diff --git a/internal/chat/handler.go b/internal/chat/handler.go
index 1dd296b..37bb57c 100644
--- a/internal/chat/handler.go
+++ b/internal/chat/handler.go
@@ -144,8 +144,11 @@ func (h *Handler) HandleChat(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Printf("Chat agent error: %v", err)
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/html; charset=utf-8")
-			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprint(w, `<div class="chat-message chat-error">Something went wrong. Please try again.</div>`)
+			errMsg := "Something went wrong. Please try again in a moment."
+			if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "429") || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED") {
+				errMsg = "The AI service is temporarily busy. Please try again in a few seconds."
+			}
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(w, `<div class="chat-message chat-error">%s</div>`, errMsg)
 			return
 		}
 		if event.IsFinalResponse() {
diff --git a/templates/partials/modals/chat-help-modal.html b/templates/partials/modals/chat-help-modal.html
index 52c2ea1..25b8805 100644
--- a/templates/partials/modals/chat-help-modal.html
+++ b/templates/partials/modals/chat-help-modal.html
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
                         {{if eq .Lang "es"}}Experiencia{{else}}Experience{{end}}
                     </summary>
                     <div class="chat-help-questions">
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuántos años de experiencia tiene Juan?{{else}}How many years of experience does Juan have?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuántos años de experiencia tiene?{{else}}How many years of experience?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿En qué empresas ha trabajado?{{else}}What companies has he worked at?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿En qué empresas ha trabajado?{{else}}What companies has he worked at?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Cuéntame sobre Olympic Broadcasting{{else}}Tell me about Olympic Broadcasting{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Cuéntame sobre Olympic Broadcasting{{else}}Tell me about Olympic Broadcasting{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué hacía en SAP?{{else}}What did he do at SAP?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué hacía en SAP?{{else}}What did he do at SAP?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuántos años de experiencia tiene Juan?{{else}}How many years of experience does Juan have?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuántos años de experiencia tiene?{{else}}How many years of experience?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿En qué empresas ha trabajado?{{else}}What companies has he worked at?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿En qué empresas ha trabajado?{{else}}What companies has he worked at?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Cuéntame sobre Olympic Broadcasting{{else}}Tell me about Olympic Broadcasting{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Cuéntame sobre Olympic Broadcasting{{else}}Tell me about Olympic Broadcasting{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué hacía en SAP?{{else}}What did he do at SAP?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué hacía en SAP?{{else}}What did he do at SAP?{{end}}</button>
                     </div>
                 </details>
 
@@ -45,11 +45,11 @@
                         {{if eq .Lang "es"}}Tecnologías{{else}}Technologies{{end}}
                     </summary>
                     <div class="chat-help-questions">
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué lenguajes de programación conoce?{{else}}What programming languages does he know?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué lenguajes conoce?{{else}}What languages does he know?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Ha trabajado con React? ¿Dónde?{{else}}Has he worked with React? Where?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Ha trabajado con React?{{else}}Has he worked with React?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuál es su experiencia con Go?{{else}}What is his Go experience?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Experiencia con Go?{{else}}Go experience?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Conoce Node.js?{{else}}Does he know Node.js?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Conoce Node.js?{{else}}Does he know Node.js?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Tiene experiencia con Docker?{{else}}Does he have Docker experience?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Experiencia con Docker?{{else}}Docker experience?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué lenguajes de programación conoce?{{else}}What programming languages does he know?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué lenguajes conoce?{{else}}What languages does he know?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Ha trabajado con React? ¿Dónde?{{else}}Has he worked with React? Where?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Ha trabajado con React?{{else}}Has he worked with React?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuál es su experiencia con Go?{{else}}What is his Go experience?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Experiencia con Go?{{else}}Go experience?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Conoce Node.js?{{else}}Does he know Node.js?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Conoce Node.js?{{else}}Does he know Node.js?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Tiene experiencia con Docker?{{else}}Does he have Docker experience?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Experiencia con Docker?{{else}}Docker experience?{{end}}</button>
                     </div>
                 </details>
 
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@
                         {{if eq .Lang "es"}}Proyectos{{else}}Projects{{end}}
                     </summary>
                     <div class="chat-help-questions">
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué proyectos personales ha creado?{{else}}What personal projects has he built?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué proyectos ha creado?{{else}}What projects has he built?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Cuéntame sobre Immich Photo Manager{{else}}Tell me about Immich Photo Manager{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Sobre Immich Photo Manager{{else}}About Immich Photo Manager{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué proyectos open-source mantiene?{{else}}What open-source projects does he maintain?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Proyectos open-source?{{else}}Open-source projects?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué proyectos personales ha creado?{{else}}What personal projects has he built?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué proyectos ha creado?{{else}}What projects has he built?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Cuéntame sobre Immich Photo Manager{{else}}Tell me about Immich Photo Manager{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Sobre Immich Photo Manager{{else}}About Immich Photo Manager{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué proyectos open-source mantiene?{{else}}What open-source projects does he maintain?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Proyectos open-source?{{else}}Open-source projects?{{end}}</button>
                     </div>
                 </details>
 
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@
                         {{if eq .Lang "es"}}Formación{{else}}Education{{end}}
                     </summary>
                     <div class="chat-help-questions">
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué certificaciones tiene?{{else}}What certifications does he have?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Certificaciones?{{else}}Certifications?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Dónde estudió?{{else}}Where did he study?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Dónde estudió?{{else}}Where did he study?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué cursos ha completado?{{else}}What courses has he completed?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cursos completados?{{else}}Courses completed?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué certificaciones tiene?{{else}}What certifications does he have?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Certificaciones?{{else}}Certifications?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Dónde estudió?{{else}}Where did he study?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Dónde estudió?{{else}}Where did he study?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué cursos ha completado?{{else}}What courses has he completed?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cursos completados?{{else}}Courses completed?{{end}}</button>
                     </div>
                 </details>
 
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@
                         {{if eq .Lang "es"}}Habilidades{{else}}Skills{{end}}
                     </summary>
                     <div class="chat-help-questions">
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuáles son sus principales habilidades técnicas?{{else}}What are his main technical skills?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Habilidades técnicas principales?{{else}}Main technical skills?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué hay de CI/CD?{{else}}What about CI/CD?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Experiencia con CI/CD?{{else}}CI/CD experience?{{end}}</button>
-                        <button class="chat-help-q" _="on click call closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué idiomas habla?{{else}}What languages does he speak?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué idiomas habla?{{else}}Languages spoken?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Cuáles son sus principales habilidades técnicas?{{else}}What are his main technical skills?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Habilidades técnicas principales?{{else}}Main technical skills?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué hay de CI/CD?{{else}}What about CI/CD?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Experiencia con CI/CD?{{else}}CI/CD experience?{{end}}</button>
+                        <button class="chat-help-q" onclick="closeChatHelpAndAsk('{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué idiomas habla?{{else}}What languages does he speak?{{end}}')">{{if eq .Lang "es"}}¿Qué idiomas habla?{{else}}Languages spoken?{{end}}</button>
                     </div>
                 </details>
 
diff --git a/templates/partials/widgets/chat-widget.html b/templates/partials/widgets/chat-widget.html
index 761f0c0..41d3984 100644
--- a/templates/partials/widgets/chat-widget.html
+++ b/templates/partials/widgets/chat-widget.html
@@ -6,14 +6,7 @@
     class="chat-toggle-btn no-print has-tooltip tooltip-left"
     aria-label="{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Asistente del CV{{else}}CV Assistant{{end}}"
     data-tooltip="{{if eq .Lang "es"}}Asistente del CV{{else}}CV Assistant{{end}}"
-    _="on click toggle .chat-open on #chat-panel
-       then if #chat-panel matches .chat-open
-         then add .mascot-active to me
-         then set #chat-input.focus to true
-         then call #chat-input.focus()
-       else
-         remove .mascot-active from me
-       end">
+    onclick="toggleChatPanel()">
     <iconify-icon icon="mdi:robot-happy-outline" class="chat-icon-open"></iconify-icon>
     <iconify-icon icon="mdi:close" class="chat-icon-close"></iconify-icon>
 </button>
@@ -46,27 +39,17 @@
     <!-- Suggested Questions -->
     <div class="chat-suggestions">
         {{if eq .Lang "es"}}
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to '¿Qué proyectos en Go ha hecho?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">¿Proyectos en Go?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to '¿Cuántos años de experiencia tiene?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">¿Años de experiencia?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to '¿En qué empresas ha trabajado?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">¿Empresas?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to '¿Conoce React?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">¿Conoce React?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to '¿Qué certificaciones tiene?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">¿Certificaciones?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('¿Qué proyectos en Go ha hecho?')">¿Proyectos en Go?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('¿Cuántos años de experiencia tiene?')">¿Años de experiencia?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('¿En qué empresas ha trabajado?')">¿Empresas?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('¿Conoce React?')">¿Conoce React?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('¿Qué certificaciones tiene?')">¿Certificaciones?</button>
         {{else}}
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to 'What Go projects has he built?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">Go projects?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to 'How many years of experience?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">Years of experience?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to 'What companies has he worked at?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">Companies?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to 'Does he know React?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">Knows React?</button>
-        <button type="button" class="chat-chip"
-            _="on click set #chat-input.value to 'What certifications?' then trigger submit on #chat-form">Certifications?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('What Go projects has he built?')">Go projects?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('How many years of experience?')">Years of experience?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('What companies has he worked at?')">Companies?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('Does he know React?')">Knows React?</button>
+        <button type="button" class="chat-chip" onclick="sendChatQuestion('What certifications?')">Certifications?</button>
         {{end}}
     </div>
 
@@ -74,8 +57,7 @@
         hx-post="/api/chat"
         hx-target="#chat-messages"
         hx-swap="beforeend scroll:#chat-messages:bottom"
-        hx-indicator="#chat-typing"
-        _="on htmx:afterRequest set #chat-input.value to ''">
+        hx-indicator="#chat-typing">
         <input type="hidden" id="chat-session-id" name="session_id" value="">
         <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="{{.Lang}}">
         <input
@@ -90,5 +72,46 @@
         </button>
     </form>
 </div>
+
+<!-- Chat JavaScript — all interactions in plain JS, no Hyperscript -->
+<script>
+// Toggle chat panel open/close
+function toggleChatPanel() {
+    var panel = document.getElementById('chat-panel');
+    var btn = document.getElementById('chat-toggle-btn');
+    panel.classList.toggle('chat-open');
+    btn.classList.toggle('mascot-active');
+    if (panel.classList.contains('chat-open')) {
+        document.getElementById('chat-input').focus();
+    }
+}
+
+// Send a question (from chip or help modal)
+function sendChatQuestion(question) {
+    var input = document.getElementById('chat-input');
+    var form = document.getElementById('chat-form');
+    input.value = question;
+    htmx.trigger(form, 'submit');
+}
+
+// Close help modal, open chat, and send question
+function closeChatHelpAndAsk(question) {
+    document.getElementById('chat-help-modal').close();
+    var panel = document.getElementById('chat-panel');
+    var btn = document.getElementById('chat-toggle-btn');
+    if (!panel.classList.contains('chat-open')) {
+        panel.classList.add('chat-open');
+        btn.classList.add('mascot-active');
+    }
+    sendChatQuestion(question);
+}
+
+// Clear input after HTMX request completes
+document.addEventListener('htmx:afterRequest', function(event) {
+    if (event.detail.elt && event.detail.elt.id === 'chat-form') {
+        document.getElementById('chat-input').value = '';
+    }
+});
+</script>
 {{end}}
 {{end}}