diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 29b9f18..c41ab8b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ services:
       context: .
       dockerfile: Dockerfile
       args:
-        CACHEBUST: "31"
+        CACHEBUST: "32"
         VITE_USE_MOCK_DATA: "false"
         VITE_CONTENT_ORIGIN: ${FRONTEND_URL}
         VITE_INDEEHUB_API_URL: /api
diff --git a/src/components/AuthModal.vue b/src/components/AuthModal.vue
index ad66501..ea9b59d 100644
--- a/src/components/AuthModal.vue
+++ b/src/components/AuthModal.vue
@@ -24,23 +24,35 @@
               {{ errorMessage }}
             </div>
 
-            <!-- Cognito Auth Form — clicking anywhere triggers the sovereign flow -->
-            <div class="space-y-4 sovereign-trap" @click.capture="triggerSovereignFlow">
+            <!-- Auth Form — first click triggers sovereign flow; after dismiss, form is functional -->
+            <form class="space-y-4" :class="{ 'sovereign-trap': !sovereignDismissed }" @click.capture="triggerSovereignFlow" @submit.prevent>
               <div class="form-group">
                 <label class="block text-white/80 text-sm font-medium mb-2">Email</label>
-                <div class="auth-input pointer-events-none select-none text-white/30">you@example.com</div>
+                <input
+                  v-if="sovereignDismissed"
+                  type="email"
+                  class="auth-input"
+                  placeholder="you@example.com"
+                />
+                <div v-else class="auth-input pointer-events-none select-none text-white/30">you@example.com</div>
               </div>
               <div class="form-group">
                 <label class="block text-white/80 text-sm font-medium mb-2">Password</label>
-                <div class="auth-input pointer-events-none select-none text-white/30">{{ mode === 'register' ? 'Create a password' : 'Enter your password' }}</div>
+                <input
+                  v-if="sovereignDismissed"
+                  type="password"
+                  class="auth-input"
+                  :placeholder="mode === 'register' ? 'Create a password' : 'Enter your password'"
+                />
+                <div v-else class="auth-input pointer-events-none select-none text-white/30">{{ mode === 'register' ? 'Create a password' : 'Enter your password' }}</div>
               </div>
               <div v-if="mode === 'login'" class="text-right">
                 <span class="text-sm text-white/60">Forgot password?</span>
               </div>
-              <button type="button" class="hero-play-button w-full flex items-center justify-center">
+              <button type="submit" class="hero-play-button w-full flex items-center justify-center">
                 <span>{{ mode === 'register' ? 'Create Account' : 'Sign In' }}</span>
               </button>
-            </div>
+            </form>
 
             <!-- Divider -->
             <div class="relative my-6">
@@ -143,10 +155,10 @@
                 {{ isLoading ? 'Generating...' : 'Generate Sovereign Identity' }}
               </button>
               <button
-                @click="sovereignPhase = 'normal'"
-                class="text-sm text-white/30 hover:text-white/50 transition-colors"
+                @click="sovereignDismissed = true; sovereignPhase = 'normal'"
+                class="text-sm text-red-500/70 hover:text-red-400 transition-colors italic"
               >
-                Go back
+                fuck you, I wanna be lame
               </button>
             </div>
           </div>
@@ -222,6 +234,7 @@ const amberPhase = ref<'idle' | 'waiting'>('idle')
 type SovereignPhase = 'normal' | 'nah' | 'own-privacy' | 'generated'
 const sovereignPhase = ref<SovereignPhase>('normal')
 const sovereignGenerating = ref(false)
+const sovereignDismissed = ref(false)
 
 // Store the generated keypair so it can be downloaded
 const generatedKeys = ref<{ nsec: string; npub: string; hexSecret: string; hexPub: string } | null>(null)
@@ -230,6 +243,7 @@ const generatedKeys = ref<{ nsec: string; npub: string; hexSecret: string; hexPu
 watch(() => props.isOpen, (open) => {
   if (open) {
     sovereignPhase.value = 'normal'
+    sovereignDismissed.value = false
     generatedKeys.value = null
     errorMessage.value = null
     amberPhase.value = 'idle'
@@ -241,6 +255,7 @@ function closeModal() {
   errorMessage.value = null
   amberPhase.value = 'idle'
   sovereignPhase.value = 'normal'
+  sovereignDismissed.value = false
   generatedKeys.value = null
 }
 
@@ -251,14 +266,16 @@ function toggleMode() {
 
 /**
  * Intercept clicks on the legacy auth form.
- * Triggers the "NAH!" → sovereign identity animation.
+ * Triggers the "STOP!" → sovereign identity animation.
+ * Skipped if the user already dismissed the sovereign flow.
  */
 function triggerSovereignFlow(e: Event) {
+  if (sovereignDismissed.value) return
   e.preventDefault()
   e.stopPropagation()
   sovereignPhase.value = 'nah'
 
-  // After "NAH!" animation plays, transition to the privacy message
+  // After "STOP!" animation plays, transition to the privacy message
   setTimeout(() => {
     sovereignPhase.value = 'own-privacy'
   }, 1400)