diff --git a/vacation.p8 b/vacation.p8
index 6d51f75..0aa3d6b 100644
--- a/vacation.p8
+++ b/vacation.p8
@@ -308,7 +308,6 @@ end
 txtbox = {
  x=0,
  y=0,
- cols={14, 10, 9, 8},
  f=0,
  interval=4,
  mode=0x81,
@@ -420,6 +419,49 @@ function scootbox:draw()
  return self.v:draw()
 end
 
+nrm_txt_pal = split"14,10,9,8"
+sfd_txt_pal = split"15,10,9,8"
+hlt_txt_pal = split"13,11,9,8"
+shd_txt_pal = split"12,12,1,0"
+
+function cparr(t)
+ local ret = {}
+ for i,x in ipairs(t) do
+  ret[i]=x
+ end
+ return ret
+end
+
+function zonk_txt(s, x, y, p, md, amt, frms)
+ md = md or 0x80
+ frms = frms or 0
+ amt = amt or 0
+ local itv = (frms>>2)&0x7ff
+ local v = view.of{
+  txtbox.new{
+   x=x+1,
+   y=y+1,
+   interval=itv,
+   cols=cparr(shd_txt_pal),
+   mode=md,
+   text=s,
+  },
+  txtbox.new{
+   x=x,
+   y=y,
+   interval=itv,
+   cols=cparr(p),
+   mode=md,
+   text=s,
+  },
+ }
+ return spring.new{
+  from=-amt,
+  frames=frms,
+  v=v,
+ }
+end
+
 -->8
 -- zonk renderer
 
@@ -496,7 +538,7 @@ fuzzy_stripey = {
  weight = 12,
  spacing = 7,
  gap = 32,
- colors = {5, 2, 1},
+ colors = split"3,5,2,1",
 }
 mknew(fuzzy_stripey, function(f)
  f.fuzz = fuzzy.new{
@@ -546,8 +588,10 @@ function cminskycirc(r,c)
  pset(63.5+r,63.5)
 end
 
+obvious_breather=split"2,3,4,3,2"
+bg_breather=split"1,2,4,2,1"
 breather = {
- colors = {1,2,4,2,1},
+ colors = obvious_breather,
  sep = 8,
  speed=240,
  f=0,
@@ -594,6 +638,39 @@ function breather:starting_reverse()
  return self.f + self.speed < self.sep * #self.colors
 end
 
+def_z_pal = {
+ [0]=0,129,1,2,4,5,6,7,1,5,6,140,2,13,7,7
+}
+def_14_fade = split"0,128,129,133,141,13,6,15,135,7"
+def_15_fade = split"0,128,129,133,141,13,13,6,6,15,15,136,135,7"
+def_13_fade = split"0,128,129,133,141,140,140,13,13,12"
+def_shd_fade = split"0,128,130,141,2"
+
+zonk_mode = {}
+mknew(zonk_mode, function(self)
+ self.stripes=fuzzy_stripey.new{}
+ self.brth=breather.new{}
+ -- test renderer
+ clear_alt_pal_bits()
+ pal()
+ pal(self.p or def_z_pal, 1)
+ self.brth.go = true
+ self.txtwnd = zonk_txt("tEXT tEST", 40, 60, nrm_txt_pal, 0x81, 32, 30)
+end)
+
+function zonk_mode:update()
+ self.stripes:update()
+ self.brth:update()
+ self.txtwnd:update()
+end
+
+function zonk_mode:draw()
+ cls(0)
+ self.stripes:draw()
+ self.brth:draw()
+ self.txtwnd:draw()
+end
+
 -->8
 -- awakener
 
@@ -936,7 +1013,8 @@ function toyphin:draw()
  spr(st.s[1+(((t()<<1)&0x0.FFFF*#st.s)&0x7FFF)], self.x + st.xo, y + st.yo, self.state.ws, self.state.hs)
 end
 
--->8 word target
+-->8
+-- arcade mode
 
 wordtarget = {
  x = 129,
@@ -973,9 +1051,6 @@ function wordtarget:draw()
  print(self.str, self.x, self.y, 0x100a)
 end
 
--->8
--- arcade mode
-
 -- palette use:
 -- 0: shallow sea blue (1)
 -- 1: black (for sprites)
@@ -1240,15 +1315,8 @@ function start_game()
 --   }}
 --  },
   {
-   f = function()
-    pal()
-    clear_alt_pal_bits()
-    return view.of{
-     bg.new(),
-     fuzzy_stripey.new{interval=7, tries=5},
-     breather.new{on=true},
-    }
-   end,
+   f =  zonk_mode.new,
+   params={},
   },
  }
  seq:next()