diff --git a/session/config.json b/session/config.json
index 63565df..e0df9e0 100644
--- a/session/config.json
+++ b/session/config.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
   "llm": {
-    "model": "ollama/llama3.1",
-    "api_key": null,
-    "api_base": null,
+    "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
+    "api_key": "not-needed",
+    "api_base": "http://localhost:8080/v1",
     "temperature": 0.8
   }
 }
diff --git a/tools/run.py b/tools/run.py
index 91a7f88..58b8ec9 100755
--- a/tools/run.py
+++ b/tools/run.py
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import os
 import random
 import sys
+import threading
 from datetime import date
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from textual import on, work
+from textual import on
 from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
 from textual.containers import Horizontal, Vertical, VerticalScroll
 from textual.widgets import Button, Input, Static, TabbedContent, TabPane
-from textual.worker import Worker, WorkerState, get_current_worker
 from rich.markdown import Markdown as RichMarkdown
 from rich.theme import Theme
 
@@ -327,6 +327,9 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
         overflow-y: auto;
         scrollbar-size-vertical: 2;
     }
+    #main-tabs {
+        height: 1fr;
+    }
     TabbedContent {
         background: #1a1a2a;
     }
@@ -366,8 +369,19 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
         margin: 0 1;
         min-width: 12;
     }
+    #play-status {
+        background: #1a1a2a;
+        color: #e0b060;
+        padding: 0 2;
+        height: 1;
+        text-style: bold italic;
+        text-align: center;
+    }
+    #play-status.processing {
+        background: #2a1a0a;
+        color: #ffd93d;
+    }
     #play-input {
-        dock: bottom;
         height: 3;
         background: #222222;
         color: #e0d0c0;
@@ -377,11 +391,10 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
     #play-input:focus {
         border: solid #e0ad4c;
     }
-    #play-processing {
-        background: #1a1a2a;
-        color: #888888;
-        padding: 1 2;
-        text-style: italic;
+    #play-input:disabled {
+        background: #1a1a1a;
+        color: #666666;
+        border: solid #333333;
     }
 
     /* Book tab */
@@ -464,6 +477,10 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
         self._last_result: GenerationResult | None = None
         self._is_processing: bool = False
 
+        # Thinking animation
+        self._thinking_dots = 0
+        self._thinking_timer_handle = None
+
         # Book viewer state
         self._book_page = 0
         self._book_pages = []
@@ -480,6 +497,7 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
                     with VerticalScroll(id="play-scroll"):
                         yield Static("*Awaiting the fates...*", id="play-narrative")
                     yield Horizontal(id="play-choices")
+                    yield Static("", id="play-status")
                     yield Input(
                         placeholder="Type your action and press Enter...",
                         id="play-input",
@@ -530,17 +548,21 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
 
         input_widget = self.query_one("#play-input", Input)
         input_widget.disabled = True
+        input_widget.placeholder = "LLM is thinking..."
 
-        self._set_narrative("✦  *The fates conspire...*  ✦")
         self._clear_choices()
+        self._show_thinking()
 
-        self._run_generation(player_action)
+        # Run generation in a daemon thread so it doesn't block the UI
+        t = threading.Thread(
+            target=self._run_generation,
+            args=(player_action,),
+            daemon=True,
+        )
+        t.start()
 
-    @work(thread=True, exit_on_error=False)
     def _run_generation(self, player_action: str | None) -> None:
         """Worker thread: calls engine.generate() and posts result back."""
-        worker = get_current_worker()
-
         # Provide previous narrative as context on subsequent calls
         last_narrative = self._last_narrative if self._last_narrative else None
 
@@ -549,16 +571,42 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
             last_narrative=last_narrative,
         )
 
-        if worker.is_cancelled:
-            return
-
         self.call_from_thread(self._on_generation_done, result, player_action)
 
+    def _show_thinking(self) -> None:
+        """Show the thinking indicator and start the animation timer."""
+        self._thinking_dots = 0
+        status = self.query_one("#play-status", Static)
+        status.add_class("processing")
+        status.update("✦  LLM is weaving the narrative  ✦")
+        self._thinking_timer_handle = self.set_interval(
+            0.5, self._tick_thinking
+        )
+
+    def _hide_thinking(self) -> None:
+        """Stop the animation and hide the thinking indicator."""
+        if self._thinking_timer_handle:
+            self._thinking_timer_handle.stop()
+            self._thinking_timer_handle = None
+        status = self.query_one("#play-status", Static)
+        status.remove_class("processing")
+        status.update("")
+
+    def _tick_thinking(self) -> None:
+        """Animate the thinking dots."""
+        if not self._is_processing:
+            return
+        self._thinking_dots = (self._thinking_dots + 1) % 4
+        dots = "." * self._thinking_dots
+        status = self.query_one("#play-status", Static)
+        status.update(f"✦  LLM is weaving the narrative{dots}  ✦")
+
     def _on_generation_done(
         self, result: GenerationResult, player_action: str | None
     ) -> None:
         """Handle the completed generation on the main thread."""
         self._is_processing = False
+        self._hide_thinking()
 
         if result.error:
             self._show_error(result.error)
@@ -591,13 +639,10 @@ class ChaosTUI(App):
         self._set_choices(result.choices)
         self._enable_input()
 
-        # Focus the input
-        input_widget = self.query_one("#play-input", Input)
-        input_widget.focus()
-
     def _enable_input(self) -> None:
         input_widget = self.query_one("#play-input", Input)
         input_widget.disabled = False
+        input_widget.placeholder = "Type your action and press Enter..."
         input_widget.value = ""
         input_widget.focus()