diff --git a/Scripts/Elements/Element.cs b/Scripts/Elements/Element.cs
index bb09478..950036b 100644
--- a/Scripts/Elements/Element.cs
+++ b/Scripts/Elements/Element.cs
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ public class Element{
     protected const int MAX_DIFFUSE_SPEED = 100;
     protected const int STEPS_UNTIL_INACTIVE = 500;
 
-    protected const float MAX_COLOR_VARIANCE = 0.1f;
     protected static readonly Vector2I VERTICAL_OPPOSITE = new Vector2I(-1, 1);
+    private const float MAX_COLOR_VARIANCE = 0.1f;
 
     private bool active = false;
     private int lastUpdate = -1;
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public class Element{
         Position.X = x;
         Position.Y = y;
         Chunk = chunk;
-        Active = true;
+        Active = active;
     }
 
     public bool Active {
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ public class Element{
     protected virtual void Tick() {
         Vector2I randomDirection = RandomDirectionDown();
 
+        // fall speed reduction:
+        if (GD.Randi() % MAX_DIFFUSE_SPEED > DiffuseSpeed) return; // descend slower
+
         if (Chunk.IsEmpty(Position + Vector2I.Down))
             Chunk.Swap(this, Position + Vector2I.Down);