diff --git a/booth/app.py b/booth/app.py
index b72f794..a0311e7 100644
--- a/booth/app.py
+++ b/booth/app.py
@@ -253,6 +253,62 @@ def human_dur(seconds: float) -> str:
     return "<1m"
 
 
+# r2b D1b — a booth's dates as the operator reads them. Created is a DATE
+# (the day it began); updated is an AGE (how recently it moved). Each goes in a
+# <time> whose `datetime` is `iso` and whose title is the full `stamp`, so the
+# short form never hides the exact one. Local time, the box's own zone: the
+# Booth has one viewer, on this box.
+_MONTHS = ("Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun", "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec")
+
+
+# NEVER RAISE: the Desk renders every row in ONE response, and a clock a fleet
+# session can set (content mtimes) or a filesystem can report (birth time) may
+# lie outside the calendar's range — which raised through the template and
+# 500'd the index for every booth (heid bug-hunt, 4/4). A date that cannot be
+# rendered is "" and the macro renders nothing, as for an unknown birth time.
+_BAD_DATE = (OverflowError, OSError, ValueError)
+
+
+def date_iso(epoch: float) -> str:
+    try:
+        return datetime.fromtimestamp(epoch, tz=timezone.utc).isoformat(timespec="seconds")
+    except _BAD_DATE:
+        return ""
+
+
+def date_stamp(epoch: float) -> str:
+    try:
+        return time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M", time.localtime(epoch))
+    except _BAD_DATE:
+        return ""
+
+
+def date_day(epoch: float, now: float | None = None) -> str:
+    """'12 Sep', with the year only when it is not this year's; '' when the
+    calendar cannot hold it."""
+    try:
+        t, n = time.localtime(epoch), time.localtime(time.time() if now is None else now)
+    except _BAD_DATE:
+        return ""
+    day = f"{t.tm_mday} {_MONTHS[t.tm_mon - 1]}"
+    return day if t.tm_year == n.tm_year else f"{day} {t.tm_year}"
+
+
+def date_ago(seconds: float) -> str:
+    """An age in its largest whole unit: 'just now', '12m ago', '5h ago',
+    '1d ago'. A day is 24h (hours used to run on to 47h, so '1d ago' never
+    appeared). The caller never passes a clock AHEAD of now: that is said as a
+    date, not an age."""
+    s = int(seconds)
+    if s < 60:
+        return "just now"
+    if s < 3600:
+        return f"{s // 60}m ago"
+    if s < 86400:
+        return f"{s // 3600}h ago"
+    return f"{s // 86400}d ago"
+
+
 def _newest_mtime(path: Path) -> float:
     """Newest mtime among a folder and everything under it — OUR LOCKS EXCEPT.
 
@@ -1011,6 +1067,10 @@ def create_app(
         auto_reload=False,
     )
     env.filters["dur"] = human_dur
+    env.filters["iso"] = date_iso
+    env.filters["stamp"] = date_stamp
+    env.filters["day"] = date_day
+    env.filters["ago"] = date_ago
     templates = Jinja2Templates(env=env)
 
     # embed.js IS READ ONCE, HERE, for exactly the reason above. It is the third
@@ -1133,6 +1193,9 @@ def create_app(
                 "bookmarks": bookmarks[:BOOKMARKS_SHOWN],
                 "bookmarks_total": len(bookmarks),
                 "board_url": f"/b/{quote(links_board, safe='')}/",
+                # r2b D1b: ONE clock for the page, so every row's "updated ...
+                # ago" is measured from the same instant.
+                "now": time.time(),
             },
         )
 
@@ -1301,6 +1364,7 @@ def create_app(
                 # handed to the operator lands HERE and not on the index.
                 "created_at": birth_time(booth),
                 "landed_at": _content_mtime(booth),
+                "now": time.time(),
                 # The lifetime line, same three states as the index card: a
                 # booth URL handed to the operator lands HERE, not on the index,
                 # so "why is this not counting down" has to be answerable here.
diff --git a/booth/static/embed.js b/booth/static/embed.js
index b552b10..15d2f36 100644
--- a/booth/static/embed.js
+++ b/booth/static/embed.js
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@
   if (window.__boothEmbed) return;            // declared AND appended: mount once
   window.__boothEmbed = true;
 
+  /* The ask palette's LIGHT values, written once and used by both light rules
+     below (OS light, and forced light), so the two can never drift apart. */
+  var BK_LIGHT = "--bk-accent:#586519;--bk-accent-line:rgba(88,101,25,.55);" +
+    "--bk-accent-soft:rgba(88,101,25,.11);--bk-on-accent:#fff;--bk-open:#7c5500;--bk-open-text:#7c5500;" +
+    "--bk-done:#486741;--bk-done-text:#486741;--bk-skip:#52595e;--bk-err:#a42e07";
+
   var CSS = [
     /* SVOS values, written as literals: this sheet lands in a page we did not
        write, so it can lean on none of base.html's tokens. Hex equivalents of
@@ -55,9 +61,12 @@
     ".bk-ask{--bk-accent:#b2cd12;--bk-accent-line:rgba(178,205,18,.55);--bk-accent-soft:rgba(178,205,18,.12);",
     "--bk-on-accent:#0c1014;--bk-open:#d29a02;--bk-open-text:#fbc10f;--bk-done:#71a166;--bk-done-text:#9bce90;",
     "--bk-skip:#868d91;--bk-err:#fea47d}",
-    "@media (prefers-color-scheme: light){.bk-ask{--bk-accent:#586519;--bk-accent-line:rgba(88,101,25,.55);",
-    "--bk-accent-soft:rgba(88,101,25,.11);--bk-on-accent:#fff;--bk-open:#7c5500;--bk-open-text:#7c5500;",
-    "--bk-done:#486741;--bk-done-text:#486741;--bk-skip:#52595e;--bk-err:#a42e07}}",
+    /* r2b D3 — the operator's theme reaches inside ("theme toggle reaches
+       inside"): light when the OS asks and dark is not forced, or when light
+       is forced — the Booth sheet's own rule, carried by `data-bk-theme` on
+       each fragment (bkTheme, below), never by the host page's <html>. */
+    "@media (prefers-color-scheme: light){.bk-ask:not([data-bk-theme=dark]){" + BK_LIGHT + "}}",
+    ".bk-ask[data-bk-theme=light]{" + BK_LIGHT + "}",
     ".bk-ask{margin:1.1rem 0;padding:.9rem 1rem;border:1px solid rgba(128,140,160,.34);",
     "border-top:2px solid var(--bk-open);border-radius:8px;background:rgba(128,140,160,.07);",
     "font:15px/1.55 'IBM Plex Sans',ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif}",
@@ -335,6 +344,30 @@
     return mounted;
   }
 
+  /* r2b D3: mark every fragment WE mounted with the operator's stored theme
+     choice (the same localStorage key the Booth's toggle writes — same
+     origin). Absent or unreadable = follow the OS, as before. The host page's
+     own <html> is the author's and is never touched. */
+  var ours = [];                            // every element this script mounted
+  function bkTheme() {
+    var t = null;
+    try { t = localStorage.getItem("booth.theme"); } catch (e) {}
+    var forced = t === "light" || t === "dark";
+    /* OUR fragments only (heid bug-hunt): an author's own `.bk-ask` in the
+       host page is theirs, and is never marked. */
+    ours.forEach(function (root) {
+      var els = [root].concat(Array.prototype.slice.call(root.querySelectorAll(".bk-ask")));
+      els.forEach(function (el) {
+        if (!el.classList.contains("bk-ask")) return;
+        if (forced) el.setAttribute("data-bk-theme", t); else el.removeAttribute("data-bk-theme");
+      });
+    });
+  }
+  /* A choice made in another tab moves an open report live. */
+  window.addEventListener("storage", function (e) {
+    if (e.key === "booth.theme" || e.key === null) bkTheme();
+  });
+
   function start() {
     var name = boothName();
     if (!name || !document.body) return;
@@ -350,6 +383,9 @@
         if (!data) return;
         favicon(data.favicon);
         var mounted = place(data.marks || []);
+        ours = [];
+        Object.keys(mounted).forEach(function (id) { ours = ours.concat(mounted[id]); });
+        bkTheme();
         reassociate();
         asksChip(data.open || [], mounted);
         document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("booth:mounted", { detail: { booth: name } }));
diff --git a/booth/templates/_dates.html b/booth/templates/_dates.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0dd92bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/booth/templates/_dates.html
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{# r2b D1b — a booth's two dates, defined ONCE for the Desk row and the booth
+   header. Created is the day it began (the filesystem's birth time); updated
+   is how recently its CONTENT moved (`landed_at`, the clock "new since you
+   looked" reads). Each is a <time> with its exact stamp as the title.
+   - A date the filesystem cannot give, or the calendar cannot hold, renders
+     NOTHING — never a plausible guess, and never a 500 for the whole Desk.
+   - "Updated" shows whenever it differs from "created" by a minute or more,
+     EITHER way: copied files keep their mtimes while the folder is born now,
+     so content can be older than its booth. Within a minute, one date.
+   - A content clock AHEAD of now (a wrong clock somewhere) is said as its
+     date, never as an age — "updated just now" would be a lie. #}
+{% macro dates(created_at, landed_at, now) -%}
+  {%- set made = created_at|day(now) if created_at else "" -%}
+  {%- if made %} · <time class="d-made" datetime="{{ created_at|iso }}" title="created {{ created_at|stamp }}">created {{ made }}</time>{% endif -%}
+  {%- set moved = landed_at|day(now) if landed_at else "" -%}
+  {%- if moved and (not made or (landed_at - created_at)|abs >= 60) -%}
+    {%- set age = now - landed_at -%}
+    {%- if age < -60 %} · <time class="d-upd" datetime="{{ landed_at|iso }}" title="updated {{ landed_at|stamp }}">updated {{ moved }}</time>
+    {%- else %} · <time class="d-upd" datetime="{{ landed_at|iso }}" title="updated {{ landed_at|stamp }}">updated {{ age|ago }}</time>{% endif -%}
+  {%- endif -%}
+{%- endmacro %}
diff --git a/booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css b/booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css
index f5486c9..758eb66 100644
--- a/booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css
+++ b/booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 /* SVOS tokens — VENDORED BY COPY from design-systems
    palettes/svos/colors.css + svos-theme.css @ ed2f8d8. Do not hand-edit values;
-   re-vendor from the source. The only transform: SVOS scopes its four themes
-   by [data-theme]; the Booth has no theme switch and follows the OS, so the
-   blocks are re-scoped onto prefers-color-scheme / prefers-contrast queries.
-   Semantic tokens only in the Booth layer below — never a primitive, never
-   a raw hex. */
+   re-vendor from the source. The only transform is SCOPING: SVOS selects its
+   four themes by [data-theme]; the Booth follows the OS unless the viewer
+   forces a theme (the top-bar toggle sets data-theme on <html>). So light
+   applies when the OS asks and dark is not forced, or when light is forced;
+   high contrast follows whichever theme is in effect. No JS, no attribute:
+   exactly the OS. Semantic tokens only in the Booth layer below — never a
+   primitive, never a raw hex. */
 :root {
   --graphite-10: oklch(0.17 0.01 250);
   --graphite-15: oklch(0.21 0.01 248);
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@
   --graphite-ink: var(--graphite-15);
 }
 
-/* dark — the lair default */
+/* dark — the lair default, and data-theme="dark" */
 :root {
   color-scheme: dark;
   --surface-sunken: var(--graphite-10);
@@ -129,8 +131,9 @@
   --glow-armed: 0 0 12px color-mix(in oklab, var(--accent) 40%, transparent);
 }
 
+/* light: the OS asks and the viewer has not forced dark ... */
 @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
-  :root {
+  :root:not([data-theme="dark"]) {
     color-scheme: light;
     --surface-sunken: var(--graphite-94);
     --surface-base: var(--graphite-96);
@@ -180,6 +183,57 @@
   }
 }
 
+/* ... or the viewer forced light. Same declarations as above, by construction. */
+:root[data-theme="light"] {
+  color-scheme: light;
+  --surface-sunken: var(--graphite-94);
+  --surface-base: var(--graphite-96);
+  --surface-raised: var(--graphite-98);
+  --surface-overlay: #ffffff;
+  --surface-card: var(--graphite-98);
+  --surface-input: #ffffff;
+  --surface-scrim: oklch(0.21 0.01 248 / 0.4);
+  --text-heading: var(--graphite-15);
+  --text-body: var(--graphite-30);
+  --text-muted: var(--graphite-40);
+  --text-faint: var(--graphite-50);
+  --text-inverse: var(--graphite-90);
+  --text-link: oklch(0.455 0.097 235);
+  --text-link-hover: var(--graphite-15);
+  --border-subtle: oklch(0.89 0.006 218);
+  --border-default: oklch(0.85 0.008 220);
+  --border-strong: var(--graphite-75);
+  --border-focus: var(--green-deep);
+  --accent: var(--green-deep);
+  --accent-hover: oklch(0.44 0.1 119);
+  --accent-active: oklch(0.4 0.09 119);
+  --accent-text: oklch(0.44 0.1 119);
+  --accent-contrast: #ffffff;
+  --accent-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--green-deep) 11%, transparent);
+  --accent-soft-hover: color-mix(in oklab, var(--green-deep) 18%, transparent);
+  --success: var(--sage-deep);
+  --success-text: var(--sage-deep);
+  --success-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--sage-deep) 10%, transparent);
+  --warning: var(--amber-deep);
+  --warning-text: var(--amber-deep);
+  --warning-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--amber-base) 18%, transparent);
+  --danger: var(--orange-deep);
+  --danger-hover: oklch(0.44 0.15 36);
+  --danger-text: var(--orange-deep);
+  --danger-contrast: #ffffff;
+  --danger-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--orange-deep) 9%, transparent);
+  --intel: var(--intel-deep);
+  --intel-text: var(--intel-deep);
+  --intel-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--intel-deep) 9%, transparent);
+  --selection-bg: var(--green-deep);
+  --selection-fg: #ffffff;
+  --shadow-sm: 0 1px 2px rgb(23 31 38 / 0.07);
+  --shadow-md: 0 4px 14px rgb(23 31 38 / 0.1);
+  --shadow-lg: 0 14px 36px rgb(23 31 38 / 0.14);
+  --glow-armed: 0 0 10px color-mix(in oklab, var(--accent) 30%, transparent);
+}
+
+/* dark high contrast: whenever dark is in effect (light, below, outranks it) */
 @media (prefers-contrast: more) {
   :root {
     --surface-sunken: var(--graphite-10);
@@ -226,8 +280,56 @@
   }
 }
 
-@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) and (prefers-contrast: more) {
-  :root {
+/* light high contrast: the OS light case ... */
+@media (prefers-contrast: more) and (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
+  :root:not([data-theme="dark"]) {
+    --surface-sunken: var(--graphite-94);
+    --surface-base: var(--graphite-96);
+    --surface-raised: var(--graphite-98);
+    --surface-overlay: #ffffff;
+    --surface-card: var(--graphite-98);
+    --surface-input: #ffffff;
+    --surface-scrim: oklch(0.21 0.01 248 / 0.4);
+    --text-heading: var(--graphite-15);
+    --text-body: var(--graphite-30);
+    --text-muted: oklch(0.4403 0.0102 238);
+    --text-faint: oklch(0.4403 0.00935 234);
+    --text-inverse: var(--graphite-90);
+    --text-link: oklch(0.4371 0.08245 235);
+    --text-link-hover: var(--graphite-15);
+    --border-subtle: oklch(0.89 0.006 218);
+    --border-default: var(--graphite-60);
+    --border-strong: var(--graphite-40);
+    --border-focus: var(--green-deep);
+    --accent: var(--green-deep);
+    --accent-hover: oklch(0.44 0.1 119);
+    --accent-active: oklch(0.4 0.09 119);
+    --accent-text: oklch(0.436 0.085 119);
+    --accent-contrast: #ffffff;
+    --accent-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--green-deep) 11%, transparent);
+    --accent-soft-hover: color-mix(in oklab, var(--green-deep) 18%, transparent);
+    --success: var(--sage-deep);
+    --success-text: oklch(0.4033 0.0595 140);
+    --success-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--sage-deep) 10%, transparent);
+    --warning: var(--amber-deep);
+    --warning-text: oklch(0.4103 0.085 78);
+    --warning-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--amber-base) 18%, transparent);
+    --danger: var(--orange-deep);
+    --danger-hover: oklch(0.44 0.15 36);
+    --danger-text: oklch(0.4225 0.136 36);
+    --danger-contrast: #ffffff;
+    --danger-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--orange-deep) 9%, transparent);
+    --intel: var(--intel-deep);
+    --intel-text: oklch(0.4373 0.0765 235);
+    --intel-soft: color-mix(in oklab, var(--intel-deep) 9%, transparent);
+    --selection-bg: var(--green-deep);
+    --selection-fg: #ffffff;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ... and the forced light case. */
+@media (prefers-contrast: more) {
+  :root[data-theme="light"] {
     --surface-sunken: var(--graphite-94);
     --surface-base: var(--graphite-96);
     --surface-raised: var(--graphite-98);
diff --git a/booth/templates/base.html b/booth/templates/base.html
index a1ccf47..50c76a9 100644
--- a/booth/templates/base.html
+++ b/booth/templates/base.html
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 <script>
   (function () {
     var d = document.documentElement, b = d.getAttribute('data-booth');
+    /* r2b D3: a forced theme, before any stylesheet, so it never flashes the
+       other one. Absent (or unreadable) = System: no attribute, the OS query. */
+    try {
+      var t = localStorage.getItem('booth.theme');
+      if (t === 'light' || t === 'dark') d.setAttribute('data-theme', t);
+    } catch (e) {}
     try {
       if (b !== null && sessionStorage.getItem('booth.reveal:' + b) === '1') d.classList.add('reveal-all');
     } catch (e) {}
@@ -108,6 +114,18 @@
   .brand .name{font-weight:650;font-size:var(--size-h2);letter-spacing:var(--tracking-h)}
   .tagline{font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--size-micro);font-weight:500;
     letter-spacing:var(--tracking-caps);text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--text-muted)}
+  /* THE THEME TOGGLE (r2b D3): a quiet three-way segment at the far end of the
+     top bar; the pressed choice carries the accent. */
+  .theme{margin-left:auto;display:inline-flex;border:1px solid var(--border-default);border-radius:var(--radius-md);overflow:hidden}
+  .theme button{font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--size-micro);letter-spacing:var(--tracking-caps);
+    text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px 9px;border:0;border-radius:0;background:none;color:var(--text-muted);
+    cursor:pointer;-webkit-backdrop-filter:none;backdrop-filter:none}
+  .theme button + button{border-left:1px solid var(--border-default)}
+  /* an author `display` beats the UA's [hidden]: without this, the toggle showed
+     with scripts off and did nothing */
+  .theme[hidden]{display:none}
+  .theme button:hover{color:var(--text-body)}
+  .theme button[aria-pressed="true"]{color:var(--accent-text);background:var(--accent-soft)}
 
   main{flex:1;width:100%;max-width:1240px;margin:0 auto;padding:28px 24px 48px}
 
@@ -214,35 +232,65 @@
   .desk-side{flex:none;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-end;gap:8px}
   .badge-new{color:var(--intel-text);background:var(--intel-soft)}
   .badge-broken{color:var(--danger-text);background:var(--danger-soft);border-color:color-mix(in oklab,var(--danger) 40%,transparent)}
-  /* The row's keep / release / wipe, inline on the facts line beside the
-     state each one changes. Quiet — muted mono like the line they sit in, so
-     a destructive control does not compete with the thing you came to read —
-     but always there and always tappable; wipe turns danger only under the
-     pointer or focus. */
-  .desk-facts form{display:inline;margin:0}
-  .desk-facts .dl-link{white-space:nowrap}
-  .desk-facts form button{display:inline-block;margin-left:4px;padding:1px 6px;height:auto;min-width:0;
-    font:inherit;line-height:1.4;color:var(--text-muted);background:none;
-    border:1px solid var(--border-default);border-radius:var(--radius-sm);
-    -webkit-backdrop-filter:none;backdrop-filter:none;cursor:pointer}
-  .desk-facts .wipe button{margin-left:0}
-  .desk-facts form button:hover,.desk-facts form button:focus-visible{color:var(--text-body);
-    border-color:var(--border-strong);background:var(--surface-overlay)}
-  .desk-facts .wipe button:hover,.desk-facts .wipe button:focus-visible{background:var(--danger);
+  /* THE LIFETIME PILL (r2b D1) — state, not a control, so it never hides.
+     Sage for kept (SVOS: a judgment made), amber for held (a question holds
+     it), a quiet outline while it counts down. */
+  .life{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:5px;padding:3px 9px;border-radius:999px;white-space:nowrap;
+    font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--size-caption);border:1px solid var(--border-default);color:var(--text-muted)}
+  .life-kept{color:var(--success-text);background:var(--success-soft);border-color:color-mix(in oklab,var(--success) 45%,transparent)}
+  .life-kept::before{content:"★"}
+  .life-held{color:var(--warning-text);background:var(--warning-soft);border-color:color-mix(in oklab,var(--warning) 45%,transparent)}
+  .life-count::before{content:"◷"}
+  .life .held,.life .held-broken{color:inherit}
+  .desk-facts time{white-space:nowrap}
+
+  /* THE ROW'S CONTROLS (r2b D1), last in the row's markup. DEFAULT — no real
+     hover (touch, any coarse pointer, or no hover at all): the cluster is the
+     row's last line, visible, every control at least the 28px floor (32px).
+     Hover-only would mean no controls at all on touch; with scripts off no
+     confirm fires, so wipe stands apart. The strip keeps to the row's top, so
+     the hover cluster below can be placed over it from the row's own box. */
+  .desk-row{flex-wrap:wrap;position:relative}
+  .desk-strip{align-self:flex-start;min-width:0}
+  .desk-acts{flex:1 0 100%;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;gap:6px}
+  .desk-acts form{margin:0}
+  .desk-acts .dl-link,.desk-acts button{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
+    min-height:32px;min-width:32px;padding:0 10px;font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--size-caption);
+    line-height:1;white-space:nowrap;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer;color:var(--text-muted);
+    background:var(--surface-raised);border:1px solid var(--border-default);border-radius:var(--radius-md);
+    -webkit-backdrop-filter:none;backdrop-filter:none}
+  .desk-acts .wipe{margin-left:10px}
+  .desk-acts .dl-link:hover,.desk-acts .dl-link:focus-visible,
+  .desk-acts button:hover,.desk-acts button:focus-visible{color:var(--text-body);border-color:var(--border-strong);
+    background:var(--surface-overlay);text-decoration:none}
+  .desk-acts .wipe button:hover,.desk-acts .wipe button:focus-visible{background:var(--danger);
     border-color:var(--danger);color:var(--danger-contrast)}
-  /* A finger is not a cursor. The compact line is for a fine pointer; on a
-     coarse one every control gets back the 28px floor it had as a column
-     (32px here, with room), and wipe stands clear of the zip link — with
-     scripts off no confirm fires, so a mis-tap on wipe IS the delete. */
-  @media (pointer:coarse){
-    .desk-facts{line-height:2.4}
-    .desk-facts form button{min-height:32px;min-width:32px;padding:0 10px;margin-left:6px;vertical-align:middle}
-    .desk-facts .wipe button{margin-left:10px}
+  /* A REAL HOVER — a fine pointer that hovers, and no coarse pointer anywhere
+     (a touch laptop reports a mouse, but a finger on it cannot hover): the
+     cluster takes NO room. It floats over the strip's top-right corner,
+     covering pictures and never information, and appears on row hover or
+     keyboard focus — opacity AND pointer events together, never visibility,
+     so hidden controls stay in the tab order and focusing one shows them. */
+  @media (hover:hover) and (pointer:fine) and (not (any-pointer:coarse)){
+    .desk-row{flex-wrap:nowrap}
+    /* over the strip's top-right corner: the strip starts at the row's 12px
+       padding and is 210px wide */
+    .desk-acts{position:absolute;top:17px;left:calc(12px + 210px - 5px);transform:translateX(-100%);flex:none;gap:4px;padding:3px;
+      background:color-mix(in oklab,var(--surface-overlay) 90%,transparent);
+      border:1px solid var(--border-default);border-radius:var(--radius-lg);box-shadow:var(--shadow-sm);
+      opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity var(--dur-1) var(--ease-out)}
+    .desk-row:hover .desk-acts,.desk-row:focus-within .desk-acts{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}
+    .desk-acts .dl-link,.desk-acts button{min-height:28px;min-width:28px;padding:0 7px}
+    .desk-acts .wipe{margin-left:5px}
+  }
+  @media (hover:hover) and (pointer:fine) and (not (any-pointer:coarse)) and (max-width:700px){
+    /* the strip spans the row: its top-right is the row's top-right */
+    .desk-acts{left:auto;right:17px;transform:none}
   }
   @media (max-width:700px){
     .desk-row{flex-wrap:wrap}
     .desk-strip{flex-basis:100%}
-    .desk-side{flex-basis:100%;flex-direction:row;align-items:center}
+    .desk-side{flex-basis:100%;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap}
   }
   /* the side column */
   .desk-panel{border:1px solid var(--border-default);border-radius:var(--radius-xl);background:var(--surface-card);
@@ -285,7 +333,7 @@
   .prov-broken{color:var(--warning-text);font-style:italic;cursor:help}
 
   /* keep / release / wipe — the controls themselves. Where they sit is the
-     surface's business: a Desk row's facts line (.desk-facts) or the booth
+     surface's business: a Desk row's hover cluster (.desk-acts) or the booth
      header (.wipe-lg, .keep-lg). The kept/ephemeral CARDS they used to float
      over are gone. */
   .wipe,.keepit,.release{margin:0}
@@ -880,6 +928,12 @@
 <header class="topbar">
   <a class="brand" href="/"><span class="dot"></span><span class="name">The&nbsp;Booth</span></a>
   <span class="tagline">ephemeral media · auto-wipes {{ ttl_hours }}h · kept boards don't</span>
+  {# r2b D3 — System · Light · Dark. JS-only (with scripts off the page follows
+     the OS), so it is markup with `hidden` and the script shows it. The top bar
+     is outside every data-region: no in-place swap replaces it. #}
+  <div class="theme" role="group" aria-label="colour theme" hidden>
+    <button type="button" data-theme-choice="system" aria-pressed="false" title="follow the system">System</button><button type="button" data-theme-choice="light" aria-pressed="false">Light</button><button type="button" data-theme-choice="dark" aria-pressed="false">Dark</button>
+  </div>
 </header>
 <main>
 {# R2 C3: where the in-place script says it could not save in place. Server
@@ -1074,6 +1128,49 @@
     if (window.ResizeObserver) new ResizeObserver(set).observe(rail);
   })();
 </script>
+<script>
+  /* THE THEME TOGGLE (r2b D3). The choice lives in localStorage — it should
+     outlive the tab, where a reveal must not — and in `data-theme` on <html>.
+     System REMOVES the attribute: the sheet's prefers-color-scheme query then
+     answers, and a media query follows the OS live, so no listener is needed.
+     The click applies to the page first and is remembered second: storage that
+     throws costs the memory, never the click. */
+  (function () {
+    var d = document.documentElement, box = document.querySelector('.theme');
+    if (!box) return;
+    function current() {
+      var t = d.getAttribute('data-theme');
+      return t === 'light' || t === 'dark' ? t : 'system';
+    }
+    function show() {
+      var c = current();
+      box.querySelectorAll('[data-theme-choice]').forEach(function (b) {
+        b.setAttribute('aria-pressed', b.getAttribute('data-theme-choice') === c ? 'true' : 'false');
+      });
+    }
+    box.hidden = false;
+    show();
+    /* A choice made in another tab moves this one too (heid bug-hunt): the
+       embed's ask chrome already followed; the Booth's own pages did not. */
+    window.addEventListener('storage', function (e) {
+      if (e.key !== 'booth.theme' && e.key !== null) return;
+      var t = null;
+      try { t = localStorage.getItem('booth.theme'); } catch (x) {}
+      if (t === 'light' || t === 'dark') d.setAttribute('data-theme', t); else d.removeAttribute('data-theme');
+      show();
+    });
+    box.addEventListener('click', function (ev) {
+      var b = ev.target.closest ? ev.target.closest('[data-theme-choice]') : null;
+      if (!b) return;
+      var c = b.getAttribute('data-theme-choice');
+      if (c === 'system') d.removeAttribute('data-theme'); else d.setAttribute('data-theme', c);
+      try {
+        if (c === 'system') localStorage.removeItem('booth.theme'); else localStorage.setItem('booth.theme', c);
+      } catch (e) {}
+      show();
+    });
+  })();
+</script>
 <script>
   /* REVEAL ALL (r2b D2). Every [data-reveal-all] control on the page shows the
      one state of this booth; all of them sit OUTSIDE every data-region, so an
diff --git a/booth/templates/booth.html b/booth/templates/booth.html
index d6cd1ff..5e7bf3f 100644
--- a/booth/templates/booth.html
+++ b/booth/templates/booth.html
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {% extends "base.html" %}
 {% from "_provenance.html" import provenance %}
 {% from "_lifetime.html" import lifetime %}
+{% from "_dates.html" import dates %}
 {# The blur toggle, defined ONCE. There are three item branches in this file
    (doc / media / other) and the first cut of this feature patched only one of
    them, so docs rendered with no control at all. A macro makes "patched two of
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@
   {% endif %}
   {# The open count and the lifetime line depend on marks, so they are a region
      (R2 C3): answering the last pick in place must not leave "1 open" behind. #}
-  <span class="region-wrap" data-region="booth-status"><span class="sub">{% if uploaded %}<span class="badge">⬆ pickup</span> {% endif %}{% if board %}{{ board|length }} link{{ '' if board|length == 1 else 's' }}{% if items %} · {{ items|length }} file{{ '' if items|length == 1 else 's' }}{% endif %} · {{ lifetime(kept, hold, expires_in) }}{% else %}{% if marks_open %}<span class="badge badge-mark">{{ marks_open }} open</span> · {% endif %}{{ items|length }} item{{ '' if items|length == 1 else 's' }} · {{ lifetime(kept, hold, expires_in) }}{% endif %}</span></span>
+  <span class="region-wrap" data-region="booth-status"><span class="sub">{% if uploaded %}<span class="badge">⬆ pickup</span> {% endif %}{% if board %}{{ board|length }} link{{ '' if board|length == 1 else 's' }}{% if items %} · {{ items|length }} file{{ '' if items|length == 1 else 's' }}{% endif %}{{ dates(created_at, landed_at, now) }} · {{ lifetime(kept, hold, expires_in) }}{% else %}{% if marks_open %}<span class="badge badge-mark">{{ marks_open }} open</span> · {% endif %}{{ items|length }} item{{ '' if items|length == 1 else 's' }}{{ dates(created_at, landed_at, now) }} · {{ lifetime(kept, hold, expires_in) }}{% endif %}</span></span>
   {% if items %}<a class="dl-link" href="/b/{{ name_url }}/?download=1" title="download this booth as a zip">⬇ zip</a>{% endif %}
   {{ provenance(manifest) }}
     {# A durable multi-writer board gets no one-click wipe — same rule as the
diff --git a/booth/templates/index.html b/booth/templates/index.html
index 5d20d74..0c3f74f 100644
--- a/booth/templates/index.html
+++ b/booth/templates/index.html
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {% extends "base.html" %}
 {% from "_provenance.html" import provenance %}
 {% from "_lifetime.html" import lifetime %}
+{% from "_dates.html" import dates %}
 {# THE DESK (R2 C4). The index triaged by what needs the operator: needs you,
    then new since you looked, then everything else — always in that order, and
    the ORDER WITHIN each is decided in app.index, never here. A section with no
@@ -36,39 +37,18 @@
         {%- else -%}{{ b.name }}{%- endif -%}
       </a>
       {{ provenance(b.manifest) }}
-      {# The row's controls sit ON the facts line, each beside the state it
-         changes: release after "kept", keep after the countdown, wipe last.
-         They were a hover-revealed column that reserved its room while
-         invisible (operator, on the live Desk: "release and x take up space
-         whether or not they're visible") — and hover never existed on touch.
-         The confirmation text is DATA-DRIVEN: the booth name travels as a data
-         attribute and never reaches a JS string (see the script below).
-         Release is reversible, so it has no prompt beyond the wording.
-         `·&nbsp;` glues each separator to the item after it, so a wrapped
-         line never ends on a dangling dot. #}
+      {# Facts only: counts and dates. The lifetime is state (the pill) and
+         the controls are actions (the cluster); neither lives here. #}
       <div class="desk-facts">
         {{ b.count }} item{{ '' if b.count == 1 else 's' }}
-        {% if b.flags %} · <span class="desk-flags">{{ b.flags }} flagged</span>{% endif %}
-        · {{ lifetime(b.kept, b.hold, b.expires_in) }}
-        {%- if b.kept %}
-        <form class="release" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/unkeep"
-              data-booth="{{ b.name }}" data-confirm="release"><button title="release this booth so it can be wiped">release</button></form>
-        {%- else %}
-        <form class="keepit" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/keep"><button title="keep — exempt from the {{ ttl_hours }}h sweep" aria-label="keep booth">★ keep</button></form>
-        {%- endif %}
-        ·&nbsp;<a class="dl-link" href="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/?download=1" title="download this booth as a zip">⬇ zip</a>
-        {%- if b.kept %}
-        ·&nbsp;<form class="wipe wipe-kept" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/delete"
-              data-booth="{{ b.name }}" data-confirm="wipe-kept"><button title="wipe this KEPT booth now" aria-label="wipe kept booth">× wipe</button></form>
-        {%- else %}
-        ·&nbsp;<form class="wipe" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/delete"
-              data-booth="{{ b.name }}" data-confirm="wipe"><button title="wipe now" aria-label="wipe booth">× wipe</button></form>
-        {%- endif %}
+        {%- if b.flags %} · <span class="desk-flags">{{ b.flags }} flagged</span>{% endif %}
+        {{- dates(b.created_at, b.landed_at, now) }}
       </div>
     </div>
-    {# Badges only: a row with none renders no side column, so it reserves
-       no room (the row is flex — an absent item costs no gap). #}
-    {% if b.marks_open or b.hold == "unreadable" or section == 'new' or b.uploaded or b.booth_blurred %}
+    {# The right column: badges, then the LIFETIME PILL, always visible — state,
+       not a control, so it stays when the controls hide, and down the Desk it
+       reads as one column of kept / held / counting (operator: "make it
+       obvious which are kept and which are ephemeral"). #}
     <div class="desk-side">
       {% if b.marks_open %}<span class="badge badge-mark">? {{ b.marks_open }} open</span>
       {% elif b.hold == "unreadable" %}<span class="badge badge-broken">marks unreadable</span>
@@ -76,8 +56,30 @@
       {% if b.uploaded %}<span class="badge">⬆ pickup</span>{% endif %}
       {# r2b D2b: a fogged strip says why. Information, not the control. #}
       {% if b.booth_blurred %}<span class="badge badge-blur" title="the whole booth is blurred — cosmetic only">◉ blurred</span>{% endif %}
+      <span class="life {{ 'life-kept' if b.kept else ('life-held' if b.hold in ('open', 'unreadable') else 'life-count') }}">{{ lifetime(b.kept, b.hold, b.expires_in) }}</span>
+    </div>
+    {# The row's controls, LAST in the markup so the booth's name comes first
+       in tab order (heid bug-hunt: wipe used to be reachable before the booth
+       it acts on). Where a real hover exists they float over the strip's
+       top-right corner — covering pictures, never information — and appear
+       only on hover or keyboard focus (operator: "download, keep and release
+       buttons only appear on mouseover"; x hides too, his answer). Anywhere
+       else they are the row's last line, visible: hover-only would mean no
+       controls at all on touch. Order: zip, keep or release, then wipe set
+       apart — zip out of the middle (operator), release still next to x. #}
+    <div class="desk-acts">
+      <a class="dl-link" href="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/?download=1" title="download this booth as a zip">⬇ zip</a>
+      {%- if b.kept %}
+      <form class="release" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/unkeep"
+            data-booth="{{ b.name }}" data-confirm="release"><button title="release this booth so it can be wiped">release</button></form>
+      <form class="wipe wipe-kept" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/delete"
+            data-booth="{{ b.name }}" data-confirm="wipe-kept"><button title="wipe this KEPT booth now" aria-label="wipe kept booth">× wipe</button></form>
+      {%- else %}
+      <form class="keepit" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/keep"><button title="keep — exempt from the {{ ttl_hours }}h sweep" aria-label="keep booth">★ keep</button></form>
+      <form class="wipe" method="post" action="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/delete"
+            data-booth="{{ b.name }}" data-confirm="wipe"><button title="wipe now" aria-label="wipe booth">× wipe</button></form>
+      {%- endif %}
     </div>
-    {% endif %}
   </article>
 {%- endmacro %}
 
diff --git a/docs/contracts/r2b_desk_reveal_theme.contract.md b/docs/contracts/r2b_desk_reveal_theme.contract.md
index 6c314c9..de0798a 100644
--- a/docs/contracts/r2b_desk_reveal_theme.contract.md
+++ b/docs/contracts/r2b_desk_reveal_theme.contract.md
@@ -77,7 +77,18 @@ on mouseover"*.
     top-right, which is still picture.
 - **Everywhere else (no hover, a coarse primary pointer, or any coarse pointer
   present), the cluster is visible and in flow**, on its own line at the
-  bottom of the row. Hover-only would mean no
+  bottom of the row.
+- **The cluster is LAST in the row's markup**, so the booth's name comes first
+  in tab order and wipe comes last. Where a real hover exists it is placed over
+  the strip from the row's own box: the strip keeps to the row's top, 210px
+  wide from the row's 12px padding.
+  - Accepted: the hover query uses Media Queries 4 `not (...)`. An engine
+    without MQ4 drops the whole query, and the failure is the safe
+    direction: the controls show, in flow.
+  - Known limit: the touch-LAPTOP branch (a fine primary pointer plus a coarse
+    one) cannot be emulated, because Chromium's touch emulation makes the
+    primary pointer coarse. That branch is covered by reading the media query,
+    not by a test. Hover-only would mean no
   controls at all on touch. Every control there is at least 28px square
   (r2's Slate T2 floor).
 - **× hides with the others** (OPEN-1, answered yes). A visible × on every row
@@ -97,9 +108,25 @@ Merge 2, with the row. booth-dev has put both on the record (thread
   None when the filesystem cannot say. None renders as NOTHING, never a guess.
 - "Updated" is `landed_at`, the content clock the "new" section already reads.
 
-They render on the Desk row and in the booth header as dated FACTS, a
-different kind of thing from the lifetime pill (state) and the controls
-(actions). Their exact form is settled in merge 2 against the built row.
+They render on the Desk row's facts line and in the booth header's status line
+as dated FACTS, a different kind of thing from the lifetime pill (state) and the
+controls (actions). One macro, `_dates.html`, serves both:
+- **created** is a DATE, "created 12 Sep" (with the year only when it is not
+  this year's);
+- **updated** is an AGE, "updated 5d ago", measured from ONE clock per page
+  (`now` in the context), so every row is measured from the same instant;
+- each is a `<time>` with `datetime` (ISO) and its exact local stamp as the
+  title;
+- **updated shows whenever it differs from created by a minute or more,
+  EITHER way.** Copied files keep their mtimes while the folder is born now,
+  so content can be older than its booth. Within a minute, one date;
+- a content clock AHEAD of now is said as its DATE, never as an age ("updated
+  just now" would be false);
+- an age is in its largest whole unit, a day being 24h;
+- a date the filesystem cannot give, or the calendar cannot hold, renders
+  NOTHING. The filters never raise: the Desk renders every row in one
+  response, so one unrenderable clock would otherwise 500 the index for every
+  booth.
 
 ## D2 — Reveal all (blur ruling A)
 
@@ -208,6 +235,8 @@ reading; this is the control the operator uses, which the blur ruling assumed.
 - **Mechanism: `data-theme` on `<html>`.** Absent = the OS preference, exactly
   today's sheet. An early `<head>` script sets it before first paint, so a
   forced theme never flashes the other one.
+- **A choice made in another tab moves every open Booth page** (the `storage`
+  event), as it moves the ask chrome.
 - **System is live-following BY CONSTRUCTION.** Choosing System removes
   `data-theme`, and the `prefers-color-scheme` media query takes over. A media
   query tracks the OS live, so no `matchMedia` listener is needed: JS never
@@ -234,11 +263,15 @@ reading; this is the control the operator uses, which the blur ruling assumed.
     old lacked. The committed test checks each re-scoped copy against the
     UNMOVED dark block. SVOS's light and dark declare the same 42 properties,
     and its dark-hc and light-hc the same 41, so a declaration the transform
-    drops fails it.
+    drops fails it. Light declares every dark-block property PLUS the art
+    layer's four light-only values (the three shadows and the armed glow).
+    That extra set is written in the test from SVOS, never derived from the
+    copies, so dropping it from both copies fails too.
 - **No JS: no toggle, and the page follows the OS**, as today.
 - **The toggle reaches inside verbatim pages** (operator: "theme toggle reaches
   inside"). `embed.js` reads the same `localStorage["booth.theme"]` (the same
-  origin) and marks each `.bk-ask` it injects with `data-bk-theme`. Its
+  origin) and marks each `.bk-ask` IT MOUNTED (never an author's own element
+  of that class) with `data-bk-theme`. Its
   colours follow that attribute exactly as the Booth's own sheet follows
   `data-theme`: forced when set, OS when absent. It follows a change made in
   another tab through the `storage` event. It sets nothing on the host page's
@@ -299,11 +332,25 @@ reading; this is the control the operator uses, which the blur ruling assumed.
   pressing Light/Dark changes `--surface-base` and survives a reload (new page,
   same context); System plus an emulated OS scheme flip changes it WITHOUT a
   reload.
-- `a_forced_theme_follows_high_contrast`: forced dark + `prefers-contrast:
-  more` resolves dark-hc's surface token.
+- `a_forced_theme_follows_high_contrast`: under `prefers-contrast: more`,
+  forced dark resolves exactly what OS dark does, and forced light what OS
+  light does. The check reads tokens that DIFFER between a theme and its
+  high-contrast variant (`--text-faint`, `--border-default`; `--surface-card`
+  is the same in both and would prove nothing), and asserts that high contrast
+  actually changed them.
 - `a_forced_theme_and_the_os_theme_are_the_same_declarations`: each light copy
-  equals the other and declares exactly the dark block's property set; each
-  light-hc copy equals the other and declares exactly the dark-hc block's.
+  equals the other and declares the dark block's property set plus the four
+  art-light values; each light-hc copy equals the other and declares exactly
+  the dark-hc block's.
+- `created_and_updated_are_dated_facts_and_none_says_nothing`,
+  `updated_shows_whenever_it_differs_from_created_and_a_future_one_says_its_date`,
+  `a_date_no_calendar_can_hold_renders_nothing_and_never_500s`,
+  `an_age_is_said_in_its_largest_whole_unit` (D1b).
+- `a_rows_booth_name_comes_before_its_controls_in_tab_order`,
+  `the_pill_shows_at_rest_and_focus_reveals_the_controls`,
+  `with_scripts_off_a_rows_controls_still_act` (D1).
+- `a_theme_chosen_in_one_tab_moves_the_others`,
+  `the_theme_marks_only_the_ask_fragments_we_mounted` (D3).
 
 ## Assertions that change (declared before the code)
 
@@ -311,6 +358,8 @@ reading; this is the control the operator uses, which the blur ruling assumed.
 |---|---|---|---|
 | test_flow_browser `test_a_rows_keep_release_and_wipe_take_no_room_of_their_own` | controls visible at rest; a row with no badge has no side column (gap ≤14px) | replaced by `the_row_controls_take_no_room_where_a_hover_exists` | the operator ruled hover-reveal; the side column now always holds the lifetime pill |
 | test_flow_browser `test_on_a_touch_screen_the_row_controls_keep_their_tap_floor` | measures `.desk-facts form button` | the same floor, measured on `.desk-acts` controls | the controls moved; the floor did not |
+| test_flow_browser `test_the_wipe_dialog_shows_what_is_being_wiped_and_never_fails_open` | clicks the row's wipe at rest | hovers the row first, then clicks | wipe is hidden until hover (OPEN-1, answered yes) |
+| tests/mutations/r2_flow.toml, four rows on the facts-line controls | proved the controls visible at rest on the facts line | retired, with successors in r2b.toml | their tests were replaced, as declared above |
 
 ## Out of scope
 
diff --git a/tests/mutations/r2_flow.toml b/tests/mutations/r2_flow.toml
index ffd6773..f203dc5 100644
--- a/tests/mutations/r2_flow.toml
+++ b/tests/mutations/r2_flow.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@
 # covers them together); and `flagged_targets`' `error is None`, since
 # hydration already strips the target from a damaged mark.
 #
+# RETIRED (r2b D1, 2026-09-23): four rows proving the facts-line row controls
+# (visible at rest, compact, on the facts line) — the operator ruled those
+# controls hover-revealed over the preview strip, and their tests were replaced
+# as declared in r2b's contract. Their successors are in r2b.toml.
+#
 # The serialization row is only a falsifier because its test HOLDS the first
 # refresh in the client: localhost alone never lost the race, and the first
 # draft of that test stayed green with serialization deleted.
@@ -159,26 +164,6 @@ new = '''
         except FileNotFoundError:
             continue'''
 
-[[mutation]]
-label = "Desk row controls hidden until hover again (opacity 0 keeps their box)"
-file = "booth/templates/base.html"
-test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_a_rows_keep_release_and_wipe_take_no_room_of_their_own"
-old = '''
-  .desk-facts form{display:inline;margin:0}'''
-new = '''
-  .desk-facts form{display:inline;margin:0;opacity:0}'''
-
-[[mutation]]
-label = "Desk row renders its side column with no badge in it (a reserved gap)"
-file = "booth/templates/index.html"
-test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_a_rows_keep_release_and_wipe_take_no_room_of_their_own"
-old = '''
-    {% if b.marks_open or b.hold == "unreadable" or section == 'new' or b.uploaded %}
-    <div class="desk-side">'''
-new = '''
-    {% if true %}
-    <div class="desk-side">'''
-
 [[mutation]]
 label = "the stacked Desk column is a bare 1fr (content sets its minimum)"
 file = "booth/templates/base.html"
@@ -206,24 +191,6 @@ old = '''
 new = '''
   .desk-main{flex:1 1 auto}'''
 
-[[mutation]]
-label = "a coarse pointer gets the compact ~21px controls"
-file = "booth/templates/base.html"
-test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_on_a_touch_screen_the_row_controls_keep_their_tap_floor"
-old = '''
-    .desk-facts form button{min-height:32px;min-width:32px;padding:0 10px;margin-left:6px;vertical-align:middle}'''
-new = '''
-    .desk-facts form button{padding:0 10px;margin-left:6px;vertical-align:middle}'''
-
-[[mutation]]
-label = "the zip link may break between its glyph and its word"
-file = "booth/templates/base.html"
-test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_on_a_touch_screen_the_row_controls_keep_their_tap_floor"
-old = '''
-  .desk-facts .dl-link{white-space:nowrap}'''
-new = '''
-  .desk-facts .dl-link{}'''
-
 [[mutation]]
 label = "the wipe dialog shows the agent-made name raw (bidi, newline)"
 file = "booth/templates/index.html"
diff --git a/tests/mutations/r2b.toml b/tests/mutations/r2b.toml
index 8b0f494..057f564 100644
--- a/tests/mutations/r2b.toml
+++ b/tests/mutations/r2b.toml
@@ -282,3 +282,267 @@ old = '''
             b = pw.chromium.launch(args=OFFLINE)'''
 new = '''
             b = pw.chromium.launch()'''
+
+# ---- merge 2: D1 the Desk row, D1b dates, D3 the theme toggle
+# Successors to the four r2_flow rows retired for D1. One branch is proved by
+# reading, not here: a true touch LAPTOP (fine pointer + a coarse one) cannot be
+# emulated — Chromium's touch emulation makes the primary pointer coarse.
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 the cluster is visible at rest"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_row_controls_take_no_room_where_a_hover_exists"
+old = '''
+      opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity var(--dur-1) var(--ease-out)}'''
+new = '''
+      opacity:1;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity var(--dur-1) var(--ease-out)}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 hover shows the cluster but leaves it unclickable"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_row_controls_take_no_room_where_a_hover_exists"
+old = '''
+    .desk-row:hover .desk-acts,.desk-row:focus-within .desk-acts{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}'''
+new = '''
+    .desk-row:hover .desk-acts,.desk-row:focus-within .desk-acts{opacity:1}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 the cluster stays in flow where a hover exists (it takes room)"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_row_controls_take_no_room_where_a_hover_exists"
+old = '''
+    .desk-acts{position:absolute;top:17px;left:calc(12px + 210px - 5px);transform:translateX(-100%);flex:none;gap:4px;padding:3px;'''
+new = '''
+    .desk-acts{position:static;top:17px;left:calc(12px + 210px - 5px);transform:translateX(-100%);flex:none;gap:4px;padding:3px;'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 hover-only everywhere (no controls at all on touch)"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_on_touch_the_row_controls_are_visible_in_flow_and_at_least_28px"
+old = '''
+  .desk-acts{flex:1 0 100%;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;gap:6px}'''
+new = '''
+  .desk-acts{flex:1 0 100%;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;gap:6px;opacity:0}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 touch controls fall below the 28px floor"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_on_touch_the_row_controls_are_visible_in_flow_and_at_least_28px"
+old = '''
+    min-height:32px;min-width:32px;padding:0 10px;font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--size-caption);'''
+new = '''
+    min-height:18px;min-width:18px;padding:0 10px;font-family:var(--font-mono);font-size:var(--size-caption);'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 zip back in the middle"
+file = "booth/templates/index.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_row_controls_run_zip_keep_or_release_then_wipe"
+old = '''
+      <a class="dl-link" href="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/?download=1" title="download this booth as a zip">⬇ zip</a>
+      {%- if b.kept %}
+      <form class="release"'''
+new = '''
+      {%- if b.kept %}
+      <a class="dl-link" href="/b/{{ b.name_url }}/?download=1" title="download this booth as a zip">⬇ zip</a>
+      <form class="release"'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1 a held booth's pill reads as counting down"
+file = "booth/templates/index.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_the_lifetime_pill_class_is_kept_held_or_counting"
+old = '''('life-held' if b.hold in ('open', 'unreadable') else 'life-count')'''
+new = '''('life-held' if b.hold == 'never' else 'life-count')'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1b an unknown birth time renders a guess"
+file = "booth/templates/_dates.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_created_and_updated_are_dated_facts_and_none_says_nothing"
+old = '''{% macro dates(created_at, landed_at, now) -%}'''
+new = '''{% macro dates(created_at, landed_at, now) -%}{%- set created_at = created_at or landed_at -%}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D1b updated is measured from the wrong clock"
+file = "booth/templates/_dates.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_created_and_updated_are_dated_facts_and_none_says_nothing"
+old = '''updated {{ age|ago }}'''
+new = '''updated {{ (now - created_at)|ago }}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 a stored theme is not applied at load (a reload forgets it)"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_theme_toggle_forces_light_and_dark_and_system_follows_the_os_live"
+old = '''
+      if (t === 'light' || t === 'dark') d.setAttribute('data-theme', t);'''
+new = '''
+      if (false) d.setAttribute('data-theme', t);'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 System snapshots the OS instead of following it live"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_theme_toggle_forces_light_and_dark_and_system_follows_the_os_live"
+old = '''
+      if (c === 'system') d.removeAttribute('data-theme'); else d.setAttribute('data-theme', c);'''
+new = '''
+      if (c === 'system') d.setAttribute('data-theme', matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: light)').matches ? 'light' : 'dark'); else d.setAttribute('data-theme', c);'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 forced light is not in the sheet"
+file = "booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_theme_toggle_forces_light_and_dark_and_system_follows_the_os_live"
+old = '''
+:root[data-theme="light"] {'''
+new = '''
+:root[data-theme="light-OFF"] {'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 the toggle shows without JS (display beats [hidden])"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_theme_toggle_never_shows_without_js_and_a_storage_failure_still_applies"
+old = '''
+  .theme[hidden]{display:none}'''
+new = '''
+'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 a storage write that throws swallows the choice"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_theme_toggle_never_shows_without_js_and_a_storage_failure_still_applies"
+old = '''
+      var c = b.getAttribute('data-theme-choice');
+      if (c === 'system')'''
+new = '''
+      var c = b.getAttribute('data-theme-choice');
+      localStorage.setItem('booth.theme', c);
+      if (c === 'system')'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 a stylesheet precedes the stored-theme script (a flash)"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_a_forced_theme_is_applied_before_first_paint"
+old = '''
+<script>
+  (function () {
+    var d = document.documentElement, b = d.getAttribute('data-booth');'''
+new = '''
+<style></style>
+<script>
+  (function () {
+    var d = document.documentElement, b = d.getAttribute('data-booth');'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 the ask chrome in a verbatim page ignores the choice"
+file = "booth/static/embed.js"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_a_forced_theme_reaches_the_ask_chrome_inside_a_verbatim_page"
+old = '''
+        bkTheme();
+        reassociate();'''
+new = '''
+        reassociate();'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "D3 the ask chrome does not follow a choice made in another tab"
+file = "booth/static/embed.js"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_a_forced_theme_reaches_the_ask_chrome_inside_a_verbatim_page"
+old = '''
+    if (e.key === "booth.theme" || e.key === null) bkTheme();'''
+new = '''
+    if (false) bkTheme();'''
+
+# ---- merge-2 folds: heid bug-hunt ("GORE-7") and code-review ("STAGGER-3")
+# Not expressible as one replacement, so pinned by their tests directly: the
+# row's DOM tab order (read in order by the test), and a declaration dropped
+# from BOTH light copies (the expected set is now written from SVOS, not
+# derived from the copies).
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "a date the calendar cannot hold raises through the Desk"
+file = "booth/app.py"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_a_date_no_calendar_can_hold_renders_nothing_and_never_500s"
+old = '''
+_BAD_DATE = (OverflowError, OSError, ValueError)'''
+new = '''
+_BAD_DATE = ()'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "updated is dropped for content older than its booth (one-sided gap)"
+file = "booth/templates/_dates.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_updated_shows_whenever_it_differs_from_created_and_a_future_one_says_its_date"
+old = '''(landed_at - created_at)|abs >= 60'''
+new = '''(landed_at - created_at) >= 60'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "a content clock ahead of now reads as an age"
+file = "booth/templates/_dates.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_updated_shows_whenever_it_differs_from_created_and_a_future_one_says_its_date"
+old = '''{%- if age < -60 %}'''
+new = '''{%- if false %}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "hours run on to 47h (1d ago never appears)"
+file = "booth/app.py"
+test = "tests/test_flow.py::test_an_age_is_said_in_its_largest_whole_unit"
+old = '''
+    if s < 86400:
+        return f"{s // 3600}h ago"'''
+new = '''
+    if s < 2 * 86400:
+        return f"{s // 3600}h ago"'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "a theme chosen in one tab does not reach the Booth's other open tabs"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_a_theme_chosen_in_one_tab_moves_the_others"
+old = '''
+      if (e.key !== 'booth.theme' && e.key !== null) return;
+      var t = null;'''
+new = '''
+      return;
+      var t = null;'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "the theme mark reaches the author's own .bk-ask"
+file = "booth/static/embed.js"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_theme_marks_only_the_ask_fragments_we_mounted"
+old = '''
+    ours.forEach(function (root) {'''
+new = '''
+    [document.body].forEach(function (root) {'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "keyboard focus no longer reveals the row's controls"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_pill_shows_at_rest_and_focus_reveals_the_controls"
+old = '''
+    .desk-row:hover .desk-acts,.desk-row:focus-within .desk-acts{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}'''
+new = '''
+    .desk-row:hover .desk-acts{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "the lifetime pill hides at rest"
+file = "booth/templates/base.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_the_pill_shows_at_rest_and_focus_reveals_the_controls"
+old = '''
+  .life-count::before{content:"◷"}'''
+new = '''
+  .life-count::before{content:"◷"}
+  .life{opacity:0}'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "high contrast never applies (dark-hc block gone)"
+file = "booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_a_forced_theme_follows_high_contrast"
+old = '''
+/* dark high contrast: whenever dark is in effect (light, below, outranks it) */
+@media (prefers-contrast: more) {'''
+new = '''
+/* dark high contrast: whenever dark is in effect (light, below, outranks it) */
+@media (prefers-contrast: less) {'''
+
+[[mutation]]
+label = "Reveal all does not reach a blurred doc's own page"
+file = "booth/templates/doc.html"
+test = "tests/test_flow_browser.py::test_reveal_all_lifts_the_doc_page_it_reaches"
+old = '''
+  .reveal-all .docbody.is-blurred .markdown-body,.reveal-all .docbody.is-blurred .textview{filter:none}'''
+new = '''
+  .reveal-all-OFF .docbody.is-blurred .markdown-body,.reveal-all .docbody.is-blurred .textview{filter:none}'''
diff --git a/tests/test_flow.py b/tests/test_flow.py
index 5b08121..b01053a 100644
--- a/tests/test_flow.py
+++ b/tests/test_flow.py
@@ -997,3 +997,167 @@ def test_the_fog_landing_is_built_from_the_ring_never_echoed(tmp_path):
     assert loc("gone.png") == "/b/g/"
     assert loc("n.md") == "/b/g/"
     assert loc("") == "/b/g/"
+
+
+def _css_blocks(css: str) -> list[tuple[str, list[str]]]:
+    """[(media prelude | selector, declarations)] in source order. Enough of a
+    parser for the vendored sheet: blocks are one level deep, or one inside a
+    single @media."""
+    out, media = [], ""
+    for m in re.finditer(r'(@media[^{]+)\{|([^{}@]+?)\s*\{([^{}]*)\}|\}', css):
+        if m.group(1):
+            media = " ".join(m.group(1).split())
+        elif m.group(2) is not None:
+            key = (media + " | " + " ".join(m.group(2).split()).split("*/")[-1].strip()).strip()
+            body = re.sub(r"/\*.*?\*/", "", m.group(3), flags=re.S)   # a comment hides the declaration after it
+            decls = [d.strip() for d in body.split(";") if d.strip()]
+            out.append((key, decls))
+        else:
+            media = ""
+    return out
+
+
+def test_a_forced_theme_and_the_os_theme_are_the_same_declarations():
+    """r2b D3: light is written twice — under the OS query for
+    `:root:not([data-theme="dark"])`, and bare for `:root[data-theme="light"]`
+    — and light-hc twice likewise. The two copies of each must be the same
+    declarations, value for value, or forcing a theme would give a different
+    theme than the OS asking for it.
+
+    And each must declare exactly the property set of the block it overrides,
+    read from the UNMOVED dark block (SVOS's light and dark declare the same
+    properties, as do its two high-contrast blocks). A check that only compared
+    the re-scoped copies with each other would pass a transform that dropped
+    the same declaration from both (heid contract panel, 4/4)."""
+    css = (pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent / "booth/templates/_svos_tokens.css").read_text()
+    blocks = _css_blocks(css)
+    by = {}
+    for key, decls in blocks:
+        by.setdefault(key, []).append(decls)
+    props = lambda decls: {d.split(":", 1)[0].strip() for d in decls}
+    dark = by["| :root"][1]                               # primitives, DARK, art layer
+    art = by["| :root"][2]
+    [os_light] = by['@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) | :root:not([data-theme="dark"])']
+    [forced_light] = by['| :root[data-theme="light"]']
+    [dhc] = by["@media (prefers-contrast: more) | :root"]
+    [os_lhc] = by['@media (prefers-contrast: more) and (prefers-color-scheme: light) | :root:not([data-theme="dark"])']
+    [forced_lhc] = by['@media (prefers-contrast: more) | :root[data-theme="light"]']
+    assert "color-scheme: dark" in dark and len(dark) > 30   # the parser found the real dark block
+    assert os_light == forced_light
+    assert os_lhc == forced_lhc
+    # Light overrides every dark property plus the art layer's four light-only
+    # values. That extra set is written here, from SVOS, NOT derived from the
+    # copies: deriving it from them let a transform that dropped an art-light
+    # value from BOTH copies pass (heid code-review, 2/4).
+    art_light = {"--shadow-sm", "--shadow-md", "--shadow-lg", "--glow-armed"}
+    assert art_light <= props(art)
+    assert props(forced_light) == props(dark) | art_light
+    assert props(forced_lhc) == props(dhc)
+
+
+def _row(body: str, name: str) -> str:
+    return re.search(r'<article class="desk-row[^"]*" data-booth="%s".*?</article>' % re.escape(name), body, re.S).group(0)
+
+
+def test_the_lifetime_pill_class_is_kept_held_or_counting(tmp_path):
+    """r2b D1 (operator: 'make it obvious which are kept and which are
+    ephemeral'): the lifetime is a pill in the right column, its CLASS chosen
+    by state and its words exactly the lifetime macro's."""
+    from booth.marks import declare_pick
+    k = _booth(tmp_path, "kept1", {"a.png": PNG})
+    (k / ".forever").write_bytes(b"")
+    h = _booth(tmp_path, "held", {"a.png": PNG})
+    declare_pick(h, "q", {"prompt": "Which?", "options": ["x", "y"]})
+    _booth(tmp_path, "loose", {"a.png": PNG})
+    broken = _booth(tmp_path, "broken", {"a.png": PNG})
+    (broken / ".marks.json").write_text("{not json")
+    body = _client(tmp_path).get("/").text
+    pill = lambda n: re.search(r'<span class="life (life-\w+)"[^>]*>(.*?)</span>\s*</div>', _row(body, n), re.S)
+    assert pill("kept1").group(1) == "life-kept" and "kept" in pill("kept1").group(2)
+    assert pill("held").group(1) == "life-held" and "held until answered" in pill("held").group(2)
+    assert pill("loose").group(1) == "life-count" and "expires in" in pill("loose").group(2)
+    assert pill("broken").group(1) == "life-held" and "marks unreadable" in pill("broken").group(2)
+    # and the lifetime left the facts line, which is facts only
+    assert "expires in" not in re.search(r'class="desk-facts".*?</div>', _row(body, "loose"), re.S).group(0)
+
+
+def test_created_and_updated_are_dated_facts_and_none_says_nothing(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """r2b D1b (operator: 'creation and update dates on the booths'): created is
+    a date, updated an age, each a <time> with its full stamp as the title, on
+    the Desk row's facts line and in the booth header. A birth time the
+    filesystem cannot give renders NOTHING — never a guess (booth-dev)."""
+    import os
+    import booth.app as app_mod
+    t0 = time.time() - 5 * 86400
+    b = _booth(tmp_path, "g", {"a.png": PNG})
+    os.utime(b / "a.png", (t0, t0))
+    _booth(tmp_path, "nobirth", {"a.png": PNG})
+    real = app_mod.birth_time
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_mod, "birth_time", lambda p: None if p.name == "nobirth" else t0 - 86400)
+    c = _client(tmp_path)
+    facts = lambda n: re.search(r'class="desk-facts".*?</div>', _row(c.get("/").text, n), re.S).group(0)
+    g = facts("g")
+    assert re.search(r'<time[^>]*datetime="\d{4}-\d\d-\d\dT[^"]+"[^>]*title="created [^"]+"[^>]*>created [^<]+</time>', g)
+    assert re.search(r'<time[^>]*title="updated [^"]+"[^>]*>updated 5d ago</time>', g)
+    assert "created" not in facts("nobirth")
+    head = c.get("/b/g/").text
+    assert re.search(r'<time[^>]*>created [^<]+</time>', head) and re.search(r'<time[^>]*>updated 5d ago</time>', head)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_mod, "birth_time", real)
+
+
+def test_a_forced_theme_is_applied_before_first_paint(tmp_path):
+    """r2b D3 / INV-6: the script that applies a stored theme runs in <head>
+    BEFORE any stylesheet, so a forced theme never flashes the other one. The
+    toggle is markup on every page, always `hidden` until the script shows it."""
+    _booth(tmp_path, "g", {"a.png": PNG})
+    c = _client(tmp_path)
+    for url in ("/", "/b/g/"):
+        page = c.get(url).text
+        head = page[:page.index("</head>")]
+        assert head.index("booth.theme") < head.index("<style>"), url
+        assert re.search(r'<div class="theme"[^>]*hidden', page), url
+
+
+def test_a_date_no_calendar_can_hold_renders_nothing_and_never_500s(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """heid bug-hunt (4/4): the date filters raised on a timestamp outside the
+    calendar's range, and the Desk renders every row in one response — one
+    poisoned clock 500'd the index for every booth. A date that cannot be
+    rendered renders nothing, like a birth time the disk cannot give."""
+    import booth.app as app_mod
+    _booth(tmp_path, "g", {"a.png": PNG})
+    _booth(tmp_path, "ok", {"a.png": PNG})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_mod, "birth_time", lambda p: 1e20 if p.name == "g" else None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_mod, "_content_mtime", lambda p: -1e20 if p.name == "g" else time.time() - 3600)
+    c = _client(tmp_path)
+    r = c.get("/")
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    assert "created" not in re.search(r'class="desk-facts".*?</div>', _row(r.text, "g"), re.S).group(0)
+    assert c.get("/b/g/").status_code == 200
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("age,words", [(30, "just now"), (59 * 60, "59m ago"), (23 * 3600, "23h ago"),
+                                       (30 * 3600, "1d ago"), (47 * 3600, "1d ago"), (5 * 86400, "5d ago")])
+def test_an_age_is_said_in_its_largest_whole_unit(age, words):
+    """heid bug-hunt (groa): hours ran on to 47h, so "1d ago" never appeared,
+    against the helper's own docstring."""
+    from booth.app import date_ago
+    assert date_ago(age) == words
+
+
+def test_updated_shows_whenever_it_differs_from_created_and_a_future_one_says_its_date(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """heid bug-hunt (hulda, groa): "updated" was dropped for content OLDER than
+    the booth — copied files keep their mtimes while the folder is born now —
+    and a future content clock read "updated just now". Either direction of a
+    real gap shows; a clock ahead of now shows its date, never an age."""
+    import booth.app as app_mod
+    now = time.time()
+    _booth(tmp_path, "copied", {"a.png": PNG})
+    _booth(tmp_path, "ahead", {"a.png": PNG})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_mod, "birth_time", lambda p: now - 3600)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_mod, "_content_mtime",
+                        lambda p: now - 30 * 86400 if p.name == "copied" else now + 5 * 86400)
+    body = _client(tmp_path).get("/").text
+    facts = lambda n: re.search(r'class="desk-facts".*?</div>', _row(body, n), re.S).group(0)
+    assert re.search(r">updated 30d ago</time>", facts("copied"))
+    ahead = facts("ahead")
+    assert "just now" not in ahead and re.search(r">updated \d{1,2} [A-Z][a-z]{2}( \d{4})?</time>", ahead)
diff --git a/tests/test_flow_browser.py b/tests/test_flow_browser.py
index 7757147..20ed967 100644
--- a/tests/test_flow_browser.py
+++ b/tests/test_flow_browser.py
@@ -410,43 +410,6 @@ def test_the_next_arrow_clears_the_rail_only_beside_it(browser, live):
     assert rights == {1400: "360px", 390: "0px"}
 
 
-def test_a_rows_keep_release_and_wipe_take_no_room_of_their_own(browser, live):
-    """Operator, on the live Desk: 'release and x take up space whether or not
-    they're visible.' They were `opacity:0` in their own side column, which
-    hides a control and still reserves its box. Each now sits on the facts
-    line beside the state it changes, visible without hover (a touch screen
-    never had hover), so a row with no badge has no side column at all."""
-    import os
-    base, root = live
-    past = time.time() - 10_000
-    for name, kept in (("kept1", True), ("loose", False)):
-        d = root / name
-        d.mkdir()
-        (d / "a.png").write_bytes(PNG)
-        os.utime(d / "a.png", (past, past))
-        (d / ".viewed").write_bytes(b"")    # looked at since: no 'new' badge
-        if kept:
-            (d / ".forever").write_bytes(b"")
-    page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 1400, "height": 900})
-    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
-    page.mouse.move(0, 0)                       # nothing hovered
-    out = {}
-    for name, form in (("kept1", "form.release"), ("kept1", "form.wipe-kept"),
-                       ("loose", "form.keepit"), ("loose", "form.wipe")):
-        btn = page.locator(f'.desk-row[data-booth="{name}"] {form} button')
-        out[(name, form)] = btn.is_visible() and btn.evaluate(
-            "b => { for (let e = b; e; e = e.parentElement)"
-            "         if (getComputedStyle(e).opacity === '0') return false;"
-            "       return true; }")
-    gaps = page.evaluate("""() => [...document.querySelectorAll('.desk-row')].map(r => {
-        const row = r.getBoundingClientRect(), main = r.querySelector('.desk-main').getBoundingClientRect();
-        return Math.round(row.right - main.right); })""")
-    page.close()
-    assert all(out.values()), out
-    # row padding (12) + border (1) + nothing else: no side column is reserved
-    assert gaps and max(gaps) <= 14, gaps
-
-
 def test_the_desk_never_scrolls_sideways_at_any_width(browser, tmp_path):
     """The row-controls change made a Desk row a flex container, and a long
     provenance line (nowrap, ellipsised) then set the Desk column's MINIMUM
@@ -492,42 +455,6 @@ def test_the_desk_never_scrolls_sideways_at_any_width(browser, tmp_path):
     assert all(v <= 0 for v in over.values()), over
 
 
-def test_on_a_touch_screen_the_row_controls_keep_their_tap_floor(browser, live):
-    """Slate T2 (kimi, groa): moving keep/release/wipe onto the facts line
-    dropped the deliberate 28px tap target (`height:28px;min-width:28px`) to
-    about 19px, 4-6px from the zip link. With scripts off no confirm fires, so
-    a mis-tap on wipe POSTs the delete. On a coarse pointer every row control
-    is at least 28px square again and wipe stands clear of the zip link; a
-    fine pointer keeps the compact line."""
-    import os
-    base, root = live
-    past = time.time() - 10_000
-    for name, kept in (("kept1", True), ("loose", False)):
-        d = root / name
-        d.mkdir()
-        (d / "a.png").write_bytes(PNG)
-        os.utime(d / "a.png", (past, past))
-        (d / ".viewed").write_bytes(b"")
-        if kept:
-            (d / ".forever").write_bytes(b"")
-    ctx = browser.new_context(viewport={"width": 390, "height": 844}, has_touch=True, is_mobile=True)
-    page = ctx.new_page()
-    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
-    coarse = page.evaluate("matchMedia('(pointer: coarse)').matches")
-    boxes = page.evaluate("""() => [...document.querySelectorAll('.desk-facts form button')].map(b => {
-        const r = b.getBoundingClientRect(); return [Math.round(r.width), Math.round(r.height)]; })""")
-    gaps = page.evaluate("""() => [...document.querySelectorAll('.desk-row')].map(row => {
-        const z = row.querySelector('.dl-link').getBoundingClientRect(),
-              w = row.querySelector('form.wipe button').getBoundingClientRect();
-        // the clearance between the two boxes on whichever axis separates them:
-        // beside each other on one line, or wipe wrapped onto the next
-        return Math.round(Math.max(w.left - z.right, z.left - w.right, w.top - z.bottom, z.top - w.bottom)); })""")
-    ctx.close()
-    assert coarse, "the emulation must present a coarse pointer, or this test measures nothing"
-    assert len(boxes) == 4 and all(w >= 28 and h >= 28 for w, h in boxes), boxes
-    assert all(g >= 8 for g in gaps), gaps
-
-
 def test_the_wipe_dialog_shows_what_is_being_wiped_and_never_fails_open(browser, live):
     """Slate T4 (groa): the booth name travels as data, never into a script —
     but the confirm TEXT showed it raw, so a name carrying a bidi override
@@ -548,6 +475,8 @@ def test_the_wipe_dialog_shows_what_is_being_wiped_and_never_fails_open(browser,
     said = []
     page.on("dialog", lambda dlg: (said.append(dlg.message), dlg.dismiss()))
     page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    # r2b D1: the row's controls appear on hover (operator ruling), so hover first
+    page.locator(".desk-row").first.hover()
     page.locator("form.wipe button").first.click()
     page.wait_for_timeout(300)
     page.evaluate("""() => { const f = document.createElement('form');
@@ -805,3 +734,352 @@ def test_the_test_browser_has_no_internet(browser, live):
     page.close()
     assert "ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED" in str(err.value) and external < 3, (str(err.value)[:80], external)
     assert local < 10, local
+
+
+def _two_rows(root: pathlib.Path) -> None:
+    """A kept and an ephemeral booth, both looked at since they landed (so no
+    'new' badge): the plainest rows the Desk draws."""
+    import os
+    past = time.time() - 10_000
+    for name, kept in (("kept1", True), ("loose", False)):
+        d = root / name
+        d.mkdir()
+        (d / "a.png").write_bytes(PNG)
+        os.utime(d / "a.png", (past, past))
+        (d / ".viewed").write_bytes(b"")
+        if kept:
+            (d / ".forever").write_bytes(b"")
+
+
+_ROW_BOXES = """row => {
+    const box = e => { const r = e.getBoundingClientRect(); return [r.x, r.y, r.width, r.height].map(Math.round); };
+    const parts = [...row.querySelectorAll('.desk-strip, .desk-strip img, .desk-main, .desk-side, .life')];
+    return parts.map(box);
+}"""
+
+
+def test_the_row_controls_take_no_room_where_a_hover_exists(browser, live):
+    """r2b D1 (operator: 'download, keep and release buttons only appear on
+    mouseover'; earlier: 'release and x take up space whether or not they're
+    visible'). Where a real hover exists the cluster floats over the preview
+    strip: at rest invisible AND unclickable; on hover visible AND clickable;
+    and every other box in the row is the same with the cluster removed. It
+    never covers the text or the side column, at any width."""
+    base, root = live
+    _two_rows(root)
+    over = {}
+    for w in (390, 720, 1000, 1400):
+        page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": w, "height": 900})
+        page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+        assert page.evaluate("matchMedia('(hover: hover) and (pointer: fine)').matches")
+        page.mouse.move(0, 0)
+        row = page.locator('.desk-row[data-booth="loose"]')
+        acts = row.locator(".desk-acts")
+        rest = acts.evaluate("a => [getComputedStyle(a).opacity, getComputedStyle(a).pointerEvents]")
+        with_acts = row.evaluate(_ROW_BOXES)
+        row.hover()
+        page.wait_for_timeout(350)
+        shown = acts.evaluate("a => [getComputedStyle(a).opacity, getComputedStyle(a).pointerEvents]")
+        over[w] = row.evaluate("""row => {
+            const a = row.querySelector('.desk-acts').getBoundingClientRect();
+            return [...row.querySelectorAll('.desk-main, .desk-side')].some(e => {
+                const r = e.getBoundingClientRect();
+                return a.left < r.right && r.left < a.right && a.top < r.bottom && r.top < a.bottom; }); }""")
+        acts.evaluate("a => a.remove()")
+        without = row.evaluate(_ROW_BOXES)
+        page.close()
+        assert rest == ["0", "none"], (w, rest)
+        assert shown == ["1", "auto"], (w, shown)
+        assert with_acts == without, (w, with_acts, without)
+    assert not any(over.values()), over
+    # and on hover a control is really pressable: keep reaches the server
+    page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 1400, "height": 900})
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    row = page.locator('.desk-row[data-booth="loose"]')
+    row.hover()
+    page.wait_for_timeout(350)
+    with page.expect_navigation():
+        row.locator(".desk-acts form.keepit button").click()
+    page.close()
+    assert (root / "loose" / ".forever").exists()
+
+
+def test_on_touch_the_row_controls_are_visible_in_flow_and_at_least_28px(browser, live):
+    """r2b D1: hover-only would mean no controls at all on touch. Without a
+    real hover (here: a coarse, touch primary pointer) the cluster is visible,
+    in flow on its own line, and every control is at least the 28px floor
+    (Slate T2) — wipe clear of its neighbour."""
+    base, root = live
+    _two_rows(root)
+    ctx = browser.new_context(viewport={"width": 390, "height": 844}, has_touch=True, is_mobile=True)
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    coarse = page.evaluate("matchMedia('(pointer: coarse)').matches")
+    got = page.evaluate("""() => [...document.querySelectorAll('.desk-row')].map(row => {
+        const a = row.querySelector('.desk-acts'), cs = getComputedStyle(a);
+        const ctl = [...a.querySelectorAll('button, a')].map(b => b.getBoundingClientRect());
+        const main = row.querySelector('.desk-main').getBoundingClientRect();
+        const w = a.querySelector('form.wipe button').getBoundingClientRect();
+        const prev = ctl[ctl.length - 2];
+        return {opacity: cs.opacity, position: cs.position,
+                below: a.getBoundingClientRect().top >= main.bottom - 1,
+                small: ctl.filter(r => r.width < 28 || r.height < 28).length,
+                gap: Math.round(Math.max(w.left - prev.right, w.top - prev.bottom))}; })""")
+    ctx.close()
+    assert coarse, "the emulation must present a coarse pointer, or this test measures nothing"
+    for g in got:
+        assert g["opacity"] == "1" and g["position"] == "static" and g["below"], got
+        assert g["small"] == 0 and g["gap"] >= 8, got
+
+
+def test_the_row_controls_run_zip_keep_or_release_then_wipe(browser, live):
+    """r2b D1 (operator: 'the zip download button is in between keep/release and
+    wipe, and looks awkward'). Zip leads; release stays next to x."""
+    base, root = live
+    _two_rows(root)
+    page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 1400, "height": 900})
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    order = page.evaluate("""() => Object.fromEntries([...document.querySelectorAll('.desk-row')].map(row =>
+        [row.dataset.booth, [...row.querySelectorAll('.desk-acts > *')].map(e => e.className.split(' ')[0])]))""")
+    page.close()
+    assert order == {"kept1": ["dl-link", "release", "wipe"], "loose": ["dl-link", "keepit", "wipe"]}, order
+
+
+_VAR = "n => getComputedStyle(document.documentElement).getPropertyValue(n).trim()"
+
+
+def test_the_theme_toggle_forces_light_and_dark_and_system_follows_the_os_live(browser, live):
+    """r2b D3 (operator: 'light mode toggle at the top (dark, light, system)').
+    Light and Dark force the theme and survive a reload in the same browser
+    (localStorage). System hands the question back to the OS, and follows it
+    LIVE — an OS flip moves the page with no reload and no listener, because a
+    media query tracks the OS by construction."""
+    base, root = live
+    _set(root, 1)
+    ctx = browser.new_context(color_scheme="dark", viewport={"width": 1200, "height": 800})
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/b/g/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    dark = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    page.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="light"]').click()
+    light = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    page.reload(wait_until="networkidle")
+    after_reload = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    pressed = page.locator('.theme [aria-pressed="true"]').get_attribute("data-theme-choice")
+    page.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="system"]').click()
+    system_dark = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    page.emulate_media(color_scheme="light")
+    system_light = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    page.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="dark"]').click()
+    forced_dark_on_light_os = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    ctx.close()
+    assert dark != light
+    assert after_reload == light and pressed == "light"
+    assert system_dark == dark and system_light == light, (system_dark, system_light)
+    assert forced_dark_on_light_os == dark
+
+
+def test_a_forced_theme_follows_high_contrast(browser, live):
+    """r2b D3: under prefers-contrast: more, a FORCED theme gets its own
+    high-contrast variant — forced dark resolves exactly what an OS-dark page
+    resolves, forced light exactly what an OS-light page does, whatever the OS
+    says about the scheme."""
+    base, root = live
+    _set(root, 1)
+    got = {}
+    for os_scheme in ("dark", "light"):
+        for forced in (None, "dark", "light"):
+            ctx = browser.new_context(color_scheme=os_scheme, reduced_motion="no-preference")
+            page = ctx.new_page()
+            page.emulate_media(color_scheme=os_scheme)
+            page.goto(f"{base}/b/g/", wait_until="networkidle")
+            page.evaluate("f => f ? document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', f) : null", forced)
+            # contrast: more is emulated through CDP; Playwright has no option for it
+            cdp = ctx.new_cdp_session(page)
+            cdp.send("Emulation.setEmulatedMedia", {"features": [
+                {"name": "prefers-contrast", "value": "more"},
+                {"name": "prefers-color-scheme", "value": os_scheme}]})
+            # tokens that DIFFER between a theme and its high-contrast variant
+            # (--surface-card does not, so reading it saw nothing — heid, 2/4)
+            got[(os_scheme, forced)] = (page.evaluate(_VAR, "--text-faint"), page.evaluate(_VAR, "--border-default"))
+            if forced is None and os_scheme == "dark":
+                cdp.send("Emulation.setEmulatedMedia", {"features": [
+                    {"name": "prefers-contrast", "value": "no-preference"},
+                    {"name": "prefers-color-scheme", "value": os_scheme}]})
+                got["dark, no contrast"] = (page.evaluate(_VAR, "--text-faint"), page.evaluate(_VAR, "--border-default"))
+            ctx.close()
+    assert got[("light", "dark")] == got[("dark", None)] == got[("dark", "dark")]
+    assert got[("dark", "light")] == got[("light", None)] == got[("light", "light")]
+    assert got[("dark", None)] != got[("light", None)]
+    assert got[("dark", None)] != got["dark, no contrast"]      # high contrast really applied
+
+
+def test_the_theme_toggle_never_shows_without_js_and_a_storage_failure_still_applies(browser, live):
+    """r2b D3: in the markup with `hidden`, never shown without JS (the page
+    follows the OS). With localStorage throwing, a click still applies to the
+    page; only the memory is lost."""
+    base, root = live
+    _set(root, 1)
+    ctx = browser.new_context(java_script_enabled=False)
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    nojs = page.locator(".theme").is_visible()
+    ctx.close()
+    ctx = browser.new_context(color_scheme="dark")
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    errors = []
+    page.on("pageerror", lambda e: errors.append(str(e)))
+    page.add_init_script("""Storage.prototype.setItem = function () { throw new Error('quota'); };
+                            Storage.prototype.getItem = function () { throw new Error('denied'); };""")
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    before = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    page.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="light"]').click()
+    after = page.evaluate(_VAR, "--surface-base")
+    ctx.close()
+    assert not nojs
+    assert before != after and errors == [], (before, after, errors)
+
+
+def test_a_forced_theme_reaches_the_ask_chrome_inside_a_verbatim_page(browser, live):
+    """r2b D3 (operator: 'theme toggle reaches inside'): the `.bk-ask` chrome
+    embed.js mounts in an author's page follows the stored choice, and a change
+    in another tab (the `storage` event) moves it live. The host page's own
+    <html> is never touched."""
+    from booth.marks import declare_pick
+    base, root = live
+    b = root / "rep"
+    b.mkdir()
+    declare_pick(b, "winner", {"prompt": "Which?", "options": ["A", "B"]})
+    (b / "index.html").write_text('<!doctype html><title>r</title><body><h1>R</h1>'
+                                  '<script src="/_booth/embed.js" defer></script></body>')
+    ctx = browser.new_context(color_scheme="dark")
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/b/rep/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    page.wait_for_selector(".bk-ask")
+    accent = lambda: page.evaluate("getComputedStyle(document.querySelector('.bk-ask')).getPropertyValue('--bk-accent').trim()")
+    os_dark = accent()
+    other = ctx.new_page()                       # the toggle, pressed in another tab
+    other.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    other.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="light"]').click()
+    page.wait_for_timeout(300)
+    forced_light = accent()
+    host_html = page.evaluate("document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme')")
+    page.reload(wait_until="networkidle")
+    page.wait_for_selector(".bk-ask")
+    after_reload = accent()
+    ctx.close()
+    assert os_dark == "#b2cd12" and forced_light == "#586519" and after_reload == "#586519", (os_dark, forced_light, after_reload)
+    assert host_html is None
+
+
+def test_a_rows_booth_name_comes_before_its_controls_in_tab_order(browser, live):
+    """heid bug-hunt (groa): the cluster sat before the text in the markup, so
+    the first tab stop on a row was zip, then keep, then WIPE — before the booth
+    it acts on — and with scripts off, wipe submits with no confirm. The name
+    is first; the controls follow, wipe last."""
+    base, root = live
+    _two_rows(root)
+    ctx = browser.new_context(viewport={"width": 390, "height": 844}, has_touch=True, is_mobile=True)
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    order = page.evaluate("""() => { const row = document.querySelector('.desk-row[data-booth="loose"]');
+        return [...row.querySelectorAll('a[href], button')].filter(e => e.tabIndex >= 0)
+            .map(e => e.classList.contains('desk-title') ? 'title' : e.closest('form') ? e.closest('form').className.split(' ')[0] : e.className.split(' ')[0]); }""")
+    ctx.close()
+    assert order == ["title", "dl-link", "keepit", "wipe"], order
+
+
+def test_a_theme_chosen_in_one_tab_moves_the_others(browser, live):
+    """heid bug-hunt (groa): the ask chrome followed a choice made in another
+    tab, but the Booth's own open pages did not until reloaded."""
+    base, root = live
+    _set(root, 1)
+    ctx = browser.new_context(color_scheme="dark")
+    a, b = ctx.new_page(), ctx.new_page()
+    a.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    b.goto(f"{base}/b/g/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    a.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="light"]').click()
+    b.wait_for_function("document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'light'", timeout=5000)
+    pressed = b.locator('.theme [aria-pressed="true"]').get_attribute("data-theme-choice")
+    a.locator('.theme [data-theme-choice="system"]').click()
+    b.wait_for_function("!document.documentElement.hasAttribute('data-theme')", timeout=5000)
+    ctx.close()
+    assert pressed == "light"
+
+
+def test_the_theme_marks_only_the_ask_fragments_we_mounted(browser, live):
+    """heid bug-hunt (regin): the theme mark went on every `.bk-ask` in the
+    page, the author's own included. Only fragments the embed mounted."""
+    from booth.marks import declare_pick
+    base, root = live
+    b = root / "rep"
+    b.mkdir()
+    declare_pick(b, "winner", {"prompt": "Which?", "options": ["A", "B"]})
+    (b / "index.html").write_text('<!doctype html><title>r</title><body><div class="bk-ask" id="authors">mine</div>'
+                                  '<script src="/_booth/embed.js" defer></script></body>')
+    ctx = browser.new_context()
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.add_init_script("try { localStorage.setItem('booth.theme', 'light'); } catch (e) {}")
+    page.goto(f"{base}/b/rep/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    page.wait_for_selector(".bk-ask:not(#authors)")
+    got = page.evaluate("""() => [document.getElementById('authors').getAttribute('data-bk-theme'),
+        [...document.querySelectorAll('.bk-ask:not(#authors)')].map(e => e.getAttribute('data-bk-theme'))]""")
+    ctx.close()
+    assert got[0] is None and got[1] and all(t == "light" for t in got[1]), got
+
+
+def test_the_pill_shows_at_rest_and_focus_reveals_the_controls(browser, live):
+    """heid code-review: the pill's "visible with no hover" was never asserted
+    (an opacity-0 box keeps its geometry), and nothing pinned KEYBOARD focus
+    revealing the controls — `:focus-within` could go alone."""
+    base, root = live
+    _two_rows(root)
+    page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 1400, "height": 900})
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    page.mouse.move(0, 0)
+    row = page.locator('.desk-row[data-booth="loose"]')
+    pill = row.locator(".life").evaluate("e => [getComputedStyle(e).opacity, getComputedStyle(e).visibility, e.offsetWidth > 0]")
+    row.locator(".desk-acts .dl-link").focus()
+    page.wait_for_timeout(350)
+    focused = row.locator(".desk-acts").evaluate("a => [getComputedStyle(a).opacity, getComputedStyle(a).pointerEvents]")
+    page.close()
+    assert pill == ["1", "visible", True], pill
+    assert focused == ["1", "auto"], focused
+
+
+def test_with_scripts_off_a_rows_controls_still_act(browser, live):
+    """r2b INV-2, never exercised with JS actually off (heid code-review): the
+    hover reveal is CSS, and keep is a plain form."""
+    base, root = live
+    _two_rows(root)
+    ctx = browser.new_context(java_script_enabled=False, viewport={"width": 1400, "height": 900})
+    page = ctx.new_page()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    row = page.locator('.desk-row[data-booth="loose"]')
+    row.hover()
+    page.wait_for_timeout(350)
+    with page.expect_navigation():
+        row.locator(".desk-acts form.keepit button").click()
+    ctx.close()
+    assert (root / "loose" / ".forever").exists()
+
+
+def test_reveal_all_lifts_the_doc_page_it_reaches(browser, live):
+    """heid code-review (regin, seat-settled): the doc page carries the rules,
+    but no test turned Reveal all on and looked there."""
+    from booth.app import set_blurred
+    base, root = live
+    b = root / "g"
+    b.mkdir()
+    (b / "a.png").write_bytes(PNG)
+    (b / "n.md").write_text("# secret\n\nbody")
+    set_blurred(b, "a.png", True)
+    set_blurred(b, "n.md", True)
+    page = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 1200, "height": 800})
+    page.goto(f"{base}/b/g/", wait_until="networkidle")
+    page.locator("[data-reveal-all]").click()
+    page.goto(f"{base}/b/g/view?f=n.md", wait_until="networkidle")
+    _settle(page)
+    got = [page.evaluate(_FILTER, "#docbody .markdown-body, #docbody .textview"),
+           page.evaluate("getComputedStyle(document.getElementById('docreveal')).display")]
+    page.close()
+    assert got == ["none", "none"], got