diff --git a/scripts/droplet.gd b/scripts/droplet.gd
index 50d5286..447999c 100644
--- a/scripts/droplet.gd
+++ b/scripts/droplet.gd
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ class_name Droplet extends RigidBody2D
 
 # default mode: a bit sluggish, tendency to pile
 # bounce mode: doesn't settle down at all, but keeps flat surface
-# bounce_wip: wonky AF, probably due to extra compute
+# sinker: new droplet sinks, pile grows outward
 # stick mode: piles tightly, very calm
 # wip mode: interesting, the base stays together, and the new one jumps into place
-enum Mode { DEFAULT, BOUNCE, BOUNCE_WIP, STICK, WIP }
-const MODE: Mode = Mode.WIP
+enum Mode { DEFAULT, BOUNCE, SINKER, RICE, WIP }
+var MODE: Mode
 
 class DropletConfig:
 	var bounce
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ class DropletConfig:
 		elif mode == Mode.BOUNCE:
 			bounce = 0.5
 			friction = 0.1
-		elif mode == Mode.BOUNCE_WIP:
-			bounce = 0.5
+		elif mode == Mode.SINKER:
+			bounce = 0
 			friction = 0.1
-		elif mode == Mode.STICK:
+		elif mode == Mode.RICE:
 			bounce = 0.1
 			friction = 0.3
 		else: # WIP
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func _ready():
 	if not MODE == Mode.DEFAULT:
 		contact_monitor = true
 		max_contacts_reported = 10
-		body_entered.connect(_on_body_entered)
+		# body_entered.connect(_on_body_entered)
 
 func _physics_process(delta):
 	if MODE == Mode.WIP:
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func _physics_process(delta):
 
 func _integrate_forces(state):
 	# this is probably overkill since we are overriding the default physics engine
-	if MODE == Mode.STICK:
+	if MODE == Mode.RICE:
 		var v = state.linear_velocity
 		var contacts = state.get_contact_count()
 		for i in range(contacts):
@@ -71,18 +71,14 @@ func _integrate_forces(state):
 			state.linear_velocity = v # self bounce
 			if body is RigidBody2D: # other body
 				body.apply_central_impulse(normal * v.length() * (other_damp/contacts))
-
-func _on_body_entered(body):
-	if MODE == Mode.BOUNCE_WIP:
-		# trying to elicit stronger response from rigidBody that was struck
-		# ends up being kind of erratic
-		# at damp_factor .75: settles laterally, but erratic past half-full
-		# at damp_factor of .5, it's pretty calm, but then can't overfill (expected?)
-		var vel = get_linear_velocity()
-		const damp_factor = 0.7
-		var normal = (body.global_position - global_position).normalized()
-		# reflect velocity across collision direction
-		var bounced = vel.bounce(normal) # reflection
-		set_linear_velocity(bounced * damp_factor)
-		if body is RigidBody2D:
-			body.apply_central_impulse(-bounced * damp_factor)
+	elif MODE == Mode.SINKER:
+		# only contribute to the target rigid bodies, let source droplet handle it's own bounce
+		var v = state.linear_velocity
+		for i in range(state.get_contact_count()):
+			var body = state.get_contact_collider_object(i)
+			var normal = state.get_contact_local_normal(i)
+			if body is RigidBody2D:
+				var impact_speed = v.dot(-normal)
+				if impact_speed > 0:
+					var boost = normal * impact_speed * 1
+					body.apply_central_impulse(boost)
diff --git a/scripts/model.gd b/scripts/model.gd
index 6e1c380..02d0ee3 100644
--- a/scripts/model.gd
+++ b/scripts/model.gd
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 class_name Model extends Node2D
 
-const PERIOD: int = 20 # smaller makes droplets faster
 var CURRENT_TIME: int = 0
 var last_droplet: int = 0
+
+# tuning knobs
+const PERIOD: int = 10 # smaller makes droplets faster
 const DROP_PT_X = 450
+const DROP_PT_Y = 400
+const DROP_SIZE = 2
+const DROP_TYPE = Droplet.Mode.SINKER
 
 func _ready():
 	pass # Replace with function body.
@@ -15,6 +20,7 @@ func _process(delta: float):
 		# print("new droplet at time: ", str(CURRENT_TIME))
 		var droplet = preload("res://scenes/droplet.tscn").instantiate()
 		var shape = droplet.get_node("CollisionShape2D")
-		shape.shape.radius = 5
-		droplet.global_position = Vector2(DROP_PT_X, 100)
+		shape.shape.radius = DROP_SIZE
+		droplet.MODE = DROP_TYPE
+		droplet.global_position = Vector2(DROP_PT_X, DROP_PT_Y)
 		add_child(droplet)