diff --git a/animate2.cpp b/animate2.cpp
index c056a07..66f0e47 100644
--- a/animate2.cpp
+++ b/animate2.cpp
@@ -70,8 +70,7 @@ namespace animate2 {
     }
   }
 
-  // replaces step
-  void Animate2::update_frame() {
+  void Animate2::update() {
     dbc::check(playing, "attempt to update animation that's not playing");
     dbc::check(sequence.frame_count == sequence.frames.size(), "frame_count doesn't match frame.size()");
 
@@ -106,10 +105,6 @@ namespace animate2 {
     dbc::check(sequence.current < sequence.frame_count, "onLoop fail: current frame out of frames.size()");
   }
 
-  void Animate2::update() {
-    update_frame();
-  }
-
   void Animate2::motion(sf::Sprite& sprite, sf::Vector2f pos, sf::Vector2f scale) {
     transform.lerp(sequence, pos, scale);
 
diff --git a/animate2.hpp b/animate2.hpp
index 33061d6..09f439d 100644
--- a/animate2.hpp
+++ b/animate2.hpp
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ namespace animate2 {
       void set_form(const std::string& form);
       void apply(sf::Sprite& sprite);
       void apply_effect(std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> effect);
-      void update_frame();
       void update();
       void motion(sf::Sprite& sprite, sf::Vector2f pos, sf::Vector2f scale);
       std::pair<int, double> commit();
diff --git a/assets/animate2.json b/assets/animate2.json
index 9b3124a..f767330 100644
--- a/assets/animate2.json
+++ b/assets/animate2.json
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
         "max_y": 0,
         "flipped": false,
         "ease_rate": 3.0,
-        "scaled": false,
+        "scaled": true,
         "toggled": false,
         "looped": true,
         "easing": "sine",
diff --git a/boss/fight.cpp b/boss/fight.cpp
index a7a5ead..46bb910 100644
--- a/boss/fight.cpp
+++ b/boss/fight.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace boss {
     using enum game::Event;
 
     switch(ev) {
-      case BOSS_START:
+      case COMBAT_START:
         $ui.status(L"PLAYER REQUESTS", L"COMMIT");
         $battle.ap_refresh();
         state(State::PLAYER_REQUESTS);
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace boss {
 
     switch(ev) {
       // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
-      case BOSS_START:
+      case BOSS_END:
         state(State::END);
         break;
       case COMBAT_START:
@@ -72,8 +72,6 @@ namespace boss {
           fmt::println("NO MORE ACTION!");
         }
         break;
-      case TICK:
-        break; // ignore tick
       default:
         break;
     }
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ namespace boss {
 
     switch(ev) {
       // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
-      case BOSS_START:
+      case BOSS_END:
         state(State::END);
         break;
       case COMBAT_START:
@@ -242,7 +240,7 @@ namespace boss {
         switch($router.scancode) {
           // REALLY? just go to state end or use another event
           case KEY::X:
-            event(game::Event::BOSS_START, {});
+            event(game::Event::BOSS_END, {});
             break;
           default:
             fmt::println("key press!");
diff --git a/scene.cpp b/scene.cpp
index 5c3f6b7..afbd1ca 100644
--- a/scene.cpp
+++ b/scene.cpp
@@ -18,11 +18,12 @@ namespace scene {
       float y = config["y"];
       bool flipped = config["flipped"];
 
-      // BUG: need to make animation optional
+      // BUG: put the .json file to load as a default/optional arg
       auto anim = animate2::load("./assets/animate2.json", sprite_name);
-      anim.transform.flipped = flipped;
       if(and_play) anim.play();
 
+      anim.transform.flipped = flipped;
+
       std::string cell = config["cell"];
       std::string name = config["name"];
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ namespace scene {
 
       sf::Text text(*$ui.$font, "", 60);
 
-      return {name, st, anim, cell, scale_x, scale_y, x, y, at_mid, flipped, nullptr, text};
+      return {name, st, anim, cell, {scale_x, scale_y}, {x, y}, at_mid, flipped, nullptr, text};
   }
 
   Engine::Engine(components::AnimatedScene& scene) :
@@ -64,12 +65,12 @@ namespace scene {
 
     for(auto& actor : $actors) {
       actor.pos = position_sprite(actor.st, actor.cell,
-          actor.scale_x, actor.scale_y, actor.at_mid, actor.x, actor.y);
+          actor.scale, actor.at_mid, actor.pos.x, actor.pos.y);
     }
 
     for(auto& fixture : $fixtures) {
       fixture.pos = position_sprite(fixture.st, fixture.cell,
-          fixture.scale_x, fixture.scale_y, fixture.at_mid, fixture.x, fixture.y);
+          fixture.scale, fixture.at_mid, fixture.pos.x, fixture.pos.y);
     }
   }
 
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ namespace scene {
   void Engine::attach_text(const std::string& actor, const std::string& text) {
     auto& element = actor_config(actor);
     element.text.setPosition(element.pos);
-    element.text.setScale({element.scale_x, element.scale_y});
+    element.text.setScale(element.scale);
     element.text.setFillColor(sf::Color::Red);
     element.text.setOutlineThickness(2.0f);
     element.text.setOutlineColor(sf::Color::Black);
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ namespace scene {
   void Engine::move_actor(const std::string& actor, const std::string& cell_name) {
     auto& config = actor_config(actor);
     config.cell = cell_name;
-    config.pos = position_sprite(config.st, config.cell, config.scale_x, config.scale_y, config.at_mid);
+    config.pos = position_sprite(config.st, config.cell, config.scale, config.at_mid);
   }
 
   void Engine::animate_actor(const std::string& actor) {
@@ -128,8 +129,8 @@ namespace scene {
     for(auto& fixture : $fixtures) {
       if(fixture.anim.playing) {
         fixture.anim.update();
+        fixture.anim.motion(*fixture.st.sprite, fixture.pos, fixture.scale);
         fixture.anim.apply(*fixture.st.sprite);
-        // REFACTOR:  fixture.anim.apply(*fixture.st.sprite);
       } else {
         fixture.effect = nullptr;
       }
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ namespace scene {
     for(auto& actor : $actors) {
       if(actor.anim.playing) {
         actor.anim.update();
+        actor.anim.motion(*actor.st.sprite, actor.pos, actor.scale);
         actor.anim.apply(*actor.st.sprite);
         // REFACTOR: actor.anim.apply(actor.text, actor.pos);
         // if(actor.effect != nullptr) actor.anim.apply_effect(actor.effect);
@@ -147,14 +149,14 @@ namespace scene {
     }
   }
 
-  sf::Vector2f Engine::position_sprite(textures::SpriteTexture& st, const std::string& cell_name, float scale_x, float scale_y, bool at_mid, float x_diff, float y_diff) {
+  sf::Vector2f Engine::position_sprite(textures::SpriteTexture& st, const std::string& cell_name, sf::Vector2f scale, bool at_mid, float x_diff, float y_diff) {
     auto& cell = $ui.cell_for(cell_name);
     float x = float(at_mid ? cell.mid_x : cell.x);
     float y = float(at_mid ? cell.mid_y : cell.y);
 
     sf::Vector2f pos{x + x_diff, y + y_diff};
     st.sprite->setPosition(pos);
-    st.sprite->setScale({scale_x, scale_y});
+    st.sprite->setScale(scale);
 
     return pos;
   }
diff --git a/scene.hpp b/scene.hpp
index 261ed46..1be1321 100644
--- a/scene.hpp
+++ b/scene.hpp
@@ -18,15 +18,12 @@ namespace scene {
     textures::SpriteTexture st;
     animate2::Animate2 anim;
     std::string cell;
-    float scale_x = 1.0f;
-    float scale_y = 1.0f;
-    float x = 0;
-    float y = 0;
+    sf::Vector2f scale{1.0f, 1.0f};
+    sf::Vector2f pos{0.0f, 0.0f};
     bool at_mid=false;
     bool flipped=false;
     std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> effect = nullptr;
     sf::Text text;
-    sf::Vector2f pos{0,0};
   };
 
   struct Engine {
@@ -47,7 +44,7 @@ namespace scene {
     void attach_text(const std::string& actor, const std::string& text);
     Element config_scene_element(nlohmann::json& config, bool and_play, bool duped);
 
-    sf::Vector2f position_sprite(textures::SpriteTexture& st, const std::string& cell_name, float scale_x, float scale_y, bool at_mid, float x_diff=0.0f, float y_diff=0.0f);
+    sf::Vector2f position_sprite(textures::SpriteTexture& st, const std::string& cell_name, sf::Vector2f scale, bool at_mid, float x_diff=0.0f, float y_diff=0.0f);
 
     void move_actor(const std::string& actor, const std::string& cell_name);
     void animate_actor(const std::string& actor);
diff --git a/tools/arena.cpp b/tools/arena.cpp
index 0678f83..c06e783 100644
--- a/tools/arena.cpp
+++ b/tools/arena.cpp
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ int main(int, char*[]) {
     main->$ui.$arena.tick();
     main->render(window);
 
-    if(main->handle_keyboard_mouse() ||
-      main->handle_world_events())
+    if(main->handle_keyboard_mouse() || main->handle_world_events())
     {
       return 0;
     }
+
     window.display();
   }