diff --git a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/StagingAmbiance.cs b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/StagingAmbiance.cs
index d202c3173..66b3fdc1b 100644
--- a/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/StagingAmbiance.cs
+++ b/Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/StagingAmbiance.cs
@@ -40,24 +40,23 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             }
         }
 
-        void Update()
+void Update()
         {
             float t = Time.time;
 
+            // caustics slowly drift across the seabed
             if (_caustics != null)
                 _caustics.Rotate(0f, causticsSpinDegPerSec * Time.deltaTime, 0f, Space.World);
 
-            if (_beacon != null)
-                _beacon.intensity = _beaconBase * (1f
-                    + beaconFlickerAmount * Mathf.Sin(t * 7.3f)
-                    + beaconFlickerAmount * 0.5f * Mathf.Sin(t * 17.1f));
-
+            // readability law: STEADY = true light. The warm beacon is left unmodulated (steady) on purpose.
+            // FLICKER = false/counterfeit light -> the cold gloam pools gutter with organic Perlin flicker,
+            // so "ours vs the deep's" reads through cadence even with hue/value removed.
             if (_flora != null)
                 for (int i = 0; i < _flora.Length; i++)
                 {
-                    float phase = i * 1.7f;
-                    _flora[i].intensity = _floraBase[i]
-                        * (1f + floraPulseAmount * Mathf.Sin(t * floraPulseSpeed + phase));
+                    float phase = i * 3.1f;
+                    float flick = 0.55f + 0.45f * Mathf.PerlinNoise(t * floraPulseSpeed * 1.8f + phase, phase * 0.7f);
+                    _flora[i].intensity = _floraBase[i] * flick;
                 }
         }
     }