diff --git a/compass_image_loader.py b/compass_image_loader.py
index 301867b..f142cd0 100644
--- a/compass_image_loader.py
+++ b/compass_image_loader.py
@@ -17,51 +17,19 @@ def _discover_directories():
 
     candidates = set()
 
-    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(base_dir, followlinks=True):
+    for root, dirs, _ in os.walk(base_dir, followlinks=True):
         rel = os.path.relpath(root, base_dir)
         if rel == ".":
             continue
 
         dirs_lower = {d.lower() for d in dirs}
 
-        if VALID_DIRECTIONS & dirs_lower:
-            candidates.add(rel)
-        elif VALID_MODALITIES & dirs_lower:
+        if VALID_DIRECTIONS & dirs_lower or VALID_MODALITIES & dirs_lower:
             candidates.add(rel)
 
     return sorted(candidates)
 
 
-def _discover_children(parent_rel):
-    base_dir = folder_paths.get_input_directory()
-    if parent_rel:
-        parent_abs = os.path.join(base_dir, parent_rel)
-    else:
-        parent_abs = base_dir
-
-    if not os.path.isdir(parent_abs):
-        return []
-
-    children = set()
-    try:
-        for name in os.listdir(parent_abs):
-            full = os.path.join(parent_abs, name)
-            if os.path.isdir(full):
-                rel = os.path.relpath(full, base_dir)
-                children.add(rel)
-    except OSError:
-        pass
-
-    my_children = set()
-    for child in children:
-        child_parts = child.split("/")
-        parent_parts = parent_rel.split("/") if parent_rel else []
-        if len(child_parts) == len(parent_parts) + 1:
-            my_children.add(child_parts[-1])
-
-    return sorted(my_children)
-
-
 def _resolve_target_dir(base_dir, directory, direction):
     if not directory or not (isinstance(directory, str) and directory.strip()):
         raise ValueError("directory must be a non-empty string")
@@ -120,14 +88,17 @@ class CompassImageLoader:
         return {
             "required": {
                 "directory": (directories if directories else ["(none found)"],),
-                "direction": (["", "n", "ne", "e", "se", "s", "sw", "w", "nw"],),
+                "direction": (
+                    ["", "n", "ne", "e", "se", "s", "sw", "w", "nw"],
+                    {"default": ""},
+                ),
                 "modality": (["image", "depth", "openpose"],),
                 "frame": ("STRING", {"default": ""}),
                 "width": ("INT", {"default": 0, "min": 0, "max": 16384, "step": 1}),
                 "height": ("INT", {"default": 0, "min": 0, "max": 16384, "step": 1}),
             },
             "optional": {
-                "direction_in": ("STRING", {"default": ""}),
+                "direction_override": ("STRING", {"default": ""}),
             },
         }
 
@@ -138,12 +109,12 @@ class CompassImageLoader:
 
     def load_images(
         self, directory, direction, modality, frame=None, width=0, height=0,
-        direction_in=None
+        direction_override=None
     ):
-        if direction_in and direction_in.strip():
-            resolved_direction = direction_in.strip()
+        if direction_override is not None and str(direction_override).strip():
+            resolved_direction = str(direction_override).strip()
         elif direction and direction.strip():
-            resolved_direction = direction.strip()
+            resolved_direction = str(direction).strip()
         else:
             resolved_direction = ""
 
@@ -198,14 +169,14 @@ class CompassImageLoader:
     @classmethod
     def IS_CHANGED(
         cls, directory, direction, modality, frame=None, width=0, height=0,
-        direction_in=None
+        direction_override=None
     ):
         import hashlib
 
-        if direction_in and direction_in.strip():
-            resolved_direction = direction_in.strip()
+        if direction_override is not None and str(direction_override).strip():
+            resolved_direction = str(direction_override).strip()
         elif direction and direction.strip():
-            resolved_direction = direction.strip()
+            resolved_direction = str(direction).strip()
         else:
             resolved_direction = ""
 
diff --git a/js/compass_image_loader.js b/js/compass_image_loader.js
index 0ca41f8..872f591 100644
--- a/js/compass_image_loader.js
+++ b/js/compass_image_loader.js
@@ -84,9 +84,14 @@ app.registerExtension({
       const inputEl = filterWidget?.inputEl;
       if (!inputEl) return;
 
+      const listId = `compass_dir_list_${Date.now()}_${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 7)}`;
       const listEl = document.createElement("ul");
+      listEl.id = listId;
       listEl.style.display = "none";
+      listEl.style.position = "absolute";
+      listEl.style.zIndex = "9999";
       document.body.appendChild(listEl);
+      inputEl._listId = listId;
 
       inputEl._currentPrefix = directoryWidget.value || "";
 
@@ -147,8 +152,9 @@ app.registerExtension({
 
       inputEl.addEventListener("blur", () => {
         setTimeout(() => {
-          if (!listEl.contains(document.activeElement)) {
-            hideDropdown(listEl);
+          const list = document.getElementById(inputEl._listId);
+          if (list && !list.contains(document.activeElement)) {
+            hideDropdown(list);
           }
         }, 150);
       });
@@ -171,7 +177,9 @@ app.registerExtension({
         }
       });
 
-      const origSetValue = directoryWidget.callback ? directoryWidget.callback.bind(directoryWidget) : () => {};
+      const origSetValue = directoryWidget.callback
+        ? directoryWidget.callback.bind(directoryWidget)
+        : () => {};
       directoryWidget.callback = (value) => {
         origSetValue(value);
         inputEl._currentPrefix = value || "";
@@ -181,32 +189,9 @@ app.registerExtension({
       const origOnRemoved = this.onRemoved ? this.onRemoved.bind(this) : () => {};
       this.onRemoved = () => {
         origOnRemoved();
-        listEl.remove();
+        const list = document.getElementById(listId);
+        if (list) list.remove();
       };
-
-      const imageWidget = this.widgets?.find((w) => w.name === "image");
-      if (imageWidget) {
-        const origCallback = imageWidget.callback ? imageWidget.callback.bind(imageWidget) : () => {};
-        imageWidget.callback = (value) => {
-          origCallback(value);
-          if (imageWidget.element) {
-            imageWidget.element.style.opacity = "1";
-          }
-        };
-      }
     };
   },
-
-  async loadedGraphNode(node) {
-    if (node.type !== "CompassImageLoader") return;
-
-    const directoryWidget = node.widgets?.find((w) => w.name === "directory");
-    const filterWidget = node.widgets?.find((w) => w.name === "directory_filter");
-    const inputEl = filterWidget?.inputEl;
-    const listEl = document.getElementById("compass_dir_list");
-
-    if (inputEl && listEl) {
-      inputEl._currentPrefix = directoryWidget?.value || "";
-    }
-  },
 });