diff --git a/scripts/hand.gd b/scripts/hand.gd
index 1153f90..21dc2d0 100644
--- a/scripts/hand.gd
+++ b/scripts/hand.gd
@@ -1,23 +1,57 @@
 extends CanvasLayer
-## 2-slot hand + universal charge pool + card-time dilation.
+## 2-slot hand + universal charge pool + card-time control.
 ##
 ## Canon mapping (CONCEPT.md § loop stack / § tag grammar): the build
 ## generates charges (auto-fire hits feed the pool — tightest
-## build<->hand coupling), opening the hand dilates or freezes time
+## build<->hand coupling), opening the hand stops or dilates time
 ## (flow -> freeze -> think -> release), charges are one universal
-## currency. The freeze/dilate scale is THE exposed playtest knob:
-## [ and ] step it live, 0.0 = full freeze.
+## currency.
 ##
-## Greybox shortcut, deliberate: the two cards are entries in CARDS
+## Two time modes, A/B-flippable live with M (playtest variant,
+## operator-directed 2026-08-07 — canon ratification pending verdict):
+##
+## - METER (default): a Freeze charge that grows while the hand is
+##   closed and drains while open. Its level maps to bands, best to
+##   worst: FROZEN (true pause) -> THAW (slow-mo ramping back to full
+##   speed as it drains) -> REALTIME (hand open, world at full speed)
+##   -> UNAVAILABLE (empty: the hand will not open at all). Opening
+##   with a full meter buys the whole ladder; opening early buys only
+##   the lower bands. Prices freeze-scouting (anti-dominant-strategy)
+##   and adds temporal triangularity to chains.
+## - TOGGLE: unlimited freeze/dilation on Space, the original variant.
+##   [ and ] step its dilation knob (0 = full freeze).
+##
+## Freeze uses SceneTree.paused, never Engine.time_scale = 0: probed
+## on 4.7 headless — time_scale 0 still steps physics with delta 0,
+## so delta-independent logic kept firing while nominally frozen.
+##
+## Greybox shortcut, deliberate: the two cards are entries in `cards`
 ## with a method each, not card resources — structured cards arrive
 ## with the belt (post-greybox, parked).
 
+@export var meter_mode := true
 @export var dilation_scale := 0.0
 @export var dilation_step := 0.05
 @export var dilation_max := 0.3
 @export var hits_per_charge := 4
 @export var max_charges := 5
 
+@export_group("Freeze meter")
+## Seconds of open-hand time a full meter holds.
+@export var meter_max := 3.0
+## Meter seconds regained per real second while the hand is closed.
+@export var regen_rate := 0.4
+## Meter seconds spent per real second while the hand is open.
+@export var drain_rate := 1.0
+## Band boundaries as fractions of the full meter, ordered:
+## >= band_thaw: FROZEN · >= band_realtime: THAW · >= band_unavailable:
+## REALTIME · below: hand will not open.
+@export var band_thaw := 0.45
+@export var band_realtime := 0.18
+@export var band_unavailable := 0.1
+## Slowest thaw speed (time_scale at the top of the thaw band).
+@export var thaw_min_scale := 0.05
+
 @export_group("KINETIC card")
 @export var kinetic_cost := 1
 @export var kinetic_radius := 160.0
@@ -33,7 +67,9 @@ const FX_RING := preload("res://scripts/fx_ring.gd")
 
 var charges := 0
 var hand_open := false
+var meter := 0.0
 var _hit_progress := 0
+var _last_ms := 0
 
 # Slot order is the hand: Q = slot 1, E = slot 2.
 var cards: Array[Dictionary] = []
@@ -44,6 +80,8 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	# The hand must keep processing (and receiving input) while the
 	# world is paused for a full freeze.
 	process_mode = Node.PROCESS_MODE_ALWAYS
+	meter = meter_max
+	_last_ms = Time.get_ticks_msec()
 	cards = [
 		{"name": "KINETIC", "hue": Color(0.75, 0.85, 0.95), "cost_of": func() -> int: return kinetic_cost, "play": _play_kinetic},
 		{"name": "HEAT", "hue": Color(0.95, 0.55, 0.2), "cost_of": func() -> int: return heat_cost, "play": _play_heat},
@@ -57,24 +95,49 @@ func _exit_tree() -> void:
 
 
 func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	# The meter runs on the wall clock: _delta is scaled by the very
+	# time_scale this node is animating (and pause zeroes physics),
+	# so scaled delta would freeze the meter along with the world.
+	var now := Time.get_ticks_msec()
+	var real_dt := clampf(float(now - _last_ms) / 1000.0, 0.0, 0.1)
+	_last_ms = now
+
+	if meter_mode:
+		if hand_open:
+			meter = maxf(meter - drain_rate * real_dt, 0.0)
+			if meter <= 0.0:
+				_set_open(false)
+		else:
+			meter = minf(meter + regen_rate * real_dt, meter_max)
+
 	if Input.is_action_just_pressed("hand_toggle"):
-		_set_open(not hand_open)
+		if hand_open:
+			_set_open(false)
+		elif can_open():
+			_set_open(true)
 	if hand_open:
 		if Input.is_action_just_pressed("card_1"):
 			try_play(0)
 		if Input.is_action_just_pressed("card_2"):
 			try_play(1)
+		if meter_mode:
+			# Bands shift as the meter drains under an open hand.
+			_apply_time_state()
 	$HUD.queue_redraw()
 
 
 func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 	if event is InputEventKey and event.pressed and not event.echo:
-		if event.physical_keycode == KEY_BRACKETLEFT:
-			dilation_scale = maxf(0.0, dilation_scale - dilation_step)
-			_apply_time_scale()
-		elif event.physical_keycode == KEY_BRACKETRIGHT:
-			dilation_scale = minf(dilation_max, dilation_scale + dilation_step)
-			_apply_time_scale()
+		match event.physical_keycode:
+			KEY_BRACKETLEFT:
+				dilation_scale = maxf(0.0, dilation_scale - dilation_step)
+				_apply_time_state()
+			KEY_BRACKETRIGHT:
+				dilation_scale = minf(dilation_max, dilation_scale + dilation_step)
+				_apply_time_state()
+			KEY_M:
+				meter_mode = not meter_mode
+				_apply_time_state()
 
 
 func on_build_hit() -> void:
@@ -84,6 +147,14 @@ func on_build_hit() -> void:
 		charges = mini(charges + 1, max_charges)
 
 
+func can_open() -> bool:
+	return not meter_mode or meter / meter_max >= band_unavailable
+
+
+func frac() -> float:
+	return meter / meter_max
+
+
 func try_play(slot: int) -> void:
 	var card := cards[slot]
 	var cost: int = card.cost_of.call()
@@ -95,21 +166,47 @@ func try_play(slot: int) -> void:
 
 func _set_open(open: bool) -> void:
 	hand_open = open
-	$Dim.visible = open
-	_apply_time_scale()
+	_apply_time_state()
 
 
-func _apply_time_scale() -> void:
-	# Knob 0 = a REAL pause: Engine.time_scale = 0 still steps physics
-	# with delta 0 on 4.7 (probed headless — delta-independent logic
-	# like heat thresholds kept firing "frozen"). SceneTree.paused
-	# stops physics outright; time_scale covers dilation > 0.
-	if hand_open and dilation_scale == 0.0:
-		get_tree().paused = true
+func _apply_time_state() -> void:
+	var tree := get_tree()
+	if not hand_open:
+		tree.paused = false
 		Engine.time_scale = 1.0
+		$Dim.visible = false
+		return
+	$Dim.visible = true
+	if meter_mode:
+		var f := frac()
+		if f >= band_thaw:
+			tree.paused = true
+			Engine.time_scale = 1.0
+			_set_dim(1.0)
+		elif f >= band_realtime:
+			tree.paused = false
+			var t := (band_thaw - f) / (band_thaw - band_realtime)
+			Engine.time_scale = clampf(t, thaw_min_scale, 1.0)
+			_set_dim(1.0 - t)
+		else:
+			tree.paused = false
+			Engine.time_scale = 1.0
+			_set_dim(0.0)
 	else:
-		get_tree().paused = false
-		Engine.time_scale = dilation_scale if hand_open else 1.0
+		if dilation_scale == 0.0:
+			tree.paused = true
+			Engine.time_scale = 1.0
+			_set_dim(1.0)
+		else:
+			tree.paused = false
+			Engine.time_scale = dilation_scale
+			_set_dim(0.6)
+
+
+func _set_dim(k: float) -> void:
+	# Dim depth doubles as the time-state telegraph: dark = frozen,
+	# lifting = thawing, barely-there = realtime. Wordless.
+	$Dim.color = Color(0, 0, 0, lerpf(0.08, 0.35, k))
 
 
 func _mech() -> Node2D:
diff --git a/scripts/hand_hud.gd b/scripts/hand_hud.gd
index 7333240..01b00c1 100644
--- a/scripts/hand_hud.gd
+++ b/scripts/hand_hud.gd
@@ -35,6 +35,27 @@ func _draw() -> void:
 		var c := Color(0.9, 0.9, 0.95) if filled else Color(0.9, 0.9, 0.95, 0.18)
 		draw_rect(Rect2(px0 + i * (pip + 3.0), y0 - 10.0, pip, pip), c)
 
+	if _hand.meter_mode:
+		# Freeze meter: fill color names the band you'd open into.
+		var bw := 84.0
+		var bh := 4.0
+		var bx := (640.0 - bw) / 2.0
+		var by := y0 - 20.0
+		draw_rect(Rect2(bx, by, bw, bh), Color(0.9, 0.9, 0.95, 0.12))
+		var f: float = _hand.frac()
+		var col := Color(0.85, 0.95, 1.0)
+		if f < _hand.band_unavailable:
+			col = Color(0.8, 0.3, 0.25)
+		elif f < _hand.band_realtime:
+			col = Color(0.55, 0.57, 0.6)
+		elif f < _hand.band_thaw:
+			col = Color(0.55, 0.75, 0.95)
+		draw_rect(Rect2(bx, by, bw * f, bh), col)
+		for b: float in [_hand.band_unavailable, _hand.band_realtime, _hand.band_thaw]:
+			var tx := bx + bw * b
+			draw_line(Vector2(tx, by - 1), Vector2(tx, by + bh + 1), Color(0.1, 0.1, 0.12, 0.9), 1.0)
+
 	var font := ThemeDB.fallback_font
-	draw_string(font, Vector2(560, 352), "dt x%.2f" % _hand.dilation_scale,
+	var label: String = "frz %.1f/%.1fs" % [_hand.meter, _hand.meter_max] if _hand.meter_mode else "dt x%.2f" % _hand.dilation_scale
+	draw_string(font, Vector2(560, 352), label,
 			HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT_LEFT, -1, 8, Color(0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.7))
diff --git a/tests/smoke.gd b/tests/smoke.gd
index f268e3d..f510bb9 100644
--- a/tests/smoke.gd
+++ b/tests/smoke.gd
@@ -103,11 +103,10 @@ func _test_hand(arena: Node, mech: CharacterBody2D) -> void:
 	if not hand.hand_open:
 		_failures.append("hand did not open on hand_toggle")
 		return
-	if hand.dilation_scale == 0.0:
-		if not get_tree().paused:
-			_failures.append("hand open at knob 0 did not pause the world")
-	elif absf(Engine.time_scale - hand.dilation_scale) > 0.001:
-		_failures.append("time_scale %.3f != dilation knob %.3f with hand open" % [Engine.time_scale, hand.dilation_scale])
+	var expect_pause: bool = (hand.meter_mode and hand.frac() >= hand.band_thaw) \
+			or (not hand.meter_mode and hand.dilation_scale == 0.0)
+	if expect_pause and not get_tree().paused:
+		_failures.append("hand open in freeze state did not pause the world")
 
 	# Pick the target NOW — the world is frozen, so it can neither die
 	# nor wander out of the heat radius before the casts land.
@@ -135,6 +134,59 @@ func _test_hand(arena: Node, mech: CharacterBody2D) -> void:
 	if is_instance_valid(target):
 		_failures.append("heated grunt failed to detonate after release (heat %.1f)" % target.heat)
 
+	await _test_meter(hand)
+
+
+func _test_meter(hand: Node) -> void:
+	# Band ladder, white-box: set the meter, open, check the time state.
+	# THAW band: open, unpaused, slow-mo strictly between 0 and 1.
+	hand.meter = hand.meter_max * 0.3
+	await _tap("hand_toggle")
+	if not hand.hand_open:
+		_failures.append("hand refused to open in thaw band")
+		return
+	if get_tree().paused:
+		_failures.append("thaw band paused the world")
+	if Engine.time_scale <= 0.0 or Engine.time_scale >= 1.0:
+		_failures.append("thaw band time_scale %.2f not in (0,1)" % Engine.time_scale)
+
+	# REALTIME band: open, world at full speed.
+	hand.meter = hand.meter_max * 0.14
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+	if get_tree().paused or Engine.time_scale != 1.0:
+		_failures.append("realtime band: paused=%s time_scale=%.2f, expected live x1" % [get_tree().paused, Engine.time_scale])
+
+	# Depletion force-closes the hand...
+	hand.meter = 0.0
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+	if hand.hand_open:
+		_failures.append("hand did not force-close at meter depletion")
+		return
+	# ...and it will not reopen while empty (no Space-spam refreeze).
+	await _tap("hand_toggle")
+	if hand.hand_open:
+		_failures.append("hand reopened on an empty meter")
+		return
+
+	# The Freeze charge grows while the hand is closed.
+	var m0: float = hand.meter
+	for i in 30:
+		await get_tree().process_frame
+	if hand.meter <= m0:
+		_failures.append("meter did not regenerate while closed")
+
+	# TOGGLE mode (the A/B flip) still hard-freezes at knob 0.
+	hand.meter_mode = false
+	await _tap("hand_toggle")
+	if not hand.hand_open or not get_tree().paused:
+		_failures.append("toggle mode at knob 0 did not open+pause")
+	await _tap("hand_toggle")
+	hand.meter_mode = true
+	if get_tree().paused or Engine.time_scale != 1.0:
+		_failures.append("world did not resume after toggle-mode close")
+
 
 func _nearest_grunt(mech: CharacterBody2D) -> Node2D:
 	var best: Node2D = null