diff --git a/server/src/systems/__tests__/systems.test.ts b/server/src/systems/__tests__/systems.test.ts
index d6ed3c8..4a9581f 100644
--- a/server/src/systems/__tests__/systems.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/systems/__tests__/systems.test.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { GameMap } from '../../map/GameMap.js';
 import { needsDecaySystem } from '../needsDecaySystem.js';
 import { npcBrainSystem } from '../npcBrainSystem.js';
 import { movementSystem } from '../movementSystem.js';
-import type { Needs, Movement, NPCBrain, Position } from '@dflike/shared';
+import type { Needs, Movement, NPCBrain, Position, SocialState } from '@dflike/shared';
 import { HUNGER_DECAY_PER_TICK, ENERGY_DECAY_PER_TICK, MOVE_SPEED } from '@dflike/shared';
 
 function createNPC(world: World, x: number, y: number, hunger = 80, energy = 80) {
@@ -16,6 +16,17 @@ function createNPC(world: World, x: number, y: number, hunger = 80, energy = 80)
   return e;
 }
 
+function addSocialState(world: World, entity: number, phase: SocialState['phase'] = 'none') {
+  world.addComponent<SocialState>(entity, 'socialState', {
+    phase,
+    partnerId: null,
+    phaseTimer: 10,
+    outcome: null,
+    globalCooldown: 0,
+    pairCooldowns: new Map(),
+  });
+}
+
 describe('needsDecaySystem', () => {
   it('decays hunger and energy each tick', () => {
     const world = new World();
@@ -76,6 +87,17 @@ describe('npcBrainSystem', () => {
     const brain = world.getComponent<NPCBrain>(e, 'npcBrain')!;
     expect(brain.currentGoal).toBe('rest');
   });
+
+  it('skips NPC when socialState phase is not none', () => {
+    const world = new World();
+    const map = new GameMap(10, 10);
+    const e = createNPC(world, 5, 5, 80, 80);
+    addSocialState(world, e, 'facing');
+    const brain = world.getComponent<NPCBrain>(e, 'npcBrain')!;
+    brain.currentGoal = null;
+    npcBrainSystem(world, map);
+    expect(brain.currentGoal).toBeNull();
+  });
 });
 
 describe('movementSystem', () => {
@@ -166,4 +188,21 @@ describe('movementSystem', () => {
     expect(mov.state).toBe('idle');
     expect(mov.moveProgress).toBe(0);
   });
+
+  it('skips entity when socialState phase is not none', () => {
+    const world = new World();
+    const e = world.createEntity();
+    world.addComponent<Position>(e, 'position', { x: 0, y: 0 });
+    world.addComponent<Movement>(e, 'movement', {
+      state: 'walking',
+      target: { x: 3, y: 0 },
+      path: [{ x: 1, y: 0 }, { x: 2, y: 0 }, { x: 3, y: 0 }],
+      direction: 2,
+      moveProgress: 0.75,
+    });
+    addSocialState(world, e, 'pausing');
+    movementSystem(world);
+    const pos = world.getComponent<Position>(e, 'position')!;
+    expect(pos).toEqual({ x: 0, y: 0 });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/server/src/systems/movementSystem.ts b/server/src/systems/movementSystem.ts
index b20a375..4df3f41 100644
--- a/server/src/systems/movementSystem.ts
+++ b/server/src/systems/movementSystem.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Direction, MOVE_SPEED, type Movement, type Position } from '@dflike/shared';
+import { Direction, MOVE_SPEED, type Movement, type Position, type SocialState } from '@dflike/shared';
 import type { World } from '../ecs/World.js';
 
 function directionFromDelta(dx: number, dy: number): number {
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ export function movementSystem(world: World): void {
     const movement = world.getComponent<Movement>(entity, 'movement')!;
     const pos = world.getComponent<Position>(entity, 'position')!;
 
+    const socialState = world.getComponent<SocialState>(entity, 'socialState');
+    if (socialState && socialState.phase !== 'none') continue;
+
     if (movement.state !== 'walking' || movement.path.length === 0) {
       if (movement.state === 'walking' && movement.path.length === 0) {
         movement.state = 'idle';
diff --git a/server/src/systems/npcBrainSystem.ts b/server/src/systems/npcBrainSystem.ts
index 068ade7..edfe0ad 100644
--- a/server/src/systems/npcBrainSystem.ts
+++ b/server/src/systems/npcBrainSystem.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {
   HUNGER_THRESHOLD, ENERGY_THRESHOLD, Direction,
-  type Needs, type Movement, type NPCBrain, type Position,
+  type Needs, type Movement, type NPCBrain, type Position, type SocialState,
 } from '@dflike/shared';
 import type { World } from '../ecs/World.js';
 import type { GameMap } from '../map/GameMap.js';
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export function npcBrainSystem(world: World, map: GameMap): void {
     const movement = world.getComponent<Movement>(entity, 'movement')!;
     const pos = world.getComponent<Position>(entity, 'position')!;
 
+    const socialState = world.getComponent<SocialState>(entity, 'socialState');
+    if (socialState && socialState.phase !== 'none') continue;
+
     // Skip if currently walking toward a goal
     if (movement.state === 'walking' && movement.path.length > 0) continue;