diff --git a/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/sea.js b/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/sea.js
index 51a8dd9..3865b5d 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/sea.js
+++ b/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/sea.js
@@ -269,7 +269,10 @@ var SeaDeal = (function () {
             if (!pos || !_seaHand[pos]) return;
 
             if (slot.classList.contains('sea-card-slot--focused')) {
-                // Second tap/click — open modal
+                // Second tap/click — dismiss selection glow, open modal
+                overlay.querySelectorAll('.sea-card-slot--focused').forEach(function (s) {
+                    s.classList.remove('sea-card-slot--focused');
+                });
                 var h = _seaHand[pos];
                 _viewingPos = pos;
                 _populate(h.card, h.isLevity);
diff --git a/src/static_src/scss/_card-deck.scss b/src/static_src/scss/_card-deck.scss
index 5adc783..d6508ad 100644
--- a/src/static_src/scss/_card-deck.scss
+++ b/src/static_src/scss/_card-deck.scss
@@ -835,28 +835,44 @@ $sea-card-h: 6.5rem;
 // Levity drawn card — secUser bg, priUser text + border (matches stage card polarity)
 .sea-card-slot--filled.sea-card-slot--levity {
     color: rgba(var(--priUser), 0.9);
-    background: rgba(var(--secUser), 0.85);
+    background: rgba(var(--secUser), 1);
     border-color: rgba(var(--priUser), 1);
 }
 // Gravity drawn card — priUser bg, secUser text + border
 .sea-card-slot--filled.sea-card-slot--gravity {
     color: rgba(var(--secUser), 0.9);
-    background: rgba(var(--priUser), 0.85);
+    background: rgba(var(--priUser), 1);
     border-color: rgba(var(--secUser), 0.6);
 }
 
 // Deposited — fully opaque by default; Cover/Cross are semi-transparent
-.sea-card-slot--visible { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 1s ease; }
+.sea-card-slot--visible { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 1s ease, box-shadow 0.15s ease; }
 
-.sea-pos-cover .sea-card-slot--visible { opacity: 0.3; }
-.sea-pos-cross  .sea-card-slot--visible { opacity: 0.15; }
+@keyframes sea-cover-appear {
+    0%   { opacity: 0; }
+    50%  { opacity: 1; }
+    100% { opacity: 0.3; }
+}
+
+@keyframes sea-cross-appear {
+    0%   { opacity: 0; }
+    50%  { opacity: 1; }
+    100% { opacity: 0.15; }
+}
+
+.sea-pos-cover .sea-card-slot--visible { opacity: 0.3;  animation: sea-cover-appear 2s ease; }
+.sea-pos-cross .sea-card-slot--visible  { opacity: 0.15; animation: sea-cross-appear 2s ease; }
 
 // Hover: reveal fully (snappy)
 .sea-pos-cover .sea-card-slot--visible:hover,
 .sea-pos-cross  .sea-card-slot--visible:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.15s ease; }
 
-// Focused (first tap): persist at opacity 1 until clicked outside
-.sea-card-slot--focused { opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.15s ease; }
+// Focused (first tap): persist at opacity 1 + selection glow until modal opens
+.sea-card-slot--focused {
+    opacity: 1 !important;
+    transition: opacity 0.15s ease, box-shadow 0.15s ease;
+    box-shadow: 0 0 2rem 0.75rem rgba(var(--ninUser), 0.35), 0 0 0.4rem rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85);
+}
 
 // Cover + Cross — absolutely overlaid on the Sig card in .sea-pos-center
 .sea-pos-center { position: relative; }