diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd b/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd
index bdf2116..ccefdbe 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/card_burner/card_burner.gd
@@ -1,23 +1,27 @@
 class_name CardBurner
 extends Playable
 
-
 @onready var cursor: CandleCursor = %CandleCursor
 @onready var ancors: Array[Control] = [%Ancor1, %Ancor2, %Ancor3, %Ancor4]
 
 signal card_burned
 
+
 var cards : Array[Card] = []
 var _submitted := false
 
+var _populated : bool = false
+
 var _input_locked : bool:
-	get: return _submitted or not visible
+	get: return _submitted or not visible or not _populated
+
 
 func _ready():
 	print("CardBurner.gd: %s._ready()" % self.name)
 	super._ready()
 	%SkipButton.pressed.connect(card_burned.emit)
 
+
 func vanish():
 	super.vanish()
 	await Main.curtain.black() # Go straight to loading screen
@@ -27,7 +31,21 @@ func vanish():
 ## Main play coroutine - simple linear flow for burning a card
 func play() -> void:
 	print("CardBurner: Starting card burning sequence")
+	_populate()
 
+	# 4. Wait for player to burn a card (or skip)
+	print("CardBurner: Waiting for player to burn a card...")
+	await card_burned
+
+	# 5. Play vanish animation and wait for completion
+	print("CardBurner: Card burned, playing vanish animation")
+	$AnimationPlayer.play("vanish")
+	await $AnimationPlayer.animation_finished
+
+	print("CardBurner: Sequence complete")
+
+
+func _populate() -> void:
 	# 1. Get all card names from the board (excluding stickies which start with "p")
 	var card_names: Array[StringName] = []
 	for item_name in State.save_game.board_positions.keys():
@@ -51,18 +69,7 @@ func play() -> void:
 		print("CardBurner: Added card '%s' to anchor" % card.name)
 
 	print("CardBurner: ", len(cards))
-
-	# 4. Wait for player to burn a card (or skip)
-	print("CardBurner: Waiting for player to burn a card...")
-	await card_burned
-
-	# 5. Play vanish animation and wait for completion
-	print("CardBurner: Card burned, playing vanish animation")
-	$AnimationPlayer.play("vanish")
-	await $AnimationPlayer.animation_finished
-
-	print("CardBurner: Sequence complete")
-
+	_populated = true
 
 func handle_hover(card: Draggable) -> void:
 	if _input_locked: return
@@ -80,6 +87,7 @@ func handle_mouse_button(event: InputEventMouseButton, card: Card) -> void:
 	if event.button_index == MOUSE_BUTTON_MASK_LEFT and event.is_pressed() and not event.is_echo():
 		_submit(card)
 
+
 func _submit(card : Card):
 		_submitted = true
 		%ActionPrompt.visible = false
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/card_picker/card_picker.gd b/src/logic-scenes/card_picker/card_picker.gd
index 9aa22ed..375b1a0 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/card_picker/card_picker.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/card_picker/card_picker.gd
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ func pick(id: int) -> void:
 	await yield_to
 	if not card_anim_skipped: transition()
 
+
 func transition():
 	if selection_state == CARDS_SELECTED:
 		selection_state = TRANSITION
@@ -194,6 +195,7 @@ func transition():
 		cards_picked.emit(out_str)
 		selection_state = DONE
 
+
 func show_posts():
 	for player:AnimationPlayer in anim_players:
 		player.play("RESET")
@@ -207,6 +209,7 @@ func handle_hover(draggable: Draggable) -> void:
 	if draggable.mouse_over:
 		curr_selection_id = options.find(draggable)
 
+
 func handle_mouse_button(event: InputEventMouseButton, draggable: Draggable) -> void:
 	if _input_locked: return
 	
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd b/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd
index 95e080d..9b21eff 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/interactable/interactable.gd
@@ -181,7 +181,6 @@ func play_burner() -> void:
 func interact() -> void:
 	Scenes.player_enable.emit(false)
 
-
 	# we must wait for our own collapse, so it doesnt change its caption while the canvas shows
 	await collapse()
 	get_tree().call_group("interactables", "collapse")
diff --git a/src/logic-scenes/player_controller/player_controller.gd b/src/logic-scenes/player_controller/player_controller.gd
index a90b850..48816fd 100644
--- a/src/logic-scenes/player_controller/player_controller.gd
+++ b/src/logic-scenes/player_controller/player_controller.gd
@@ -268,8 +268,7 @@ var crouch_toggled: bool = false
 var crouch_start_time: float = 0
 
 func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
-	if not enabled:
-		return
+	if not enabled: return
 
 	if event is InputEventMouseMotion and Input.mouse_mode == Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED:
 		_handle_mouse_input(event)
diff --git a/src/singletons/main/main.gd b/src/singletons/main/main.gd
index dcfe8ca..67b5d6b 100644
--- a/src/singletons/main/main.gd
+++ b/src/singletons/main/main.gd
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func _load_room(scene_path: String) -> void:
 			ResourceLoader.THREAD_LOAD_LOADED:
 				var next_scene := ResourceLoader.load_threaded_get(scene_path) as PackedScene
 				State.room = next_scene.instantiate() as Room
-				get_tree().root.add_child(State.room)
+				%Stage.add_child(State.room)
 				await get_tree().process_frame
 				%Loading.stop()
 				return
diff --git a/src/singletons/main/main.tscn b/src/singletons/main/main.tscn
index 85d9274..de6301e 100644
--- a/src/singletons/main/main.tscn
+++ b/src/singletons/main/main.tscn
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ youth_room_path = "uid://b3b0gyvklqn50"
 transition_room_path = "uid://fgp3tbah7msy"
 adulthood_room_path = "uid://flisupth27th"
 
+[node name="Stage" type="Node" parent="."]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+
 [node name="Curtain" parent="." instance=ExtResource("2_nbcxq")]
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 z_index = -1
@@ -132,6 +135,7 @@ layout_mode = 1
 
 [node name="PauseMenu" type="Panel" parent="."]
 unique_name_in_owner = true
+process_mode = 2
 visible = false
 layout_mode = 1
 anchors_preset = 15
diff --git a/src/tests/input_order_tests.tscn b/src/tests/input_order_tests.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..058e696
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/input_order_tests.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://d7sqqr8pkydk"]
+
+[sub_resource type="GDScript" id="GDScript_m0plu"]
+script/source = "extends Node3D
+
+func _input(event : InputEvent):
+	prints(name, event)
+"
+
+[node name="InputOrderTests" type="Node"]
+
+[node name="Item1" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item2" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item3" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item4" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item5" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item6" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+process_priority = -10
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item7" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
+
+[node name="Item8" type="Node3D" parent="."]
+script = SubResource("GDScript_m0plu")
diff --git a/src/ui/menu_main/pause_menu.gd b/src/ui/menu_main/pause_menu.gd
index 139ffb5..b342436 100644
--- a/src/ui/menu_main/pause_menu.gd
+++ b/src/ui/menu_main/pause_menu.gd
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class_name PauseMenu extends Control
 
 # Called when the node enters the scene tree for the first time.
 func _ready() -> void:
-	resume_button.pressed.connect(func(): Main.state = Main.AppState.PLAY)
+	resume_button.pressed.connect(func(): disappear())
 	#to_menu_button.pressed.connect(_process)
 	to_desktop_button.pressed.connect(func(): get_tree().quit())
 	#to_settings_button.pressed.connect(_process)
@@ -19,10 +19,20 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 func _on_help_pressed():
 	OS.shell_open("https://findahelpline.com/")
 
+var last_mouse_mode: Input.MouseMode
 func appear():
+	get_tree().paused = true
 	show()
+	last_mouse_mode = Input.mouse_mode
+	Input.mouse_mode = Input.MOUSE_MODE_VISIBLE
 	%ResumeButton.grab_focus.call_deferred()
 
+
+func disappear():
+	hide()
+	Input.mouse_mode = last_mouse_mode
+	get_tree().paused = false
+
 func _unhandled_input(_event: InputEvent) -> void:
 	if not visible: return
 	get_viewport().set_input_as_handled()