diff --git a/resources/config2/npcs.json b/resources/config2/npcs.json
index 291d783..39c26e7 100644
--- a/resources/config2/npcs.json
+++ b/resources/config2/npcs.json
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
         "modelCorrectionRotX": 0.0,
         "modelCorrectionRotY": 180.0,
         "modelCorrectionRotZ": 0.0,
+        "interactionRadius": 2.0,
         "gift": {
           "id": "guard_token",
           "name": "Guard's Token",
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@
         "modelCorrectionRotX": 0.0,
         "modelCorrectionRotY": 0.0,
         "modelCorrectionRotZ": 0.0,
+        "interactionRadius": 1.0,
         "gift": {
           "id": "ghost_essence",
           "name": "Ghost's Essence",
diff --git a/resources/config2/ui_inventory.json b/resources/config2/ui_inventory.json
index 5f2a167..80f9500 100644
--- a/resources/config2/ui_inventory.json
+++ b/resources/config2/ui_inventory.json
@@ -26,18 +26,25 @@
       {
         "type": "FrameLayout",
         "name": "inventory_items_panel",
-        "x": 100.0,
+        "x": 50.0,
         "y": 150.0,
-        "width": 500.0,
-        "height": 600.0,
+        "width": 250.0,
+        "height": 300.0,
         "children": [
+          {
+            "type": "StaticImage",
+            "name": "panel_background",
+            "width": 200,
+            "height": 400,
+            "texture": "resources/sand2.png"
+          },
           {
             "type": "TextView",
             "name": "inventory_items_text",
-            "x": 100.0,
-            "y": 30.0,
-            "width": 460.0,
-            "height": 450.0,
+            "x": -100.0,
+            "y": -100.0,
+            "width": 250.0,
+            "height": 300.0,
             "text": "Inventory (Empty)",
             "fontSize": 18,
             "fontPath": "resources/fonts/DroidSans.ttf",
@@ -47,8 +54,8 @@
           {
             "type": "TextButton",
             "name": "close_inventory_button",
-            "x": 200.0,
-            "y": 20.0,
+            "x": 165.0,
+            "y": 0.0,
             "width": 40.0,
             "height": 40.0,
             "text": "X",
diff --git a/resources/dialogue/sample_dialogues.json b/resources/dialogue/sample_dialogues.json
index 7c5f018..3e5c7e0 100644
--- a/resources/dialogue/sample_dialogues.json
+++ b/resources/dialogue/sample_dialogues.json
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@
           "speaker": "Ghost",
           "portrait": "resources/ghost_avatar.png",
           "text": "Some memories never fade.",
-          "durationMs": 2600
+          "durationMs": 2600,
+          "background": "resources/loading.png"
         }
       ]
     }
diff --git a/resources/start.lua b/resources/start.lua
index 6135227..168b3fe 100644
--- a/resources/start.lua
+++ b/resources/start.lua
@@ -32,7 +32,12 @@ end
 
 function on_npc_interact(npc_index)
     print("[Lua] NPC interaction! Index: " .. tostring(npc_index))
-    game_api.receive_npc_gift(npc_index)
+    
+    if npc_index == 1 then
+        game_api.start_dialogue("test_line_dialogue")
+    else
+        game_api.receive_npc_gift(npc_index)
+    end
 end
 
 print("Lua script loaded successfully!")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Character.h b/src/Character.h
index 578fd0a..52d0f55 100644
--- a/src/Character.h
+++ b/src/Character.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ public:
     std::string npcName;
     bool giftReceived = false;
 
+
     int battle_state = 0;
     bool resetAnim = false;
     int attack = 0;
@@ -70,6 +71,9 @@ public:
     bool isPlayer = false;
     bool useGpuSkinning = true;
 
+    float interactionRadius = 0.0f;
+
+
 private:
     struct AnimationData {
         BoneSystem model;
diff --git a/src/Game.cpp b/src/Game.cpp
index b4ca16e..0b8b000 100644
--- a/src/Game.cpp
+++ b/src/Game.cpp
@@ -275,14 +275,14 @@ namespace ZL
 
 		dialogueSystem.init(renderer, CONST_ZIP_FILE);
 		dialogueSystem.loadDatabase("resources/dialogue/sample_dialogues.json");
-		dialogueSystem.addTriggerZone({
+		/*dialogueSystem.addTriggerZone({
 			"ghost_room_trigger",
 			"test_line_dialogue",
 			Eigen::Vector3f(0.0f, 0.0f, -8.5f),
 			2.0f,
 			true,
 			false
-		});
+		});*/
 
 		scriptEngine.init(this);
 
@@ -773,7 +773,11 @@ namespace ZL
 
 			lastTickCount = newTickCount;
 
-			if (player) player->update(delta);
+			//if (player) player->update(delta);
+			if (player) {
+				player->update(delta);
+				dialogueSystem.update(static_cast<int>(delta), player->position);
+			}
 			for (auto& npc : npcs) npc->update(delta);
 
 			
@@ -806,9 +810,9 @@ namespace ZL
 				}
 
 				//for (auto& npc : npcs) npc->update(delta);
-				if (player) {
-					dialogueSystem.update(static_cast<int>(delta), player->position);
-				}
+				//if (player) {
+				//	dialogueSystem.update(static_cast<int>(delta), player->position);
+				//}
 			}
 
 			// Some AI stuff
@@ -904,6 +908,10 @@ namespace ZL
 						handleDown(ZL::UiManager::MOUSE_FINGER_ID, mx, my);
 
 						player->attackTarget = nullptr;
+						if (menuManager.uiManager.isUiInteractionForFinger(ZL::UiManager::MOUSE_FINGER_ID)) {
+							std::cout << "[CLICK] UI handled, skipping character movement" << std::endl;
+							continue;
+						}
 
 						// Calculate ray for picking
 						if (dialogueSystem.blocksGameplayInput()) {
@@ -948,22 +956,28 @@ namespace ZL
 							// Check if we clicked on an NPC
 							Character* clickedNpc = raycastNpcs(camPos, rayDir);
 							if (clickedNpc && player) {
-								int npcIndex = -1;
-								for (size_t i = 0; i < npcs.size(); ++i) {
-									if (npcs[i].get() == clickedNpc) {
-										npcIndex = static_cast<int>(i);
-										break;
+								float distance = (player->position - clickedNpc->position).norm();
+								if (distance <= clickedNpc->interactionRadius) {
+									int npcIndex = -1;
+									for (size_t i = 0; i < npcs.size(); ++i) {
+										if (npcs[i].get() == clickedNpc) {
+											npcIndex = static_cast<int>(i);
+											break;
+										}
+									}
+									if (npcIndex != -1) {
+										std::cout << "[CLICK] *** SUCCESS: Clicked on NPC index: " << npcIndex << " ***" << std::endl;
+										scriptEngine.callNpcInteractCallback(npcIndex);
+
+										if (clickedNpc->canAttack)
+										{
+											player->attackTarget = clickedNpc;
+										}
 									}
 								}
-								if (npcIndex != -1) {
-									std::cout << "[CLICK] *** SUCCESS: Clicked on NPC index: " << npcIndex << " ***" << std::endl;
-									scriptEngine.callNpcInteractCallback(npcIndex);
-
-									if (clickedNpc->canAttack)
-									{
-										player->attackTarget = clickedNpc;
-									}
-
+								else {
+									std::cout << "[CLICK] Too far from NPC (distance " << distance
+										<< " > " << clickedNpc->interactionRadius << ")" << std::endl;
 								}
 							}
 							else if (rayDir.y() < -0.001f && player) {
diff --git a/src/dialogue/DialogueDatabase.cpp b/src/dialogue/DialogueDatabase.cpp
index 77177a3..07f17b2 100644
--- a/src/dialogue/DialogueDatabase.cpp
+++ b/src/dialogue/DialogueDatabase.cpp
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ CutsceneLine DialogueDatabase::parseCutsceneLine(const json& j) {
 	line.text = j.value("text", "");
 	line.portrait = j.value("portrait", "");
 	line.sfx = j.value("sfx", "");
+	line.background = j.value("background", "");
 	line.durationMs = j.value("durationMs", 0);
 	line.waitForConfirm = j.value("waitForConfirm", false);
 	return line;
diff --git a/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.cpp b/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.cpp
index e7307a2..32fccf1 100644
--- a/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.cpp
+++ b/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.cpp
@@ -325,6 +325,7 @@ void DialogueRuntime::startCutscene(const std::string& cutsceneId, const std::st
 
 	activeCutscene = cutscene;
 	pendingNodeAfterCutscene = nextNodeAfterCutscene;
+	currentCutsceneBackground = cutscene->background;
 	mode = Mode::PlayingCutscene;
 	currentCutsceneLine = -1;
 	cutsceneTimerMs = 0;
@@ -363,12 +364,18 @@ void DialogueRuntime::refreshCutscenePresentation() {
 	}
 
 	const CutsceneLine& line = activeCutscene->lines[currentCutsceneLine];
+
+	 if (!line.background.empty()) {
+        currentCutsceneBackground = line.background;
+    }
+
 	presentation.mode = PresentationMode::Cutscene;
 	presentation.speaker = line.speaker;
 	presentation.fullText = line.text;
 	presentation.visibleText = line.text;
 	presentation.portraitPath = line.portrait;
-	presentation.backgroundPath = activeCutscene->background;
+	//presentation.backgroundPath = activeCutscene->background;
+	presentation.backgroundPath = currentCutsceneBackground;
 	presentation.choices.clear();
 	presentation.selectedChoice = 0;
 	presentation.revealCompleted = true;
diff --git a/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.h b/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.h
index f810834..031e9ae 100644
--- a/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.h
+++ b/src/dialogue/DialogueRuntime.h
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ private:
 	int currentCutsceneLine = -1;
 	int cutsceneTimerMs = 0;
 
+	std::string currentCutsceneBackground;
+
 	bool evaluateConditions(const std::vector<Condition>& conditions) const;
 	void applyEffects(const std::vector<Effect>& effects);
 
diff --git a/src/dialogue/DialogueTypes.h b/src/dialogue/DialogueTypes.h
index 76cd925..0b6bd8b 100644
--- a/src/dialogue/DialogueTypes.h
+++ b/src/dialogue/DialogueTypes.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ struct CutsceneLine {
 	std::string text;
 	std::string portrait;
 	std::string sfx;
+	std::string background;
 	int durationMs = 0;
 	bool waitForConfirm = false;
 };
diff --git a/src/items/GameObjectLoader.cpp b/src/items/GameObjectLoader.cpp
index e64701d..b19044b 100644
--- a/src/items/GameObjectLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/items/GameObjectLoader.cpp
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ namespace ZL {
 				data.id = item.value("id", "npc_unknown");
 				data.name = item.value("name", "Unknown NPC");
 				data.texturePath = item.value("texturePath", "");
+				data.interactionRadius = item.value("interactionRadius", 0.0f);
 				data.animationIdlePath = item.value("animationIdlePath", "");
 				data.animationWalkPath = item.value("animationWalkPath", "");
 
@@ -379,6 +380,7 @@ namespace ZL {
 			npc->rotationSpeed = npcData.rotationSpeed;
 			npc->modelScale = npcData.modelScale;
 			npc->position = Eigen::Vector3f(npcData.positionX, npcData.positionY, npcData.positionZ);
+			npc->interactionRadius = npcData.interactionRadius;
 
 			// Set NPC metadata
 			npc->npcId = npcData.id;
diff --git a/src/items/GameObjectLoader.h b/src/items/GameObjectLoader.h
index 575dd00..72be42d 100644
--- a/src/items/GameObjectLoader.h
+++ b/src/items/GameObjectLoader.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ namespace ZL {
 		float modelCorrectionRotY = 0.0f;
 		float modelCorrectionRotZ = 0.0f;
 		GiftData gift;
+		float interactionRadius = 0.0f;
 	};
 
 	struct LoadedGameObject {