diff --git a/AMICODE-PATCHES.md b/AMICODE-PATCHES.md
index e5eba9e0fb..fd38436f25 100644
--- a/AMICODE-PATCHES.md
+++ b/AMICODE-PATCHES.md
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ Format: file:line — string/asset — replacement. [desktop] = ships only in th
 | 10  | packages/app/src/desktop-menu.ts:75 [desktop]                                                                                           | menu label "OpenCode"                                                                          | "Amicode"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
 | 11  | packages/app/src/wsl/settings-model.ts:17-18 [desktop, Windows/WSL]                                                                     | "Install OpenCode"/"Update OpenCode"                                                           | "Install/Update Amicode"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
 | 13  | packages/ui/src/components/logo.css                                                                                                     | `[data-component="logo-mark"]` aspect-ratio 4/5 (old 16x20 viewBox)                            | aspect-ratio 1/1 (new square amico mark)                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
-| 12  | packages/ui/src/theme/themes/oc-2.json (default theme)                                                                                  | accent tokens `v2-{background,text,icon}-*accent*` = blue-600/700 (light), blue-400/300 (dark) | Harmoniqs accent `#FFF676` (brand.css `--color-accent`): dark text/icon/bg-accent → `#FFF676`, hover `#FFFA9E`; light bg-accent → `#FFF676`, light text/icon-accent → derived dark shades `#857A00` / hover `#6B6200` (raw `#FFF676` is unreadable on light bg) |
+| 12  | packages/ui/src/theme/themes/oc-2.json (default theme)                                                                                  | accent tokens `v2-{background,text,icon}-*accent*` = blue-600/700 (light), blue-400/300 (dark) | Harmoniqs accent `#FFF676` (brand.css `--color-accent`): dark text/icon/bg-accent → `#FFF676`, hover `#FFFA9E`; light bg-accent → `#FFF676` (fill; dark text sits on it), light text/icon-accent → neutral dark ink `grey-1000` / hover `grey-900` (yellow is a FILL, never an ink — raw `#FFF676` is unreadable on light bg, so brand shows as lemon fills with a 1px dark hairline edge, e.g. `.amc-livedot`; matches the webview treatment in harmoniqs/amicode#140) |
 
 Deliberately left stock (and why):
 
diff --git a/packages/app/public/brain.html b/packages/app/public/brain.html
index cf933a6ef0..276225fc3a 100644
--- a/packages/app/public/brain.html
+++ b/packages/app/public/brain.html
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
   --accent: #fff676;
   --on-accent: #000000;
   --thought: #fff676;        /* live-signal color: pulses, flares, live survey lines */
+  --thought-edge: #fffa9e;   /* dark: the halo is a LIGHTER lemon (the brand hover step) —
+                                light mode flips it darker; the node base is always #fff676 */
   --thought-text: #d8cf6a;   /* accent-adjacent, legible as text on this surface */
   --cat-knowledge: #3794ff;  /* series-1 — notes, insights, charter, strategy */
   --cat-results: #c17800;    /* series-2 — experiments, catalog pulses */
@@ -47,8 +49,11 @@
     --edge-rest: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
     --node-rest-fill: #eae7dd;
     --node-rest-border: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.26);
-    --thought: #8f8000;
-    --thought-text: #7a6e00;
+    --thought: #fff676;      /* the TRUE brand lemon — brain.js pairs every thought stroke/fill
+                                with a --thought-edge under-stroke so it reads on paper */
+    --thought-edge: #e3d958; /* light-only halo: the SAME hue/chroma as the lemon, lightness
+                                stepped 0.956→0.87 (OKLCH) — a soft darker-lemon edge, not ink */
+    --thought-text: #52524b; /* signal TEXT stays ink — yellow is never text */
     --cat-knowledge: #1866c9;
     --cat-results: #8f5800;
     --cat-skills: #7b4fa8;
@@ -68,8 +73,11 @@
   --edge-rest: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
   --node-rest-fill: #eae7dd;
   --node-rest-border: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.26);
-  --thought: #8f8000;
-  --thought-text: #7a6e00;
+  --thought: #fff676;        /* the TRUE brand lemon — brain.js pairs every thought stroke/fill
+                                with a --thought-edge under-stroke so it reads on paper */
+  --thought-edge: #e3d958;   /* light-only halo: the SAME hue/chroma as the lemon, lightness
+                                stepped 0.956→0.87 (OKLCH) — a soft darker-lemon edge, not ink */
+  --thought-text: #52524b;   /* signal TEXT stays ink — yellow is never text */
   --cat-knowledge: #1866c9;
   --cat-results: #8f5800;
   --cat-skills: #7b4fa8;
@@ -90,6 +98,7 @@
   --node-rest-border: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.24);
   --accent: #fff676;
   --thought: #fff676;
+  --thought-edge: #fffa9e;
   --thought-text: #d8cf6a;
   --cat-knowledge: #3794ff;
   --cat-results: #c17800;
@@ -245,6 +254,11 @@
 
 <canvas id="stage" aria-label="animated map of the amico knowledge graph; live status is announced below"></canvas>
 
+<!-- The demo chrome ships INERT: template content is not rendered, not in
+     the DOM, not in the a11y tree — embeds simply never have it (no flash,
+     nothing to hide). brain.js stamps it at boot for the standalone page
+     (all of it) or a loader embed (mast only). -->
+<template id="demo-chrome">
 <div class="chrome" id="mast">
   <div id="wordmark">
     <span class="amico">amico</span>
@@ -267,6 +281,7 @@
 </div>
 
 <div class="chrome" id="colophon">prototype &middot; nodes &amp; links sampled from the armonissima vault &middot; brand.css tokens &middot; JuliaMono</div>
+</template>
 
 <div id="tooltip" role="presentation"></div>
 
diff --git a/packages/app/public/brain.js b/packages/app/public/brain.js
index e0029cc018..35b313f316 100644
--- a/packages/app/public/brain.js
+++ b/packages/app/public/brain.js
@@ -21,6 +21,24 @@
 // for them, so this must be known before the graph settles
 var liveWide = /[?&]mode=live/.test(location.search);
 
+/* The demo chrome ships inert in <template id="demo-chrome"> — embeds never
+   have it in the document at all. Stamp it here, BEFORE any chrome bindings
+   below run: standalone gets everything, a loader embed gets the mast only,
+   live/inline get nothing. */
+(function stampDemoChrome() {
+  var tpl = document.getElementById("demo-chrome");
+  if (!tpl) return;
+  var mode = new URLSearchParams(location.search).get("mode") || window.__AMICO_BRAIN_MODE__ || "";
+  if (mode === "live" || mode === "inline") return;
+  if (mode === "loader") {
+    for (var id of ["legend", "controls", "colophon"]) {
+      var n = tpl.content.getElementById(id);
+      if (n) n.remove();
+    }
+  }
+  document.body.appendChild(tpl.content);
+})();
+
 const DATA = {"nodes":[{"id":"strategy","label":"STRATEGY","type":"charter"},{"id":"philosophy","label":"PHILOSOPHY","type":"charter"},{"id":"roadmap","label":"ROADMAP","type":"charter"},{"id":"charter-research-loop","label":"charter: research loop","type":"charter"},{"id":"charter-pulse-catalog","label":"charter: pulse catalog","type":"charter"},{"id":"charter-agents-skills","label":"charter: agents & skills","type":"charter"},{"id":"insight-linear-over-cubic","label":"insight: linear>cubic spline","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-linear51-fix","label":"insight: linear51 fix","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-shorter-duration","label":"insight: shorter T0 helps","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-warmstart-regression","label":"insight: warmstart regress","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-y-coldstart-variance","label":"insight: Y coldstart var","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-crosstalk","label":"insight: drive crosstalk","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-free-phase-2q","label":"insight: free-phase 2q","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-gn-hessian-fails","label":"insight: GN Hessian fails","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-stagnation-dominant","label":"insight: stagnation dominant","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-jit-multistart-thrash","label":"insight: JIT lock thrash","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-warmstart-taxonomy","label":"insight: warm-start taxonomy","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-coldstart-dominates","label":"insight: coldstart dominates","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-free-phase-untried","label":"insight: free-phase untried","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-mintime-2q","label":"insight: mintime improves 2q","type":"insight"},{"id":"insight-eagle-heron","label":"insight: eagle-heron OC","type":"insight"},{"id":"exp-flux-x-192727","label":"exp: fluxonium X (192727)","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-x-193328","label":"exp: fluxonium X (193328)","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-x-194147","label":"exp: fluxonium X (194147)","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-y-194147","label":"exp: fluxonium Y","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-h-194147","label":"exp: fluxonium H","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-t-194147","label":"exp: fluxonium T","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-y-020343","label":"exp: fluxonium Y (020343)","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-sqrtx-020343","label":"exp: fluxonium sqrtX","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-x-021602","label":"exp: fluxonium X (021602)","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-y-021602","label":"exp: fluxonium Y (021602)","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-x-v3","label":"exp: fluxonium X v3","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-y-v3","label":"exp: fluxonium Y v3","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-t-v3","label":"exp: fluxonium T v3","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-y-q200k","label":"exp: fluxonium Y Q200k","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-y-retry","label":"exp: fluxonium Y retry","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-rydberg-cz","label":"exp: rydberg CZ v1","type":"experiment"},{"id":"exp-flux-x-basis-comp","label":"exp: X basis comparison","type":"experiment"},{"id":"hyp-free-phase-gap","label":"hyp: free-phase flux gap","type":"note"},{"id":"hyp-dressed-goal-kets","label":"hyp: dressed kets unlock 2q","type":"note"},{"id":"hyp-augmented-gn","label":"hyp: augmented controls GN","type":"note"},{"id":"method-warm-start","label":"method: warm-start workflow","type":"note"},{"id":"method-cold-start","label":"method: cold-start 4-phase","type":"note"},{"id":"method-cubic-spline","label":"method: cubic-spline pulses","type":"note"},{"id":"method-free-phase","label":"method: free-phase 2q gates","type":"note"},{"id":"method-crosstalk-gates","label":"method: crosstalk-robust","type":"note"},{"id":"method-basis-comparison","label":"method: eigen vs fock basis","type":"note"},{"id":"method-presolve-diag","label":"method: pre-solve diag","type":"note"},{"id":"spec-analytic-derivatives","label":"spec: analytic derivatives","type":"note"},{"id":"brief-analog-magic","label":"brief: analog magic states","type":"note"},{"id":"pulse-flux-x-v1","label":"pulse: fluxonium-X-v1","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-flux-x-v2","label":"pulse: fluxonium-X-v2","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-flux-x-v3","label":"pulse: fluxonium-X-v3","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-flux-y-v3","label":"pulse: fluxonium-Y-v3","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-flux-t-v3","label":"pulse: fluxonium-T-v3","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-rydberg-cz-v1","label":"pulse: rydberg-CZ-v1","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-transmon-cz-v1","label":"pulse: transmon-CZ-v1","type":"catalog"},{"id":"pulse-transmon-x-v1","label":"pulse: transmon-X-v1","type":"catalog"},{"id":"local-workstation","label":"local-workstation","type":"resource"},{"id":"stanford-fluxonium-chip","label":"stanford fluxonium chip","type":"resource"},{"id":"hermes","label":"hermes","type":"resource"},{"id":"fluxonium-half-flux","label":"fluxonium @ half flux","type":"resource"},{"id":"transmon-two-qubit","label":"transmon two-qubit","type":"resource"},{"id":"rydberg-global","label":"rydberg global 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 /* ---------- category mapping (fixed, never cycled) ---------- */
@@ -49,6 +67,9 @@ function readTokens() {
   css.surface = g("--surface"); css.fg = g("--fg"); css.muted = g("--muted");
   css.edgeRest = g("--edge-rest"); css.nodeFill = g("--node-rest-fill");
   css.nodeBorder = g("--node-rest-border"); css.thought = g("--thought");
+  // Light-only (unset on dark → ""): the dark hairline that bounds the lemon
+  // signal — yellow is a fill, never a bare line on paper.
+  css.thoughtEdge = g("--thought-edge");
   css.ember = g("--ember"); css.vignette = g("--vignette");
   css.labelHalo = g("--label-halo"); css.accent = g("--accent") || "#fff676";
   css.cat = {
@@ -345,6 +366,7 @@ function potentiate(e) {
 
 function setStatus(text, instant) {
   const el = document.getElementById("status-text");
+  if (!el) return; // embeds carry no statusline
   const pretty = text.replace(/([\w./~-]+\/[\w./~-]+|\/[a-z-]+|[\w-]+\.(md|jl|json))/g, '<span class="path">$1</span>');
   if (reduceMotion || instant) { el.innerHTML = pretty; return; }
   el.innerHTML = "";
@@ -356,7 +378,7 @@ function setStatus(text, instant) {
     else el.textContent = plain.slice(0, i);
   }, 18);
 }
-function setTempoMark(txt) { document.getElementById("tempo-mark").innerHTML = txt; }
+function setTempoMark(txt) { const el = document.getElementById("tempo-mark"); if (el) el.innerHTML = txt; }
 
 function startTrace(trace) {
   // reset live state; the atlas (charted constellations + myelin) persists
@@ -487,7 +509,8 @@ function completeTrace() {
           if (player.drain > 0) at(0.08, drainTick);
           else {
             player.phase = "idle"; player.running = false;
-            if (document.getElementById("auto").checked) at(6, autoAdvance);
+            const autoBox = document.getElementById("auto");
+            if (autoBox && autoBox.checked) at(6, autoAdvance);
           }
         };
         drainTick();
@@ -523,8 +546,10 @@ function completeTrace() {
 }
 
 function autoAdvance() {
-  if (isLiveEmbed || player.running || !document.getElementById("auto").checked) return;
+  const autoBox = document.getElementById("auto");
+  if (isLiveEmbed || player.running || !autoBox || !autoBox.checked) return;
   const sel = document.getElementById("scenario");
+  if (!sel) return;
   const ix = (DATA.traces.findIndex(t => t.id === sel.value) + 1) % DATA.traces.length;
   sel.value = DATA.traces[ix].id;
   startTrace(DATA.traces[ix]);
@@ -624,6 +649,14 @@ function draw(nowMs) {
       ctx.beginPath();
       ctx.moveTo(nx(a), ny(a));
       ctx.lineTo(nx(a) + (nx(b) - nx(a)) * segT, ny(a) + (ny(b) - ny(a)) * segT);
+      if (drain > 0 && css.thoughtEdge) {
+        // two-pass: dark under-stroke, lemon core (the fill+edge model as a line)
+        ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thoughtEdge, (0.25 + drain * 0.5) * con.alpha);
+        ctx.lineWidth = 2.5;
+        ctx.stroke();
+        ctx.lineWidth = 1;
+        ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thought, (0.2 + drain * 0.5) * con.alpha);
+      }
       ctx.stroke();
     }
   }
@@ -686,6 +719,12 @@ function draw(nowMs) {
     }
     ctx.fillStyle = rgba(css.thought, Math.min(dim + 0.15, 1));
     ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(pos.x, pos.y, size / 2, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fill();
+    if (css.thoughtEdge) {
+      // the lemon pulse gets a hairline ring so it reads on paper
+      ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thoughtEdge, Math.min(dim + 0.15, 1));
+      ctx.lineWidth = 1;
+      ctx.stroke();
+    }
   }
 
   // ---- nodes
@@ -720,11 +759,18 @@ function draw(nowMs) {
     if (n.flash > 0.55) {
       ctx.fillStyle = css.thought; // all-or-nothing: the attack is pure accent
       ctx.fill();
+      if (css.thoughtEdge) {
+        // bounded lemon: the flash fill takes the light-mode hairline
+        ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thoughtEdge, 0.9);
+        ctx.lineWidth = 1;
+        ctx.stroke();
+      }
     } else if (n.claimed) {
       const sustain = n.atlasKeep && !player.running ? 0.55 : 0.85;
       ctx.fillStyle = rgba(catColor, sustain * (n.flash > 0 ? 1 : 0.9) + coreBr);
       ctx.fill();
-      ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(catColor, 0.9);
+      // light: a lemon node can't bound itself — the edge goes dark (hairline)
+      ctx.strokeStyle = css.thoughtEdge ? rgba(css.thoughtEdge, 0.9) : rgba(catColor, 0.9);
       ctx.lineWidth = 1;
       ctx.stroke();
     } else {
@@ -756,6 +802,12 @@ function draw(nowMs) {
         const rh = half + rt * half * 2.6;
         ctx.beginPath();
         ctx.arc(x, y, rh, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+        if (css.thoughtEdge) {
+          // two-pass ring: dark under-stroke keeps the lemon visible on paper
+          ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thoughtEdge, (1 - rt) * 0.85);
+          ctx.lineWidth = 2.5;
+          ctx.stroke();
+        }
         ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thought, (1 - rt) * 0.8);
         ctx.lineWidth = 1;
         ctx.stroke();
@@ -787,6 +839,12 @@ function draw(nowMs) {
     const rr = curNode.half + 5 + (reduceMotion ? 0 : Math.sin(nowMs / 600) * 1.5);
     ctx.beginPath();
     ctx.arc(cxp, cyp, rr, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+    if (css.thoughtEdge) {
+      // the position marker must actually be legible on paper: dark under-ring
+      ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thoughtEdge, 0.9);
+      ctx.lineWidth = 3;
+      ctx.stroke();
+    }
     ctx.strokeStyle = rgba(css.thought, 0.85);
     ctx.lineWidth = 1.5;
     ctx.stroke();
@@ -817,7 +875,7 @@ function draw(nowMs) {
     cells.forEach((c, k) => c.classList.toggle("lit", k <= ph));
   } else cells.forEach(c => c.classList.remove("lit"));
   const caret = document.getElementById("caret");
-  if (!reduceMotion) caret.classList.toggle("off", Math.floor(clock.beat * 2) % 2 === 1);
+  if (caret && !reduceMotion) caret.classList.toggle("off", Math.floor(clock.beat * 2) % 2 === 1);
 
   requestAnimationFrame(draw);
 }
@@ -900,8 +958,9 @@ stage.addEventListener("wheel", (ev) => {
 }, { passive: false });
 stage.addEventListener("pointerleave", () => { tooltip.style.display = "none"; hover = null; });
 
-/* ---------- controls ---------- */
+/* ---------- controls (standalone only — embeds never stamp the chrome) ---------- */
 const selScenario = document.getElementById("scenario");
+if (selScenario) {
 for (const tr of DATA.traces) {
   const o = document.createElement("option");
   o.value = tr.id; o.textContent = tr.title;
@@ -936,12 +995,13 @@ addEventListener("keydown", (ev) => {
   if (ev.key === " " && document.activeElement.tagName !== "SELECT") { ev.preventDefault(); playBtn.click(); }
   if (ev.key === "r") document.getElementById("replay").click();
 });
+}
 
-/* ---------- legend ---------- */
+/* ---------- legend (standalone only) ---------- */
 const legend = document.getElementById("legend");
 const counts = {};
 for (const n of nodes) counts[n.cat] = (counts[n.cat] || 0) + 1;
-for (const cat of ["knowledge", "skills", "results", "code", "agents", "thought"]) {
+if (legend) for (const cat of ["knowledge", "skills", "results", "code", "agents", "thought"]) {
   const row = document.createElement("div");
   row.className = "row";
   const sw = document.createElement("span");
@@ -1220,6 +1280,6 @@ readTokens();
 setStatus("waking&hellip;", true);
 requestAnimationFrame(draw);
 if (!isLiveEmbed) setTimeout(() => {
-  selScenario.value = DATA.traces[0].id;
+  if (selScenario) selScenario.value = DATA.traces[0].id;
   startTrace(DATA.traces[0]);
 }, reduceMotion || isLoaderEmbed || isInlineEmbed ? 400 : 1800); // embedded: think immediately
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widget-frame-html.ts b/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widget-frame-html.ts
index 1e27a641ae..2107620c59 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widget-frame-html.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widget-frame-html.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ const BAKED_TOKENS: Record<string, string> = {
   "--amc-text": "#E9ECF4",
   "--amc-text-muted": "#8B94A9",
   "--amc-text-faint": "#6A7286",
-  "--amc-accent": "#F2C94C",
+  "--amc-accent": "#FFF676",
+  "--amc-accent-fill": "#FFF676",
   "--amc-success": "#5BC873",
   "--amc-warning": "#E5B454",
   "--amc-danger": "#E56A6A",
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widgets-src/meet-amico.ts b/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widgets-src/meet-amico.ts
index ba878d027c..ea766dd619 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widgets-src/meet-amico.ts
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/server/amicode/widgets-src/meet-amico.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ var CAN = [
 // native ~2:1 proportions. Keep these element strings in sync with MarkDetailed
 // by hand if the mark changes.
 var FACE =
-  '<svg viewBox="621.31 1309.27 2415.32 1084.97" width="89" height="40" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" aria-hidden="true" fill="var(--amc-accent)" style="flex-shrink:0;display:block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">' +
+  '<svg viewBox="621.31 1309.27 2415.32 1084.97" width="44" height="20" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" aria-hidden="true" fill="var(--amc-accent)" style="flex-shrink:0;display:block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">' +
   '<rect x="1778.31" y="1312.43" width="107.11" height="692.38"/>' +
   '<polygon points="2769.41 1463.57 2903.01 1463.57 2903.01 1601.01 2769.39 1601.01 2769.39 1463.6 2635.79 1463.6 2635.79 1326.16 2769.41 1326.16 2769.41 1463.57"/>' +
   '<polygon points="3036.63 1738.45 2903.03 1738.45 2903.03 1875.89 2769.41 1875.89 2769.41 1738.45 2903.01 1738.45 2903.01 1601.01 3036.63 1601.01 3036.63 1738.45"/>' +
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export default {
       '<div style="height:1px;background:var(--amc-border);margin:12px 0"></div>' +
       '<div style="font-size:11px;color:var(--amc-text-muted);margin-bottom:6px">I can help you</div>' +
       '<div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:3px;margin-bottom:12px">' + bullets + '</div>' +
-      '<button type="button" data-cta style="align-self:flex-start;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;margin-top:auto;padding:12px 22px;border:none;border-radius:10px;cursor:pointer;background:var(--amc-accent);color:var(--amc-bg);font-size:15px;font-weight:650">Open chat <span aria-hidden="true" style="font-size:16px;line-height:1">&#8599;</span></button>' +
+      '<button type="button" data-cta style="align-self:flex-start;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;margin-top:auto;padding:12px 22px;border:1px solid var(--amc-accent);box-sizing:border-box;border-radius:10px;cursor:pointer;background:var(--amc-accent-fill, #FFF676);color:#000;font-size:15px;font-weight:650">Open chat <span aria-hidden="true" style="font-size:16px;line-height:1">&#8599;</span></button>' +
       '</div>'
     on('[data-cta]', function (e) {
       e.stopPropagation()
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/amicode.css b/packages/ui/src/amicode/amicode.css
index 0c50206d84..1da9cd1444 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/amicode.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/amicode.css
@@ -235,8 +235,13 @@
 [data-component="amicode-card"] .amc-livedot {
   width: 6px;
   height: 6px;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
   border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--v2-icon-icon-accent);
+  /* Brand fill + edge: lemon on both themes. The edge is a 1px dark hairline on
+     light (icon-accent resolves to a neutral dark there) and lemon-on-lemon —
+     invisible — on dark. Yellow stays a fill, never an ink. */
+  background: var(--v2-background-bg-accent);
+  border: 1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent);
 }
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
   [data-component="amicode-card"][data-state="running"] .amc-livedot { animation: amc-blip 1.2s ease-in-out infinite; }
@@ -479,7 +484,9 @@
   background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--v2-icon-icon-accent) 9%, transparent);
 }
 [data-component="amicode-entity-view"] .amc-event[data-anchored]::before {
-  background: var(--v2-icon-icon-accent);
+  /* Lemon fill + edge (see .amc-livedot): the anchored timeline node keeps the
+     brand lemon on both themes, gaining a dark hairline on light. */
+  background: var(--v2-background-bg-accent);
   border-color: var(--v2-icon-icon-accent);
   box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in srgb, var(--v2-icon-icon-accent) 18%, transparent);
 }
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/getting-started.tsx b/packages/ui/src/amicode/getting-started.tsx
index 086a354ee2..81ace1a5ca 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/getting-started.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/getting-started.tsx
@@ -13,14 +13,19 @@ import { AmicodeTagline } from "./tagline"
 // The set spans the lifetime: onboard (first run routes any chip into the
 // overture) → design with memory/recommendations → warm-start from the pulse
 // bank → go fast with Veloce.
-export const AMICODE_STARTERS: readonly { label: string; prompt: string }[] = [
+// Each starter carries a stroke-icon path (24-grid, one family: 1.75px round
+// strokes) suggesting its action — rendered on a small lemon tile so the chip
+// reads branded without the whole component going yellow (Kate).
+export const AMICODE_STARTERS: readonly { label: string; prompt: string; icon: string }[] = [
   {
     label: "Design a pulse — walk me through it",
     prompt: "walk me through designing a pulse",
+    icon: "M2 12h4l3-7 4 14 3-7h6", // a pulse trace
   },
   {
     label: "Optimize an X gate on my transmon",
     prompt: "optimize an X gate on my transmon — use what you know from my history",
+    icon: "M12 4a8 8 0 1 0 0 16 8 8 0 0 0 0-16M12 10.5a1.5 1.5 0 1 0 0 3 1.5 1.5 0 0 0 0-3", // a target
   },
   // NOTE(spec B): the static "Resume my pulse design" chip was replaced by the
   // conditional resumeName-driven chip below — Resume renders only when a
@@ -28,17 +33,59 @@ export const AMICODE_STARTERS: readonly { label: string; prompt: string }[] = [
   {
     label: "Warm-start from my pulse bank",
     prompt: "warm-start a new solve from my pulse bank",
+    icon: "M20 12a8 8 0 1 1-2.3-5.7M20 3v4h-4", // restart arc
   },
   {
     label: "Go fast with Veloce",
     prompt: "turn on Veloce — auto-accept your high-confidence recommendations, and still confirm before any solve",
+    icon: "M13 3 5 14h5l-1 7 8-11h-5l1-7Z", // a bolt
   },
   {
     label: "What can Amico do?",
     prompt: "what can Amico do?",
+    icon: "M9.3 9.3a2.8 2.8 0 1 1 3.9 2.6c-.9.4-1.2.9-1.2 1.9M12 17.2v.1", // a question
   },
 ]
 
+// Resume is play-shaped.
+const RESUME_ICON = "M8 5.5v13l10.5-6.5Z"
+
+// The one place the chip carries the brand: a small lemon tile (fill + 1px
+// icon-accent edge — dark hairline on light, invisible on dark) holding the
+// action glyph in ink. SVG only, never emoji; 12px glyph on a 20px tile.
+const GLYPH_TILE: Record<string, string> = {
+  display: "inline-flex",
+  "align-items": "center",
+  "justify-content": "center",
+  width: "20px",
+  height: "20px",
+  "box-sizing": "border-box",
+  "flex-shrink": "0",
+  "border-radius": "5px",
+  background: "var(--v2-background-bg-accent, #FFF676)",
+  border: "1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
+  color: "#000",
+}
+
+function StarterGlyph(props: { d: string }) {
+  return (
+    <span style={GLYPH_TILE} aria-hidden="true">
+      <svg
+        viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+        width="12"
+        height="12"
+        fill="none"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        stroke-width="1.75"
+        stroke-linecap="round"
+        stroke-linejoin="round"
+      >
+        <path d={props.d} />
+      </svg>
+    </span>
+  )
+}
+
 // The three-beat arc of a pulse-design session, from setup to hardware.
 const STEPS = ["① Define your system and problem", "② Optimize and iterate", "③ Execute and tune on hardware"]
 
@@ -95,10 +142,11 @@ export function AmicodeGettingStarted(props: {
       <div
         data-slot="amicode-gs-starters"
         style={{
-          display: "flex",
-          "flex-wrap": "wrap",
-          "justify-content": "center",
-          gap: "6px",
+          display: "grid",
+          "grid-template-columns": "repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr))",
+          gap: "6px 8px",
+          width: "100%",
+          "max-width": "540px",
         }}
       >
         <For each={AMICODE_STARTERS}>
@@ -108,17 +156,24 @@ export function AmicodeGettingStarted(props: {
               data-slot="amicode-gs-starter"
               onClick={() => props.onStart(starter.prompt)}
               style={{
-                border: "1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
+                display: "inline-flex",
+                "align-items": "center",
+                gap: "7px",
+                "min-width": "0",
+                border: "1px solid var(--v2-border-border-strong)",
                 "border-radius": "6px",
                 background: "var(--v2-background-bg-layer-02)",
                 color: "var(--v2-text-text-base)",
-                padding: "4px 12px",
+                padding: "4px 12px 4px 5px",
                 "font-size": "12px",
                 "line-height": "16px",
                 cursor: "pointer",
               }}
             >
-              {starter.label}
+              <StarterGlyph d={starter.icon} />
+              <span style={{ overflow: "hidden", "text-overflow": "ellipsis", "white-space": "nowrap" }}>
+                {starter.label}
+              </span>
             </button>
           )}
         </For>
@@ -128,17 +183,24 @@ export function AmicodeGettingStarted(props: {
             data-slot="amicode-gs-resume"
             onClick={() => props.onResume?.()}
             style={{
-              border: "1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
+              display: "inline-flex",
+              "align-items": "center",
+              gap: "7px",
+              "min-width": "0",
+              border: "1px solid var(--v2-border-border-strong)",
               "border-radius": "6px",
               background: "var(--v2-background-bg-layer-02)",
               color: "var(--v2-text-text-base)",
-              padding: "4px 12px",
+              padding: "4px 12px 4px 5px",
               "font-size": "12px",
               "line-height": "16px",
               cursor: "pointer",
             }}
           >
-            Resume “{props.resumeName}”
+            <StarterGlyph d={RESUME_ICON} />
+            <span style={{ overflow: "hidden", "text-overflow": "ellipsis", "white-space": "nowrap" }}>
+              Resume “{props.resumeName}”
+            </span>
           </button>
         )}
       </div>
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/home-cards.tsx b/packages/ui/src/amicode/home-cards.tsx
index 36f564d551..e186c0d013 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/home-cards.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/home-cards.tsx
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ function MeetAmicoCard(props: { onStart: (prompt: string) => void }) {
         data-slot="amicode-meet-identity"
         style={{ display: "flex", gap: "12px", "align-items": "center", "margin-top": "10px" }}
       >
-        <MarkDetailed class="w-12 h-auto shrink-0" />
+        <MarkDetailed class="w-8 h-auto shrink-0" />
         <div style={{ "min-width": "0" }}>
           <div style={{ "font-size": "18px", "font-weight": "600", color: "var(--v2-text-text-base)" }}>Amico</div>
           <div style={{ "font-size": "12px", "line-height": "16px", color: "var(--v2-text-text-muted)" }}>
@@ -285,14 +285,15 @@ function MeetAmicoCard(props: { onStart: (prompt: string) => void }) {
           gap: "10px",
           "margin-top": "4px",
           padding: "12px 22px",
-          border: "none",
+          border: "1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
+          "box-sizing": "border-box",
           "border-radius": "10px",
           cursor: "pointer",
-          background: "var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
-          color: "var(--v2-background-bg-base, #000)",
+          background: "var(--v2-background-bg-accent)",
+          color: "#000",
           "font-size": "15px",
           "font-weight": "650",
-          "box-shadow": "0 2px 10px color-mix(in srgb, var(--v2-icon-icon-accent) 35%, transparent)",
+          "box-shadow": "0 2px 10px color-mix(in srgb, var(--v2-background-bg-accent) 30%, transparent)",
         }}
       >
         Open chat
@@ -596,8 +597,10 @@ function AboutYouCard(props: {
                         height: "44px",
                         "border-radius": "8px",
                         flex: "none",
-                        background: "var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
-                        color: "var(--v2-background-bg-base, #000)",
+                        background: "var(--v2-background-bg-accent)",
+                        color: "#000",
+                        border: "1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
+                        "box-sizing": "border-box",
                         "font-size": "15px",
                         "font-weight": "700",
                         "letter-spacing": "0.5px",
@@ -837,9 +840,10 @@ function AboutYouCard(props: {
                             disabled={saving() || resolvingLogo() > 0}
                             onClick={() => void save()}
                             style={{
-                              background: "var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
-                              color: "var(--v2-background-bg-base, #000)",
-                              border: "none",
+                              background: "var(--v2-background-bg-accent)",
+                              color: "#000",
+                              border: "1px solid var(--v2-icon-icon-accent)",
+                              "box-sizing": "border-box",
                               "border-radius": "6px",
                               padding: "4px 10px",
                               "font-size": "12px",
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.test.ts b/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.test.ts
index ff5c973756..63a80afb3a 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.test.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.test.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ describe("renderRunCardSvg", () => {
     expect(svg).toContain("harmoniqs.ai")
     expect(svg).toContain("AMICODE")
     // 2 drives → 2 pulse paths (second at companion opacity)
-    expect(svg.match(/stroke="#F2C94C" stroke-width="2\.5"/g)?.length).toBe(2)
+    expect(svg.match(/stroke="#FFF676" stroke-width="2\.5"/g)?.length).toBe(2)
     expect(svg).toContain('opacity="0.55"')
   })
   test("pulse panel reads first (left column), convergence second", () => {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.tsx b/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.tsx
index 50d5a58fa5..86057952b8 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/run-card.tsx
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const PANEL = "#111624"
 const LINE = "#2A3245"
 const TEXT = "#E9ECF4"
 const MUTED = "#8B94A9"
-const GOLD = "#F2C94C"
+const GOLD = "#FFF676" // the brand lemon — card bg is fixed-dark, where the true accent sings
 const CURVE = "#7FD1FF"
 
 const W = 1200
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.test.ts b/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.test.ts
index 9e2954fa7d..295a239dca 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.test.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.test.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ describe("resolveTokens", () => {
     const tokens = resolveTokens((name) => (name === "--v2-text-text-base" ? " #fff " : ""), "normal")
     expect(tokens["--amc-text"]).toBe("#fff")
     expect(tokens["--amc-bg"]).toBe("#0B0E15") // fallback
-    expect(tokens["--amc-accent"]).toBe("#F2C94C")
+    expect(tokens["--amc-accent"]).toBe("#FFF676")
+    expect(tokens["--amc-accent-fill"]).toBe("#FFF676") // brand fill fallback
     expect(tokens["--amc-font-mono"]).toContain("monospace")
-    expect(Object.keys(tokens)).toHaveLength(15) // 11 colors + 2 fonts + 2 pads
+    expect(Object.keys(tokens)).toHaveLength(16) // 12 colors + 2 fonts + 2 pads
   })
   test("padding tokens follow density", () => {
     expect(resolveTokens(() => "", "normal")["--amc-pad"]).toBe("14px 16px")
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.ts b/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.ts
index 6602651c13..a168f440d8 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/amicode/widget-tokens.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ const SOURCES: [amc: string, v2: string, fallback: string][] = [
   ["--amc-text", "--v2-text-text-base", "#E9ECF4"],
   ["--amc-text-muted", "--v2-text-text-muted", "#8B94A9"],
   ["--amc-text-faint", "--v2-text-text-faint", "#6A7286"],
-  ["--amc-accent", "--v2-icon-icon-accent", "#F2C94C"],
+  ["--amc-accent", "--v2-icon-icon-accent", "#FFF676"],
+  // The brand FILL — true lemon on every theme (yellow is a fill, never an
+  // ink). Widgets pair it with black text and a 1px var(--amc-accent) edge:
+  // a dark hairline on light themes, invisible lemon-on-lemon on dark.
+  ["--amc-accent-fill", "--v2-background-bg-accent", "#FFF676"],
   ["--amc-success", "--v2-state-fg-success", "#5BC873"],
   ["--amc-warning", "--v2-state-fg-warning", "#E5B454"],
   ["--amc-danger", "--v2-state-fg-danger", "#E56A6A"],
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/theme/themes/oc-2.json b/packages/ui/src/theme/themes/oc-2.json
index 2325a14272..bd248a7bb8 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/theme/themes/oc-2.json
+++ b/packages/ui/src/theme/themes/oc-2.json
@@ -167,14 +167,14 @@
       "v2-text-text-faint": "var(--v2-grey-600)",
       "v2-text-text-inverse": "var(--v2-grey-100)",
       "v2-text-text-contrast": "var(--v2-grey-100)",
-      "v2-text-text-accent": "#857A00",
-      "v2-text-text-accent-hover": "#6B6200",
+      "v2-text-text-accent": "var(--v2-grey-1000)",
+      "v2-text-text-accent-hover": "var(--v2-grey-900)",
       "v2-icon-icon-base": "var(--v2-grey-800)",
       "v2-icon-icon-muted": "var(--v2-grey-600)",
       "v2-icon-icon-inverse": "var(--v2-grey-100)",
       "v2-icon-icon-contrast": "var(--v2-grey-200)",
-      "v2-icon-icon-accent": "#857A00",
-      "v2-icon-icon-accent-hover": "#6B6200",
+      "v2-icon-icon-accent": "var(--v2-grey-1000)",
+      "v2-icon-icon-accent-hover": "var(--v2-grey-900)",
       "v2-border-border-muted": "var(--v2-alpha-dark-8)",
       "v2-border-border-base": "var(--v2-alpha-dark-10)",
       "v2-border-border-strong": "var(--v2-alpha-dark-20)",