During a Session

Both people move through the same ritual together.

Progress and Rounds

The progress bar shows your current round, such as 3/10. Each round is one prompt or one Private Pulse. Nobody moves ahead alone — the next card appears once you have both acted.

Both avatars appear at the top so you can see your partner is there. If their connection drops, a banner says so before you start wondering.

Dots under the card show the question's intensity: one is light, three is the kind of question you remember.

Taking Turns

Bonded highlights whoever answers first on each card, then swaps. The host opens the first question and it alternates from there.

This is a suggestion about who speaks, not a lock. Neither person is ever prevented from tapping, so a partner who steps away can never strand you.

Normal Question Rounds

For most prompts, you can choose:

Action	Meaning
I'd answer this	You spoke, or you are willing to.
Pass	You prefer not to answer this prompt.
Flag this moment	You mark the prompt as meaningful, after you have answered or passed.

After your choice, Bonded waits for your partner.

Nothing is typed and nothing is recorded. The card is a prompt for a conversation between the two of you.

Passing

Passing is allowed, costs nothing, and is never shown to your partner as a judgement. A ritual continues when one or both people pass.

Waiting for Partner

If you see "Waiting for your partner", Bonded is waiting for the other person to answer, pass, flag, signal, or choose a Private Pulse reveal option.

Resonance Moments

A resonance moment happens only when both people flag the same prompt.

If this happens	Result
Only you flag a prompt	It is marked on your side, but it is not a shared resonance moment.
Only your partner flags a prompt	Not shared until you both flag.
Both people flag the same prompt	Bonded marks it as a shared resonance moment.

Resonance moments can appear in the Memory Capsule and in Insights.

Closing Questions

Most decks end with a closing prompt. It uses a simpler layout and is meant as a final reflection before the ritual completes.

Ending Early

Either person can end a ritual in progress. Bonded asks to confirm, then closes it for both of you. Anything already saved is kept.

Real-Time Behavior

Platform	How updates arrive
Mobile app	A live connection carries partner joined, answered, passed, flagged, Private Pulse, completed, and abandoned events.
Web guest	Polls the ritual roughly every 2 seconds. Updates may feel slightly delayed compared with the app.

After the Ritual

When the last round resolves, Bonded shows the Memory Capsule view. If you played with someone who is not yet a friend, a card offers to connect — see Friends and Connections.

Session Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	What to try
Stuck waiting for partner	Partner has not acted, disconnected, or web polling is delayed.	Ask them to check their screen. Wait a few seconds if they are on web.
A "reconnecting" banner appears	The live connection dropped.	Stay on the screen; it reconnects on its own.
Button does not respond	A request may be in progress or failed.	Wait briefly, then tap again once the loading state clears.
"That did not go through"	The answer, pass, or flag request failed.	Tap again on a stable connection.
Session will not load	You are not a participant, the token expired, or the ritual no longer exists.	Return home and rejoin with the current code, or sign in again.
Language seems wrong	The host chose the language before inviting you.	Start a new ritual with the preferred language.
Session ended early	The host cancelled it, someone ended it, or all rounds completed.	Start or request a new one.