diff --git a/server/src/simulation/listening.rs b/server/src/simulation/listening.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..458293246
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/simulation/listening.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,458 @@
+// ListeningFocus — eavesdrop positioning via stationary_ticks
+// Implements #426: deliberate positioning mechanic for sound perception bonus
+// Decision refs: D-053 (stance system), D-018 (three-range sound model)
+//
+// When the player stands still for EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD ticks, they gain a
+// sound perception bonus if within range of a conversation. Sprint stance
+// blocks eavesdrop (too high-alert). Careful stance reduces the threshold.
+
+use bevy_ecs::prelude::*;
+
+use crate::bridge::types::MovementStance;
+use crate::knowledge::types::StableId;
+use crate::simulation::movement::{PlayerCharacter, TilePosition};
+use crate::simulation::stance::Stance;
+
+/// Ticks of being stationary before eavesdrop activates (~3 seconds at 10 tps).
+pub const EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD: u32 = 30;
+
+/// Reduced eavesdrop threshold when in Careful stance (~2 seconds).
+pub const EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD_CAREFUL: u32 = 20;
+
+/// Maximum eavesdrop range in tiles (Manhattan distance, same z-level).
+/// Player must be within this distance of a conversation source.
+pub const EAVESDROP_RANGE: u32 = 5;
+
+/// Component tracking stationary time for eavesdrop positioning.
+/// Attached to the PlayerCharacter entity.
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ListeningFocus {
+    /// Consecutive ticks the entity has been stationary.
+    pub stationary_ticks: u32,
+    /// Entity currently being eavesdropped on, if any.
+    /// Set when stationary_ticks exceeds threshold AND a conversation
+    /// source is within EAVESDROP_RANGE.
+    pub eavesdrop_target: Option<StableId>,
+    /// Position at end of last tick — used to detect movement.
+    last_position: TilePosition,
+}
+
+impl ListeningFocus {
+    pub fn new(position: TilePosition) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            stationary_ticks: 0,
+            eavesdrop_target: None,
+            last_position: position,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Whether eavesdrop is currently active (threshold exceeded).
+    pub fn is_eavesdropping(&self) -> bool {
+        self.eavesdrop_target.is_some()
+    }
+
+    /// Get the effective eavesdrop threshold for a given stance.
+    /// Returns None for Sprint (eavesdrop blocked entirely).
+    pub fn threshold_for_stance(stance: MovementStance) -> Option<u32> {
+        match stance {
+            MovementStance::Sprint => None, // Sprint blocks eavesdrop
+            MovementStance::Careful => Some(EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD_CAREFUL),
+            _ => Some(EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// System: update ListeningFocus stationary tick counter.
+///
+/// Runs each tick. Compares current position against last known position.
+/// If unchanged, increments stationary_ticks. If changed (or in Sprint),
+/// resets to zero and clears eavesdrop target.
+///
+/// Does NOT evaluate eavesdrop targets — that requires knowledge of nearby
+/// conversations, which is a perception concern. This system only tracks
+/// the stationary state. Target evaluation is done by a separate perception
+/// system that reads ListeningFocus.stationary_ticks.
+pub fn update_listening_focus(
+    mut query: Query<(&TilePosition, &mut ListeningFocus, Option<&Stance>), With<PlayerCharacter>>,
+) {
+    for (position, mut focus, stance_opt) in query.iter_mut() {
+        let stance = stance_opt.map(|s| s.0).unwrap_or(MovementStance::Walk);
+
+        // Check if position changed since last tick
+        let moved = *position != focus.last_position;
+        focus.last_position = *position;
+
+        if moved {
+            // Any movement resets the counter
+            focus.stationary_ticks = 0;
+            focus.eavesdrop_target = None;
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        // Sprint stance: stationary but too high-alert to listen
+        let Some(threshold) = ListeningFocus::threshold_for_stance(stance) else {
+            focus.stationary_ticks = 0;
+            focus.eavesdrop_target = None;
+            continue;
+        };
+
+        // Increment stationary counter (saturating to prevent overflow)
+        focus.stationary_ticks = focus.stationary_ticks.saturating_add(1);
+
+        // Clear eavesdrop target if below threshold (e.g. stance changed
+        // from Careful to Walk, raising the threshold above current ticks)
+        if focus.stationary_ticks < threshold {
+            focus.eavesdrop_target = None;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use bevy_ecs::world::World;
+
+    fn make_position(x: i32, y: i32) -> TilePosition {
+        TilePosition::new(x, y, 0)
+    }
+
+    fn spawn_player(world: &mut World, x: i32, y: i32) -> Entity {
+        let pos = make_position(x, y);
+        world
+            .spawn((PlayerCharacter, pos, ListeningFocus::new(pos)))
+            .id()
+    }
+
+    fn spawn_player_with_stance(
+        world: &mut World,
+        x: i32,
+        y: i32,
+        stance: MovementStance,
+    ) -> Entity {
+        let pos = make_position(x, y);
+        world
+            .spawn((
+                PlayerCharacter,
+                pos,
+                ListeningFocus::new(pos),
+                Stance(stance),
+            ))
+            .id()
+    }
+
+    fn run_system(world: &mut World) {
+        let mut schedule = bevy_ecs::schedule::Schedule::default();
+        schedule.add_systems(update_listening_focus);
+        schedule.run(world);
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Stationary tick accumulation
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stationary_ticks_increment_when_not_moving() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player(&mut world, 5, 5);
+
+        // Run 10 ticks without moving
+        for _ in 0..10 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 10);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stationary_ticks_reset_on_movement() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player(&mut world, 5, 5);
+
+        // Accumulate 10 stationary ticks
+        for _ in 0..10 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        // Move the player
+        *world.get_mut::<TilePosition>(entity).unwrap() = make_position(5, 6);
+        run_system(&mut world);
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stationary_ticks_resume_after_stop() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player(&mut world, 5, 5);
+
+        // 5 ticks stationary
+        for _ in 0..5 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(
+            world
+                .get::<ListeningFocus>(entity)
+                .unwrap()
+                .stationary_ticks,
+            5
+        );
+
+        // Move
+        *world.get_mut::<TilePosition>(entity).unwrap() = make_position(5, 6);
+        run_system(&mut world);
+        assert_eq!(
+            world
+                .get::<ListeningFocus>(entity)
+                .unwrap()
+                .stationary_ticks,
+            0
+        );
+
+        // Stop again — counter restarts from 0
+        for _ in 0..3 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(
+            world
+                .get::<ListeningFocus>(entity)
+                .unwrap()
+                .stationary_ticks,
+            3
+        );
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Stance interaction
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sprint_stance_blocks_stationary_ticks() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player_with_stance(&mut world, 5, 5, MovementStance::Sprint);
+
+        for _ in 0..50 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            focus.stationary_ticks, 0,
+            "Sprint should block stationary tick accumulation"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn walk_stance_accumulates_normally() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player_with_stance(&mut world, 5, 5, MovementStance::Walk);
+
+        for _ in 0..10 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 10);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn careful_stance_accumulates_normally() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player_with_stance(&mut world, 5, 5, MovementStance::Careful);
+
+        for _ in 0..10 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 10);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn crouch_stance_accumulates_normally() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player_with_stance(&mut world, 5, 5, MovementStance::Crouch);
+
+        for _ in 0..10 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 10);
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Threshold calculations
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn threshold_for_sprint_is_none() {
+        assert!(ListeningFocus::threshold_for_stance(MovementStance::Sprint).is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn threshold_for_careful_is_reduced() {
+        let careful = ListeningFocus::threshold_for_stance(MovementStance::Careful).unwrap();
+        let walk = ListeningFocus::threshold_for_stance(MovementStance::Walk).unwrap();
+        assert!(careful < walk, "Careful threshold should be less than Walk");
+        assert_eq!(careful, EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD_CAREFUL);
+        assert_eq!(walk, EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn threshold_for_walk_and_crouch_equal() {
+        let walk = ListeningFocus::threshold_for_stance(MovementStance::Walk).unwrap();
+        let crouch = ListeningFocus::threshold_for_stance(MovementStance::Crouch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(walk, crouch);
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Eavesdrop target management
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn eavesdrop_target_cleared_on_movement() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player(&mut world, 5, 5);
+
+        // Manually set an eavesdrop target
+        world
+            .get_mut::<ListeningFocus>(entity)
+            .unwrap()
+            .eavesdrop_target = Some(StableId(42));
+        world
+            .get_mut::<ListeningFocus>(entity)
+            .unwrap()
+            .stationary_ticks = 50;
+
+        // Move
+        *world.get_mut::<TilePosition>(entity).unwrap() = make_position(5, 6);
+        run_system(&mut world);
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            focus.eavesdrop_target.is_none(),
+            "movement should clear eavesdrop target"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn eavesdrop_target_cleared_on_sprint() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let pos = make_position(5, 5);
+        let entity = world
+            .spawn((
+                PlayerCharacter,
+                pos,
+                ListeningFocus {
+                    stationary_ticks: 50,
+                    eavesdrop_target: Some(StableId(42)),
+                    last_position: pos,
+                },
+                Stance(MovementStance::Sprint),
+            ))
+            .id();
+
+        run_system(&mut world);
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            focus.eavesdrop_target.is_none(),
+            "sprint should clear eavesdrop target"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn eavesdrop_target_cleared_below_threshold_on_stance_change() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player_with_stance(&mut world, 5, 5, MovementStance::Careful);
+
+        // Accumulate 25 ticks (above Careful threshold of 20, below Walk threshold of 30)
+        for _ in 0..25 {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+        // Manually set eavesdrop target (as perception system would)
+        world
+            .get_mut::<ListeningFocus>(entity)
+            .unwrap()
+            .eavesdrop_target = Some(StableId(99));
+
+        // Switch to Walk stance — threshold goes from 20 to 30, so 25 < 30
+        world.get_mut::<Stance>(entity).unwrap().0 = MovementStance::Walk;
+        run_system(&mut world);
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            focus.eavesdrop_target.is_none(),
+            "eavesdrop should clear when ticks drop below new stance threshold"
+        );
+        // But ticks should still be incrementing (26 now)
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, 26);
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // is_eavesdropping helper
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_eavesdropping_false_without_target() {
+        let focus = ListeningFocus::new(make_position(0, 0));
+        assert!(!focus.is_eavesdropping());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_eavesdropping_true_with_target() {
+        let mut focus = ListeningFocus::new(make_position(0, 0));
+        focus.eavesdrop_target = Some(StableId(1));
+        assert!(focus.is_eavesdropping());
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // No stance component (backward compatibility)
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn no_stance_defaults_to_walk_behavior() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let entity = spawn_player(&mut world, 5, 5); // no Stance component
+
+        for _ in 0..EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD {
+            run_system(&mut world);
+        }
+
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, EAVESDROP_THRESHOLD);
+    }
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Edge cases
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stationary_ticks_saturate_not_overflow() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+        let pos = make_position(5, 5);
+        let entity = world
+            .spawn((
+                PlayerCharacter,
+                pos,
+                ListeningFocus {
+                    stationary_ticks: u32::MAX - 1,
+                    eavesdrop_target: None,
+                    last_position: pos,
+                },
+            ))
+            .id();
+
+        run_system(&mut world);
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, u32::MAX);
+
+        // One more tick should not overflow
+        run_system(&mut world);
+        let focus = world.get::<ListeningFocus>(entity).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(focus.stationary_ticks, u32::MAX);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/server/src/simulation/mod.rs b/server/src/simulation/mod.rs
index 92c04a52b..10bee8fec 100644
--- a/server/src/simulation/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/simulation/mod.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use bevy_ecs::schedule::IntoScheduleConfigs;
 pub mod input;
 pub mod interaction;
 pub mod inventory;
+pub mod listening;
 pub mod monologue;
 pub mod movement;
 pub mod path_follow;
@@ -35,8 +36,8 @@ impl Plugin for SimulationPlugin {
                     path_follow::follow_paths.after(pathfinding::compute_paths),
                     movement::validate_movement.after(path_follow::follow_paths),
                     path_follow::cleanup_path_blocked.after(movement::validate_movement),
-                    time::advance_tick
-                        .after(path_follow::cleanup_path_blocked),
+                    listening::update_listening_focus.after(movement::validate_movement),
+                    time::advance_tick.after(path_follow::cleanup_path_blocked),
                 ),
             );