diff --git a/docs/nopaint-construct-audio-spec.md b/docs/nopaint-construct-audio-spec.md
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/nopaint-construct-audio-spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# No Paint Construct interaction/audio specification
+
+This document treats the preserved Construct export as evidence for No Paint's
+interaction grammar. The canonical source is
+`system/public/nopaint.art/data.json`: `project[6]` contains event sheets,
+`project[7]` contains the audio manifest, and object `189`, action `95` is
+Audio `PlayByName`. Runtime playback is implemented in
+`scripts/c3runtime.js` around lines 1897–1904.
+
+## Decision controls
+
+| Control phase | Canonical asset | Event-sheet evidence |
+|---|---|---|
+| No down | `generic - no button pressed (metal brush)` | Core / `CheckButtonsCore`, event 270 |
+| No held crossing | `generic - button rollover` | Core / `CheckButtonsCore`, event 278 |
+| No release | `generic - no button released (middle)` | Core / `No & Paint` / `No` |
+| Paint down | `generic - paint button pressed (psst)` | Core / `CheckButtonsCore`, event 281 |
+| Paint held crossing | `generic - button rollover` | Core / `CheckButtonsCore`, event 289 |
+| Paint release | `generic - paint button released (cha)` | Core / `No & Paint` / `Paint` |
+
+A pointer may go down on one decision, remain held, cross the boundary, and
+release on the other. Crossing announces the newly selected control; only the
+control under release performs the decision.
+
+## Pause, completion, and saving
+
+| Action | Canonical asset |
+|---|---|
+| Pause down | `generic - pressing pause` |
+| Enter pause | `generic - entering pause` |
+| Leave pause / Back | `generic - pause release` |
+| Generic control down/up | `generic - button press` / `generic - button release` |
+| Save down/up | `generic - save button pressed` / `generic - save button released` |
+| Save processing | `generic - processing save` (loop) |
+| Save complete | `generic - saved` |
+
+In No Paint 3.0, tapping the painting enters completion mode. Back returns to
+the decision loop; tapping the painting again is the same Back transition.
+Done invokes the existing AC prompt `done` command.
+
+## Brush and tool cues
+
+Primitive starts are `box - start`, `line - start`, `triangle - start`, and the
+historically misspelled `elipse - start`; their common release is
+`primitive - released`. Theme-on-start tools use their matching theme assets:
+Rainbow, Grid Worm, Banner, Quicksand, Light Bump, Contrast, Blur, Spin,
+Scroll (`scroll - theme 2021`), Mirror, Aura, Breathe, Vignette, Saturate,
+Sharpen, and Bubbles. Additional implemented native mappings are Softy
+`softy - landed`, Wafer `wafer - nibble appear`, Wash
+`wipe - individual wipe`, and Camera `camera - fx`.
+
+The original background loops are `no paint - theme` and
+`no paint - painting music`. They are not automatically enabled by the native
+piece; ambient music requires a separate product decision from interaction
+cues.
+
+## Source-map limits
+
+No `.map`, `.c3p`, or `sourceMappingURL` survives in the export. A conventional
+JavaScript source map could only improve Construct engine/custom-script symbol
+provenance. It cannot reconstruct declarative event-sheet meaning, which is
+encoded in `data.json` and referenced by runtime IDs.
+
+The useful map is therefore semantic: JSON path → sheet/group/function/event →
+condition/action → audio asset. Exact audited decision paths include:
+
+- No release: `project.6.39.1.44.8.0.7.3.6.0.1.0`
+- Paint release: `project.6.39.1.44.8.1.7.9.6.0.1.0`
+- No rollover: `project.6.39.1.50.8.1.8.2.8.0.8.0.7.0.6.0.1.0`
+- Paint rollover: `project.6.39.1.50.8.2.8.2.8.0.8.0.7.0.6.0.1.0`
+
+## Verification contract
+
+For every mapped cue:
+
+1. The asset exists and appears in the Construct audio manifest.
+2. AC preloads it from the same-origin `/nopaint.art/media/` archive mount.
+3. The browser journey records `path: "legacy"`; a synth fallback cannot make
+   the legacy-sample assertion pass.
+4. Held-pointer tests cover down, rollover, release, and the resulting decision.
+5. Assets under `media/unused - ...` are noncanonical unless new evidence says
+   otherwise.
diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/nopaint.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/nopaint.mjs
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/nopaint.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/nopaint.mjs
@@ -32,11 +32,36 @@ const cueSamples = new Map();
 let cueEvents = [];
 
 const LEGACY_CUES = Object.freeze({
+  "no-down": "generic - no button pressed (metal brush).webm",
   no: "generic - no button released (middle).webm",
+  "paint-down": "generic - paint button pressed (psst).webm",
   paint: "generic - paint button released (cha).webm",
-  back: "generic - cancel.webm",
-  done: "generic - saved.webm",
+  rollover: "generic - button rollover.webm",
+  "button-down": "generic - button press.webm",
+  back: "generic - pause release.webm",
+  "done-down": "generic - save button pressed.webm",
+  done: "generic - save button released.webm",
+  "pause-in": "generic - entering pause.webm",
+  "pause-out": "generic - pause release.webm",
+  "primitive-release": "primitive - released.webm",
+});
+
+const BRUSH_CUES = Object.freeze({
+  rect: "box - start.webm",
+  oval: "elipse - start.webm",
+  line: "line - start.webm",
+  softy: "softy - landed.webm",
+  bubbles: "bubbles - theme.webm",
+  "grid-worm": "grid worm - theme.webm",
+  walker: "common - jitter.webm",
+  banner: "banner - theme.webm",
+  wafer: "wafer - nibble appear.webm",
+  wipe: "wipe - individual wipe.webm",
+  camera: "camera - fx.webm",
 });
+
+const brushCueSamples = new Map();
+let brushCueProposal = 0;
 
 function playCue(api, name) {
   const fallback = () => api.sound?.synth?.({
@@ -55,6 +80,16 @@ return api.sound.play(sample, { volume: 0.72 });
   }
   cueEvents.push({ name, path: "synth" });
   return fallback();
+}
+
+function playBrushCue(api, kind) {
+  if (brushCueProposal === proposalNumber) return;
+  const sample = brushCueSamples.get(kind);
+  if (!sample || !api.sound?.play) return;
+  brushCueProposal = proposalNumber;
+  cueEvents.push({ name: `brush:${kind}`, path: "legacy" });
+  api.sound.play(sample, { volume: 0.48 });
+  publishTestState();
 }
 
 function initialNavigationURL() {
@@ -218,6 +253,7 @@ );
   proposalNumber += 1;
   proposalFrame = 0;
   transition("proposing");
+  playBrushCue(api, proposal.kind);
   api.system.nopaint.needsPresent = true;
   api.needsPaint();
 }
@@ -301,6 +337,9 @@
 function commitProposal(api) {
   if (loopState !== "proposing" && loopState !== "paused") return;
   playCue(api, "paint");
+  if (["rect", "oval", "line"].includes(proposal?.kind)) {
+    playCue(api, "primitive-release");
+  }
   transition("committing");
   recordDecision(api, "paint");
 
@@ -316,10 +355,13 @@ chooseProposal(api);
   publishTestState();
 }
 
-function togglePaused({ needsPaint }) {
+function togglePaused(api) {
+  const { needsPaint } = api;
   if (loopState === "paused") {
+    playCue(api, "pause-out");
     transition(stateBeforePause);
   } else if (loopState === "proposing") {
+    playCue(api, "pause-in");
     stateBeforePause = loopState;
     transition("paused");
   }
@@ -370,6 +412,7 @@ finishMode,
     doneCount,
     audio: {
       ready: [...cueSamples.keys()],
+      brushReady: [...brushCueSamples.keys()],
       events: cueEvents.map((event) => ({ ...event })),
     },
     lastDownload,
@@ -412,6 +455,7 @@ if (configuredSeed === sessionSeed) return;
       sessionSeed = configuredSeed;
       random = seededRandom(sessionSeed);
       proposalNumber = 0;
+      brushCueProposal = 0;
       clearProposal(testApi);
       chooseProposal(testApi);
       publishTestState();
@@ -447,6 +491,7 @@ saveCount = 0;
   finishMode = false;
   doneCount = 0;
   cueEvents = [];
+  brushCueProposal = 0;
   lastDownload = null;
   archiveOrigin = archiveId ? {
     type: "nopaint-archive",
@@ -482,6 +527,15 @@ for (const [name, filename] of Object.entries(LEGACY_CUES)) {
       net.preload(`/nopaint.art/media/${filename}`)
         .then((sample) => cueSamples.set(name, sample))
         .catch(() => {}); // playCue supplies an immediate native synth fallback.
+    }
+    for (const [kind, filename] of Object.entries(BRUSH_CUES)) {
+      net.preload(`/nopaint.art/media/${filename}`)
+        .then((sample) => {
+          brushCueSamples.set(kind, sample);
+          if (proposal?.kind === kind) playBrushCue(testApi, kind);
+          publishTestState();
+        })
+        .catch(() => {});
     }
   }
 
@@ -696,12 +750,18 @@ publishTestState();
   };
 
   if (finishMode) {
-    backButton.btn.act(e, leaveFinishMode);
-    doneButton.btn.act(e, () => {
-      playCue($, "done");
-      doneCount += 1;
-      publishTestState();
-      if (!initialNavigationURL()?.searchParams.has("test")) $.jump("done");
+    backButton.btn.act(e, {
+      down: () => playCue($, "button-down"),
+      push: leaveFinishMode,
+    });
+    doneButton.btn.act(e, {
+      down: () => playCue($, "done-down"),
+      push: () => {
+        playCue($, "done");
+        doneCount += 1;
+        publishTestState();
+        if (!initialNavigationURL()?.searchParams.has("test")) $.jump("done");
+      },
     });
     const stage = interfaceLayout($.screen).stage;
     if (
@@ -712,8 +772,18 @@ ) leaveFinishMode();
     return;
   }
 
-  noButton.btn.act(e, () => discardProposal($));
-  paintButton.btn.act(e, () => commitProposal($));
+  noButton.btn.act(e, {
+    down: () => playCue($, "no-down"),
+    rollover: () => playCue($, "rollover"),
+    cancel: () => playCue($, "back"),
+    push: () => discardProposal($),
+  });
+  paintButton.btn.act(e, {
+    down: () => playCue($, "paint-down"),
+    rollover: () => playCue($, "rollover"),
+    cancel: () => playCue($, "back"),
+    push: () => commitProposal($),
+  });
   const stage = interfaceLayout($.screen).stage;
   if (
     e.is("lift:1") &&
diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs
@@ -9132,8 +9132,11 @@ rejection(reject);
           return;
         }
 
+        preloadPromises[path] = { resolve, reject };
+        // Register the receiver before asking BIOS to load. BIOS deliberately
+        // acknowledges an HTMLAudioElement immediately, so sending first can
+        // race the reply and leave this promise pending forever.
         send({ type: "sfx:load", content: path });
-        preloadPromises[path] = { resolve, reject };
 
         options.signal?.addEventListener("abort", () => {
           rejection(reject);
diff --git a/tests/browser/nopaint-journey.test.mjs b/tests/browser/nopaint-journey.test.mjs
--- a/tests/browser/nopaint-journey.test.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/nopaint-journey.test.mjs
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@ { timeout: 20000 },
       );
       await ac.wait(500);
     }
+    try {
+      await ac.page.waitForFunction(
+        () => window.__acNoPaintTest?.()?.audio?.events?.some(
+          ({ name, path }) => name === "brush:banner" && path === "legacy",
+        ),
+        { timeout: 15000 },
+      );
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw new Error(`${error.message}; audio=${JSON.stringify((await ac.nopaintState())?.audio)}`);
+    }
     const state = await ac.nopaintState();
     await receipt("01-first-proposal");
     if (!state) {
@@ -50,6 +60,10 @@ expect(state?.state === "proposing", `state is proposing (got ${state?.state})`);
     expect(state?.proposalNumber === 1, "first proposal is numbered 1");
     expect(state?.operation === "banner", `seed begins with Banner, not Camera (got ${state?.operation})`);
     expect(state?.ready === true, "proposal buffer reports ready");
+    expect(
+      state?.audio?.events?.some(({ name, path }) => name === "brush:banner" && path === "legacy"),
+      "the proposal starts its recovered Banner theme",
+    );
     expect(
       [state?.controls?.no, state?.controls?.paint]
         .every((box) => box && box.w > 0 && box.h > 0),
@@ -133,8 +147,9 @@ expect(
       after?.paintingFingerprint === before?.paintingFingerprint,
       "No leaves the accepted painting unchanged",
     );
-    expect(after?.audio?.events?.at(-1)?.name === "no", "No emits its interaction cue");
-    expect(after?.audio?.events?.at(-1)?.path === "legacy", "No uses the recovered Construct sample");
+    const noCue = after?.audio?.events?.findLast(({ name }) => name === "no");
+    expect(Boolean(noCue), "No emits its interaction cue");
+    expect(noCue?.path === "legacy", "No uses the recovered Construct sample");
   });
 
   await scenario("Paint commits and persists the proposal score", async (expect) => {
@@ -148,8 +163,39 @@ expect(
       after?.paintingFingerprint !== before?.paintingFingerprint,
       "Paint changes the accepted painting",
     );
-    expect(after?.audio?.events?.at(-1)?.name === "paint", "Paint emits its interaction cue");
-    expect(after?.audio?.events?.at(-1)?.path === "legacy", "Paint uses the recovered Construct sample");
+    const paintCue = after?.audio?.events?.findLast(({ name }) => name === "paint");
+    expect(Boolean(paintCue), "Paint emits its interaction cue");
+    expect(paintCue?.path === "legacy", "Paint uses the recovered Construct sample");
+  });
+
+  await scenario("A held pointer can slide from No to Paint before release", async (expect) => {
+    const before = await ac.nopaintState();
+    const rect = await ac.page.evaluate(() => Array.from(document.querySelectorAll("canvas"))
+      .map((canvas) => {
+        const box = canvas.getBoundingClientRect();
+        return { x: box.x, y: box.y, width: box.width, height: box.height };
+      })
+      .filter((box) => box.width > 0 && box.height > 0)
+      .sort((a, b) => b.width * b.height - a.width * a.height)[0]);
+    const screen = before.layout.screenResolution;
+    const point = (box) => ({
+      x: rect.x + (box.x + box.w / 2) * rect.width / screen.width,
+      y: rect.y + (box.y + box.h / 2) * rect.height / screen.height,
+    });
+    const no = point(before.controls.no);
+    const paint = point(before.controls.paint);
+    await ac.page.mouse.move(no.x, no.y);
+    await ac.page.mouse.down();
+    await ac.page.mouse.move(paint.x, paint.y, { steps: 12 });
+    await ac.page.mouse.up();
+    await ac.wait(250);
+    const after = await ac.nopaintState();
+    expect(after?.proposalNumber === before.proposalNumber + 1, "release chooses the slid-to button");
+    expect(after?.decisions?.at(-1)?.decision === "paint", "sliding No → Paint commits Paint");
+    const recentCues = after?.audio?.events?.slice(-6).map(({ name }) => name) || [];
+    expect(recentCues.includes("no-down"), "hold begins with the No press cue");
+    expect(recentCues.includes("paint-down") || recentCues.includes("rollover"), "crossing announces Paint");
+    expect(recentCues.includes("paint"), "release emits the Paint cue before the next brush theme");
   });
 
   await scenario("Pause freezes and resumes the live proposal", async (expect) => {