diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/calibration-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/calibration-screen.tsx
index 1d06861..591b9ee 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/calibration-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/calibration-screen.tsx
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ export function CalibrationScreen({ onBack, data }: { onBack: () => void; data?:
               <circle key={i} cx={X(e) + ((i % 5) - 2) * 3} cy={Y(a)} r="3" fill="var(--accent)" opacity="0.55" />
             ))}
           </svg>
-          <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: '8px 0 0' }}>estimated (x) vs actual days (y) · actuals inferred from git events, never tracked</p>
+          <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: '8px 0 0' }}>estimated (x) vs actual days (y)</p>
         </Card>
 
         <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 14 }}>
@@ -189,9 +189,9 @@ export function CalibrationScreen({ onBack, data }: { onBack: () => void; data?:
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: '10px 0 0' }}>
               {c.active
                 ? 'You are not bad at estimating; you are optimistic in a very stable way. Stable, I can work with.'
-                : 'Not enough closed history yet — I’m forecasting from cold-start priors and widening the cone to stay honest. The curve takes over at 20.'}
+                : 'Not enough closed history yet: I’m forecasting from cold-start priors and widening the cone to stay honest. The curve takes over at 20.'}
               {!c.active && c.excludedSameDay > 0
-                ? ` And ${c.excludedSameDay} closed ${c.excludedSameDay === 1 ? 'issue' : 'issues'} closed the same day they were started — 0 working days can’t calibrate, so they don’t count toward the 20.`
+                ? ` And ${c.excludedSameDay} closed ${c.excludedSameDay === 1 ? 'issue' : 'issues'} closed the same day they were started. 0 working days can’t calibrate, so they don’t count toward the 20.`
                 : ''}
             </p>
           </Card>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/capture-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/capture-screen.tsx
index d80eecb..b382839 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/capture-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/capture-screen.tsx
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
           setLiveTickets(res.issues)
           setStage('review')
         } else {
-          setError(res.ok ? 'I could not find concrete work in that — try a bit more detail.' : `Capture failed: ${res.reason === 'error' ? res.message : 'no model'}`)
+          setError(res.ok ? 'I could not find concrete work in that; try a bit more detail.' : `Capture failed: ${res.reason === 'error' ? res.message : 'no model'}`)
         }
       })
-      .catch(() => { setBrewing(false); setError('I could not reach the model.') })
+      .catch(() => { setBrewing(false); setError('I was unable to reach the model, regrettably.') })
   }
 
   const fileLive = () => {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
       .then((res) => {
         setBrewing(false)
         if (res.ok) { setFiledCount(res.created.length); setStage('filed') }
-        else setError('Filing failed — gitea is not configured.')
+        else setError('Filing failed; gitea is not configured.')
       })
       .catch(() => { setBrewing(false); setError('Filing failed.') })
   }
@@ -99,12 +99,12 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
 
   const QUESTIONS: Question[] = [
     {
-      q: 'The auth work — one ticket, or shall I split token refresh from session storage? They fail differently.',
+      q: 'The auth work: one ticket, or shall I split token refresh from session storage? They fail differently.',
       chips: ['One ticket', 'Split them'],
       set: (a) => setSplit(a === 'Split them'),
     },
     {
-      q: 'The webhook double-fire — how long? I should mention your "quick" has averaged two days.',
+      q: 'The webhook double-fire, how long? I should mention your "quick" has averaged two days.',
       chips: ['est/1d', 'est/2d', 'est/3d'],
       set: (a) => setWebEst(a),
     },
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
       </header>
 
       {stage === 'dump' ? (
-        <Card overline="Braindump" title="Tell me what you're planning" jade>
+        <Card overline="Braindump" title="Do tell me what you are planning" jade>
           <textarea
             value={dump}
             onChange={(e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLTextAreaElement>) => setDump(e.target.value)}
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
             }}
           ></textarea>
           <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: '10px 0 14px' }}>
-            Sentences, fragments, grievances — all welcome. I'll sort it into tickets and only ask what I can't infer.
+            Sentences, fragments, grievances; all are welcome. I shall sort them into tickets and enquire only where I cannot infer.
           </p>
           <Button icon="sparkles" onClick={() => void onBrew()} disabled={brewing}>
             {brewing ? 'Brewing…' : 'Brew tickets'}
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
             {live ? (
               <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
                 {tickets.length} issue{tickets.length === 1 ? '' : 's'} from your braindump, estimated and prioritized.
-                Adjust the labels, then approve — I'll open them in gitea with only est/* and p/* labels.
+                Adjust the labels, then approve; I'll open them in gitea with only est/* and p/* labels.
               </p>
             ) : (
               <>
@@ -286,10 +286,10 @@ export function CaptureScreen({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
               <Icon name="circle-check" size={22} /> Filed
             </span>
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', margin: 0 }}>
-              {live ? filedCount : tickets.length} issues opened in gitea with <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>est/*</span> and <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>p/*</span> labels — nothing else touched.
+              {live ? filedCount : tickets.length} issues opened in gitea with <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>est/*</span> and <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-data)' }}>p/*</span> labels, nothing else touched.
             </p>
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
-              Elapsed {clock} — under budget. No bot comments, no synthetic issues; your repo remains yours.
+              Elapsed {clock}.
             </p>
             <Button iconRight="arrow-right" onClick={onDone}>To morning service</Button>
           </div>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/connect-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/connect-screen.tsx
index c329326..b8be258 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/connect-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/connect-screen.tsx
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ export function ConnectScreen({ onConnected, existing }: { onConnected: () => vo
 
   const mapError = (e?: string) =>
     e === '401' || e === '403'
-      ? 'The token was rejected — check it has repo + issue scopes.'
+      ? 'The token was rejected, check it has repo + issue scopes.'
       : e === '404'
-        ? "Couldn't reach that Gitea — check the URL."
+        ? "Couldn't reach that Gitea, check the URL."
         : `Discovery failed${e ? ` (${e})` : ''}.`
 
   // Discover the owners + repos this token can see. Triggered when the token
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ export function ConnectScreen({ onConnected, existing }: { onConnected: () => vo
           </span>
         </div>
         <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: '0 0 18px' }}>
-          Connect your Gitea. Your token is stored encrypted on this machine and never leaves it.
+          Connect your Gitea.
         </p>
 
         <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 12 }}>
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ export function ConnectScreen({ onConnected, existing }: { onConnected: () => vo
             label="Access token"
             type="password"
             value={token}
-            placeholder={existing?.hasToken ? '•••••••• (saved — enter a new one to change repos)' : 'gitea PAT · scopes: repo + issue'}
+            placeholder={existing?.hasToken ? '•••••••• (saved, enter a new one to change repos)' : 'gitea PAT · scopes: repo + issue'}
             hint={
               discovery === 'discovering'
                 ? 'Discovering your repositories…'
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ export function ConnectScreen({ onConnected, existing }: { onConnected: () => vo
               value={repo}
               disabled={!pickerReady || repoOptions.length === 0}
               options={
-                repoOptions.length ? repoOptions.map((r) => ({ value: r, label: r })) : placeholder('—')
+                repoOptions.length ? repoOptions.map((r) => ({ value: r, label: r })) : placeholder('·')
               }
               onChange={(e) => setRepo(e.target.value)}
             />
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ export function ConnectScreen({ onConnected, existing }: { onConnected: () => vo
             label="Model URL"
             value={modelUrl}
             placeholder="http://localhost:1234/v1"
-            hint="Optional — an OpenAI-compatible endpoint for Reginald. Leave blank to keep chat off."
+            hint="Optional: an OpenAI-compatible endpoint for Reginald. Leave blank to keep chat off."
             onChange={(e) => setModelUrl(e.target.value)}
           />
         </div>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/directives-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/directives-screen.tsx
index 304d62d..1ad05da 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/directives-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/directives-screen.tsx
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export function DirectivesScreen() {
         <EmptyState
           icon="flag"
           title="No directives yet"
-          line="When you overrule the scheduler in chat, it goes on the record here — who, when, what, why."
+          line="When you overrule the scheduler in chat, it goes on the record here: who, when, what, why."
         />
       ) : (
         <Card overline="The ledger" flush>
@@ -115,10 +115,6 @@ export function DirectivesScreen() {
           </div>
         </Card>
       )}
-
-      <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: 0 }}>
-        Entries are never edited. Corrections are new entries — the ledger remembers everything, politely.
-      </p>
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/focus-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/focus-screen.tsx
index 0d35f05..124daa9 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/focus-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/focus-screen.tsx
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export function FocusScreen({
       <EmptyState
         icon="coffee"
         title="Nothing to pour"
-        line="Capture some work, or enjoy the silence — it never lasts."
+        line="Capture some work, or enjoy the silence, it never lasts."
       />
     )
   }
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function FocusScreen({
           <BurnUpCone data={forecast.cone} />
           <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: '10px 0 0' }}>
             {forecast.coldStart
-              ? `${forecast.scope} open ${forecast.scope === 1 ? 'issue' : 'issues'} in scope. Cold-start priors — ${forecast.calibratedN}/20 estimated closes so far; the cone tightens as the team closes work.`
+              ? `${forecast.scope} open ${forecast.scope === 1 ? 'issue' : 'issues'} in scope. Cold-start priors: ${forecast.calibratedN}/20 estimated closes so far; the cone tightens as the team closes work.`
               : `${forecast.scope} open ${forecast.scope === 1 ? 'issue' : 'issues'} in scope, calibrated on ${forecast.calibratedN} closed ${forecast.calibratedN === 1 ? 'issue' : 'issues'} of your own.`}
           </p>
         </Card>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/issue-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/issue-screen.tsx
index 92f7ec8..4fa6ba8 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/issue-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/issue-screen.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {
 import { type IssueDetail, type IssueRef } from '../../data/view-types.js'
 import { Badge, Button, Card, Dialog, Icon, Select, Tag } from '../ui/index.js'
 
-const NONE = '—'
+const NONE = '·'
 
 export function IssueScreen({
   issue,
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ export function IssueScreen({
         <div style={{ marginTop: 14, minHeight: 40 }}>
           {pendingChanges.length === 0 ? (
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: 0 }}>
-              No change yet — pick a different estimate, priority, assignee, or milestone.
+              No change yet, pick a different estimate, priority, assignee, or milestone.
             </p>
           ) : (
             <>
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ export function IssueScreen({
                 </div>
               ))}
               <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 8, padding: '14px 20px', alignItems: 'flex-end' }}>
-                <textarea placeholder="Comment — this writes to gitea, as you" rows={2} style={{
+                <textarea placeholder="Comment: this writes to gitea, as you" rows={2} style={{
                   flex: 1, resize: 'none', font: 'var(--text-body)', color: 'var(--ink-1)', lineHeight: 1.5,
                   background: 'var(--paper-0)', border: '1px solid var(--line-2)', borderRadius: 'var(--radius-2)',
                   padding: '8px 11px', outline: 'none',
@@ -335,12 +335,6 @@ export function IssueScreen({
                 </div>
               )}
             </div>
-            {/* provenance note */}
-            <div style={{ padding: '10px 20px 14px', borderTop: '1px solid var(--line-1)' }}>
-              <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: 0 }}>
-                Lives in pm-state. Your repo never sees any of it.
-              </p>
-            </div>
           </div>
         </Card>
       </div>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/milestone-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/milestone-screen.tsx
index 7553dec..904ea12 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/milestone-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/milestone-screen.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export function MilestoneScreen({
 
   const groups = data.groups.map((g) => ({ label: g.label, issues: g.issues, muted: g.label === 'Done' }))
   const name = data.name
-  const dueLine = `milestone · due ${data.due} · ${data.soft ? 'soft — scope may flex' : 'hard deadline'}`
+  const dueLine = `milestone · due ${data.due} · ${data.soft ? 'soft, scope may flex' : 'hard deadline'}`
   const forecastLabel = data.forecastRange ? `80% ${data.forecastRange}` : 'all shipped'
   const scopeStat = `${data.scopeCount} issues · est ${data.scopeEstDays}d`
   const doneStat = `${data.doneCount} · ${data.donePct}%`
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/onboarding-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/onboarding-screen.tsx
index 71048ae..e60f44b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/onboarding-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/onboarding-screen.tsx
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ export function OnboardingScreen({ onConnected }: { onConnected: (dest: 'focus'
       setFound(null)
       setError(
         res.error === '401' || res.error === '403'
-          ? 'The token was rejected — check it has repo + issue scopes.'
+          ? 'The token was rejected: check it has repo + issue scopes.'
           : res.error === '404'
-            ? "Couldn't reach that Gitea — check the URL."
+            ? "Couldn't reach that Gitea; check the URL."
             : `Connection failed${res.error ? ` (${res.error})` : ''}.`,
       )
       return
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ export function OnboardingScreen({ onConnected }: { onConnected: (dest: 'focus'
       .catch(() => ({ ok: false as const, error: 'unreachable' }))
     if (!res.ok) {
       setBoot('idle')
-      setError(`Bootstrap failed${res.error ? ` (${res.error})` : ''}. Nothing was half-applied — you can retry.`)
+      setError(`Bootstrap failed${res.error ? ` (${res.error})` : ''}. Nothing was half-applied, you can retry.`)
       return
     }
     // persist the connection now that the repo is prepared
@@ -155,11 +155,11 @@ export function OnboardingScreen({ onConnected }: { onConnected: (dest: 'focus'
           <Frame footer={<Button iconRight="arrow-right" onClick={() => setStep(1)}>Begin</Button>}>
             <h1 style={{ font: 'var(--text-title)', color: 'var(--ink-1)', margin: 0 }}>Good morning.</h1>
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent-lg)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
-              I'm Reginald, your project manager. I interview you instead of making you fill in forms, I forecast in
-              honest ranges, and I never do the arithmetic myself — there's a scheduler for that.
+              I am Reginald, your project manager. I interview you rather than trouble you with forms, and I forecast
+              in honest ranges.
             </p>
             <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', margin: 0 }}>
-              Your plans live in your own Gitea as ordinary issues and labels. Delete me and nothing human is lost.
+              Your plans reside in your own Gitea as ordinary issues and labels.
             </p>
           </Frame>
         ) : null}
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ export function OnboardingScreen({ onConnected }: { onConnected: (dest: 'focus'
               type="password"
               value={token}
               placeholder="gitea PAT"
-              hint="Scopes: repo, issue. Nothing more."
+              hint="Scopes: repo, issue."
               onChange={(e) => {
                 setToken(e.target.value)
                 setDiscovery('idle')
@@ -352,14 +352,11 @@ export function OnboardingScreen({ onConnected }: { onConnected: (dest: 'focus'
                 ))}
               </div>
             </div>
-            <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: 0 }}>
-              No bot comments, no body frontmatter, no synthetic issues — ever. Labels are the only footprint.
-            </p>
           </Frame>
         ) : null}
       </div>
 
-      <span style={{ font: '400 11px var(--font-mono)', color: 'var(--ink-3)' }}>first run · everything reversible</span>
+      <span style={{ font: '400 11px var(--font-mono)', color: 'var(--ink-3)' }}>first run</span>
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/settings-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/settings-screen.tsx
index 5f2e32d..375a775 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/settings-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/settings-screen.tsx
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ export function SettingsScreen({
                 <Icon name="layers" size={12} />
                 sidecar: {connection.pmStateRepo ?? `${connection.repo}-pm-state`}
               </Row>
-              <Note>Your token is stored encrypted on this machine. Delete the sidecar and resync — no truth is lost.</Note>
               <Row style={{ gap: 8, marginTop: 2 }}>
                 <Button variant="secondary" size="sm" icon="settings-2" onClick={onReconnect}>
                   Reconfigure
@@ -105,11 +104,7 @@ export function SettingsScreen({
               Reconciles on launch and after every write
             </span>
           </Row>
-          <Note>
-            The board is a rebuildable index over gitea — the durable truth. When gitea is unreachable the last
-            snapshot is served from cache (the rail's dot turns red), and the next successful reconcile supersedes it.
-            No webhooks, no polling: reads are on demand.
-          </Note>
+          <Note>Offline, the board reads from the last cached snapshot.</Note>
         </div>
       </Card>
 
@@ -127,7 +122,7 @@ export function SettingsScreen({
             <Row style={{ gap: 8 }}>
               <Icon name="sparkles" size={14} style={{ color: 'var(--ink-3)' }} />
               <span style={{ font: 'var(--text-body)', color: 'var(--ink-2)', flex: 1 }}>
-                Chat is off — no model reachable.
+                Chat is off: no model reachable.
               </span>
               <Button variant="secondary" size="sm" onClick={onReconnect}>
                 Set a Model URL
@@ -135,8 +130,7 @@ export function SettingsScreen({
             </Row>
           )}
           <Note>
-            An OpenAI-compatible endpoint (set it in Reconfigure). Reginald names, negotiates and explains; it never
-            does the arithmetic — the scheduler and Monte Carlo do that.
+            An OpenAI-compatible endpoint (set it in Reconfigure).
           </Note>
         </div>
       </Card>
@@ -154,7 +148,7 @@ export function SettingsScreen({
             ))}
             <Tag label="deadline/hard" />
           </Row>
-          <Note>Fixed sets, human-meaningful, visible in gitea. Not configurable — that is rather the point.</Note>
+          <Note>The fixed label vocabulary, visible in gitea.</Note>
         </div>
       </Card>
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/standup-screen.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/standup-screen.tsx
index 41b0ace..3400835 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/standup-screen.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/screens/standup-screen.tsx
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export function StandupScreen({
       <EmptyState
         icon="sun"
         title="Nothing to report"
-        line="No overnight drift — I'll have a plan when there's work to pour."
+        line="No overnight drift. I'll have a plan when there's work to pour."
       />
     )
   }
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ export function StandupScreen({
           }}
         >
           <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-agent-lg)', color: 'var(--ink-1)', margin: 0, flex: 1 }}>
-            The kettle’s on. — R.
+            The kettle is on. Yours, Reginald.
           </p>
           <Button variant="ghost" onClick={onBegin}>
             Ask about the drift
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/app-shell.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/app-shell.tsx
index 2ab6130..aba59b1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/app-shell.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/app-shell.tsx
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
               backlog.status === 'loading'
                 ? `Connecting to ${hostLabel}…`
                 : offline
-                  ? `Offline — reading from cache${staleSince ? ` (since ${new Date(staleSince).toLocaleString()})` : ''}`
+                  ? `Offline, reading from cache${staleSince ? ` (since ${new Date(staleSince).toLocaleString()})` : ''}`
                   : `Connected to ${hostLabel}`
             }
             aria-label={
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/chat-panel.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/chat-panel.tsx
index f614251..fc56ce2 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/chat-panel.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/components/shell/chat-panel.tsx
@@ -198,9 +198,6 @@ export function ChatPanel({ onOpenDirectives, offline, onApplyChange }: ChatPane
             <Icon name="send" size={14} />
           </button>
         </div>
-        <p style={{ font: 'var(--text-caption)', color: 'var(--ink-3)', margin: '8px 2px 0' }}>
-          Chat is the write-path. Destructive changes are proposed, never assumed.
-        </p>
       </div>
     </aside>
   )
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/backlog.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/backlog.ts
index 46dcaed..39aa932 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/backlog.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/backlog.ts
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ export function calibrationData(
     return {
       label: `est/${b}d`,
       n: fit ? fit.n : inBucket.length,
-      median: inBucket.length ? `${(b * Math.exp(mu)).toFixed(1)}d` : '—',
+      median: inBucket.length ? `${(b * Math.exp(mu)).toFixed(1)}d` : '·',
       bias: fit ? pctFromMu(fit.mu) : null,
     }
   })
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ export function calibrationData(
     .filter((i) => i.state === 'open')
     .reduce((sum, i) => sum + (i.facts.estimateDays ?? 2), 0)
   const effect = model.coldStart
-    ? { raw: `${model.n}/${COLD_START_THRESHOLD} estimated closes`, banded: 'cold-start priors', p50: '—' }
+    ? { raw: `${model.n}/${COLD_START_THRESHOLD} estimated closes`, banded: 'cold-start priors', p50: '·' }
     : {
         raw: `${openEst}d estimated`,
         banded: `×${Math.exp(model.global.mu).toFixed(2)} median drift`,
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/use-chat.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/use-chat.ts
index 7fa51cd..6aa0dfb 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/use-chat.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/use-chat.ts
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ import { type ChatMessage } from '../data/view-types.js'
 
 const LIVE_GREETING: ChatMessage = {
   from: 'agent',
-  text: 'Morning. Ask me anything about the project — I check the real board before I answer.',
+  text: 'Good morning. Do ask me anything about the project; I shall consult the board before I venture an answer.',
 }
 
 const NO_MODEL: ChatMessage = {
   from: 'agent',
-  text: "Reginald is off — I need a model. Add a Model URL in Settings and chat turns on.",
+  text: 'I am afraid I am rather off duty without a model. Kindly add a Model URL in Settings and I shall be at your service.',
 }
 
 export interface ChatState {
@@ -116,14 +116,17 @@ export function useChat(onApplyChange?: (change: IssueChange) => Promise<{ ok: b
               ...c,
               {
                 from: 'agent',
-                text: res.reason === 'error' ? `I hit a snag: ${res.message ?? 'unknown error'}` : 'No model is configured.',
+                text:
+                  res.reason === 'error'
+                    ? `I have struck a snag, I am afraid: ${res.message ?? 'unknown error'}.`
+                    : 'No model is configured.',
               },
             ])
           }
         })
         .catch(() => {
           finish()
-          setConvo((c) => [...c, { from: 'agent', text: 'I could not reach the model.' }])
+          setConvo((c) => [...c, { from: 'agent', text: 'I was unable to reach the model, regrettably.' }])
         })
     },
     [live],
@@ -139,8 +142,8 @@ export function useChat(onApplyChange?: (change: IssueChange) => Promise<{ ok: b
           {
             from: 'agent',
             text: res.ok
-              ? `Done — #${p.change.issue}: ${p.summary}. The plan's been re-run.`
-              : `That didn't take — #${p.change.issue} is unchanged.`,
+              ? `Very good. #${p.change.issue}: ${p.summary}. The plan has been re-run.`
+              : `Regrettably that did not take; #${p.change.issue} remains unchanged.`,
           },
         ])
       })
@@ -150,7 +153,7 @@ export function useChat(onApplyChange?: (change: IssueChange) => Promise<{ ok: b
 
   const dismiss = useCallback((p: ChangeProposal) => {
     drop(p)
-    setConvo((c) => [...c, { from: 'agent', text: `Left #${p.change.issue} as it was.` }])
+    setConvo((c) => [...c, { from: 'agent', text: `As you wish. #${p.change.issue} remains as it was.` }])
   }, [])
 
   return { msgs: [...seed, ...convo], thinking, live, model, steps, proposals, streaming, send, approve, dismiss }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/deps-graph.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/deps-graph.ts
index 60e06e7..a62b6c5 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/deps-graph.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/deps-graph.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function depsGraphView(d: ProjectData): DepsData {
       nodes: [],
       milestone: fallback
         ? { name: fallback.title, due: fallback.dueOn ? formatShort(new Date(fallback.dueOn)) : 'no date', col: 0, row: 0 }
-        : { name: '—', due: 'no date', col: 0, row: 0 },
+        : { name: '·', due: 'no date', col: 0, row: 0 },
       edges: [],
       critical: [],
       unattached: [],
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ export function depsGraphView(d: ProjectData): DepsData {
   let milestone: DepsData['milestone']
   const medianRow = median(nodes.map((n) => n.row))
   if (openMilestones.length === 0) {
-    milestone = { name: '—', due: 'no date', col: maxCol + 1, row: medianRow }
+    milestone = { name: '·', due: 'no date', col: maxCol + 1, row: medianRow }
   } else {
     let best: { id: number; title: string; dueOn: string | null | undefined; count: number } | null = null
     for (const m of openMilestones) {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/inbox-view.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/inbox-view.ts
index d144d59..dbe2268 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/inbox-view.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/inbox-view.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const TOTAL_CAP = 12
 
 /** "HH:MM" from an ISO timestamp; '—' when absent (never fabricated). */
 function hhmm(iso: string | null | undefined): string {
-  if (!iso) return '—'
+  if (!iso) return '·'
   const d = new Date(iso)
   const hh = String(d.getHours()).padStart(2, '0')
   const mm = String(d.getMinutes()).padStart(2, '0')
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export function inboxView(d: ProjectData): InboxItem[] {
       // left at the honest placeholder rather than borrowed from an issue.
       text: `${m.title} closed`,
       detail: 'milestone complete',
-      time: '—',
+      time: '·',
       unread: false,
     })
   }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/issue-detail.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/issue-detail.ts
index 6ba9b7f..48bde52 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/issue-detail.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/src/lib/views/issue-detail.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export function issueDetailView(id: number, d: ProjectData): IssueDetail | null
   return {
     state: inf.column === 'review' ? 'review' : inf.column,
     assignee: issue.assignee ?? 'unassigned',
-    milestone: issue.milestone?.title ?? '—',
+    milestone: issue.milestone?.title ?? '·',
     body: issue.body,
     comments: [],
     lifecycle: lifecycle(inf.stages),
diff --git a/packages/core/src/agent/agent-tools.ts b/packages/core/src/agent/agent-tools.ts
index c16b17b..409ab49 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/agent/agent-tools.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/agent/agent-tools.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export const QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
   name: 'query_project',
   description:
     'Read the current project state. A `view` selects the shape; deterministic code (scheduler, ' +
-    'lifecycle inference, calibration) backs every number — you report it, you never compute it.',
+    'lifecycle inference, calibration) backs every number: you report it, you never compute it.',
   parameters: {
     type: 'object',
     properties: {
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@ export const QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
 export const PROPOSE_CHANGE_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
   name: 'propose_change',
   description:
-    'Propose a change to an issue — estimate, priority, assignee, and/or milestone. This does NOT apply ' +
+    'Propose a change to an issue: estimate, priority, assignee, and/or milestone. This does NOT apply ' +
     'anything; it shows the human a diff to approve. Use it whenever the user asks to re-estimate, reprioritize, ' +
     'assign someone (or unassign), or move an issue to a milestone. Pass a login for `assignee` (null to ' +
     'unassign) and a milestone id for `milestone` (null to remove). After calling it, tell the user you have ' +
-    '*proposed* the change for approval — never say it is done.',
+    '*proposed* the change for approval; never say it is done.',
   parameters: {
     type: 'object',
     properties: {
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export const PROPOSE_CHANGE_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
 export const RECORD_DIRECTIVE_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
   name: 'record_directive',
   description:
-    'Log a standing instruction from the PM to the durable directive ledger — a reprioritization, ' +
+    'Log a standing instruction from the PM to the durable directive ledger: a reprioritization, ' +
     'a re-estimate policy, a deadline, a scope or capacity call, or a plain note. Use it when the user ' +
     'states intent that should persist ("pilots come first", "freeze scope for beta"). This records the ' +
     'intent verbatim; the actual issue edits still go through propose_change.',
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@ export const RECORD_DIRECTIVE_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
 export const REGINALD_TOOLS: ToolDecl[] = [QUERY_PROJECT_TOOL, PROPOSE_CHANGE_TOOL, RECORD_DIRECTIVE_TOOL]
 
 export const REGINALD_SYSTEM = [
-  'You are Reginald, the calm, dry project manager inside CommiTea — a tool that runs projects on Gitea.',
-  'Call query_project to ground every answer in the real project; never invent issues, numbers, or dates.',
-  'The scheduler and forecasts are deterministic code — report their output, do not recompute it.',
-  'To change an estimate, priority, assignee, or milestone, call propose_change — it shows the human a diff to approve.',
-  'When the PM states standing intent ("pilots first", "freeze scope"), call record_directive to log it.',
-  'Never claim a change is applied; you propose, the human approves. Forecasts are ranges, never single dates.',
-  'Refer to issues as #<number>. Be brief and plain — a sentence or two. No preamble, no bullet dumps.',
+  'You are Reginald, the unfailingly composed project manager within CommiTea, a tool that runs projects on Gitea. You carry yourself with the dry, understated poise of a seasoned butler: courteous, precise, and never effusive.',
+  'Ground every answer in the real project by calling query_project first; you never invent issues, figures, or dates.',
+  'The scheduler and forecasts are deterministic; report their output faithfully and do not attempt the arithmetic yourself.',
+  'To alter an estimate, priority, assignee, or milestone, call propose_change, which lays the matter before the principal as a diff for approval.',
+  'When the principal states standing intent (say, "pilots first" or "freeze scope"), record it with record_directive.',
+  'Never declare a change applied; you propose, and the principal disposes. Forecasts are offered as ranges, never a single date.',
+  'Refer to issues as #<number>. Be concise and courteous: a sentence or two, no preamble, no bulleted dumps. Write in plain prose, and never use an em dash; a comma, colon, or full stop will serve.',
 ].join(' ')
diff --git a/packages/core/src/agent/capture-work.ts b/packages/core/src/agent/capture-work.ts
index f09ec3c..0ea9070 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/agent/capture-work.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/agent/capture-work.ts
@@ -53,10 +53,11 @@ export const PROPOSE_ISSUES_TOOL: ToolDecl = {
 }
 
 export const CAPTURE_SYSTEM = [
-  'You are Reginald, decomposing a rough braindump into a small set of concrete Gitea issues.',
-  'Call propose_issues exactly once. Split genuinely separate work; merge trivially-coupled work; invent no scope.',
-  'Each issue gets an imperative title, a one-line body, an estimate (est/1d…8d) and a priority (p/1…4).',
-  'Estimate honestly — a "quick" task is rarely one day. Keep the set tight; three good issues beat eight vague ones.',
+  'You are Reginald, distilling a rough braindump into a small set of concrete Gitea issues, with your customary butlerly precision.',
+  'Call propose_issues exactly once. Separate genuinely distinct work; consolidate trivially-coupled work; invent no scope.',
+  'Each issue receives an imperative title, a one-line body, an estimate (est/1d…8d) and a priority (p/1…4).',
+  'Estimate honestly; a "quick" task is seldom a single day. Keep the set tight, for three considered issues surpass eight vague ones.',
+  'Write in plain prose, and never use an em dash; a comma, colon, or full stop will serve.',
 ].join(' ')
 
 function isEstimate(v: unknown): v is EstimateLabel {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.test.ts b/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.test.ts
index 0100110..87af115 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.test.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,6 @@ describe('memory-v0 (#27)', () => {
 
   it('degrades to just focus when there is no charter or directives', () => {
     const out = assembleHotContext({ charter: '', directives: [], focus })
-    expect(out).toBe(['## Focus', 'Now: #7 Fix lifecycle inference', 'Next: #8 Webhook listener', 'Later: —'].join('\n'))
+    expect(out).toBe(['## Focus', 'Now: #7 Fix lifecycle inference', 'Next: #8 Webhook listener', 'Later: ·'].join('\n'))
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.ts b/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.ts
index 61d7306..b2f51cf 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/agent/memory-v0.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export interface HotContextInputs {
 
 function focusBlock(focus: Focus | null): string {
   if (!focus) return ''
-  const slot = (label: string, item: Focus['now']) => (item ? `${label}: #${item.number} ${item.title}` : `${label}: —`)
+  const slot = (label: string, item: Focus['now']) => (item ? `${label}: #${item.number} ${item.title}` : `${label}: ·`)
   return ['## Focus', slot('Now', focus.now), slot('Next', focus.next), slot('Later', focus.later)].join('\n')
 }