diff --git a/src/base-environments/youth_room/youth_room.gd b/src/base-environments/youth_room/youth_room.gd
index 925dbdd..f0f547f 100644
--- a/src/base-environments/youth_room/youth_room.gd
+++ b/src/base-environments/youth_room/youth_room.gd
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ func start_room():
 	%UI.show()
 	$logic/PlayerController.process_mode = Node.PROCESS_MODE_INHERIT
 
+	await Main.curtain.open()
+
 	if not Scenes.is_sequence_repeating(Scenes.id.YOUTH_DRAVEN):
 		# Play intro scene directly (not triggered by CollectableUi)
 		await _play_intro_scene()
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd b/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd
index a5b59ee..133b260 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd
@@ -196,6 +196,15 @@ func add_note(note: StickyNote) -> void:
 	notes.append(note)
 	note.is_dragable = true
 
+func appear():
+	await Main.curtain.close()
+	show()
+	await Main.curtain.open()
+
+func vanish():
+	await Main.curtain.close()
+	hide()
+	await Main.curtain.open()
 
 # Checks if a Node is currently inside the dropzone
 func is_in_dropzone(to_check: Draggable) -> bool:
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/board/physics-board.tscn b/src/logic-scenes/board/physics-board.tscn
index d19e72b..b48654b 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/board/physics-board.tscn
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/board/physics-board.tscn
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ _data = {
 }
 
 [node name="board" type="PanelContainer"]
+show_behind_parent = true
 material = SubResource("ShaderMaterial_ttqei")
-clip_contents = true
 anchors_preset = 15
 anchor_right = 1.0
 anchor_bottom = 1.0
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd b/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd
index 6e0c440..840481f 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd
@@ -37,14 +37,13 @@ func play() -> void:
 	# 3. Populate the 4 anchor slots with random cards
 	for ancor: Control in ancors:
 		var card: Card = stack.pop_front()
+		assert(card, "Not enough cards collected.")
 		cards.append(card)
 		ancor.add_child(card)
 		print_debug("CardBurner: Added card '%s' to anchor" % card.name)
 
 	print("CardBurner: ", len(cards))
 
-	await appear()
-
 	# 4. Wait for player to burn a card (or skip)
 	print_debug("CardBurner: Waiting for player to burn a card...")
 	handle_direction_input(Vector2.UP)
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.tscn b/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.tscn
index 6eed36c..9895cca 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.tscn
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.tscn
@@ -90,14 +90,22 @@ grow_horizontal = 2
 grow_vertical = 2
 script = ExtResource("1_copuj")
 
-[node name="ColorRect" type="ColorRect" parent="."]
-custom_minimum_size = Vector2(8192, 8192)
-layout_mode = 2
-color = Color(0, 0, 0, 0.5019608)
-
 [node name="Control" type="Control" parent="."]
 layout_mode = 2
 
+[node name="ColorRect" type="ColorRect" parent="Control"]
+show_behind_parent = true
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(8192, 8192)
+layout_mode = 0
+offset_left = -4096.0
+offset_top = -4096.0
+offset_right = 4096.0
+offset_bottom = 4096.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+mouse_filter = 2
+color = Color(0, 0, 0, 0.6745098)
+
 [node name="Label" type="Label" parent="Control"]
 layout_mode = 1
 anchors_preset = 7
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd b/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd
index 4fb7aaa..d6dfd92 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd
@@ -101,9 +101,10 @@ func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 func play_story() -> void:
 		# Check if this is a repeat playthrough
 		var repeat := collected
-
 		collected = true
+
 		canvas_layer.show()
+		await playable.appear()
 
 		# Allow room to prepare for scene (e.g., play animations)
 		await State.room.prepare_scene_start(playable.scene_id, repeat)
@@ -111,7 +112,6 @@ func play_story() -> void:
 		Scenes.begin_sequence(playable.scene_id)
 
 		# Play the story
-		await playable.appear()
 		await playable.play()
 
 		# Pick the cards if not already picked
@@ -131,11 +131,12 @@ func play_story() -> void:
 
 func play_board() -> void:
 		canvas_layer.show()
+		await playable.appear()
 
 		# Play the board (handles mouse visibility and waits for close)
 		await playable.play()
 
-		# Hide the CanvasLayer when done
+		await playable.vanish()
 		canvas_layer.hide()
 
 		Scenes.player_enable.emit(true)
@@ -144,18 +145,18 @@ func play_board() -> void:
 
 func play_burner() -> void:
 		canvas_layer.show()
+		await playable.appear()
 
-		# Play the board (handles mouse visibility and waits for close)
+		# Play the burner mini-game, will actually send us to the next map
 		await playable.play()
 
-		# Hide the CanvasLayer when done
+		await playable.vanish()
 		canvas_layer.hide()
 
 
 func interact() -> void:
 	Scenes.player_enable.emit(false)
 	await collapse()
-	collected = true
 
 	# collapse other interactables BEFORE showing canvas
 	get_tree().call_group("interactables", "collapse")
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/playable.gd b/src/logic-scenes/playable.gd
index 5fd50c0..da24df8 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/playable.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/playable.gd
@@ -13,15 +13,17 @@ func handle_hover(_area: Draggable):
 	#prints("Playable[base].handle_hover", _area, _area.name)
 	pass
 
+const TRANSPARENT_BLACK := Color(0,0,0,0)
+
 func appear():
-	self.modulate = Color.TRANSPARENT
+	self.modulate = TRANSPARENT_BLACK
 	show()
 	var tween := create_tween().set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
-	tween.tween_property(self, "modulate", Color.WHITE, 1.5)
+	tween.tween_property(self, "modulate", Color.WHITE, 0.3)
 	await tween.finished
 	
 func vanish():
 	var tween := create_tween().set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
-	tween.tween_property(self, "modulate", Color.TRANSPARENT, 1.5)
+	tween.tween_property(self, "modulate", TRANSPARENT_BLACK, 0.3)
 	await tween.finished
 	hide()
diff --git a/src/singletons/main/main.gd b/src/singletons/main/main.gd
index 9633d1a..cdeb530 100644
--- a/src/singletons/main/main.gd
+++ b/src/singletons/main/main.gd
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ var app_state: AppState = AppState.BOOT:
 				credits_roll.hide()
 				main_menu.hide()
 				pause_menu.hide()
-				curtain.hide()
 			AppState.PAUSE:
 				credits_roll.hide()
 				main_menu.hide()
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ func start_game(save: SaveGame) -> void:
 	await State.room.play()
 
 func _load_room(next_path: String) -> bool:
-	await curtain.show()
+	await curtain.close()
 	%Loading.play()
 
 	if State.room != null:
@@ -95,7 +94,6 @@ func _load_room(next_path: String) -> bool:
 				await get_tree().process_frame
 				await State.room.get_ready()
 				%Loading.stop()
-				await curtain.hide()
 				return true
 			ResourceLoader.THREAD_LOAD_FAILED:
 				push_error("Failed to load room.")
diff --git a/src/singletons/main/main.tscn b/src/singletons/main/main.tscn
index d9c87e4..7641c06 100644
--- a/src/singletons/main/main.tscn
+++ b/src/singletons/main/main.tscn
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ offset_bottom = 0.0
 [node name="MainMenu" parent="." instance=ExtResource("3_ik73t")]
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 visible = false
+z_index = 10
 
 [node name="FPSLabel" type="Label" parent="."]
 visible = false
diff --git a/src/ui/curtain/curtain.gd b/src/ui/curtain/curtain.gd
index e819b13..d112b92 100644
--- a/src/ui/curtain/curtain.gd
+++ b/src/ui/curtain/curtain.gd
@@ -5,22 +5,22 @@ var _tween : Tween = null
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	print_debug("curtain.gd: ready()")
-	show()
+	visible = true
 	
-func show() -> void:
-	visible = true	
+## Conceals the Game Stage 
+func close() -> void:
+	visible = true
 	print_debug("curtain.gd: show()")
-	if _tween != null:
-		_tween.kill()
+	if _tween: _tween.kill()
 	_tween = create_tween()
-	_tween.tween_property(self, "modulate:a", 1.0, 1.0)
+	_tween.tween_property(self, "modulate:a", 1.0, 0.7)
 	await _tween.finished
 
-func hide() -> void:	
+## Makes the Game Stage Visible 
+func open() -> void:	
 	print_debug("curtain.gd: hide()")
-	if _tween != null:
-		_tween.kill()
+	if _tween: _tween.kill()
 	_tween = create_tween()
-	_tween.tween_property(self, "modulate:a", 0.0, 1.0)
+	_tween.tween_property(self, "modulate:a", 0.0, 0.7)
 	await _tween.finished
 	visible = false
diff --git a/src/ui/curtain/curtain.tscn b/src/ui/curtain/curtain.tscn
index c8ae442..9b2c51b 100644
--- a/src/ui/curtain/curtain.tscn
+++ b/src/ui/curtain/curtain.tscn
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://cg7sc173lvchp" path="res://ui/curtain/curtain.gd" id="1_8qa50"]
 
 [node name="Curtain" type="Panel"]
+z_index = -10
 anchors_preset = 15
 anchor_right = 1.0
 anchor_bottom = 1.0
diff --git a/src/ui/loading/loading.tscn b/src/ui/loading/loading.tscn
index ba0bc9c..ef8d1b2 100644
--- a/src/ui/loading/loading.tscn
+++ b/src/ui/loading/loading.tscn
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ _data = {
 }
 
 [node name="Loading" type="Control"]
+z_index = -5
 layout_mode = 3
 anchors_preset = 2
 anchor_top = 1.0