src/logic-scenes/board/card-board.gd

@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ func add_card(card: Card, re_parent:bool = true):
 		add_child(card)
 	insert_area(dropzone, card)
 	card.position = _generate_random_position()
+	card.set_owner(self)
 	card.is_dragable = true
 
 ## Unified function to reclaim any sticky note to a panel
@@ -287,6 +288,7 @@ func reclaim_sticky_to_panel(sticky: StickyNote, animate: bool = true, prefer_pa
 	if not target_panel:
 		target_panel = StickyNotePanel.new()
 		sticky_note_container.add_child(target_panel, true, Node.INTERNAL_MODE_DISABLED)
+		target_panel.set_owner(self)
 	
 	# Attach sticky to panel (handles all state setup and animation)
 	target_panel.attatch_sticky_note(sticky, self, animate)
@@ -465,6 +467,9 @@ func insert_area(parent: Control, node: Area2D):
 
 	if not node in parent.get_children():
 		node.reparent(parent, false)  # Don't preserve global transform - we set positions explicitly
+		if node is StickyNote:
+			node.on_board = true
+		node.owner = self
 
 	if children.size() > 0:
 		children.erase(node)
@@ -473,6 +478,7 @@ func insert_area(parent: Control, node: Area2D):
 		parent.move_child(node, i)
 
 	if node is StickyNote:
+		node.attached_to = self
 		node.is_dragable = true
 
 ## Sorts all children in dropzone by their Y position
@@ -520,6 +526,8 @@ func handle_drop(draggable: Draggable) -> int:
 		# Handle sticky note drop
 		var sticky = draggable as StickyNote
 		insert_area(dropzone, sticky)
+		sticky.attached_to = self
+		sticky.on_board = true
 		sticky.is_dragable = true
 		# Reset visual state
 		sticky.rotation = 0.0
@@ -781,6 +789,7 @@ func initialise_from_save(savegame: SaveGame) -> void:
 
 		# Add to board first
 		add_child(card)
+		card.set_owner(self)
 		card.is_dragable = true
 		cards_by_name[card.name] = card
 		card.picked_random = savegame.board_randoms.has(card.card_id)
@@ -803,6 +812,7 @@ func initialise_from_save(savegame: SaveGame) -> void:
 			if cards_by_name.has(card_name):
 				# Must add sticky to scene tree BEFORE attach_sticky_note() can reparent it
 				add_child(sticky)
+				sticky.set_owner(self)
 				sticky.current_handle = self  # Required for input handling
 				cards_by_name[card_name].attach_sticky_note(sticky)
 				print_debug("    Sticky '%s' attached to card '%s'" % [sticky.name, card_name])
@@ -823,7 +833,10 @@ func initialise_from_save(savegame: SaveGame) -> void:
 
 			# Add to board first
 			add_child(sticky)
+			sticky.set_owner(self)
 			sticky.current_handle = self  # Required for input handling
+			sticky.on_board = true
+			sticky.attached_to = self
 			sticky.is_dragable = true
 
 			# Move to dropzone and set position (position must be set after adding to scene)

src/logic-scenes/board/card.gd

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ enum burned {
 var compatible_sticky_notes: Array[StickyNote] = []
 @export var evil_sticky_notes: Array[StickyNote] = []
 var own_sticky_notes: Array[StickyNote] = []
+var current_sticky_note: StickyNote = null
 var wiggle_pos: float = 0
 var wiggle_intensity: float = 0
 var noise: Noise = FastNoiseLite.new()
@@ -214,12 +215,11 @@ func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 func _on_mouse_entered() -> void:
 	if not Input.is_action_pressed("mouse_left"):
 		# Do nothing if mouse hovers over sticky_note (it has higher priority)
-		var sticky = get_attached_sticky_note()
+		if has_sticky_note_attached():
-		if sticky and sticky.highlighted:
+			if current_sticky_note and current_sticky_note.highlighted:
 				return
-		var board = _get_board()
+		if "handle_hover" in owner:
-		if board:
+			owner.handle_hover(self)
-			board.handle_hover(self)
 
 func _on_mouse_exited():
 	highlighted = false
@@ -228,10 +228,9 @@ func _on_mouse_exited():
 
 func _on_input_event(_viewport, event, _shape_idx):
 	if event is InputEventMouseButton and event.button_index == MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT and event.pressed:
-		var board = _get_board()
+		if "handle_mouse_button" in owner and highlighted:
-		if board and highlighted:
 			mouse_offset = get_viewport().get_mouse_position() - position
-			board.handle_mouse_button(event, self)
+			owner.handle_mouse_button(event, self)
 
 func _move_card():
 	if is_dragged:
@@ -250,7 +249,8 @@ func get_attached_sticky_note() -> StickyNote:
 func preview_sticky_note(sticky_note: StickyNote):
 	if not is_instance_valid(sticky_note):
 		return
-	# Keep sticky in current parent during preview (just move it visually)
+	sticky_note.reparent(self.get_parent())
+	sticky_note.attached_to = self
 	# Use a safe transform with validated position
 	var target_pos := global_position + sticky_note_position
 	if is_finite(target_pos.x) and is_finite(target_pos.y):
@@ -264,7 +264,11 @@ func attach_sticky_note(sticky_note: StickyNote) -> bool:
 
 	sticky_note.reparent(self)
 	sticky_note.position = sticky_note_position
+	sticky_note.on_board = false
 	sticky_note.is_dragable = false
+	current_sticky_note = sticky_note
+	#var former_parent = sticky_note.attached_to
+	sticky_note.attached_to = self
 
 	if name == "c_hit" and sticky_note.name == "c_effort" and Steamworks.has_initialized:
 		Steam.setAchievement("FIGHT_FOR_GOOD")
@@ -274,9 +278,11 @@ func attach_sticky_note(sticky_note: StickyNote) -> bool:
 
 func remove_sticky_note() -> StickyNote:
 	var former_child:StickyNote = get_attached_sticky_note()
-	if not former_child:
+	current_sticky_note = null
-		return null
 	former_child.reparent(get_parent())
+	former_child.owner = self.owner
+	former_child.on_board = true
+	former_child.attached_to = owner
 	return former_child
 
 func exchange_sticky_note_with(new_note: StickyNote) -> StickyNote:
@@ -286,16 +292,15 @@ func exchange_sticky_note_with(new_note: StickyNote) -> StickyNote:
 
 # This makes sure this node highlights itself when focus has left the sticky note.
 func check_hover():
-	# Re-trigger hover handling - parent will decide if this should be highlighted
+	# Re-trigger hover handling - owner will decide if this should be highlighted
 	_on_mouse_entered()
 
 func reclaim_sticky_note():
-	var sticky = get_attached_sticky_note()
+	current_sticky_note.on_board = false
-	if not sticky:
+	current_sticky_note.tween_transform_to(Transform2D(0, to_global(sticky_note_position)))
-		return
+	await current_sticky_note.transform_tween_finished
-	sticky.tween_transform_to(Transform2D(0, to_global(sticky_note_position)))
+	current_sticky_note.reparent(self)
-	await sticky.transform_tween_finished
+	current_sticky_note.owner = self.owner
-	sticky.reparent(self)
 
 
 # === DROP TARGET PATTERN IMPLEMENTATION ===
@@ -341,16 +346,4 @@ func get_last_exchanged_sticky() -> StickyNote:
 
 ## Cards always drop back to board dropzone
 func find_drop_target() -> Node:
-	return _get_board()
+	return owner if owner is CardBoard else get_parent()
-
-
-# === HELPER FUNCTIONS ===
-
-## Walks up the scene tree to find the CardBoard
-func _get_board() -> CardBoard:
-	var node = get_parent()
-	while node:
-		if node is CardBoard:
-			return node
-		node = node.get_parent()
-	return null

src/logic-scenes/board/physics-board.tscn

@@ -172,7 +172,6 @@ mouse_filter = 1
 
 [node name="ScrollContainer" type="ScrollContainer" parent="HBoxContainer"]
 clip_contents = false
-custom_minimum_size = Vector2(400, 0)
 layout_mode = 2
 horizontal_scroll_mode = 0
 

src/logic-scenes/board/sticky-note.gd

@@ -7,17 +7,14 @@ var parent_id
 var sibling: StickyNote
 var shift_tween: Tween
 var modulate_tween: Tween
-
+var attached_to: Node = null:
+	set(new_attatchement):
+		attached_to = new_attatchement
 # cannot be explicitly typed, as this can be both handled by picker and physics-board
 var current_handle: Node
 
 var position_locked: bool = false
 
-## Computed property: Returns the current attachment (parent node)
-## Replaces the need for tracking attached_to as state
-var attached_to: Node:
-	get: return get_parent()
-
 signal transform_tween_finished
 
 @onready var background_sprite: AnimatedSprite2D = %BackgroundSprite
@@ -66,13 +63,7 @@ var mouse_offset: Vector2
 
 @onready var diameter := 312.0
 @export_range(1.0, 10.0) var bounce_speed: float = 8
-
+var on_board: bool = false
-## Computed property: Check if on the board (dropzone)
-## Replaces on_board state tracking
-var on_board: bool:
-	get:
-		var parent = get_parent()
-		return parent != null and parent.name == "dropzone"
 
 func init(sticky_name: String = "sticky_note", card_id: StringName = "-1") -> void:
 	name = sticky_name
@@ -111,33 +102,27 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> void:
 	_move_sticky_note()
 
 func _on_mouse_entered():
-	if not Input.is_action_pressed("mouse_left") and current_handle and current_handle.has_method("handle_hover"):
+	if not Input.is_action_pressed("mouse_left") and "handle_hover" in current_handle:
 		current_handle.handle_hover(self)
 
 func _on_mouse_exited():
 	highlighted = false
 	# Let parent card re-check hover state if this sticky is attached to it
-	if is_sticky_note_attached():
+	if is_sticky_note_attached() and "check_hover" in attached_to:
-		var card = get_parent()
+		attached_to.check_hover()
-		if card and card.has_method("check_hover"):
-			card.check_hover()
 
 func _on_area_enter(area: Area2D):
 	# Handle sticky note panel gap creation
 	if area is StickyNote and is_sticky_note_in_panel() and not is_dragged:
-		var panel = get_parent() as StickyNotePanel
+		attached_to.create_gap()
-		if panel:
-			panel.create_gap()
 
 func _on_area_exit(area: Area2D):
 	# Handle sticky note panel gap collapse
 	if area is StickyNote and is_sticky_note_in_panel():
-		var panel = get_parent() as StickyNotePanel
+		attached_to.collapse_gap()
-		if panel:
-			panel.collapse_gap()
 
 func _on_input_event(_viewport, event, _shape_idx):
-	if event is InputEventMouseButton and current_handle and current_handle.has_method("handle_mouse_button"):
+	if event is InputEventMouseButton and "handle_mouse_button" in current_handle:
 		if (event.button_index == MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT and event.pressed) or event.button_index == MOUSE_BUTTON_RIGHT:
 			mouse_offset = get_viewport().get_mouse_position() - global_position
 			current_handle.handle_mouse_button(event, self)
@@ -147,12 +132,12 @@ func _move_sticky_note():
 		update_drag_position(get_viewport().get_mouse_position())
 
 func is_sticky_note_attached() -> bool:
-	var parent = get_parent()
+	# FIXME: this breaks if attatched to is previousely freed because GODOT IS FUCKING STUPID
-	return is_instance_valid(parent) and parent is Card
+	return attached_to is Card
 
 func is_sticky_note_in_panel() -> bool:
-	var parent = get_parent()
+	## fixme ~> see above
-	return is_instance_valid(parent) and parent is StickyNotePanel
+	return attached_to is StickyNotePanel
 
 var transform_tween: Tween
 
@@ -185,11 +170,11 @@ func start_drag(offset: Vector2) -> void:
 	
 	# If attached to a card, detach it first
 	if is_sticky_note_attached():
-		var card := get_parent() as Card
+		var card := attached_to as Card
 		if card and card.has_method("remove_sticky_note"):
 			card.remove_sticky_note()
 	
-	# If in panel, immediately reparent to board dropzone for dragging
+	# If in panel, immediately reparent to board for dragging
 	if _came_from_panel and current_handle:
 		var board := current_handle
 		var dropzone := board.get_node_or_null("HBoxContainer/dropzone")
@@ -197,6 +182,8 @@ func start_drag(offset: Vector2) -> void:
 			reparent(dropzone)
 		else:
 			reparent(board)
+		on_board = true
+		attached_to = board
 
 ## Find best drop target: Card > Panel > Board (in priority order)
 func find_drop_target() -> Node:

src/logic-scenes/board/sticky_note_panel.gd

@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@ func _ready():
 	custom_minimum_size = Vector2(custom_minimum_size.x, 0)
 
 var is_attatching: bool = false
-func attatch_sticky_note(attatchment: StickyNote, custom_handle: Node, animate:bool = true):
+func attatch_sticky_note(attatchment: StickyNote, custom_owner: Node, animate:bool = true):
 	is_attatching = true
 	attached_sticky_note = attatchment
-	attatchment.current_handle = custom_handle
+	attatchment.current_handle = custom_owner
+	attatchment.owner = custom_owner
 	
 	# Expand panel height
 	if animate:
@@ -33,10 +34,12 @@ func attatch_sticky_note(attatchment: StickyNote, custom_handle: Node, animate:b
 	# Position sticky
 	if animate:
 		await get_tree().process_frame
+		attatchment.on_board = false
 		attatchment.z_index = 125  # On top during animation
 		
 		# Reparent while keeping world position for smooth animation
 		attatchment.reparent(self, true)
+		attatchment.attached_to = self
 		
 		# Tween to anchor position in panel's coordinate space
 		var tween := create_tween().set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN_OUT).set_trans(Tween.TRANS_BACK)
@@ -52,6 +55,8 @@ func attatch_sticky_note(attatchment: StickyNote, custom_handle: Node, animate:b
 			attatchment.reparent(self)
 		else:
 			add_child(attatchment)
+		attatchment.on_board = false
+		attatchment.attached_to = self
 		attatchment.position = ancor_position
 		attatchment.rotation = 0.0
 		attatchment.scale = Vector2.ONE
@@ -65,8 +70,7 @@ func create_gap():
 	var next_id = min(self_id + 1, get_parent().get_child_count() - 1)
 	var previous_id = max(self_id - 1, 0)
 	
-	var board = _get_board()
+	if not (is_gapped or get_parent().get_child(next_id).attached_sticky_note.is_dragged or get_parent().get_child(previous_id).attached_sticky_note.is_dragged) and owner.current_context == CardBoard.DRAG:
-	if not (is_gapped or get_parent().get_child(next_id).attached_sticky_note.is_dragged or get_parent().get_child(previous_id).attached_sticky_note.is_dragged) and board and board.current_context == CardBoard.DRAG:
 		is_gapped = true
 		var height_tween: Tween = create_tween()
 		height_tween.tween_property(self, "custom_minimum_size", minimum_size*Vector2(1.0, 1.8), 0.1)
@@ -84,13 +88,11 @@ var invalid: bool = false
 func clear_if_empty():
 	if !is_empty(): return
 	invalid = true
-	# No need to manually clear attached_to - reparenting handles it
+	if attached_sticky_note.attached_to == self: attached_sticky_note.attached_to = null
 	var height_tween: Tween = create_tween()
 	height_tween.tween_property(self, "custom_minimum_size", Vector2.ZERO, 0.3)
 	await height_tween.finished
-	var board = _get_board()
+	owner.on_sticky_panel_cleared(get_parent().get_children().find(self))
-	if board:
-		board.on_sticky_panel_cleared(get_parent().get_children().find(self))
 	self.queue_free()
 
 func replace_sticky_note_with(new_sticky_note: StickyNote):
@@ -113,9 +115,7 @@ func handle_drop(draggable: StickyNote) -> int:
 		return Draggable.DropResult.REJECTED
 	
 	# Attach sticky to this panel with animation
-	var board = _get_board()
+	attatch_sticky_note(draggable, owner, true)
-	if board:
-		attatch_sticky_note(draggable, board, true)
 	
 	# Clean up other empty panels
 	for panel in get_parent().get_children():
@@ -123,7 +123,3 @@ func handle_drop(draggable: StickyNote) -> int:
 			panel.clear_if_empty()
 	
 	return Draggable.DropResult.ACCEPTED
-
-
-func _get_board() -> CardBoard:
-	return get_parent().get_parent() as CardBoard