:root {
  /* The seven moves that belong to the board */
  --flip-step: 110ms;          /* one flap, one character forward — the top half falls like gravity */
  --flip-stagger: 28ms;        /* delay between neighbouring tiles */
  --flip-settle: 140ms;        /* the small bounce when a flap lands */
  --flip-max-run: 14;          /* cap on flaps per tile so a row lands in ~1.5 s */
  --wake: 2000ms;              /* 1. the board powers on */
  --type-echo: 90ms;           /* 2. a typed letter reaches its tile */
  --headline-breath: 2800ms;   /* 3. the italic word changes */
  --silence-dark: 120ms;       /* 4. one letter goes dark */
  --silence-pause: 500ms;      /* 4. the pause before the neighbours */
  --light: 600ms;              /* 5. the row turns amber, the glow bleeds */
  --ticker-shrink: 400ms;      /* 6. board to strip */
  --count-up: 900ms;           /* 7. numbers count up */
  --ease-flip: cubic-bezier(.55,0,.85,.4);   /* the falling flap: slow release, fast landing */
  --ease-settle-flap: cubic-bezier(.2,.9,.3,1.3);
  --ease-settle: cubic-bezier(.3,0,.1,1);
  --grain-opacity: .07;
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  :root { --flip-step: 0ms; --flip-stagger: 0ms; --wake: 0ms; --count-up: 0ms; --headline-breath: 0ms; }
}