diff --git a/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-activity.test.tsx b/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-activity.test.tsx
index e070f46f5..1ce9b3a8c 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-activity.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-activity.test.tsx
@@ -39,7 +39,26 @@ describe("ChatActivity", () => {
       },
     ];
 
+    // End-user live mode is now a single status line — no step fraction, no
+    // rows. The classic Processing bar lives on the debug surface.
     renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={true} totalSteps={5} />);
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("chat-activity-live-status")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Thinking/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("0/5")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("debug surface keeps the classic processing bar while live", () => {
+    const events: PipelineEvent[] = [
+      {
+        type: "task_start",
+        taskType: "ai.labs.rules",
+        taskId: "1",
+        index: 0,
+        timestamp: Date.now(),
+      },
+    ];
+
+    renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={true} totalSteps={5} showInternalSteps />);
     expect(screen.getByText(/Processing…/)).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("0/5")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
@@ -116,6 +135,8 @@ describe("ChatActivity", () => {
   });
 
   it("renders details and supports tool tracing, expansion, and copying details", async () => {
+    // Details are a resting-state affordance in end-user mode now — live shows
+    // only the status line.
     const user = userEvent.setup();
     const events: PipelineEvent[] = [
       {
@@ -140,9 +161,10 @@ describe("ChatActivity", () => {
       },
     ];
 
-    renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={true} />);
+    renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={false} />);
 
-    // Since isLive is true, it should start expanded
+    // Auto-expands because the toolTrace makes toolCallCount > 0 — the
+    // expansion effect, not liveness, drives it
     expect(screen.getByText("llm")).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText("unknown")).toBeInTheDocument();
 
@@ -302,3 +324,72 @@ describe("ChatActivity — summary metrics follow the filtered list", () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(/\b2 steps/)).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * End-user live mode is one status line: what the agent is doing right now.
+ * The wall of internal step rows (dozens of identical httpcalls entries, some
+ * spinning forever when their completion never pairs up) is debug-surface-only.
+ */
+describe("ChatActivity — end-user live status line", () => {
+  const start = (taskType: string, index: number): PipelineEvent => ({
+    type: "task_start",
+    taskType,
+    taskId: String(index),
+    index,
+    timestamp: Date.now(),
+  });
+
+  it("shows Thinking before any tool call, and never the step rows", () => {
+    const events: PipelineEvent[] = [
+      start("ai.labs.httpcalls", 0),
+      { ...start("ai.labs.httpcalls", 0), type: "task_complete", durationMs: 1 },
+      start("ai.labs.httpcalls", 1),
+    ];
+
+    renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={true} />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("chat-activity-live-status")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Thinking/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    // No row list, no expander — the httpcalls wall must not render live.
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("chat-activity-toggle")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("httpCalls")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("names the tool currently in use once a toolTrace event arrives", () => {
+    const events: PipelineEvent[] = [
+      start("ai.labs.httpcalls", 0),
+      {
+        ...start("ai.labs.httpcalls", 0),
+        type: "task_complete",
+        durationMs: 2,
+        toolTrace: [
+          { type: "tool_call", tool: "readAgent", arguments: "{}" },
+          { type: "tool_result", tool: "readAgent", result: "ok" },
+        ],
+      },
+      start("ai.labs.httpcalls", 1),
+    ];
+
+    renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={true} />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByText(/readAgent/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/1 tool call/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("a failed task breaks through the minimal line to the full view", () => {
+    const events: PipelineEvent[] = [
+      start("ai.labs.langchain", 0),
+      {
+        ...start("ai.labs.langchain", 0),
+        type: "task_failed",
+        errorType: "timeout",
+        errorSummary: "provider timed out",
+      },
+    ];
+
+    renderWithProviders(<ChatActivity events={events} isLive={true} />);
+
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("chat-activity-live-status")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("chat-activity-toggle")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-drawer.test.tsx b/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-drawer.test.tsx
index 5ddaeea33..38badc728 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-drawer.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-drawer.test.tsx
@@ -328,3 +328,48 @@ describe("ChatDrawer — attachments", () => {
     await waitFor(() => expect(sendBtn).toBeEnabled());
   });
 });
+
+describe("ChatDrawer — opens scrolled to the bottom", () => {
+  it("an existing transcript mounts at the bottom, not the top", async () => {
+    // jsdom has no scrollTo, so the hook falls back to scrollTop = scrollHeight
+    // — give every element a height so that assignment is observable.
+    const proto = window.HTMLElement.prototype;
+    const original = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(proto, "scrollHeight");
+    Object.defineProperty(proto, "scrollHeight", { configurable: true, get: () => 500 });
+    try {
+      useChatStore.getState().setSelectedAgent("agent-1", "Agent One");
+      useChatStore.getState().setConversationId("conv-s1");
+      for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+        useChatStore.getState().addMessage({
+          id: `m-${i}`,
+          role: i % 2 ? "agent" : "user",
+          content: `message ${i}`,
+          timestamp: Date.now(),
+        });
+      }
+      // Mount CLOSED first: the real drawer stays mounted in the layout and
+      // only the isOpen dep makes the effect fire on open — rendering with
+      // isOpen pre-set would pass even with that dep deleted, because a fresh
+      // mount runs its effect unconditionally.
+      useChatDrawerStore.setState({
+        isOpen: false,
+        agentId: "agent-1",
+        agentName: "Agent One",
+        step: "ready",
+        errorMessage: null,
+      });
+
+      const { container } = renderWithProviders(<ChatDrawer />);
+      const { act } = await import("@testing-library/react");
+      act(() => {
+        useChatDrawerStore.setState({ isOpen: true });
+      });
+      const scroller = container.querySelector('[aria-live="polite"]') as HTMLElement;
+      expect(scroller).toBeTruthy();
+      await waitFor(() => expect(scroller.scrollTop).toBe(500));
+    } finally {
+      if (original) Object.defineProperty(proto, "scrollHeight", original);
+      else delete (proto as unknown as Record<string, unknown>).scrollHeight;
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-panel.test.tsx b/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-panel.test.tsx
index ed942f992..756dcf09d 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-panel.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/__tests__/chat-panel.test.tsx
@@ -697,3 +697,22 @@ describe("ChatPanel", () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe("ChatPanel — shared live status line", () => {
+  it("shows the operator-style status line once turn events arrive", () => {
+    useChatStore.getState().setSelectedAgent("agent1", "Test Agent");
+    useChatStore.getState().setConversationId("conv1");
+    useChatStore.getState().addMessage({ id: "u1", role: "user", content: "hi", timestamp: Date.now() });
+    useChatStore.getState().setProcessing(true);
+    useDebugStore.setState({
+      currentTurnEvents: [
+        { type: "task_start", taskType: "ai.labs.httpcalls", taskId: "1", index: 0, timestamp: Date.now() },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    renderWithProviders(<ChatPanel />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("chat-activity-live-status")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Thinking/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/chat/chat-activity.tsx b/src/components/chat/chat-activity.tsx
index 1cafcfa6e..3a5158d6b 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/chat-activity.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/chat-activity.tsx
@@ -204,6 +204,17 @@ export function ChatActivity({ events, isLive, totalSteps, showInternalSteps = f
 
   const shouldPulse = isLive && hasRunning;
 
+  // The tool the agent is on right now — best live evidence is the last
+  // tool_call in the most recent event carrying a toolTrace. Null until the
+  // first tool call: the turn is purely "thinking" until then.
+  const currentTool = useMemo(() => {
+    for (let i = events.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+      const calls = events[i]?.toolTrace?.filter((e) => e.type === "tool_call");
+      if (calls?.length) return calls[calls.length - 1]!.tool;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }, [events]);
+
   // Auto-expand if tool calls, cascade steps, or errors are present
   useEffect(() => {
     if (toolCallCount > 0 || cascadeSteps.length > 0 || rawTasks.some((t) => t.status === "error")) {
@@ -215,6 +226,38 @@ export function ChatActivity({ events, isLive, totalSteps, showInternalSteps = f
   if (!showInternalSteps && !isLive && tasks.length === 0 && cascadeSteps.length === 0) return null;
   if (rawTasks.length === 0 && cascadeSteps.length === 0) return null;
 
+  // End-user LIVE mode: a scrolling wall of internal step rows (an
+  // OpenAPI-provisioned agent's pipeline is dozens of identical httpcalls
+  // rows, and a row whose completion event never pairs up spins forever) says
+  // nothing a user can act on. Show one honest status line instead — what the
+  // agent is doing right now — and keep the step list for the debug surface
+  // and the resting summary. Two things still break through to the full view
+  // mid-turn, because they ARE actionable: a failed task (its classified
+  // error must not hide behind a cheerful spinner) and a model-cascade trace
+  // (escalations are the point of watching one).
+  const hasErrorTask = rawTasks.some((task) => task.status === "error");
+  if (!showInternalSteps && isLive && !hasErrorTask && cascadeSteps.length === 0) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex justify-center px-4 py-1" data-testid="chat-activity">
+        <div className="w-full max-w-[85%] rounded-xl border border-primary/30 bg-primary/5">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-xs" data-testid="chat-activity-live-status">
+            <Loader2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 animate-spin text-primary" />
+            <span className="font-medium text-primary">
+              {currentTool
+                ? t("chat.activity.usingTool", "Using {{tool}}…", { tool: currentTool })
+                : t("chat.thinking", "Thinking...")}
+            </span>
+            {toolCallCount > 0 && (
+              <span className="text-muted-foreground">
+                {t("chat.activity.toolCallsCount", "{{count}} tool calls", { count: toolCallCount })}
+              </span>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
   return (
     <div className="flex justify-center px-4 py-1" data-testid="chat-activity">
       <div
diff --git a/src/components/chat/chat-drawer.tsx b/src/components/chat/chat-drawer.tsx
index 5284bb6e0..932044837 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/chat-drawer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/chat-drawer.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect, useRef, useState, useCallback } from "react";
+import { useRef, useState, useCallback } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { useChatDrawerStore, type ChatDrawerStep } from "@/hooks/use-chat-drawer";
 import { useChatStore, useStartConversation, useSendMessage } from "@/hooks/use-chat";
@@ -11,12 +11,16 @@ import {
   type ReadyAttachment,
 } from "@/hooks/use-attachment-staging";
 import { ChatMessage } from "./chat-message";
+import { ChatActivity } from "./chat-activity";
 import { FileDropOverlay, PendingAttachmentChip } from "./attachment-chip";
 import { StreamingToggle } from "./streaming-toggle";
 import { DebugDrawer as DebugPanel } from "@/components/debugger/debug-drawer";
+import { useDebugStore } from "@/hooks/use-debug-events";
 import { InputHint } from "@/components/chat/input-hint";
+import { useSmartAutoScroll } from "@/hooks/use-smart-auto-scroll";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import {
+  ArrowDown,
   Bot,
   X,
   MessageSquarePlus,
@@ -77,9 +81,9 @@ export function ChatDrawer() {
   const conversationId = useChatStore((s) => s.conversationId);
   const isProcessing = useChatStore((s) => s.isProcessing);
   const isThinking = useChatStore((s) => s.isThinking);
+  const currentTurnEvents = useDebugStore((s) => s.currentTurnEvents);
 
   const startConversation = useStartConversation();
-  const messagesEndRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
   // Attachment staging shared between the drop zone (drawer body) and the
   // input's picker/paste — one staging area, same as the main panel.
@@ -89,10 +93,23 @@ export function ChatDrawer() {
     (files) => void staging.stageFiles(files),
   );
 
-  // Auto-scroll to bottom on new messages
-  useEffect(() => {
-    messagesEndRef.current?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: "smooth" });
-  }, [messages]);
+  // Smart auto-scroll: follows new content only while the user is AT the
+  // bottom; scrolled up, the view stays put and a centered arrow offers the
+  // way back down.
+  const {
+    scrollRef,
+    showScrollFab,
+    hasNewContent,
+    scrollToBottom,
+    handleScroll,
+  } = useSmartAutoScroll<HTMLDivElement>({
+    // isOpen: the scroll container mounts only when the drawer opens, so
+    // without it an existing transcript opens scrolled to the TOP with no
+    // way down but manual scrolling. currentTurnEvents.length: the live
+    // status line grows the content without any message change.
+    deps: [messages, isThinking, isProcessing, isOpen, currentTurnEvents.length],
+    bottomThreshold: 80,
+  });
 
   const handleNewConversation = useCallback(() => {
     if (!agentId) return;
@@ -206,7 +223,8 @@ export function ChatDrawer() {
             {/* Chat messages */}
             {(showChat || (step === "idle" && conversationId)) && (
               <>
-                <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto" aria-live="polite" aria-relevant="additions">
+                <div className="relative flex-1 min-h-0">
+                <div ref={scrollRef} onScroll={handleScroll} className="h-full overflow-y-auto" aria-live="polite" aria-relevant="additions">
                   {messages.length === 0 ? (
                     <div className="flex h-full items-center justify-center">
                       <div className="text-center">
@@ -221,17 +239,42 @@ export function ChatDrawer() {
                       {messages.map((msg) => (
                         <ChatMessage key={msg.id} message={msg} />
                       ))}
-                      {isThinking && (
+                      {/* Live status — the same "Thinking…" / "Using {tool}…"
+                          line the operator and main chat show; the plain
+                          indicator covers the gap before the first event. */}
+                      {(isProcessing || isThinking) && currentTurnEvents.length > 0 ? (
+                        <ChatActivity events={currentTurnEvents} isLive showInternalSteps={false} />
+                      ) : isThinking ? (
                         <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground animate-pulse">
                           <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
                           <span className="italic">{t("chat.thinking")}</span>
                         </div>
-                      )}
-                      <div ref={messagesEndRef} />
+                      ) : null}
                     </div>
                   )}
                 </div>
 
+                {/* Centered scroll-to-bottom arrow — only while scrolled up */}
+                {showScrollFab && (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => scrollToBottom("smooth")}
+                    className="absolute bottom-3 inset-x-0 mx-auto z-10 flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-border bg-card shadow-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted transition-all animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2"
+                    title={t("chat.scrollToBottom", "Scroll to bottom")}
+                    aria-label={t("chat.scrollToBottom", "Scroll to bottom")}
+                    data-testid="drawer-scroll-to-bottom"
+                  >
+                    <ArrowDown className="h-4 w-4" />
+                    {hasNewContent && (
+                      <span className="absolute -top-1 -end-1 flex h-3 w-3">
+                        <span className="animate-ping absolute inline-flex h-full w-full rounded-full bg-primary opacity-75" />
+                        <span className="relative inline-flex rounded-full h-3 w-3 bg-primary" />
+                      </span>
+                    )}
+                  </button>
+                )}
+                </div>
+
                 {/* Quick replies */}
                 <QuickRepliesBar />
 
diff --git a/src/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx b/src/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx
index cd768eb40..bc8909a5a 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/chat-panel.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/hooks/use-attachment-staging";
 import { FileDropOverlay, PendingAttachmentChip } from "./attachment-chip";
 import { ChatMessage } from "./chat-message";
+import { ChatActivity } from "./chat-activity";
 import { ChatHistory } from "./chat-history";
 import { StreamingToggle } from "./streaming-toggle";
 import { DebugDrawer } from "@/components/debugger/debug-drawer";
@@ -470,10 +471,14 @@ export function ChatPanel({ embedded = false }: { embedded?: boolean } = {}) {
           </button>
         )}
 
-        {/* Messages */}
+        {/* Messages — the FAB must be a SIBLING of the scroller, anchored to
+            this wrapper: absolutely positioned inside an overflow container it
+            would scroll away with the content, vanishing exactly when the
+            user has scrolled up and needs it. */}
+        <div className="relative flex-1 min-h-0">
         <div
           ref={scrollContainerRef}
-          className="relative flex-1 overflow-y-auto min-h-0"
+          className="h-full overflow-y-auto"
           onScroll={handleScroll}
         >
           {!selectedAgentId ? (
@@ -499,10 +504,16 @@ export function ChatPanel({ embedded = false }: { embedded?: boolean } = {}) {
                 <ChatMessage key={msg.id} message={msg} />
               ))}
 
-              {/* Inline thinking / tool-use indicator — replaces old activity card */}
-              {(isProcessing || isThinking) && (
-                <InlineThinkingIndicator events={currentTurnEvents} />
-              )}
+              {/* Live status — the SAME line the operator chat shows:
+                  "Thinking…" / "Using {tool}…" + tool-call count, from the
+                  turn's live events. The dots indicator covers only the gap
+                  before the first event arrives. */}
+              {(isProcessing || isThinking) &&
+                (currentTurnEvents.length > 0 ? (
+                  <ChatActivity events={currentTurnEvents} isLive showInternalSteps={false} />
+                ) : (
+                  <InlineThinkingIndicator events={currentTurnEvents} />
+                ))}
 
               {/* Rerun button — shown when last message is an error */}
               {showRerun && !isProcessing && (
@@ -522,12 +533,13 @@ export function ChatPanel({ embedded = false }: { embedded?: boolean } = {}) {
               <div ref={messagesEndRef} />
             </div>
           )}
+          </div>
 
           {/* Scroll-to-bottom FAB with new content pulse */}
           {showScrollFab && (
             <button
               onClick={() => scrollToBottom("smooth")}
-              className="absolute bottom-4 end-4 z-10 flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-border bg-card shadow-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted transition-all animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2"
+              className="absolute bottom-4 inset-x-0 mx-auto z-10 flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-border bg-card shadow-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted transition-all animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2"
               title={t("chat.scrollToBottom", "Scroll to bottom")}
               data-testid="scroll-to-bottom"
             >
@@ -1061,7 +1073,7 @@ function InlineThinkingIndicator({ events }: { events: PipelineEvent[] }) {
           ? t("chat.activity.error", "Error occurred")
           : activeToolNames.length > 0
             ? t("chat.usingTools", "Using tools")
-            : t("chat.thinking", "Thinking…")}
+            : t("chat.thinking", "Thinking...")}
       </span>
 
       {/* Tool names — inline, comma-separated */}
diff --git a/src/components/groups/__tests__/discussion-input.test.tsx b/src/components/groups/__tests__/discussion-input.test.tsx
index 0466ef666..f32fc99f6 100644
--- a/src/components/groups/__tests__/discussion-input.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/groups/__tests__/discussion-input.test.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { createEvent, fireEvent, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { renderWithProviders, userEvent } from "@/test/test-utils";
 import { DiscussionInput } from "@/components/groups/discussion-input";
 
@@ -177,3 +177,55 @@ describe("DiscussionInput", () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe("DiscussionInput — paste and drag-drop", () => {
+  const pasteFile = (target: HTMLElement, file: File) => {
+    const pasteEvent = createEvent.paste(target);
+    Object.defineProperty(pasteEvent, "clipboardData", {
+      value: { files: [file], types: ["Files"], getData: () => "" },
+    });
+    fireEvent(target, pasteEvent);
+  };
+
+  it("pasting a file stages it as an attachment chip", async () => {
+    renderWithProviders(<DiscussionInput onSubmit={vi.fn()} />);
+
+    pasteFile(
+      screen.getByTestId("discussion-input"),
+      new File(["png-bytes"], "screenshot.png", { type: "image/png" }),
+    );
+
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId("discussion-attachments")).toHaveTextContent("screenshot.png");
+  });
+
+  it("dropping a file on the input area stages it, with the overlay shown mid-drag", async () => {
+    renderWithProviders(<DiscussionInput onSubmit={vi.fn()} />);
+
+    const form = screen.getByTestId("discussion-input").closest("form")!;
+    const dataTransfer = {
+      files: [new File(["doc"], "notes.txt", { type: "text/plain" })],
+      types: ["Files"],
+    };
+    fireEvent.dragEnter(form, { dataTransfer });
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("file-drop-overlay")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.drop(form, { dataTransfer });
+
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId("discussion-attachments")).toHaveTextContent("notes.txt");
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("file-drop-overlay")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("a continuation ignores paste and drop — the backend rejects attachments there", async () => {
+    renderWithProviders(<DiscussionInput onSubmit={vi.fn()} mode="continue" />);
+
+    pasteFile(
+      screen.getByTestId("discussion-input"),
+      new File(["x"], "late.png", { type: "image/png" }),
+    );
+    fireEvent.dragEnter(screen.getByTestId("discussion-input").closest("form")!, {
+      dataTransfer: { files: [], types: ["Files"] },
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("file-drop-overlay")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("discussion-attachments")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/groups/discussion-input.tsx b/src/components/groups/discussion-input.tsx
index 971dcee3f..1ecf802d9 100644
--- a/src/components/groups/discussion-input.tsx
+++ b/src/components/groups/discussion-input.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { AccessibleDialog } from "@/components/ui/accessible-dialog";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { filesFromClipboard, useFileDrop } from "@/hooks/use-attachment-staging";
+import { FileDropOverlay } from "@/components/chat/attachment-chip";
 import { MAX_ATTACHMENT_BYTES } from "@/lib/api/attachments";
 import {
   MAX_GROUP_ATTACHMENTS,
@@ -239,6 +241,24 @@ export function DiscussionInput({ onSubmit, isLoading, disabled, mode = "new", d
     [stageFiles],
   );
 
+  // Paste (screenshots via Ctrl/Cmd+V) and drag-drop feed the SAME serialized
+  // staging queue as the picker — the caps, dedupe and encoding all apply.
+  const handlePasteFiles = useCallback(
+    (e: React.ClipboardEvent) => {
+      const files = filesFromClipboard(e);
+      if (!files.length || !canAttach || disabled || isLoading) return;
+      e.preventDefault();
+      void addFiles(files);
+    },
+    [canAttach, disabled, isLoading, addFiles],
+  );
+  const { isDragOver, dropHandlers } = useFileDrop(
+    canAttach && !disabled && !isLoading,
+    (files) => {
+      void addFiles(files);
+    },
+  );
+
   const charCount = question.length;
   // The backend caps the question at MAX_QUESTION_CHARS and fans it out to every
   // member in every phase, so this is a real ceiling rather than a tuning knob.
@@ -275,7 +295,12 @@ export function DiscussionInput({ onSubmit, isLoading, disabled, mode = "new", d
 
   return (
     <>
-      <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="relative flex flex-wrap items-end gap-2 p-3 pb-5 border-t border-border bg-card/80 backdrop-blur-sm shrink-0">
+      <form
+        onSubmit={handleSubmit}
+        className="relative flex flex-wrap items-end gap-2 p-3 pb-5 border-t border-border bg-card/80 backdrop-blur-sm shrink-0"
+        {...dropHandlers}
+      >
+        {isDragOver && <FileDropOverlay />}
         {attachments.length > 0 && (
           <ul className="flex w-full flex-wrap gap-1.5" data-testid="discussion-attachments">
             {attachments.map((a) => (
@@ -364,6 +389,7 @@ export function DiscussionInput({ onSubmit, isLoading, disabled, mode = "new", d
                 handleSubmit();
               }
             }}
+            onPaste={handlePasteFiles}
             data-testid="discussion-input"
           />
           {/* Expand button */}
@@ -432,6 +458,7 @@ export function DiscussionInput({ onSubmit, isLoading, disabled, mode = "new", d
                 handleSubmit();
               }
             }}
+            onPaste={handlePasteFiles}
             data-testid="discussion-input-expanded"
           />
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
diff --git a/src/components/operator/operator-chat.tsx b/src/components/operator/operator-chat.tsx
index 2caaa1645..4c4ad7f32 100644
--- a/src/components/operator/operator-chat.tsx
+++ b/src/components/operator/operator-chat.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import { useState, useRef, useEffect, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useState, useRef, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import ReactMarkdown from "react-markdown";
 import remarkGfm from "remark-gfm";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Link } from "react-router-dom";
 import { formatMarkdownText } from "@/components/groups/group-utils";
-import { Send, Square, RotateCcw, AlertTriangle, Bot, User, PauseCircle, Loader2, Paperclip } from "lucide-react";
+import { Send, Square, RotateCcw, AlertTriangle, ArrowDown, Bot, User, PauseCircle, Loader2, Paperclip } from "lucide-react";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { ChatActivity } from "@/components/chat/chat-activity";
 import { InputHint } from "@/components/chat/input-hint";
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   useFileDrop,
   type ReadyAttachment,
 } from "@/hooks/use-attachment-staging";
+import { useSmartAutoScroll } from "@/hooks/use-smart-auto-scroll";
 import { OPERATOR_STARTER_PROMPTS } from "@/lib/operator/system-prompt";
 import type { ChatMessage } from "@/lib/api/chat";
 import type { SentAttachment } from "@/hooks/use-chat";
@@ -130,10 +131,23 @@ export function OperatorChat({
 }: OperatorChatProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const [input, setInput] = useState("");
-  const endRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
+  // Smart auto-scroll: follows new content only while the user is AT the
+  // bottom. Scrolled up (reading something mid-stream), the view stays put and
+  // a centered arrow offers the way back down.
+  const {
+    scrollRef,
+    showScrollFab,
+    hasNewContent,
+    scrollToBottom,
+    handleScroll,
+  } = useSmartAutoScroll<HTMLDivElement>({
+    deps: [messages, events.length, isStreaming],
+    bottomThreshold: 80,
+  });
+
   // Same staging as the main chat panel — picker, paste, chips, per-turn cap.
   const {
     pendingAttachments,
@@ -149,10 +163,6 @@ export function OperatorChat({
     void stageFiles(files);
   });
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    endRef.current?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: "smooth" });
-  }, [messages, events]);
-
   /** Grow with content up to the same 120px ceiling as chat-drawer. */
   function autoResizeInput() {
     const el = inputRef.current;
@@ -183,8 +193,11 @@ export function OperatorChat({
   return (
     <div className="relative flex h-full min-h-0 flex-col rounded-xl border border-border" {...dropHandlers}>
       {isDragOver && <FileDropOverlay />}
+      <div className="relative flex-1 min-h-0">
       <div
-        className="flex-1 space-y-4 overflow-y-auto p-4"
+        ref={scrollRef}
+        onScroll={handleScroll}
+        className="h-full space-y-4 overflow-y-auto p-4"
         data-testid="operator-messages"
         role="log"
         aria-live="polite"
@@ -347,7 +360,27 @@ export function OperatorChat({
           </div>
         )}
 
-        <div ref={endRef} />
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Centered scroll-to-bottom arrow — shown only while scrolled up */}
+      {showScrollFab && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={() => scrollToBottom("smooth")}
+          className="absolute bottom-3 inset-x-0 mx-auto z-10 flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-border bg-card shadow-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted transition-all animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2"
+          title={t("chat.scrollToBottom", "Scroll to bottom")}
+          aria-label={t("chat.scrollToBottom", "Scroll to bottom")}
+          data-testid="operator-scroll-to-bottom"
+        >
+          <ArrowDown className="h-4 w-4" />
+          {hasNewContent && (
+            <span className="absolute -top-1 -end-1 flex h-3 w-3">
+              <span className="animate-ping absolute inline-flex h-full w-full rounded-full bg-primary opacity-75" />
+              <span className="relative inline-flex rounded-full h-3 w-3 bg-primary" />
+            </span>
+          )}
+        </button>
+      )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Pending attachment chips (staged, uploading, errored) */}
diff --git a/src/hooks/__tests__/use-chat-sse-handling.test.tsx b/src/hooks/__tests__/use-chat-sse-handling.test.tsx
index faa141753..9665d3435 100644
--- a/src/hooks/__tests__/use-chat-sse-handling.test.tsx
+++ b/src/hooks/__tests__/use-chat-sse-handling.test.tsx
@@ -70,7 +70,12 @@ describe("use-chat handleSSEEvent — task_failed / error-JSON handling", () =>
       await result.current.mutateAsync({ message: "hi" });
     });
 
-    const events = useDebugStore.getState().currentTurnEvents;
+    // The stream ended without a done frame, so the safety net finalizes the
+    // debug turn (turn-boundary fix) — the events live in the turn history
+    // now, not the live set.
+    const finalized = useDebugStore.getState().turns;
+    expect(finalized).toHaveLength(1);
+    const events = finalized[0]!.events;
     const failed = events.find((e) => e.type === "task_failed");
     expect(failed).toBeDefined();
     expect(failed?.taskId).toBe("task-42");
@@ -158,3 +163,53 @@ describe("use-chat handleSSEEvent — canonical snapshot text on done", () => {
     expect(agentMessage?.content).toBe("Structured answer");
   });
 });
+
+describe("use-chat — turn boundary on abnormal stream endings", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    useChatStore.getState().reset();
+    useDebugStore.getState().reset();
+    h.frames = [];
+    useChatStore.setState({
+      selectedAgentId: "agent1",
+      conversationId: "conv1",
+      streamingEnabled: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("a turn that ends without a done frame does not leak its events into the next turn", async () => {
+    // Turn 1: a task event arrives, then the stream just closes — no done, no
+    // error frame (connection drop). Without the boundary fix the events stay
+    // in currentTurnEvents and the NEXT turn's live status line opens showing
+    // this turn's tools.
+    h.frames = [
+      {
+        type: "task_complete",
+        data: JSON.stringify({
+          taskId: "t1",
+          taskType: "ai.labs.httpcalls",
+          index: 0,
+          durationMs: 3,
+          toolTrace: [{ type: "tool_call", tool: "leakedTool", arguments: "{}" }],
+        }),
+      },
+    ];
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useSendMessage(), { wrapper });
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.mutateAsync({ message: "first" });
+    });
+
+    expect(useDebugStore.getState().currentTurnEvents).toHaveLength(0);
+
+    // Turn 2 starts: the live set must be empty before its own events arrive.
+    h.frames = [{ type: "done", data: JSON.stringify({ conversationState: "READY" }) }];
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.mutateAsync({ message: "second" });
+    });
+    expect(
+      useDebugStore.getState().currentTurnEvents.some(
+        (e) => e.toolTrace?.some((tr) => tr.tool === "leakedTool"),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/hooks/use-chat.ts b/src/hooks/use-chat.ts
index bcefd33fc..6802eab9d 100644
--- a/src/hooks/use-chat.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/use-chat.ts
@@ -431,6 +431,16 @@ export function useSendMessage() {
         // TanStack Query blocks all subsequent .mutate() calls.
         const abort = new AbortController();
 
+        // Turn boundary at turn START, not only on the happy endings: a
+        // previous turn that ended without a done/error frame (connection
+        // drop, thrown stream error) leaves its events in the debug store,
+        // and the live status line renders straight off that array — the new
+        // turn would open showing the previous turn's tools and keep a
+        // contaminated count throughout. finalizeTurn() moves any leftovers
+        // into the turn history (preserving the trace) and clears the live
+        // set; it is a no-op when the previous turn ended cleanly.
+        useDebugStore.getState().finalizeTurn();
+
         const events = sendMessageStreaming(
           "production",
           selectedAgentId,
@@ -459,12 +469,18 @@ export function useSendMessage() {
           }
         }
         // Safety-net: if the stream ended without a done event
-        // (e.g. connection drop), finalize it here.
+        // (e.g. connection drop), finalize it here — the debug turn too, so
+        // the next turn's live status line does not open on this turn's
+        // events.
         if (store.getState().isProcessing) {
           store.getState().finishStreaming();
+          useDebugStore.getState().finalizeTurn();
         }
       } else {
         // --- Non-streaming path — pass context for secret input ---
+        // Same turn boundary as the streaming path: stale events from an
+        // abnormally-ended streamed turn must not render over this one.
+        useDebugStore.getState().finalizeTurn();
         // Add a placeholder typing indicator while waiting for the response
         const typingId = `agent-typing-${Date.now()}`;
         state.addMessage({
diff --git a/src/hooks/use-smart-auto-scroll.ts b/src/hooks/use-smart-auto-scroll.ts
index 8803a5606..b91490271 100644
--- a/src/hooks/use-smart-auto-scroll.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/use-smart-auto-scroll.ts
@@ -52,10 +52,25 @@ export function useSmartAutoScroll<T extends HTMLElement = HTMLDivElement>({
     }
   }, [bottomThreshold]);
 
+  // The element the tracking state belongs to. The hook can outlive its
+  // scroll container (the drawer unmounts its children while closed but stays
+  // mounted itself); without this, closing while scrolled up leaves
+  // isNearBottomRef=false, and REOPENING lands the fresh container at the TOP
+  // because the stale ref routes the effect to the new-content branch.
+  const trackedElRef = useRef<T | null>(null);
+
   // Trigger auto-scroll on dependency updates if user is near bottom
   useEffect(() => {
     const el = scrollRef.current;
     if (!el) return;
+    if (trackedElRef.current !== el) {
+      // A freshly mounted container starts at scrollTop 0 with no user scroll
+      // history — treat it as at-bottom so the initial jump happens.
+      trackedElRef.current = el;
+      isNearBottomRef.current = true;
+      setShowScrollFab(false);
+      setHasNewContent(false);
+    }
     if (isNearBottomRef.current) {
       const behavior = isInitialMountRef.current ? "auto" : "smooth";
       if (typeof el.scrollTo === "function") {
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ar.json b/src/i18n/locales/ar.json
index bee5d46b3..ee54a1233 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ar.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ar.json
@@ -726,7 +726,14 @@
       "toolCall": "استدعاء أداة",
       "toolResult": "النتيجة",
       "error": "حدث خطأ",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} من استدعاءات الأدوات"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "استدعاء أداة واحد",
+      "toolCallsCount_zero": "لا استدعاءات أدوات",
+      "toolCallsCount_two": "استدعاءا أداة",
+      "toolCallsCount_few": "{{count}} استدعاءات أدوات",
+      "toolCallsCount_many": "{{count}} استدعاءً للأدوات",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "عدد استدعاءات الأدوات: {{count}}",
+      "toolCallsCount": "عدد استدعاءات الأدوات: {{count}}",
+      "usingTool": "جارٍ استخدام {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "معرف المحادثة",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/de.json b/src/i18n/locales/de.json
index 6584b0bf7..5f7004f88 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/de.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/de.json
@@ -694,7 +694,10 @@
       "toolCall": "Werkzeugaufruf",
       "toolResult": "Ergebnis",
       "error": "Fehler aufgetreten",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} Tool-Aufrufe"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} Tool-Aufruf",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} Tool-Aufrufe",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} Tool-Aufrufe",
+      "usingTool": "Verwendet {{tool}} …"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "Gesprächs-ID",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index dc391f4c1..24b3f91ec 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -723,7 +723,10 @@
       "toolCall": "Tool call",
       "toolResult": "Result",
       "error": "Error occurred",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} tool calls"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} tool call",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} tool calls",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} tool calls",
+      "usingTool": "Using {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "Conversation ID",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/es.json b/src/i18n/locales/es.json
index 3f7fc8486..2f537f131 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/es.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/es.json
@@ -702,7 +702,11 @@
       "toolCall": "Llamada a herramienta",
       "toolResult": "Resultado",
       "error": "Se produjo un error",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} llamadas a herramientas"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} llamada a herramienta",
+      "toolCallsCount_many": "{{count}} llamadas a herramientas",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} llamadas a herramientas",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} llamadas a herramientas",
+      "usingTool": "Usando {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "ID de conversación",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/fr.json b/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
index 0d00857b6..e7b3acb41 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
@@ -702,7 +702,11 @@
       "toolCall": "Appel d’outil",
       "toolResult": "Résultat",
       "error": "Une erreur s'est produite",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} appels d'outils"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} appel d'outil",
+      "toolCallsCount_many": "{{count}} appels d'outils",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} appels d'outils",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} appels d'outils",
+      "usingTool": "Utilisation de {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "ID conversation",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/hi.json b/src/i18n/locales/hi.json
index 50258544a..a619fc081 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/hi.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/hi.json
@@ -694,7 +694,10 @@
       "toolCall": "उपकरण कॉल",
       "toolResult": "परिणाम",
       "error": "त्रुटि हुई",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} टूल कॉल"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} टूल कॉल",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} टूल कॉल",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} टूल कॉल",
+      "usingTool": "{{tool}} का उपयोग हो रहा है…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "बातचीत ID",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ja.json b/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
index 7ebf67834..94ead18fe 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
@@ -694,7 +694,10 @@
       "toolCall": "ツール呼び出し",
       "toolResult": "結果",
       "error": "エラーが発生しました",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} 件のツール呼び出し"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} 件のツール呼び出し",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} 件のツール呼び出し",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} 件のツール呼び出し",
+      "usingTool": "{{tool}} を使用中…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "会話ID",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ko.json b/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
index 1da780c33..a3f36f1da 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
@@ -694,7 +694,10 @@
       "toolCall": "도구 호출",
       "toolResult": "결과",
       "error": "오류가 발생했습니다",
-      "toolCallsCount": "도구 호출 {{count}}건"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "도구 호출 {{count}}건",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "도구 호출 {{count}}건",
+      "toolCallsCount": "도구 호출 {{count}}건",
+      "usingTool": "{{tool}} 사용 중…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "대화 ID",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/pt.json b/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
index 6b6ca7460..09c3ef727 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
@@ -702,7 +702,11 @@
       "toolCall": "Chamada de ferramenta",
       "toolResult": "Resultado",
       "error": "Ocorreu um erro",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} chamadas de ferramentas"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} chamada de ferramenta",
+      "toolCallsCount_many": "{{count}} chamadas de ferramentas",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} chamadas de ferramentas",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} chamadas de ferramentas",
+      "usingTool": "Usando {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "ID da conversa",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/th.json b/src/i18n/locales/th.json
index af5ebdb75..0bce45a86 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/th.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/th.json
@@ -694,7 +694,10 @@
       "toolCall": "การเรียกใช้เครื่องมือ",
       "toolResult": "ผลลัพธ์",
       "error": "เกิดข้อผิดพลาด",
-      "toolCallsCount": "เรียกใช้เครื่องมือ {{count}} ครั้ง"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "เรียกใช้เครื่องมือ {{count}} ครั้ง",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "เรียกใช้เครื่องมือ {{count}} ครั้ง",
+      "toolCallsCount": "เรียกใช้เครื่องมือ {{count}} ครั้ง",
+      "usingTool": "กำลังใช้ {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "รหัสบทสนทนา",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
index c9d5f6723..e66a66838 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
@@ -694,7 +694,10 @@
       "toolCall": "工具调用",
       "toolResult": "结果",
       "error": "发生错误",
-      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} 次工具调用"
+      "toolCallsCount_one": "{{count}} 次工具调用",
+      "toolCallsCount_other": "{{count}} 次工具调用",
+      "toolCallsCount": "{{count}} 次工具调用",
+      "usingTool": "正在使用 {{tool}}…"
     },
     "context": {
       "conversationId": "对话 ID",
diff --git a/src/lib/operator/__tests__/system-prompt.test.ts b/src/lib/operator/__tests__/system-prompt.test.ts
index 5165f1edf..cb12e9032 100644
--- a/src/lib/operator/__tests__/system-prompt.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/operator/__tests__/system-prompt.test.ts
@@ -169,6 +169,9 @@ describe("buildOperatorPromptBody", () => {
     for (const body of [buildOperatorPromptBody(READ_ENDPOINTS), buildOperatorPromptBody(WITH_A_WRITE)]) {
       expect(body).toContain("help an administrator understand and operate this EDDI");
       expect(body).toContain("How to work:");
+      // The persona/formatting section — deleting it (or dropping its
+      // insertion from buildOperatorPromptBody) must fail here.
+      expect(body).toContain("Personality and formatting:");
     }
   });
 
diff --git a/src/lib/operator/system-prompt.ts b/src/lib/operator/system-prompt.ts
index 947e782d1..3b988016e 100644
--- a/src/lib/operator/system-prompt.ts
+++ b/src/lib/operator/system-prompt.ts
@@ -259,6 +259,27 @@ const BODY_HOW_TO_WORK = `How to work:
 - Be brief. An administrator wants the finding, not a narration of your steps.
 - When something is outside what you can see, say what you would need.`;
 
+/**
+ * Tone and presentation. The chat surfaces render Markdown (GFM, no raw
+ * HTML), so the prompt should actively use it — an unformatted wall of status
+ * output was one of the first things dev-testing flagged.
+ */
+const BODY_STYLE = `Personality and formatting:
+- Be friendly and approachable, and precise underneath it: warm in tone, exact
+  in content. Plain, confident language — no filler, no exclamation-mark
+  enthusiasm about routine facts.
+- Your answers render as Markdown. For anything beyond a short reply, use it:
+  headings to separate concerns, bullet lists for enumerations, tables when
+  comparing agents, versions, or environments, and backticks around ids,
+  versions, endpoint paths, and config field names.
+- Start a longer answer (multiple sections, or any multi-step diagnosis) with a
+  one- or two-line overview of the finding, then the detail beneath it.
+- Use a few emojis as signposts where they genuinely aid scanning — ✅ healthy,
+  ⚠️ needs attention, ❌ broken or failed, 💡 suggestion. A handful per answer
+  at most: they are road signs, not decoration.
+- Short question, short answer: one sentence needs no headings, no emoji, and
+  no overview.`;
+
 /**
  * Appended only when writes are granted.
  *
@@ -276,7 +297,7 @@ const BODY_MAKING_CHANGES = `When you change something:
 
 /** Default editable body for a granted endpoint set — the role and style. */
 export function buildOperatorPromptBody(endpoints: readonly string[]): string {
-  const sections = [BODY_ROLE, BODY_ARCHITECTURE, BODY_APP_CONTEXT, BODY_HOW_TO_WORK];
+  const sections = [BODY_ROLE, BODY_ARCHITECTURE, BODY_APP_CONTEXT, BODY_STYLE, BODY_HOW_TO_WORK];
   if (grantsWriteCapability(endpoints)) sections.push(buildAuthoringSection(endpoints), BODY_MAKING_CHANGES);
   return sections.join("\n\n");
 }