diff --git a/citadel.dme b/citadel.dme
index e9ec0103367..a0526380a06 100644
--- a/citadel.dme
+++ b/citadel.dme
@@ -770,6 +770,7 @@
 #include "code\datums\shieldcall.dm"
 #include "code\datums\soul_link.dm"
 #include "code\datums\status_emoji.dm"
+#include "code\datums\status_indicator.dm"
 #include "code\datums\sun.dm"
 #include "code\datums\weakref.dm"
 #include "code\datums\world_topic.dm"
@@ -3852,6 +3853,7 @@
 #include "code\modules\mob\mob-say-legacy.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\mob-say-triggers.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\mob-say.dm"
+#include "code\modules\mob\mob-status_indicator.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\mob-status_procs.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\mob-synth.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\mob.dm"
diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/procs/do_after.dm b/code/__DEFINES/procs/do_after.dm
index e517c8c53c2..134c029ba9a 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/procs/do_after.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/procs/do_after.dm
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #define DO_AFTER_ARG_MOBILITY 5
 #define DO_AFTER_ARG_DIST 6
 #define DO_AFTER_ARG_CALLBACK 7
+#define DO_AFTER_ARG_STATUS_INDICATOR 7
 
 //? Interaction Checks
 /// checks if we're interacting with an atom
diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/do_after.dm b/code/__HELPERS/do_after.dm
index 88f573b3936..ec52e5e5584 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/do_after.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/do_after.dm
@@ -69,11 +69,13 @@
  * * mobility_flags - required mobility flags
  * * max_distance - if not null, the user is required to be get_dist() <= max_distance from target.
  * * additional_checks - a callback that allows for custom checks. this is invoked with our args directly, allowing us to modify delay.
+ *                       if this returns FALSE, we fail.
  * * progress_anchor - override progressbar anchor location
  * * progress_instance - override progressbar instance; this progressbar instance will be **deleted** when we are finished,
  *                       and should have a goal number equal to the delay.
+ * * status_indicator - /datum/status_indicator type
  */
-/proc/do_after(mob/user, delay, atom/target, flags, mobility_flags = MOBILITY_CAN_USE, max_distance, datum/callback/additional_checks, atom/progress_anchor, datum/progressbar/progress_instance)
+/proc/do_after(mob/user, delay, atom/target, flags, mobility_flags = MOBILITY_CAN_USE, max_distance, datum/callback/additional_checks, atom/progress_anchor, datum/progressbar/progress_instance, status_indicator)
 	if(isnull(user) || QDELETED(user))
 		progress_instance?.end_progress()
 		return FALSE
@@ -110,6 +112,14 @@
 		progress = new(user, delay, progress_anchor || target)
 	var/start_time = world.time
 
+	var/static/status_indicator_notch = 0
+	var/status_indicator_source
+	if(status_indicator)
+		status_indicator_source = "do_after-[++status_indicator_notch]"
+		if(status_indicator_notch >= SHORT_REAL_LIMIT)
+			status_indicator_notch = -SHORT_REAL_LIMIT
+		user.add_status_indicator(status_indicator, status_indicator_source)
+
 	//* loop
 
 	. = TRUE
@@ -183,6 +193,9 @@
 	if(!isnull(target))
 		STOP_INTERACTING_WITH(user, target, INTERACTING_FOR_DO_AFTER)
 
+	if(status_indicator_source)
+		user.remove_status_indicator(status_indicator, status_indicator_source)
+
 /**
  * Does an action to ourselves after a delay.
  *
diff --git a/code/datums/status_indicator.dm b/code/datums/status_indicator.dm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4a21a26288b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/datums/status_indicator.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+//* This file is explicitly licensed under the MIT license. *//
+//* Copyright (c) 2025 Citadel Station Developers           *//
+
+GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(status_indicators, init_status_indicators())
+
+/proc/init_status_indicators()
+	. = list()
+	for(var/datum/status_indicator/path as anything in subtypesof(/datum/status_indicator))
+		if(path.abstract_type == path)
+			continue
+		. += new path
+	// quack. duck typing to the rescue (and chagrin of whoever has to fix this 2 years later)
+	tim_sort(., /proc/cmp_name_asc)
+
+/**
+ * A status indicator to be flicked by mobs, primarily.
+ * * That said, this ideally contains alignment data that can be used to align it to any atom, so...
+ * * Icon states are assumed to be aligned to bottom left of the icon size. Provide alignment offsets if needed.
+ */
+/datum/status_indicator
+	abstract_type = /datum/status_indicator
+	var/name
+	var/icon
+	var/icon_state
+
+	var/icon_size_x = 32
+	var/icon_size_y = 32
+	var/indicator_size_x = 8
+	var/indicator_size_y = 8
+	/// pixels to shift to boost move the indicator's bounding box to 1, 1
+	/// * if your indicator is at 25, 25 to 32, 32 this is -24
+	var/alignment_offset_x = 0
+	/// pixels to shift to boost move the indicator's bounding box to 1, 1
+	/// * if your indicator is at 25, 25 to 32, 32 this is -24
+	var/alignment_offset_y = 0
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob-status_indicator.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob-status_indicator.dm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8287c464546
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob-status_indicator.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+//* This file is explicitly licensed under the MIT license. *//
+//* Copyright (c) 2024 Citadel Station developers.          *//
+
+/mob/proc/add_status_indicator(path, source)
+	if(!status_indicators)
+		status_indicators = list()
+	if(!status_indicators[path])
+		status_indicators[path] = list()
+		add_status_indicator_internal(path)
+	status_indicators[path] |= source
+	return TRUE
+
+/mob/proc/remove_status_indicator(path, source)
+	if(!status_indicators?[path])
+		return TRUE
+	status_indicators[path] -= source
+	if(!length(status_indicators[path]))
+		clear_status_indicator(path)
+	return TRUE
+
+/mob/proc/clear_status_indicator(path)
+	if(!status_indicators)
+		return TRUE
+	if(status_indicators[path])
+		status_indicators -= path
+		if(!length(status_indicators))
+			status_indicators = null
+		remove_status_indicator_internal(path)
+	return TRUE
+
+/mob/proc/clear_status_indicators()
+	for(var/path in status_indicators)
+		clear_status_indicator(path)
+	return TRUE
+
+/mob/proc/add_status_indicator_internal(path)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+	reload_status_indicators()
+
+/mob/proc/remove_status_indicator_internal(path)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+	reload_status_indicators()
+
+/mob/proc/reload_status_indicators()
+	cut_overlay(status_indicator_overlays, TRUE)
+	status_indicator_overlays = list()
+	var/const/row_max = 3
+	var/row_count = ceil(length(status_indicators) / row_max)
+	// the pixel right below the current row
+	var/current_y = icon_y_dimension
+	for(var/row in 1 to row_count)
+		var/row_start = (row - 1) * row_count
+		var/row_size = min(row_max, length(status_indicators) - row_start)
+		var/row_total_width = 0
+		var/row_max_height = 0
+		var/list/image/row_images = list()
+		for(var/i in 1 to row_size)
+			var/datum/status_indicator/indicator_path = status_indicators[row]
+			var/datum/status_indicator/indicator = GLOB.status_indicators[indicator_path]
+			if(!indicator)
+				status_indicators -= indicator_path
+				CRASH("indicator [indicator_path] not found, removing and aborting reload")
+			row_total_width += indicator.indicator_size_x
+			row_max_height = max(row_max_height, indicator.indicator_size_y)
+			var/image/indicator_image = image(indicator_path.icon, indicator_path.icon_state)
+			indicator_image.appearance_flags = RESET_COLOR | KEEP_APART
+			indicator_image.plane = FLOAT_PLANE
+			indicator_image.layer = FLOAT_LAYER
+			indicator_image.pixel_y = indicator.alignment_offset_y
+			indicator_image.pixel_x = indicator.alignment_offset_x
+			indicator_image.pixel_w = indicator.indicator_size_x
+			row_images += indicator_image
+		var/row_current_x = (WORLD_ICON_SIZE - row_total_width) / 2
+		for(var/i in 1 to row_size)
+			var/image/image = row_images[i]
+			image.pixel_y += current_y
+			image.pixel_x += row_current_x
+			row_current_x += image.pixel_z
+			image.pixel_z = 0
+			status_indicator_overlays += image
+	add_overlay(status_indicator_overlays)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
index 621b8c8b595..b07d6c24c98 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@
 	/// The calculated mob speed slowdown based on the modifiers list
 	var/movespeed_hyperbolic
 
+	//* Status Indicators *//
+	/// datum path = list of sources
+	var/list/status_indicators
+	var/list/status_indicator_overlays
+
 /**
  * Intialize a mob
  *
diff --git a/icons/mob/status_indicators.dmi b/icons/mob/status_indicators.dmi
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cf74d73796c
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/mob/status_indicators.dmi differ