diff --git a/inc/init/init.context.lua b/inc/init/init.context.lua
index 9579296..53d4d99 100644
--- a/inc/init/init.context.lua
+++ b/inc/init/init.context.lua
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ function Context.initial_data()
   return {
     current_menu_item = 1,
     test_mode = false,
+    mouse_trace = false,
     popup = {
       show = false,
       content = {}
@@ -46,6 +47,8 @@ function Context.initial_data()
     have_done_work_today = false,
     should_ascend = false,
     have_met_sumphore = false,
+    office_sprites = {},
+    walking_to_office_sprites = {},
     game = {
       current_screen = "home",
     },
diff --git a/inc/screen/screen.office.lua b/inc/screen/screen.office.lua
index 8d8aa89..aca55b8 100644
--- a/inc/screen/screen.office.lua
+++ b/inc/screen/screen.office.lua
@@ -8,21 +8,43 @@ Screen.register({
   },
   init = function()
     Audio.music_play_room_work()
+    Context.have_been_to_office = true
+
+    local possible_sprites = {
+      "dev_project_manager",
+      "dev_hr_girl",
+      "dev_introvert",
+      "dev_extrovert",
+      "dev_guru",
+      "dev_operator",
+      {id="dev_buddy", y_correct=1 * 8},
+      {id="dev_boy", y_correct=1 * 8},
+      {id="dev_girl", y_correct=1 * 8}
+    }
+
+    local possible_positions = {
+      {x = 6 * 8, y = 4 * 8},
+      {x = 10 * 8, y = 11 * 8 + 4},
+      {x = 12 * 8, y = 4 * 8},
+      {x = 15 * 8, y = 9 * 8},
+      {x = 16 * 8, y = 4 * 8},
+      {x = 17 * 8, y = 8 * 8},
+      {x = 17 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 20 * 8, y = 4 * 8},
+      {x = 23 * 8, y = 5 * 8},
+      {x = 22 * 8, y = 10 * 8 + 4},
+      {x = 27 * 8, y = 10 * 8 + 4},
+      {x = -4 + 5 * 8, y = 9 * 8}
+    }
+
+    Context.office_sprites = Sprite.list_randomize(possible_sprites, possible_positions)
   end,
   background = "office",
   draw = function()
     if Window.get_current_id() == "game" then
       Sprite.draw_at("norman",              13 * 8,  9 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_buddy",           15 * 8,  9 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_project_manager",  6 * 8,  4 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_hr_girl",         12 * 8,  4 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_introvert",   -4 + 5 * 8,  9 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_extrovert",       20 * 8,  4 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_girl",            23 * 8,  5 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_boy",             10 * 8, 11 * 8 + 4)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_guru",            22 * 8, 10 * 8 + 4)
-      Sprite.draw_at("dev_operator",        27 * 8, 10 * 8 + 4)
+
+      Sprite.draw_list(Context.office_sprites)
     end
-    Context.have_been_to_office = true
   end
 })
diff --git a/inc/screen/screen.walking_to_office.lua b/inc/screen/screen.walking_to_office.lua
index 4e78252..af578d4 100644
--- a/inc/screen/screen.walking_to_office.lua
+++ b/inc/screen/screen.walking_to_office.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,28 @@ Screen.register({
   },
   init = function()
     Audio.music_play_room_work()
+
+    local possible_sprites = {
+      "matrix_trinity",
+      "matrix_neo",
+      {id="matrix_oraculum", y_correct=1 * 8},
+      "matrix_architect"
+    }
+
+    local possible_positions = {
+      {x = 5 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 7 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 9 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 11 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 13 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 15 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 18 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 21 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 24 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+      {x = 27 * 8, y = 11 * 8},
+    }
+
+    Context.walking_to_office_sprites = Sprite.list_randomize(possible_sprites, possible_positions)
   end,
   background = "street",
   draw = function()
@@ -16,10 +38,8 @@ Screen.register({
       Sprite.draw_at("sumphore",             9 * 8,  2 * 8)
       Sprite.draw_at("pizza_vendor",        19 * 8,  1 * 8)
       Sprite.draw_at("dev_guard",           22 * 8,  2 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("matrix_trinity",       5 * 8, 11 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("matrix_neo",           7 * 8, 11 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("matrix_oraculum",      9 * 8, 12 * 8)
-      Sprite.draw_at("matrix_architect",    11 * 8, 11 * 8)
+
+      Sprite.draw_list(Context.walking_to_office_sprites)
     end
   end
 })
diff --git a/inc/sprite/sprite.manager.lua b/inc/sprite/sprite.manager.lua
index ad85dce..47c1a47 100644
--- a/inc/sprite/sprite.manager.lua
+++ b/inc/sprite/sprite.manager.lua
@@ -73,6 +73,70 @@ function Sprite.generate_table(width, height, starting_s, x_base, y_base, x_step
   return sprites
 end
 
+--- Immediately draws a list of sprites
+--- @within Sprite
+--- @param sprite_list table An array of tables, each containing: `id` (string) sprite identifier, `x` (number) x-coordinate, `y` (number) y-coordinate, and optional `colorkey`, `scale`, `flip_x`, `flip_y`, `rot` parameters.
+function Sprite.draw_list(sprite_list)
+  for _, sprite_info in ipairs(sprite_list) do
+    local sprite_data = _sprites[sprite_info.id]
+    if not sprite_data then
+      trace("Error: Attempted to draw non-registered sprite with id: " .. sprite_info.id)
+    else
+      draw_sprite_instance(sprite_data, sprite_info)
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+--- Given a list of sprite IDs (or sprite entries with correction offsets) and a list of possible positions, randomly assigns each sprite to a unique position and returns a drawable list.
+--- @within Sprite
+--- @param sprite_ids table An array of sprite identifier values or tables.
+---                  Each entry may be either:
+---                  - string: sprite ID to draw.
+---                  - table: { sprite_id = string, x_correct = number, y_correct = number }.
+--- @param positions table An array of tables, each containing `x` and `y` fields for possible sprite positions.
+function Sprite.list_randomize(sprite_ids, positions)
+  if #sprite_ids > #positions then
+    trace("Error: More sprite IDs than available positions in Sprite.draw_randomized")
+    return
+  end
+
+  local shuffled_positions = {}
+  for i, pos in ipairs(positions) do
+    shuffled_positions[i] = pos
+  end
+  for i = #shuffled_positions, 2, -1 do
+    local j = math.random(i)
+    shuffled_positions[i], shuffled_positions[j] = shuffled_positions[j], shuffled_positions[i]
+  end
+
+  local drawable_list = {}
+  for i, sprite_entry in ipairs(sprite_ids) do
+    local sprite_id = sprite_entry
+    local x_correct = 0
+    local y_correct = 0
+
+    if type(sprite_entry) == "table" then
+      sprite_id = sprite_entry.sprite_id or sprite_entry.id
+      x_correct = sprite_entry.x_correct or 0
+      y_correct = sprite_entry.y_correct or 0
+    end
+
+    local sprite_data = _sprites[sprite_id]
+    if not sprite_data then
+      trace("Error: Attempted to draw non-registered sprite with id: " .. tostring(sprite_id))
+    else
+      local pos = shuffled_positions[i]
+      table.insert(drawable_list, {
+        id = sprite_id,
+        x = pos.x + x_correct,
+        y = pos.y + y_correct
+      })
+    end
+  end
+
+  return drawable_list
+end
+
 --- Schedules a sprite for drawing.
 --- @within Sprite
 --- @param id string The unique identifier of the sprite.<br/>
diff --git a/inc/system/system.mouse.lua b/inc/system/system.mouse.lua
index 3140ffa..3470ed5 100644
--- a/inc/system/system.mouse.lua
+++ b/inc/system/system.mouse.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ function Mouse.update()
   _consumed = false
   local mt = {mouse()}
   _mx, _my, _mleft = mt[1], mt[2], mt[3]
+
+  -- trace mouse position and tile for testing purposes
+  if Context.test_mode and Context.mouse_trace then
+    trace("Mouse: (" .. _mx .. "," .. _my .. "), tile: (" .. math.floor(_mx / 8) .. "," .. math.floor(_my / 8) .. ")")
+  end
 end
 
 --- Returns current mouse X position.