diff --git a/src/layout/Shell.css b/src/layout/Shell.css
index 0d1f469..f1e94df 100644
--- a/src/layout/Shell.css
+++ b/src/layout/Shell.css
@@ -86,14 +86,15 @@
   margin: 0 0 var(--sp-3);
   padding: 0 var(--sp-3);
   font-size: var(--fs-3xs);
-  font-weight: var(--fw-semi);
-  letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+  font-weight: 400;
+  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
   text-transform: uppercase;
   color: var(--zk-grey);
+  opacity: 0.85;
 }
 
 .shell__group + .shell__group {
-  margin-top: var(--sp-7);
+  margin-top: var(--sp-5);
 }
 
 /* The stage list is drawn as a rail with a node per state: the sidebar should
@@ -105,16 +106,6 @@
   gap: var(--sp-1);
 }
 
-.shell__stages::before {
-  content: '';
-  position: absolute;
-  left: 18px;
-  top: 20px;
-  bottom: 20px;
-  width: 2px;
-  border-radius: var(--r-pill);
-  background: linear-gradient(180deg, var(--zk-line) 0%, var(--zk-line-soft) 100%);
-}
 
 .shell__stage {
   position: relative;
@@ -122,7 +113,7 @@
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: space-between;
   gap: var(--sp-2);
-  padding: var(--sp-3) var(--sp-3) var(--sp-3) 40px;
+  padding: 9px 12px;
   border-radius: var(--r-md);
   text-decoration: none;
   color: var(--zk-muted);
@@ -130,41 +121,17 @@
   transition: background var(--t-fast), color var(--t-fast), transform var(--t-fast);
 }
 
-.shell__stage::before {
-  content: '';
-  position: absolute;
-  left: 13px;
-  top: 50%;
-  width: 12px;
-  height: 12px;
-  margin-top: -6px;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--zk-white);
-  border: 2px solid var(--zk-line);
-  transition: border-color var(--t-fast), background var(--t-fast), box-shadow var(--t-fast);
-}
-
 .shell__stage:hover {
   background: var(--zk-tint);
   color: var(--zk-ink);
 }
 
-.shell__stage:hover::before {
-  border-color: var(--zk-blue-light);
-}
-
 .shell__stage.is-active {
   background: var(--zk-tint-blue);
   color: var(--zk-blue-dark);
   font-weight: 500;
 }
 
-.shell__stage.is-active::before {
-  background: var(--zk-blue);
-  border-color: var(--zk-blue);
-  box-shadow: 0 0 0 4px rgba(33, 103, 174, 0.14);
-}
-
 /* Queues where the machine stops and a person decides. */
 .shell__stage.is-needed .shell__stagename {
   font-weight: 500;
@@ -292,12 +259,7 @@
   font-style: normal;
   font-size: var(--fs-2xs);
   font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
-  color: var(--zk-blue-mid);
-}
-.shell__auto::after {
-  content: '·';
-  margin-left: 5px;
-  color: var(--zk-line);
+  color: var(--zk-grey);
 }
 
 /* A renewal inside a week sitting in this queue. */
@@ -310,7 +272,6 @@
 }
 
 .shell__stage.is-empty { color: var(--zk-grey); }
-.shell__stage.is-empty::before { border-color: var(--zk-line-soft); }
 .shell__stage.is-empty.is-needed .shell__stagename { color: var(--zk-muted); font-weight: 400; }
 
 /* The one number worth carrying on a group heading: everything this role has
@@ -322,51 +283,46 @@
   gap: 8px;
 }
 
-.shell__grouptally {
-  font-size: var(--fs-2xs);
-  font-weight: 600;
-  letter-spacing: 0;
-  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
-  color: var(--zk-white);
-  background: var(--zk-blue);
-  border-radius: var(--r-pill);
-  padding: 1px 7px;
-}
-
 /* ── Closed, folded ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Three of the twelve queues, opened about once a week. */
-.shell__closed { margin-top: 22px; }
+.shell__closed { margin-top: var(--sp-4); }
 
+/* Closed matches a queue row — same padding, hover and count — but stays a
+   disclosure: a chevron marks it as foldable, closed by default because it is
+   reporting, not work. */
 .shell__closed > summary {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  justify-content: space-between;
   gap: 8px;
   cursor: pointer;
   list-style: none;
-  padding: 0 10px 10px;
-  font-size: var(--fs-3xs);
-  font-weight: 500;
-  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
-  color: var(--zk-grey);
+  padding: 9px 12px;
+  border-radius: var(--r-md);
+  font-size: var(--fs-xs);
+  color: var(--zk-muted);
+  transition: background var(--t-fast), color var(--t-fast);
 }
 .shell__closed > summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; }
-.shell__closed > summary:hover { color: var(--zk-muted); }
-.shell__closed > summary b {
-  font-size: var(--fs-2xs);
-  font-weight: 500;
-  letter-spacing: 0;
-  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
-  color: var(--zk-grey);
-}
-.shell__closed > summary::after {
+.shell__closed > summary:hover { background: var(--zk-tint); color: var(--zk-ink); }
+.shell__closed > summary::before {
   content: '';
-  order: -1;
+  flex: none;
   width: 5px; height: 5px;
-  border-right: 1.5px solid currentColor;
-  border-bottom: 1.5px solid currentColor;
+  border-right: 1.5px solid var(--zk-grey);
+  border-bottom: 1.5px solid var(--zk-grey);
   transform: rotate(-45deg);
   transition: transform var(--t-fast);
 }
-.shell__closed[open] > summary::after { transform: rotate(45deg); }
+.shell__closed[open] > summary::before { transform: rotate(45deg); }
+.shell__closed > summary b {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  min-width: 20px;
+  padding: 1px 6px;
+  border-radius: var(--r-pill);
+  text-align: center;
+  font-size: var(--fs-2xs);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  color: var(--zk-grey);
+  background: var(--zk-tint);
+}
diff --git a/src/layout/Shell.jsx b/src/layout/Shell.jsx
index 64ef4f7..05c252f 100644
--- a/src/layout/Shell.jsx
+++ b/src/layout/Shell.jsx
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export default function Shell() {
             {c.urgent ? <span className="shell__urgent" title={`${c.urgent} expiring within 7 days`} /> : null}
             {/* The agents' share is shown in the middle dot notation rather
                 than added in: it is in the queue, it is not your work. */}
-            {c.working ? <em className="shell__auto" title={`${c.working} being worked by an agent`}>{c.working}</em> : null}
+            {c.working ? <em className="shell__auto" title={`${c.working} being worked by an agent`}>{c.working} with AI</em> : null}
             <b className={'shell__n' + (n ? '' : ' is-zero')}>{n}</b>
           </span>
         ) : null}
@@ -106,15 +106,9 @@ export default function Shell() {
           {NAV_GROUPS.filter((g) => g.kind !== 'end').map((group) => {
             const inGroup = stages.filter((s) => s.kind === group.kind)
             if (!inGroup.length) return null
-            const outstanding = inGroup.reduce((t, s) => t + (counts[s.uid]?.waiting || 0), 0)
             return (
               <div className="shell__group" key={group.kind}>
-                <p className="shell__navlabel">
-                  {group.label}
-                  {ready && group.kind === 'needs' && outstanding ? (
-                    <span className="shell__grouptally">{outstanding}</span>
-                  ) : null}
-                </p>
+                <p className="shell__navlabel">{group.label}</p>
                 <div className="shell__stages">{inGroup.map(queue)}</div>
               </div>
             )