Jax trauma/personality analysis speedrun les go
I interpret this as kinda dissociating (depersonalization especially, bc can you truly say it's derealization if the experience actually isn't real) and (partially) losing emotions like empathy which can happen due to repeated trauma - both from his own sense of self and also from the humanity of those around him
Just a straight-up panic response/hyperventilating at Ragatha's accusations unintentionally triggering him
Seeing Ribbit's door absolutely gives him flashbacks which is why he does a complete 180 from getting closer to Pomni to pushing her away and denying his friendship with her. He's afraid of being hurt again and he had forgotten to be scared when he was enjoying connection so much, but this reminded him and his walls went back up.
He looks at his hand, which is a very common storytelling shortcut/symbolism that he is pondering/considering himself, his desires, and his actions. His mask slipping scares him, and he is fighting between the uncaring persona he wants to be and the care he actually feels.
Maybe this is just an overly angsty headcanon, but I interpret this self-sacrifice good sportsmanship as self-harming/self-destructive. Not necessarily a trauma response but I felt it belonged.
Possibly him projecting, and a line more directed toward himself than toward Pomni. Maybe he's upset with himself for not committing to the "funny guy" persona.
As Pomni calls out in the next line, he's deflecting with humor to avoid addressing his trauma that this conversation is walking all over. Pomni then does give him a chance to change the subject, which he takes. Whoops
Side note - his smile is scrunching up like he's about to cry. Poor man has heard this way too many times. It's possible he's even become convinced of it the way that he tries to convince himself he's uncaring.
Again saying it more to himself than to Pomni.
That pushed some buttons. He's clearly gotten the "I can fix him" before, probably from Ragatha at the least. Not necessarily trauma but certainly a sensitive subject.
Confirmation bias from repeated rejection trauma and then pulling away which reinforces said rejection. Poor guy.
This shot broke me so bad. No notes.
Bonus panic attack. Today was rough, buddy, being vulnerable is hard. Is ok.
Oof didn't catch that he was talking at himself until I turned the captions on for my second watch. The difference between "I look stupid" and "you look stupid" is subtle but vast.
That's all, folks /reference
