHERE WAS HER CHAIR—