diff --git a/code/__defines/appearance.dm b/code/__defines/appearance.dm
index faa97e8f06..87a05419a8 100644
--- a/code/__defines/appearance.dm
+++ b/code/__defines/appearance.dm
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
 // Consider these images/atoms as part of the UI/HUD
 #define APPEARANCE_UI_IGNORE_ALPHA			RESET_COLOR|RESET_TRANSFORM|NO_CLIENT_COLOR|RESET_ALPHA
 #define APPEARANCE_UI						RESET_COLOR|RESET_TRANSFORM|NO_CLIENT_COLOR
+
+/// The atom is not clickable
+#define XMOUSE_OPACITY_NEVER 0
+
+/// The atom is clickable normally
+#define XMOUSE_OPACITY_DEFAULT 1
+
+/// The atom steals clicks from other clickables
+#define XMOUSE_OPACITY_ALWAYS 2
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystems/typing.dm b/code/controllers/subsystems/typing.dm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..081a220963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystems/typing.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+SUBSYSTEM_DEF(typing)
+	name = "Typing"
+	flags = SS_BACKGROUND | SS_NO_INIT
+	runlevels = RUNLEVEL_GAME | RUNLEVEL_POSTGAME
+	wait = 0.5 SECONDS
+
+	/// The skin control to poll for TYPING_STATE_INPUT status.
+	var/const/INPUT_HANDLE = "mainwindow.input"
+
+	var/const/INFLIGHT_TIMEOUT = 5 SECONDS
+
+	/// The status entry index of the related client's typing indicator visibility preference.
+	var/const/INDEX_PREFERENCE = 1
+
+	/// The status entry index of the inflight state.
+	var/const/INDEX_INFLIGHT = 2
+
+	/// The status entry index of the timeout threshold.
+	var/const/INDEX_TIMEOUT = 3
+
+	/// The status entry index of the input bar typing state.
+	var/const/INDEX_INPUT_STATE = 4
+
+	/// The status entry index of the verb input typing state.
+	var/const/INDEX_VERB_STATE = 5
+
+	/// The highest index in a status entry.
+	var/const/MAX_INDEX = 5
+
+	/*
+	* A list of (ckey = list(
+			preference = 0|1,
+			inflight = 0|1,
+			timeout = num,
+			istyping_input = 0|1,
+			istyping_hotkey = 0|1
+		), ...)
+		See .proc/GetEntry for details.
+	*/
+	var/static/list/status = list()
+
+	/// Matches input bar verbs that should set TYPING_STATE_INPUT.
+	var/static/regex/match_verbs = regex("^(Me|Say) +\"?\\w+")
+
+	/// A list of clients waiting to be polled for input state.
+	var/static/list/client/queue = list()
+
+
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/Recover()
+	status = list()
+	queue = list()
+
+
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/fire(resumed, no_mc_tick)
+	if (!resumed)
+		queue = list()
+		for (var/client/client as anything in GLOB.clients)
+			queue += client
+		if (!length(queue))
+			return
+	var/cut_until = 1
+	var/list/entry
+	for (var/client/client as anything in queue)
+		++cut_until
+		if (QDELETED(client))
+			continue
+		entry = GetEntry(client)
+		if (!entry[INDEX_PREFERENCE])
+			continue
+		if (!entry[INDEX_INFLIGHT])
+			UpdateInputState(client, entry)
+		else if (world.time < entry[INDEX_TIMEOUT])
+			entry[INDEX_INFLIGHT] = FALSE
+		if (no_mc_tick)
+			CHECK_TICK
+		else if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
+			queue.Cut(1, cut_until)
+			return
+	queue.Cut()
+
+
+/// Return, generating if necessary, a ckey-indexed list holding typing status.
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/proc/GetEntry(client/client)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+	var/ckey
+	if (istext(client))
+		ckey = client
+	else if (istype(client))
+		ckey = client.ckey
+	else
+		return
+	var/list/entry = status[ckey]
+	if (!entry)
+		entry = new (MAX_INDEX)
+		entry[INDEX_PREFERENCE] = client.is_preference_enabled(/datum/client_preference/show_typing_indicator)
+		entry[INDEX_INFLIGHT] = FALSE
+		entry[INDEX_TIMEOUT] = world.time
+		entry[INDEX_INPUT_STATE] = FALSE
+		entry[INDEX_VERB_STATE] = FALSE
+		status[ckey] = entry
+	return entry
+
+
+/// Updates client's preference bool for whether typing indicators should be shown.
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/proc/UpdatePreference(client/client, preference)
+	var/list/entry = GetEntry(client)
+	entry[INDEX_PREFERENCE] = preference
+	UpdateIndicator(client, entry)
+
+
+/// Updates client|ckey's verb typing state to new_state.
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/proc/UpdateVerbState(client/client, state)
+	var/list/entry = GetEntry(client)
+	entry[INDEX_VERB_STATE] = state
+	UpdateIndicator(client, entry)
+
+
+/// Request client's input bar state using winget and updating entry accordingly.
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/proc/UpdateInputState(client/client, list/entry)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+	set waitfor = FALSE
+	var/timeout = world.time + INFLIGHT_TIMEOUT
+	entry[INDEX_INFLIGHT] = TRUE
+	entry[INDEX_TIMEOUT] = timeout
+	var/content = winget(client, INPUT_HANDLE, "text")
+	if (timeout != entry[INDEX_TIMEOUT]) // We're stale. Touch nothing.
+		return
+	entry[INDEX_INFLIGHT] = FALSE
+	if (QDELETED(client) || !isliving(client.mob))
+		return
+	entry[INDEX_INPUT_STATE] = match_verbs.Find(content) != 0
+	UpdateIndicator(client, entry)
+
+
+/// Attempt to update the mob's typing state and indicator according to new state.
+/datum/controller/subsystem/typing/proc/UpdateIndicator(client/client, list/entry)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+	var/mob/target = client.mob
+	var/display = target.stat == CONSCIOUS && entry[INDEX_PREFERENCE] && (entry[INDEX_INPUT_STATE] || entry[INDEX_VERB_STATE])
+	if (display == target.is_typing)
+		return
+	if (display)
+		if (!target.typing_indicator)
+			target.typing_indicator = new (null, target)
+		target.typing_indicator.icon_state = "[target.speech_bubble_appearance()]_typing"
+		target.typing_indicator.pixel_y = target.icon_expected_height - 32
+		target.vis_contents += target.typing_indicator
+		target.is_typing = TRUE
+		if (target.shadow)
+			target.vis_contents += target.typing_indicator
+	else
+		if (target.typing_indicator)
+			target.vis_contents -= target.typing_indicator
+		target.is_typing = FALSE
+		if (target.shadow)
+			target.vis_contents -= target.typing_indicator
+
+
+/atom/movable/typing_indicator
+	icon = 'icons/mob/talk.dmi'
+	icon_state = "typing"
+	plane = PLANE_LIGHTING_ABOVE
+	mouse_opacity = XMOUSE_OPACITY_NEVER
+	simulated = FALSE
+	anchored = TRUE
+
+	var/mob/owner
+
+
+/atom/movable/typing_indicator/Destroy()
+	if (owner)
+		owner.vis_contents -= src
+		owner.typing_indicator = null
+	owner = null
+	return ..()
+
+
+/atom/movable/typing_indicator/Initialize(mapload, mob/_owner)
+	. = ..()
+	if (!istype(_owner))
+		return INITIALIZE_HINT_QDEL
+	owner = _owner
+
+
+/// If this mob is or was piloted by a player with typing indicators enabled, an instance of one.
+/mob/var/atom/movable/typing_indicator/typing_indicator
+
+
+/// Whether this mob is currently typing, if piloted by a player.
+/mob/var/is_typing
+
+
+/mob/Destroy()
+	QDEL_NULL(typing_indicator)
+	return ..()
+
+
+/mob/Logout()
+	if (typing_indicator)
+		vis_contents -= typing_indicator
+	is_typing = FALSE
+	..()
+
+
+/mob/verb/say_wrapper()
+	set name = ".Say"
+	set hidden = TRUE
+	SStyping.UpdateVerbState(client, TRUE)
+	var/message = input("","say (text)") as null | text
+	SStyping.UpdateVerbState(client, FALSE)
+	if (message)
+		say_verb(message)
+
+
+/mob/verb/me_wrapper()
+	set name = ".Me"
+	set hidden = TRUE
+	SStyping.UpdateVerbState(client, TRUE)
+	var/message = input("","me (text)") as null | text
+	SStyping.UpdateVerbState(client, FALSE)
+	if (message)
+		me_verb(message)
+
+
+// Retained for uses by non-player assets
+/proc/generate_speech_bubble(atom/movable/loc, icon_state, layer = FLOAT_LAYER)
+	var/image/image = image('icons/mob/talk.dmi', loc, icon_state, layer)
+	image.appearance_flags |= KEEP_APART | RESET_COLOR | PIXEL_SCALE
+	if (ismovable(loc))
+		var/x_scale = loc.get_icon_scale_x()
+		if (abs(x_scale) < 2) // reset transform on bubbles, except for the Very Large
+			image.pixel_z = (loc.icon_expected_height * (x_scale - 1))
+			image.appearance_flags |= RESET_TRANSFORM
+	return image
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/global/setting_datums.dm b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/global/setting_datums.dm
index 1e6f4ed11c..51893ccb83 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/global/setting_datums.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/global/setting_datums.dm
@@ -178,8 +178,7 @@ var/global/list/_client_preferences_by_type
 	disabled_description = "Hide"
 
 /datum/client_preference/show_typing_indicator/toggled(var/mob/preference_mob, var/enabled)
-	if(!enabled)
-		preference_mob.set_typing_indicator(FALSE)
+	SStyping.UpdatePreference(preference_mob.client, enabled)
 
 /datum/client_preference/show_ooc
 	description ="OOC chat"
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/brain/brain.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/brain/brain.dm
index 78acfe4703..1482ab006c 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/brain/brain.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/brain/brain.dm
@@ -43,23 +43,3 @@
 
 /mob/living/carbon/brain/isSynthetic()
 	return istype(loc, /obj/item/mmi)
-
-/mob/living/carbon/brain/set_typing_indicator(var/state)
-	if(isturf(loc))
-		return ..()
-
-	if(!is_preference_enabled(/datum/client_preference/show_typing_indicator))
-		loc.cut_overlay(typing_indicator, TRUE)
-		return
-
-	if(!typing_indicator)
-		init_typing_indicator("[speech_bubble_appearance()]_typing")
-
-	if(state && !typing)
-		loc.add_overlay(typing_indicator, TRUE)
-		typing = TRUE
-	else if(typing)
-		loc.cut_overlay(typing_indicator, TRUE)
-		typing = FALSE
-
-	return state
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm
index cf6aa54bc4..72f2c818c4 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm
@@ -212,9 +212,6 @@
 
 	var/get_rig_stats = 0 //Moved from computer.dm
 
-	var/typing
-	var/obj/effect/decal/typing_indicator
-
 	var/low_priority = FALSE //Skip processing life() if there's just no players on this Z-level
 
 	var/default_pixel_x = 0 //For offsetting mobs
@@ -225,4 +222,4 @@
 
 	var/registered_z
 
-	var/in_enclosed_vehicle = 0	//For mechs and fighters ambiance. Can be used in other cases.
\ No newline at end of file
+	var/in_enclosed_vehicle = 0	//For mechs and fighters ambiance. Can be used in other cases.
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/say.dm b/code/modules/mob/say.dm
index 20bf193bb4..fa7330cfc1 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/say.dm
@@ -1,35 +1,32 @@
 /mob/proc/say(var/message, var/datum/language/speaking = null, var/whispering = 0)
 	return
 
+
 /mob/verb/whisper(message as text)
 	set name = "Whisper"
 	set category = "IC"
+	usr.say(message, whispering = TRUE)
 
-	usr.say(message,whispering=1)
 
 /mob/verb/say_verb(message as text)
 	set name = "Say"
 	set category = "IC"
-
-	set_typing_indicator(FALSE)
 	usr.say(message)
 
+
 /mob/verb/me_verb(message as message)
 	set name = "Me"
 	set category = "IC"
-
 	if(say_disabled)	//This is here to try to identify lag problems
-		to_chat(usr, "<font color='red'>Speech is currently admin-disabled.</font>")
+		to_chat(usr, SPAN_WARNING("Speech is currently admin-disabled."))
 		return
-
 	message = sanitize(message)
-
-	set_typing_indicator(FALSE)
 	if(use_me)
 		custom_emote(usr.emote_type, message)
 	else
 		usr.emote(message)
 
+
 /mob/proc/say_dead(var/message)
 	if(say_disabled)	//This is here to try to identify lag problems
 		to_chat(usr, "<span class='danger'>Speech is currently admin-disabled.</span>")
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/typing_indicator.dm b/code/modules/mob/typing_indicator.dm
deleted file mode 100644
index 36a99a265b..0000000000
--- a/code/modules/mob/typing_indicator.dm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-/proc/generate_speech_bubble(var/bubble_loc, var/speech_state, var/set_layer = FLOAT_LAYER)
-	var/image/I = image('icons/mob/talk.dmi', bubble_loc, speech_state, set_layer)
-	I.appearance_flags |= (KEEP_APART|RESET_COLOR|PIXEL_SCALE)
-	if(istype(bubble_loc, /atom/movable))
-		var/atom/movable/AM = bubble_loc
-		var/x_scale = AM.get_icon_scale_x()
-		if(abs(x_scale) < 2) // reset transform on bubbles, except for the Very Large
-			I.pixel_z = (AM.icon_expected_height * (x_scale-1))
-			I.appearance_flags |= RESET_TRANSFORM
-	return I
-
-/mob/proc/init_typing_indicator(var/set_state = "typing")
-	typing_indicator = new
-	typing_indicator.appearance = generate_speech_bubble(null, set_state)
-	typing_indicator.appearance_flags |= (KEEP_APART|RESET_COLOR|RESET_TRANSFORM|PIXEL_SCALE)
-
-/mob/proc/set_typing_indicator(var/state) //Leaving this here for mobs.
-
-	if(!is_preference_enabled(/datum/client_preference/show_typing_indicator))
-		if(typing_indicator)
-			cut_overlay(typing_indicator, TRUE)
-		return
-
-	if(!typing_indicator)
-		init_typing_indicator("[speech_bubble_appearance()]_typing")
-
-	if(state && !typing)
-		add_overlay(typing_indicator, TRUE)
-		typing = TRUE
-	else if(typing)
-		cut_overlay(typing_indicator, TRUE)
-		typing = FALSE
-
-	if(shadow) //Multi-Z above-me shadows
-		shadow.set_typing_indicator(state)
-
-	return state
-
-/mob/verb/say_wrapper()
-	set name = ".Say"
-	set hidden = 1
-
-	set_typing_indicator(TRUE)
-	var/message = input("","say (text)") as text
-	set_typing_indicator(FALSE)
-	
-	if(message)
-		say_verb(message)
-
-/mob/verb/me_wrapper()
-	set name = ".Me"
-	set hidden = 1
-
-	set_typing_indicator(TRUE)
-	var/message = input("","me (text)") as text
-	set_typing_indicator(FALSE)
-
-	if(message)
-		me_verb(message)
diff --git a/code/modules/multiz/zshadow.dm b/code/modules/multiz/zshadow.dm
index ad86c06425..3bd9cae99a 100644
--- a/code/modules/multiz/zshadow.dm
+++ b/code/modules/multiz/zshadow.dm
@@ -113,15 +113,3 @@ INITIALIZE_IMMEDIATE(/mob/zshadow)
 	. = ..()
 	if(shadow)
 		shadow.set_dir(new_dir)
-
-/mob/zshadow/set_typing_indicator(var/state)
-	if(!typing_indicator)
-		init_typing_indicator("typing")
-	if(state && !typing)
-		add_overlay(typing_indicator)
-		typing = 1
-	else if(!state && typing)
-		cut_overlay(typing_indicator)
-		typing = 0
-	if(shadow)
-		shadow.set_typing_indicator(state)
diff --git a/polaris.dme b/polaris.dme
index 5f4be4cc24..542e55c807 100644
--- a/polaris.dme
+++ b/polaris.dme
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@
 #include "code\controllers\subsystems\ticker.dm"
 #include "code\controllers\subsystems\time_track.dm"
 #include "code\controllers\subsystems\timer.dm"
+#include "code\controllers\subsystems\typing.dm"
 #include "code\controllers\subsystems\vote.dm"
 #include "code\controllers\subsystems\webhooks.dm"
 #include "code\controllers\subsystems\xenoarch.dm"
@@ -2205,7 +2206,6 @@
 #include "code\modules\mob\say.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\skillset.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\transform_procs.dm"
-#include "code\modules\mob\typing_indicator.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\update_icons.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\_modifiers\aura.dm"
 #include "code\modules\mob\_modifiers\changeling.dm"