diff --git a/.agent/phases/todo/22_background_animation/01_fix_background_animation.md b/.agent/phases/complete/22_background_animation/01_fix_background_animation.md
similarity index 100%
rename from .agent/phases/todo/22_background_animation/01_fix_background_animation.md
rename to .agent/phases/complete/22_background_animation/01_fix_background_animation.md
diff --git a/.agent/phases/todo/21_thinking_no_scroll/00_phase.md b/.agent/phases/todo/21_thinking_no_scroll/00_phase.md
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-# Phase 21 — Thinking Window: No Scroll Back, Just Live
-
-**Source:** `TODO.md` L4 — *"Disable scroll in the thinking window.
-Users don't need to scroll back through thinking, just see it live."*
-**Story:** `.agent/user_stories/thinking-no-scroll.md` (created by task 02)
-**Context:** `frontend/assets/styles.css` —
-`details.thinking .thinking-text` (today: `max-height: 320px;
-overflow-y: auto;`, i.e. a user-scrollable 320px window, ~line 444);
-`frontend/assets/app.js` — the phase-17 thinking block (`ensureThinkingBlock`,
-the streaming `thinking` branch that appends chunks and already pins the
-stream to the bottom: `textEl.scrollTop = textEl.scrollHeight`, ~line 886),
-and the phase-14 restore path (stored `thinking` re-renders a
-**collapsed** block).
-
-## Objective
-The live Thinking block is a scratchpad, not a transcript. The user must
-not be able to scroll back through it — the 320px window always shows the
-**live tail** of the reasoning stream (the existing per-chunk
-bottom-pinning stays). Wheel, drag, and keyboard scrolling on
-`.thinking-text` stop working; the stream itself keeps pinning to the
-bottom as chunks arrive.
-
-## Owner-confirmed (2026-08-24, roadmap A2)
-1. **Keep the 320px clip** — "just see it live" means the window stays a
-   fixed 320px viewport showing the newest lines; no auto-height growth,
-   no "↓ more" affordance.
-2. **The answer bubble is untouched** — final answers keep their existing
-   scroll behavior (phase 11 long answers).
-3. **Restored (collapsed) Thinking blocks are untouched** — the phase-14
-   restore renders them collapsed, where overflow is moot.
-
-## Design
-- **CSS (the whole functional change):**
-  `details.thinking .thinking-text` — `overflow-y: auto` →
-  `overflow-y: hidden`; keep `max-height: 320px`.
-  `overflow: hidden` still permits **programmatic** scrolling
-  (`scrollTop`), so the phase-17 pin
-  (`textEl.scrollTop = textEl.scrollHeight` on every thinking chunk)
-  keeps the window glued to the live tail — no JS change needed.
-  Add a CSS comment: *no user scroll back (owner choice 2026-08-24):
-  the window is a live tail only — the JS bottom-pin is the sole
-  scroller*.
-- **No JS change** — the pin already exists; nothing else touches
-  `.thinking-text` scroll.
-- **Non-goals:** no change to the answer bubble, the collapsed restore
-  state, the summary/chevron, or the auto-collapse on first delta
-  (phase 17).
-
-## Dependencies
-- `17_thinking_display` (complete) — the block, the pin, the restore.
-- `18_follow_bottom_scroll` (complete) — no overlap (chat-page scroll
-  gate only; the thinking window is a separate inner element).
-- `11_long_answers` (complete) — the untouched answer-bubble behavior.
-
-## Tasks
-1. `01_disable_thinking_scroll.md` — the CSS change + source-level unit
-   pins.
-2. `02_e2e_story_suite_commit.md` — `tests/e2e/test_thinking_no_scroll.py`
-   (the story gate, isolated), regression suites, story file, final
-   validation, the single atomic commit, phase move to `complete/`.
-
-## Locked decisions
-- **A11 untouched** — no CDN, pure CSS. **A16 honored** — one new story
-  E2E suite + adapted regressions. No anchor changed.
-
-## Testing & Quality
-- **Unit (source-level, new `tests/unit/test_thinking_no_scroll.py`,
-  repo source-pin pattern):** `styles.css` carries
-  `details.thinking .thinking-text` with `overflow-y: hidden` and
-  `max-height: 320px`; the phase-17 pin line
-  (`textEl.scrollTop = textEl.scrollHeight`) still present in `app.js`
-  (the live-tail mechanism must not be lost).
-- **Integration:** none (no `app/` changes).
-- **Coverage:** frontend-only; the >90% `app/` gate is unaffected.
-- **E2E:** `tests/e2e/test_thinking_no_scroll.py` (task 02), green
-  **in isolation** (prereq `podman compose up -d db`).
-- **Lint/types:** `uv run ruff check . && uv run pyright` clean.
-
-## Completion Criteria
-- [ ] With a long thinking stream, wheel/mouse-drag/keyboard on
-      `.thinking-text` do **not** move it; the visible content is always
-      the live tail (`scrollTop === scrollHeight` after each chunk,
-      within 1px).
-- [ ] Computed style: `overflow-y: hidden`, `max-height: 320px`.
-- [ ] A long **answer** bubble still scrolls normally; a restored
-      collapsed Thinking block still renders (phase 17 regression).
-- [ ] `uv run pytest` green; `uv run pytest --cov=app
-      --cov-report=term-missing` ≥ today's number.
-- [ ] `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_thinking_no_scroll.py -v --no-cov`
-      green in isolation; regressions green in isolation:
-      `test_thinking_display.py`, `test_long_answers.py`.
-- [ ] `uv run ruff check . && uv run pyright` clean.
-- [ ] UI Structure Check (AGENTS.md rule 5): no new surface; the block
-      keeps its focus-visible summary, aria contract, and reduced-motion
-      behavior.
-- [ ] `.agent/user_stories/thinking-no-scroll.md` exists.
-- [ ] One `--no-gpg-sign` commit (below);
-      `.agent/phases/todo/21_thinking_no_scroll/` moved to
-      `.agent/phases/complete/`.
-
-## Commit
-```bash
-git add -A .agent/ frontend/ tests/ && git commit --no-gpg-sign -m "fix(ui): thinking window no longer scrolls — live 320px view pinned to the stream tail"
-```
diff --git a/.agent/phases/todo/21_thinking_no_scroll/02_e2e_story_suite_commit.md b/.agent/phases/todo/21_thinking_no_scroll/02_e2e_story_suite_commit.md
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-# Task 02 — E2E story suite, story file, validation, commit
-
-**Phase:** `21_thinking_no_scroll` · **Source:** `TODO.md` L4
-
-## Objective
-The story gate: `tests/e2e/test_thinking_no_scroll.py` proves the window
-can't be user-scrolled but always tracks the live tail, plus regressions,
-story file, final validation, and the single atomic commit.
-
-## Work
-1. `tests/e2e/test_thinking_no_scroll.py` (new — reuse
-   `test_thinking_display.py`'s mock-LLM streaming scaffolding; the mock
-   must stream a **long** thinking body, in many chunks, so
-   `.thinking-text` overflow exceeds its 320px box). Tests:
-   1. `test_thinking_window_not_user_scrollable` — open the block, wait
-      until `scrollHeight > clientHeight`; focus `.thinking-text`
-      (`el.focus()`), dispatch mouse wheel over it
-      (`page.mouse.wheel(0, -200)` after moving the mouse over the
-      element) and press `Home`/`ArrowUp`: `scrollTop` must not decrease
-      (assert `scrollTop` unchanged within 1px between actions).
-   2. `test_thinking_window_tracks_live_tail` — while chunks stream,
-      after the 2nd-to-last and last chunk:
-      `scrollTop === scrollHeight` (within 1px) — the visible window is
-      the live tail; the **last** chunk's text is within the visible
-      rectangle (its offsetTop + scrollTop geometry check, or
-      `elementFromPoint` at the box's bottom).
-   3. `test_thinking_window_css_contract` — computed style of
-      `.thinking-text`: `overflow-y === "hidden"`,
-      `max-height === "320px"`.
-   4. `test_answer_bubble_still_scrollable` (regression, phase 11) — a
-      long answer (use the long-answer mock from
-      `test_long_answers.py`): the answer bubble is still
-      user-scrollable (scrollTop moves on wheel) and
-      `overflow-y` is not `hidden` there.
-   5. `test_restored_collapsed_thinking_unaffected` (regression,
-      phase 17) — a turn with stored `thinking`, reload: the collapsed
-      Thinking block renders with its text (existing pin from
-      `test_thinking_display.py` — replicate, don't duplicate the file).
-2. `.agent/user_stories/thinking-no-scroll.md` (new) — story file per
-   the repo format: goal, the bug report verbatim from `TODO.md` L4, the
-   owner-confirmed A2 decisions from `00_phase.md`, E2E mapping table.
-3. Run the suite **in isolation** (prereq `podman compose up -d db`):
-   `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_thinking_no_scroll.py -v --no-cov`.
-4. Regressions, in isolation, one command each:
-   - `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_thinking_display.py -v --no-cov`
-   - `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_long_answers.py -v --no-cov`
-5. Final validation: `uv run pytest` green; `uv run pytest --cov=app
-   --cov-report=term-missing` ≥ today's number (>90% gate);
-   `uv run ruff check . && uv run pyright` clean.
-6. **UI Structure Check** (AGENTS.md rule 5): no new surface; the block
-   keeps its summary chevron, focus-visible ring, aria-live/label
-   contract, and the reduced-motion stillness (styles.css ~line 686).
-7. Write the phase report (`.agent/reports/21_thinking_no_scroll/`).
-8. Commit (one atomic commit) and move the phase:
-   ```bash
-   git add -A .agent/ frontend/ tests/
-   git commit --no-gpg-sign -m "fix(ui): thinking window no longer scrolls — live 320px view pinned to the stream tail"
-   mv .agent/phases/todo/21_thinking_no_scroll .agent/phases/complete/
-   ```
-
-## Testing & Quality
-- Story suite green **in isolation**; both regression suites green in
-  isolation; full unit+integration suite green; `app/` coverage at or
-  above today's number (>90%); ruff + pyright clean.
-
-## Completion Criteria
-- [ ] `test_thinking_no_scroll.py` 5/5 in isolation.
-- [ ] Regressions (thinking display, long answers) green in isolation.
-- [ ] Story file + phase report exist.
-- [ ] One `--no-gpg-sign` commit; phase directory in `complete/`.
diff --git a/.agent/reports/22_background_animation/report.md b/.agent/reports/22_background_animation/report.md
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+# Phase 22 / Task 01 — Background animation diagnosis + fix
+
+**Owner report (2026-08-24):** "background animation not working, just
+blinking". **Method:** live dev server (`uv run uvicorn app.main:app`,
+db up), headless Chromium 1280×800 (Playwright), ≥15s observation per
+session, computed-style sampling + pixel-diffed screenshots. All
+artifacts in `.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/`.
+
+## Diagnosis (per the 00_phase.md checklist)
+
+**1. Per-layer visibility.** Both pseudo-layers exist, computed
+`position: fixed`, `z-index: -1`, `pointer-events: none`, both animating.
+Per-layer screenshots (`before_glow_only.png`, `before_grid_only.png`):
+the glow is clearly visible in its two corners; the grid is drawn **only
+in a narrow band below the header** (top ~25% of the viewport) and is
+barely distinguishable from the page bg.
+
+**2. Grid layer — moving but imperceptible.** `background-position` on
+`body::before` sampled over 16.8s: `0.86px → 13.2px` (≈0.79px/s — the
+spec'd 44px/60s, seamless one-cell drift). The drift is *real*.
+Isolating it (glow hidden, two frames 5s apart,
+`before_gridonly_frame1/2.png`):
+
+| metric | value |
+|---|---|
+| pixels changed (>12/765) | 1.5% |
+| mean pixel change | **0.48/765** (≈0.2/255 per channel) |
+| bottom-half quadrants | **≈0.07** (no grid there at all — masked out) |
+
+Why: 1px lines at **35% of `--line`** blend to ≈rgb(20,26,41) on
+rgb(10,14,23) — a ≈10/12/18-level delta — and the radial mask
+(`120% 90% at 50% 0%, black 25%, transparent 78%`) fades the layer to
+~zero past ~560px at center (probe: lines gone by y≈254 at the edges).
+A 0.73px/s drift of that faint texture sits below the perception
+threshold → the grid contributes no visible motion.
+
+**3. Glow layer — the only visible motion = the "blink".** Full-background
+frame diff (5s apart, `before_frame1/2.png`): 1.4% of pixels changed,
+concentrated exactly on the two glow centers — top-left mean 3.07,
+bottom-right 2.92 (glow positions 12%/8% and 88%/92%), top-right 1.23,
+bottom-left 0.70. The 0.65↔1.0 opacity swing (35% amplitude, + scale)
+is the entire perceived animation → reads as a blink/pulse, not
+breathing.
+
+**4. Occlusion check — ruled out.** Forced the grid lines to bright red:
+3127 red-line pixels render (`before_occlusion_probe.png`, x 132–1276,
+y 64–254 — the mask shape). Computed: `html` bg `rgb(10,14,23)`
+(= `var(--bg)`), `body` bg `rgba(0,0,0,0)` (transparent), no later rule
+paints over the layers. Assumption (c) **does not fire**.
+
+### Root cause
+**Assumptions (a)+(b) confirmed, (c) disproven.** The grid drift works
+but is invisible (faint 35%-alpha lines × small masked region × 0.73px/s),
+so the only perceived motion is the glow's large opacity swing — which
+is exactly what "just blinking" is.
+
+## Fix (styles.css — pure CSS, zero JS, no blur, palette untouched)
+
+| property | before (phase 08) | after (phase 22) |
+|---|---|---|
+| grid line alpha | `rgb(38 48 74 / 0.35)` ×2 | **`rgb(38 48 74 / 0.6)`** ×2 |
+| grid mask | `120% 90% at 50% 0%, black 25%, transparent 78%` | **`140% 110% at 50% 0%, black 40%, transparent 90%`** |
+| grid drift | 60s, 0→44px | **unchanged** (60s, 0→44px — one-cell seamless) |
+| glow opacity | 0.65 ↔ 1 | **0.85 ↔ 1** |
+| glow period/scale | 14s ease-in-out alternate, 1↔1.05 | **unchanged** |
+
+- Grid: +71% line contrast and a wider fully-visible mask radius make
+  the same 60s one-cell drift readable as smooth motion; the grid now
+  extends across most of the viewport, fading to the corners.
+- Glow: amplitude cut 35%→15% — breathing, not pulsing.
+- Durations deliberately untouched: the owner-confirmed intended effect
+  is the phase-08 design (60s drift + 14s breathe), and
+  `tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py::test_animated_background` pins the
+  live 60s/14s durations. Both layers keep `fixed; inset: 0; z-index:
+  -1; pointer-events: none`; `html` keeps `var(--bg)`, `body` stays
+  transparent; reduced-motion stilling block untouched.
+
+## After (same viewport, same instrumentation)
+
+| metric | before | after |
+|---|---|---|
+| grid-only 5s diff, mean \|d\| | 0.48 | **1.82** (3.8×) |
+| grid-only, pixels changed | 1.5% | **6.1%** |
+| grid-only bottom-half | ≈0.07 (absent) | **1.43–1.47** (present + moving) |
+| full 5s diff, pixels changed | 1.4% | **4.2%** |
+| full quadrant means (TL/TR/BL/BR) | 3.07 / 1.23 / 0.70 / 2.92 | 2.92 / 2.11 / 1.69 / 2.48 |
+
+Motion is now distributed across the whole viewport (drift everywhere +
+gentler corner breathing) instead of concentrated in the two glow
+corners; after frames (`after_frame1/2.png`, 5s apart) confirm no static
+frame. Visual check of `after_frame1.png`: grid clearly visible, still
+subtle — no text/contrast impact, no jank (compositor-friendly
+`background-position`/`opacity`/`transform` only), no 360px overflow
+(layers remain `fixed; inset: 0`; `test_responsive_polish.py` 7/7 green).
+
+## Screenshots
+`before_frame1/2.png` (5s pair), `before_glow_only.png`,
+`before_grid_only.png`, `before_occlusion_probe.png`,
+`before_gridonly_frame1/2.png` (isolated grid pair), `after_frame1/2.png`
+(5s pair), `after_gridonly_frame1/2.png`, `diagnosis_log.txt` (timeline
+samples), `diagnosis_diff.txt` (all diff numbers).
+
+## Tests (task 01)
+- New: `tests/unit/test_background_animation.py` (10 source pins on the
+  final values + the no-occlusion + no-blur/zero-JS anchors) — green.
+- `uv run pytest --cov=app` — 329 passed, app coverage 99%.
+- `uv run ruff check . && uv run pyright` — clean.
+- Regressions (isolated): `test_dark_tech_theme.py` 6/6,
+  `test_responsive_polish.py` 7/7.
+
+---
+
+# Task 02 — E2E story suite, story file, validation, commit
+
+## Story gate: `tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py` (5 tests)
+
+The layers are CSS pseudo-elements, so the suite asserts via computed
+style + the Web Animations API. **Implementation note (deviation from
+the task file, documented per the plan's "found, not guessed" rule):**
+the task assumed Chromium reports pseudo-element CSS animations through
+`element.getAnimations()` — verified false on Chromium 151
+(`document.body.getAnimations()` returns `[]` for pseudo-layers); the
+animations ARE enumerated by `document.getAnimations()`, with
+`animationName` / `playState` / `currentTime` intact. The suite uses the
+document-level list and matches on `animationName`. A second finding:
+headless Chromium starts the document animation timeline ~1.4s after
+navigation (currentTime stays 0 until then), so `test_animations_advance`
+polls until both timelines are alive before sampling.
+
+1. `test_grid_layer_animation_running` — computed `body::before`:
+   `animationName = bg-grid-drift`, timing `linear`, iterations
+   `infinite`; matching `CSSAnimation` with `playState === "running"`.
+2. `test_glow_layer_animation_running` — same for `body::after`
+   (`bg-glow-breathe`); `playState === "running"`.
+3. `test_animations_advance` — `currentTime` of both layers advances by
+   ≥200ms over a 500ms wait — the timelines are truly running, not
+   paused (no static frame).
+4. `test_background_layers_contracts` — both pseudo-elements: `position:
+   fixed`, `z-index: -1`, `pointer-events: none`, `inset: 0` (0px on all
+   four edges); `<html>` computed background `rgb(10, 14, 23)` (canvas
+   stays on html), `<body>` computed background `rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)`
+   (no occlusion).
+5. `test_no_horizontal_overflow_with_layers` — 360px viewport:
+   `documentElement.scrollWidth <= clientWidth` (phase-07 pin,
+   replicated locally).
+
+## Results (all commands, final state)
+
+| command | result |
+|---|---|
+| `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py -v --no-cov` | **5 passed** (run 4× — stable) |
+| `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py -v --no-cov` | **6 passed** (isolated) |
+| `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_responsive_polish.py -v --no-cov` | **7 passed** (isolated) |
+| `uv run pytest` | **329 passed** |
+| `uv run pytest --cov=app --cov-report=term-missing` | 329 passed, **app coverage 99%** (≥90% gate; unchanged from task 01) |
+| `uv run ruff check . && uv run pyright` | **clean** (0 errors) |
+
+Prerequisite honored: `podman compose up -d db` — `brain-of-reese_db_1`
+Up (healthy) throughout.
+
+## UI Structure Check (AGENTS.md rule 5)
+- **Layers behind content:** E2E `test_background_layers_contracts`
+  pins `position: fixed`, `z-index: -1`, `pointer-events: none`,
+  `inset: 0` on both pseudo-layers in the live viewport (plus the
+  html-canvas/body-transparent no-occlusion pair).
+- **No text/contrast impact:** the fix touches only line alpha, mask
+  radius, and glow opacity — no palette token, no text on the layers,
+  all WCAG AA pairs unchanged (phase-08 suite green).
+- **No 360px overflow:** E2E pin `scrollWidth <= clientWidth` at
+  360×740 — live check `scrollWidth=360 clientWidth=360`; the
+  `fixed; inset: 0` layers add no width (phase-07 suite green).
+
+## Final screenshots (fresh server, headless Chromium 151)
+- `final_frame1.png` / `final_frame2.png` — 1280×800, 3s apart: grid
+  drift visible across the viewport (live sample at frame 2:
+  `background-position 2.55px` after ≈3.5s ≈ 0.73px/s — the spec'd
+  one-cell/60s drift), glow corners breathing gently.
+- `final_360px.png` — 360×740, no horizontal overflow.
+- Task-01 before/after evidence (root-cause + fix delta) in the same
+  directory (`before_*`, `after_*`, `diagnosis_log.txt`,
+  `diagnosis_diff.txt`).
+
+## Story file
+`.agent/user_stories/background-animation.md` — goal, bug report
+verbatim (TODO.md L5), owner-confirmed A3 decisions, found root cause,
+fix table, acceptance criteria, UI structure, Playwright mapping table.
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diff --git a/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/diagnosis_diff.txt b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/diagnosis_diff.txt
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@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+== BEFORE (phase-08 CSS) ==
+FULL   before, 5s apart: 1.436% px>12, mean|d|=1.9793, max=54
+   top-left: mean|d|=3.0659
+   top-right: mean|d|=1.2274
+   bottom-left: mean|d|=0.7014
+   bottom-right: mean|d|=2.9225
+GRIDONLY before, 5s apart (glow hidden): 1.526% px>12, mean|d|=0.4778, max=60
+   top-left: mean|d|=0.8985
+   top-right: mean|d|=0.8776
+   bottom-left: mean|d|=0.0681
+   bottom-right: mean|d|=0.0671
+OCCLUSION PROBE: 3127 red-line px (x 132..1276, y 64..254) -> grid layer IS painted (no occlusion); earlier 0-pixel reading was a too-strict absolute-threshold detector (blended red ≈ rgb(78,27,35))
+
+== AFTER (phase-22 CSS: grid lines 0.6 alpha, mask 140% 110% / 40% / 90%, glow 0.85..1) ==
+FULL   after, 5s apart: 4.159% px>12, mean|d|=2.3007, max=87
+   top-left: mean|d|=2.9225
+   top-right: mean|d|=2.1081
+   bottom-left: mean|d|=1.6897
+   bottom-right: mean|d|=2.4826
+GRIDONLY after, 5s apart (glow hidden): 6.094% px>12, mean|d|=1.8162, max=74
+   top-left: mean|d|=2.2062
+   top-right: mean|d|=2.1563
+   bottom-left: mean|d|=1.4749
+   bottom-right: mean|d|=1.4275
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/diagnosis_log.txt b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/diagnosis_log.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3c35a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/diagnosis_log.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+LAYER STATE (computed):
+  before: {'position': 'fixed', 'zIndex': '-1', 'display': 'block', 'pointerEvents': 'none', 'maskImage': 'radial-gradient(120% 90% at 50% 0%, rgb(0, 0, 0) 25%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 78%)', 'backgroundSize': '44px 44px, 44px 44px', 'animation': '60s linear infinite bg-grid-drift'}
+  after: {'position': 'fixed', 'zIndex': '-1', 'display': 'block', 'pointerEvents': 'none', 'animation': '14s ease-in-out infinite alternate bg-glow-breathe'}
+  htmlBg: rgb(10, 14, 23)
+  bodyBg: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)
+TIMELINE (t_s, body::before background-position, body::after):
+  t=  0.0s  grid-pos='0.855518px 0.855518px, 0.855518px 0.855518px'  glow={'opacity': '0.654761', 'transform': 'matrix(1.00068, 0, 0, 1.00068, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
+  t=  2.8s  grid-pos='2.92103px 2.92103px, 2.92103px 2.92103px'  glow={'opacity': '0.708889', 'transform': 'matrix(1.00841, 0, 0, 1.00841, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
+  t=  5.6s  grid-pos='4.97421px 4.97421px, 4.97421px 4.97421px'  glow={'opacity': '0.815653', 'transform': 'matrix(1.02366, 0, 0, 1.02366, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
+  t=  8.4s  grid-pos='7.02747px 7.02747px, 7.02747px 7.02747px'  glow={'opacity': '0.927369', 'transform': 'matrix(1.03962, 0, 0, 1.03962, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
+  t= 11.2s  grid-pos='9.09298px 9.09298px, 9.09298px 9.09298px'  glow={'opacity': '0.990928', 'transform': 'matrix(1.0487, 0, 0, 1.0487, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
+  t= 14.0s  grid-pos='11.1462px 11.1462px, 11.1462px 11.1462px'  glow={'opacity': '0.994963', 'transform': 'matrix(1.04928, 0, 0, 1.04928, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
+  t= 16.8s  grid-pos='13.1995px 13.1995px, 13.1995px 13.1995px'  glow={'opacity': '0.940122', 'transform': 'matrix(1.04145, 0, 0, 1.04145, 0, 0)', 'animationName': 'bg-glow-breathe'}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_360px.png b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_360px.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a4a335
Binary files /dev/null and b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_360px.png differ
diff --git a/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_frame1.png b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_frame1.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8690413
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diff --git a/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_frame2.png b/.agent/screenshots/22_background_animation/final_frame2.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e21bb15
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diff --git a/.agent/user_stories/background-animation.md b/.agent/user_stories/background-animation.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6edce92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agent/user_stories/background-animation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+# Story: Animated Background That Actually Animates
+
+**Phase:** `22_background_animation` · **E2E:** `tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py`
+
+## Narrative
+
+As **the owner**, I reported (2026-08-24) that the Brain of Reese
+background "just blinks". I want the background the phase-08 design
+promised — a slow, seamless grid drift plus a gentle glow breathe — to
+be *perceived* as smooth motion in a real browser, so the app feels
+alive but calm, not like a broken flicker.
+
+- **Given** the phase-08 pure-CSS background (a 60s grid drift masked
+  into a small top band + a 14s glow opacity swing)
+- **When** the page is observed in a real Chromium viewport
+- **Then** both layers visibly and smoothly animate — the grid drift
+  reads as continuous motion and the glow reads as breathing — with no
+  blink, no static frame, no jank, no new overflow at 360px, and no
+  impact on text contrast or interactivity.
+
+## Bug report (verbatim, TODO.md L5)
+
+> Fix background animation not working, just blinking
+
+## Owner-confirmed (2026-08-24, roadmap A3)
+
+1. **Intended effect = the phase-08 design comments:** a seamless 60s
+   grid drift (one cell per loop) + a 14s eased glow breathing. The fix
+   serves that design — it is not a redesign.
+2. **Pure CSS, zero JS** (phase-08 anchor) — no animation JS, no new
+   assets, no `filter: blur`.
+
+## Root cause (found in task 01 — `.agent/reports/22_background_animation/`)
+
+Both layers *were* animating and nothing occluded them (occlusion
+disproven with a red-line probe) — but:
+
+1. **The grid drift was invisible.** 1px lines at 35% `--line` alpha
+   blend to a ≈10/12/18-level delta over the page bg, and the radial
+   mask faded the layer to ~zero past the top ~25% of the viewport. A
+   0.73px/s drift of that faint texture sits below the perception
+   threshold (measured ≈1.4/765 mean pixel change over 5s in the grid
+   zone; ≈0 in the bottom half — no grid there at all).
+2. **The glow swing was the only visible motion.** The 0.65↔1.0 opacity
+   swing (35% amplitude, frame-diff concentrated exactly on the two
+   glow centers) was 100% of the perceived animation → it read as a
+   blink/pulse, not breathing.
+
+## Fix (styles.css — pure CSS, zero JS, no blur, palette untouched)
+
+| property | phase 08 | phase 22 |
+|---|---|---|
+| grid line alpha | 35% `--line` ×2 | **60% `--line` ×2** |
+| grid mask | `120% 90% at 50% 0%, black 25%, transparent 78%` | **`140% 110% at 50% 0%, black 40%, transparent 90%`** |
+| grid drift | 60s, 0→44px | **unchanged** (one-cell seamless loop) |
+| glow opacity swing | 0.65↔1 | **0.85↔1** |
+| glow period/scale | 14s ease-in-out alternate, 1↔1.05 | **unchanged** |
+
+Both layers keep `position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: -1;
+pointer-events: none`; `<html>` keeps the `var(--bg)` canvas and
+`<body>` stays transparent (the no-occlusion contract); the
+`prefers-reduced-motion` stilling block is untouched.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+1. In a real Chromium viewport, both background layers run their
+   animations (grid drift + glow breathe) and the animation timelines
+   advance — the background is not a static or paused frame.
+2. No blink: the glow reads as breathing (0.85↔1), not a pulse
+   (0.65↔1); the grid drift reads as smooth continuous motion.
+3. Layers stay behind content: `position: fixed`, `z-index: -1`,
+   `pointer-events: none`, full-viewport `inset: 0`; `<html>` keeps
+   the page background and `<body>` stays transparent (no occlusion).
+4. No new horizontal overflow at 360px (the phase-07 pin).
+5. Pure CSS, zero JS, no `filter: blur`, no new assets (phase-08
+   anchor); WCAG AA palette untouched (the layers carry no text).
+6. Regressions green in isolation: `test_dark_tech_theme.py` (pins the
+   live 60s/14s durations + reduced-motion stilling) and
+   `test_responsive_polish.py`.
+7. Unit + integration green, `app/` coverage ≥90%, story E2E green in
+   isolation, ruff + pyright clean.
+
+## UI Visualization & Structure
+- **Grid layer (`body::before`):** 44px cells, 1px lines at 60% of
+  `--line` (`rgb(38 48 74 / 0.6)`), radial mask fully visible to 40% of
+  the radius and faded out by 90%, 60s linear infinite drift of
+  exactly one cell (0→44px) — seamless loop.
+- **Glow layer (`body::after`):** indigo `rgb(109 120 242 / 0.14)`
+  56rem circle at 12%/8% + cyan `rgb(34 211 238 / 0.10)` 60rem circle
+  at 88%/92%; 14s ease-in-out infinite alternate, opacity 0.85↔1 +
+  scale 1↔1.05.
+- **Stacking:** the `<html>` canvas (`var(--bg)` = `#0a0e17`) sits
+  under both `z-index: -1` layers; `<body>` stays transparent and
+  non-stacking, so nothing can paint over the layers.
+- **Motion:** compositor-friendly `background-position` / `opacity` /
+  `transform` only; no blur filter; `prefers-reduced-motion` stills
+  both layers (phase-08 guard, unchanged).
+
+## Playwright Mapping Rule
+**Test Scenario → `tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py`** (the
+layers are CSS pseudo-elements — asserted via computed style + the Web
+Animations API; Chromium enumerates pseudo-element CSS animations in
+`document.getAnimations()`, not `document.body.getAnimations()`):
+1. `test_grid_layer_animation_running` — computed style of
+   `body::before`: `animationName` = `bg-grid-drift`, timing function
+   `linear`, iteration count `infinite`; a matching entry in the
+   document animation list with `playState === "running"`.
+2. `test_glow_layer_animation_running` — same for `body::after` with
+   `bg-glow-breathe`; `playState === "running"`.
+3. `test_animations_advance` — sample `currentTime` of both layers,
+   wait ~500ms, assert both advanced — truly running, not paused
+   (the headless document animation timeline starts ~1s after load, so
+   the sample polls until the timeline is alive first).
+4. `test_background_layers_contracts` — both pseudo-elements:
+   `position: fixed`, `z-index: -1`, `pointer-events: none`,
+   `inset: 0`; `document.documentElement` computed background is the
+   palette bg (canvas stays on `html`); `document.body` computed
+   background is `rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)` (no occlusion).
+5. `test_no_horizontal_overflow_with_layers` — 360px viewport:
+   `documentElement.scrollWidth <= clientWidth` (the phase-07 pin,
+   replicated locally).
diff --git a/frontend/assets/styles.css b/frontend/assets/styles.css
index a6ae545..54aad33 100644
--- a/frontend/assets/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/assets/styles.css
@@ -59,9 +59,16 @@ body {
 
 /* ---------- Animated background (pure CSS, zero JS — phase 08) ---------- */
 
-/* Fine drifting grid: 44px cells, 1px lines at ~35% --line alpha, masked
-   with a radial fade (visible center-top, fading to the edges). The drift
-   delta (44px) equals one cell, so the loop is seamless. */
+/* Fine drifting grid: 44px cells, 1px lines at 60% --line alpha, masked
+   with a radial fade (visible across most of the viewport, fading to the
+   corners). The drift delta (44px) equals one cell, so the loop is
+   seamless.
+   Phase 22 fix (owner report 2026-08-24, roadmap A3): the original 35%
+   alpha + 25%-black mask made the 0.73px/s drift invisible in a real
+   viewport (measured: ~1.4/765 mean pixel change over 5s in the grid
+   zone) — only the glow swing was perceived, so the background read as
+   "just blinking". Higher line alpha + wider visible mask radius make the
+   same 60s one-cell drift clearly readable as smooth motion. */
 body::before {
   content: "";
   position: fixed;
@@ -69,11 +76,11 @@ body::before {
   z-index: -1;
   pointer-events: none;
   background-image:
-    linear-gradient(to right, rgb(38 48 74 / 0.35) 1px, transparent 1px),
-    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgb(38 48 74 / 0.35) 1px, transparent 1px);
+    linear-gradient(to right, rgb(38 48 74 / 0.6) 1px, transparent 1px),
+    linear-gradient(to bottom, rgb(38 48 74 / 0.6) 1px, transparent 1px);
   background-size: 44px 44px;
-  -webkit-mask-image: radial-gradient(120% 90% at 50% 0%, black 25%, transparent 78%);
-  mask-image: radial-gradient(120% 90% at 50% 0%, black 25%, transparent 78%);
+  -webkit-mask-image: radial-gradient(140% 110% at 50% 0%, black 40%, transparent 90%);
+  mask-image: radial-gradient(140% 110% at 50% 0%, black 40%, transparent 90%);
   animation: bg-grid-drift 60s linear infinite;
 }
 @keyframes bg-grid-drift {
@@ -82,7 +89,10 @@ body::before {
 }
 
 /* Two large, soft radial glows: indigo top-left, cyan bottom-right —
-   14s ease-in-out breathing (opacity + scale). No filter:blur (perf). */
+   14s ease-in-out breathing (opacity + scale). No filter:blur (perf).
+   Phase 22 fix (owner report 2026-08-24, roadmap A3): the 0.65↔1 opacity
+   swing was the ONLY visible motion on the page, so it read as a blink.
+   Narrowed to 0.85↔1 — a gentle breathe, not a pulse. */
 body::after {
   content: "";
   position: fixed;
@@ -95,7 +105,7 @@ body::after {
   animation: bg-glow-breathe 14s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
 }
 @keyframes bg-glow-breathe {
-  from { opacity: 0.65; transform: scale(1); }
+  from { opacity: 0.85; transform: scale(1); }
   to   { opacity: 1;    transform: scale(1.05); }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py b/tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..246a2fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+"""Phase 22 E2E (Playwright): the animated background actually animates.
+
+Story: ``.agent/user_stories/background-animation.md``
+Run in isolation (DB must be up: ``podman compose up -d db``):
+
+    uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py -v --no-cov
+
+Owner report (2026-08-24, roadmap A3): the phase-08 background "just
+blinks". The diagnosis (``.agent/reports/22_background_animation/``)
+found both layers *were* animating with no occlusion — but the grid
+drift was imperceptible (35% alpha 1px lines × a small radial mask ×
+0.73px/s) and only the glow's 0.65↔1 swing was perceived. The fix
+(styles.css, pure CSS, zero JS): 60% grid line alpha + wider mask and a
+0.85↔1 glow breathe.
+
+This suite proves the *behavior* the unit source pins only describe:
+in a real Chromium viewport both pseudo-element layers run their
+animations AND the animation timelines actually advance (no static
+frame, no paused layer, no new occlusion or overflow).
+
+Test → story mapping (Playwright Mapping Rule):
+
+1. ``test_grid_layer_animation_running`` — computed style of
+   ``body::before``: ``animationName`` is ``bg-grid-drift``, timing
+   function ``linear``, iteration count ``infinite``; plus a matching
+   entry in the document animation list with
+   ``playState === "running"``.
+2. ``test_glow_layer_animation_running`` — same for ``body::after``
+   with the ``bg-glow-breathe`` keyframe; ``playState === "running"``.
+3. ``test_animations_advance`` — ``currentTime`` of both layers
+   sampled, ~500ms waited, both advanced — the timelines are truly
+   running, not paused (headless Chromium starts the document
+   animation timeline ~1s after load, so the first sample polls until
+   the timeline is alive).
+4. ``test_background_layers_contracts`` — both pseudo-elements:
+   ``position: fixed``, ``z-index: -1``, ``pointer-events: none``,
+   ``inset: 0`` (UI Structure Check: behind content, click-through,
+   full-viewport); the page canvas stays on ``<html>``
+   (``rgb(10, 14, 23)`` = ``var(--bg)``) and ``<body>`` stays
+   transparent (``rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)``) — the no-occlusion contract.
+5. ``test_no_horizontal_overflow_with_layers`` — at a 360px viewport
+   ``documentElement.scrollWidth <= clientWidth`` (the phase-07 pin,
+   replicated locally — the ``fixed; inset: 0`` layers must add no
+   width).
+
+Chromium note: pseudo-element CSS animations are enumerated by
+``document.getAnimations()``, NOT by ``document.body.getAnimations()``
+(verified on Chromium 151 — the element-level list is empty for
+pseudo-layers), so tests 1–3 match on ``animationName`` in the
+document-level list.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import time
+
+from playwright.sync_api import Browser, Page
+
+GRID = "bg-grid-drift"
+GLOW = "bg-glow-breathe"
+PAGE_BG = "rgb(10, 14, 23)"  # var(--bg) — the <html> canvas (phase-08 palette)
+
+# Computed styles of both pseudo-layers + the html/body background
+# contract (single evaluate — one round-trip per test).
+JS_LAYER_REPORT = """() => {
+    const pick = (pseudo) => {
+        const cs = getComputedStyle(document.body, pseudo);
+        return {
+            anim: cs.animationName,
+            timing: cs.animationTimingFunction,
+            iterations: cs.animationIterationCount,
+            position: cs.position,
+            zIndex: cs.zIndex,
+            pointerEvents: cs.pointerEvents,
+            edges: [cs.top, cs.right, cs.bottom, cs.left],
+        };
+    };
+    return {
+        before: pick("::before"),
+        after: pick("::after"),
+        htmlBg: getComputedStyle(document.documentElement).backgroundColor,
+        bodyBg: getComputedStyle(document.body).backgroundColor,
+    };
+}"""
+
+# Both background-layer animations from the Web Animations API
+# ({name, playState, currentTime}); the keyframe names are passed as one
+# array argument (Playwright serializes the Python list to a JS array).
+JS_TIMELINE = """(names) => document.getAnimations()
+    .filter((a) => names.includes(a.animationName))
+    .map((a) => ({
+        name: a.animationName,
+        playState: a.playState,
+        t: a.currentTime,
+    }))"""
+
+
+def _timeline(page: Page) -> dict[str, float]:
+    """animationName → currentTime (ms) for the two background layers."""
+    entries = page.evaluate(JS_TIMELINE, [GRID, GLOW])
+    return {str(a["name"]): float(a["t"]) for a in entries}
+
+
+def _wait_timeline_alive(page: Page, timeout_ms: int = 5000) -> None:
+    """Poll until both layer timelines report currentTime > 0.
+
+    Headless Chromium starts the document animation timeline shortly
+    after load (observed ≈1.4s after navigation) — until then
+    currentTime is 0, so the "did it advance?" sample in
+    ``test_animations_advance`` must start once the timeline is alive.
+    """
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout_ms / 1000
+    while time.monotonic() < deadline:
+        times = _timeline(page)
+        if set(times) == {GRID, GLOW} and all(times[k] > 0 for k in (GRID, GLOW)):
+            return
+        page.wait_for_timeout(100)
+    raise AssertionError(
+        f"background animation timeline never started (saw {_timeline(page)!r})"
+    )
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Tests (story → test mapping, see module docstring)
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_grid_layer_animation_running(page: Page, app_url: str, db_ready: None) -> None:
+    """AC1: the grid layer runs bg-grid-drift linear infinite in a real
+    viewport — not just declared in CSS: the matching CSSAnimation is
+    reported ``running``."""
+    page.goto(app_url)
+    report = page.evaluate(JS_LAYER_REPORT)
+    grid = report["before"]
+    assert grid["anim"] == GRID, f"body::before must run {GRID} (got {grid['anim']!r})"
+    assert grid["timing"] == "linear", (
+        f"body::before must keep linear timing (got {grid['timing']!r})"
+    )
+    assert grid["iterations"] == "infinite", (
+        f"body::before must loop infinitely (got {grid['iterations']!r})"
+    )
+    live = page.evaluate(JS_TIMELINE, [GRID, GLOW])
+    match = [a for a in live if a["name"] == GRID]
+    assert match, f"no {GRID} entry in document.getAnimations() — layer not animating"
+    assert match[0]["playState"] == "running", (
+        f"{GRID} is {match[0]['playState']!r} — the grid drift must be running"
+    )
+
+
+def test_glow_layer_animation_running(page: Page, app_url: str, db_ready: None) -> None:
+    """AC2: the glow layer runs bg-glow-breathe in a real viewport —
+    the matching CSSAnimation is reported ``running``."""
+    page.goto(app_url)
+    report = page.evaluate(JS_LAYER_REPORT)
+    glow = report["after"]
+    assert glow["anim"] == GLOW, f"body::after must run {GLOW} (got {glow['anim']!r})"
+    assert glow["iterations"] == "infinite", (
+        f"body::after must loop infinitely (got {glow['iterations']!r})"
+    )
+    live = page.evaluate(JS_TIMELINE, [GRID, GLOW])
+    match = [a for a in live if a["name"] == GLOW]
+    assert match, f"no {GLOW} entry in document.getAnimations() — layer not animating"
+    assert match[0]["playState"] == "running", (
+        f"{GLOW} is {match[0]['playState']!r} — the glow breathe must be running"
+    )
+
+
+def test_animations_advance(page: Page, app_url: str, db_ready: None) -> None:
+    """AC1: both timelines actually advance — the background is a live
+    animation, not a static (or paused) frame. Sample currentTime, wait
+    ~500ms, and require real progress on both layers."""
+    page.goto(app_url)
+    _wait_timeline_alive(page)
+    before = _timeline(page)
+    page.wait_for_timeout(500)
+    after = _timeline(page)
+    for name in (GRID, GLOW):
+        delta = after[name] - before[name]
+        assert delta >= 200, (
+            f"{name} timeline did not advance (Δ={delta:.0f}ms < 200ms over 500ms) "
+            "— paused or static?"
+        )
+
+
+def test_background_layers_contracts(page: Page, app_url: str, db_ready: None) -> None:
+    """AC3/AC5: UI Structure Check — the layers stay behind content
+    (fixed, z-index -1, pointer-events none, full-viewport) and nothing
+    occludes them: the page canvas is on <html>, <body> transparent."""
+    page.goto(app_url)
+    report = page.evaluate(JS_LAYER_REPORT)
+    for layer in ("before", "after"):
+        info = report[layer]
+        assert info["position"] == "fixed", f"body::{layer} must stay position:fixed"
+        assert info["zIndex"] == "-1", (
+            f"body::{layer} must stay behind content (z-index -1, got {info['zIndex']!r})"
+        )
+        assert info["pointerEvents"] == "none", (
+            f"body::{layer} must stay click-through (pointer-events none)"
+        )
+        assert info["edges"] == ["0px", "0px", "0px", "0px"], (
+            f"body::{layer} must stay full-viewport (inset: 0, got {info['edges']!r})"
+        )
+    assert report["htmlBg"] == PAGE_BG, (
+        f"the page canvas must stay on <html> — var(--bg) (got {report['htmlBg']!r})"
+    )
+    assert report["bodyBg"] == "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)", (
+        f"body must stay transparent so the layers show (got {report['bodyBg']!r})"
+    )
+
+
+def test_no_horizontal_overflow_with_layers(
+    browser: Browser, app_url: str, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    """AC4: the background layers add no width — the phase-07 overflow
+    pin (documentElement.scrollWidth <= clientWidth) still holds at the
+    360px floor with both fixed; inset: 0 layers live."""
+    phone = browser.new_page(viewport={"width": 360, "height": 740})
+    try:
+        phone.goto(f"{app_url}/")
+        scroll, client = phone.evaluate(
+            "() => [document.documentElement.scrollWidth, document.documentElement.clientWidth]"
+        )
+        assert scroll <= client, (
+            f"horizontal overflow at 360px with the background layers: "
+            f"{scroll} > {client}"
+        )
+    finally:
+        phone.close()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_background_animation.py b/tests/unit/test_background_animation.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d982b68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_background_animation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+"""Unit: the phase-22 animated-background contract (source pins).
+
+The owner report (2026-08-24, roadmap A3): the phase-08 background "just
+blinks". The diagnosis (`.agent/reports/22_background_animation/`) found
+both layers *were* animating with no occlusion — the grid simply wasn't
+perceptible: 1px lines at 35% `--line` alpha (≈10-18/255 over the page
+bg), masked to the top ~25% of the viewport, drifting 0.73px/s. Only the
+glow's 0.65↔1 opacity swing was visible, and it read as a blink.
+
+The fix (styles.css, pure CSS, zero JS, no `filter: blur`):
+  - grid lines 35% → 60% `--line` alpha;
+  - mask widened: `120% 90% … black 25%, transparent 78%` →
+    `140% 110% … black 40%, transparent 90%` (grid now readable across
+    most of the viewport, fading to the corners);
+  - glow breathe narrowed 0.65↔1 → 0.85↔1 (breathing, not pulsing).
+
+Durations are the owner-confirmed phase-08 design and stay pinned at
+60s (one-cell seamless drift) and 14s — changing them would also break
+the phase-08 story gate (`tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py` pins the
+live durations). This file pins the FINAL values so a silent regression
+(weaker alpha, shrunken mask, wider opacity swing, re-occluded layer) is
+caught without a browser. Browser behavior (visible motion, no jank) is
+E2E-covered by tests/e2e/test_background_animation.py (task 02).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
+STYLES_CSS = (
+    Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "frontend" / "assets" / "styles.css"
+)
+
+
+def _css() -> str:
+    return STYLES_CSS.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def _css_no_comments() -> str:
+    """styles.css with /* … */ comments stripped — for functional anchor
+    checks (filter/blur) that must not trip on explanatory comments."""
+    return re.sub(r"/\*[\s\S]*?\*/", "", _css())
+
+
+def _rule_block(css: str, selector: str) -> str:
+    """Body of the first `selector { ... }` rule (top-level, no nesting)."""
+    rule = re.search(
+        r"(?m)^" + re.escape(selector) + r"\s*\{([\s\S]*?)\n\}", css
+    )
+    assert rule, f"styles.css must define a {selector} rule"
+    return rule.group(1)
+
+
+def _grid_rule(css: str) -> str:
+    return _rule_block(css, "body::before")
+
+
+def _glow_rule(css: str) -> str:
+    return _rule_block(css, "body::after")
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Layer plumbing — the no-occlusion contract (phase 08) must survive
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_both_layers_are_fixed_zminus1_noninteractive() -> None:
+    """Both background layers stay behind the content and can never
+    intercept input: fixed, full-viewport, z-index -1, pointer-events
+    none (UI Structure Check: layers behind content, no 360px overflow)."""
+    for name, block in (("body::before", _grid_rule(_css())),
+                        ("body::after", _glow_rule(_css()))):
+        assert "position: fixed" in block, f"{name} must stay position:fixed"
+        assert "inset: 0" in block, f"{name} must stay full-viewport (inset: 0)"
+        assert "z-index: -1" in block, f"{name} must stay z-index:-1"
+        assert "pointer-events: none" in block, f"{name} must stay click-through"
+        assert "content: \"\"" in block, f"{name} must keep its pseudo content"
+
+
+def test_html_owns_bg_and_body_stays_transparent() -> None:
+    """The no-occlusion contract: the visible page background lives on
+    <html>; <body> must remain transparent and non-stacking, or the
+    z-index:-1 layers are painted over (the phase-08 recipe)."""
+    html_block = _rule_block(_css(), "html")
+    assert "background: var(--bg)" in html_block, (
+        "html must keep background: var(--bg) (the page canvas)"
+    )
+    body_block = _rule_block(_css(), "body")
+    assert "background: transparent" in body_block, (
+        "body must keep background: transparent so the layers show"
+    )
+    # body must not gain a z-index/transform/opacity that would turn it
+    # into a stacking context trapping the negative-z-index layers.
+    for prop in ("z-index", "transform", "opacity", "filter"):
+        assert prop + ":" not in body_block, (
+            f"body must not create a stacking context (found {prop})"
+        )
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Grid layer — the phase-22 final values
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_grid_animates_seamless_one_cell_drift() -> None:
+    """body::before runs bg-grid-drift 60s linear infinite — the
+    owner-confirmed 60s one-cell loop (seamless, delta == 44px)."""
+    block = _grid_rule(_css())
+    assert "animation: bg-grid-drift 60s linear infinite" in block
+
+
+def test_grid_keyframes_move_exactly_one_cell() -> None:
+    """The drift delta must equal one 44px cell (0 0 → 44px 44px) for a
+    seamless loop — if the speed ever changes, only the duration may move."""
+    keyframes = re.search(
+        r"@keyframes bg-grid-drift\s*\{([\s\S]*?)\n\}", _css()
+    )
+    assert keyframes, "styles.css must define @keyframes bg-grid-drift"
+    body = keyframes.group(1)
+    assert "background-position: 0 0, 0 0" in body
+    assert "background-position: 44px 44px, 44px 44px" in body
+
+
+def test_grid_cells_and_line_contrast() -> None:
+    """44px cells with 1px lines at the phase-22 fixed 60% --line alpha
+    (phase-08's 35% measured imperceptible at 0.73px/s — see module
+    docstring)."""
+    block = _grid_rule(_css())
+    assert "background-size: 44px 44px" in block
+    line = "linear-gradient(to right, rgb(38 48 74 / 0.6) 1px, transparent 1px)"
+    assert line in block, "grid must keep horizontal 1px lines at 60% --line"
+    assert (
+        "linear-gradient(to bottom, rgb(38 48 74 / 0.6) 1px, transparent 1px)"
+        in block
+    ), "grid must keep vertical 1px lines at 60% --line"
+    assert "0.35" not in block, "the too-faint 35% line alpha must not return"
+
+
+def test_grid_mask_widened_and_prefixed() -> None:
+    """The phase-22 mask: 140%×110% ellipse, fully visible to 40% of the
+    radius, faded out by 90% — the grid must read across most of the
+    viewport (phase-08's 120%×90%/25%/78% masked it to the top ~25%).
+    The -webkit- and standard mask-image must stay in lockstep."""
+    block = _grid_rule(_css())
+    mask = "radial-gradient(140% 110% at 50% 0%, black 40%, transparent 90%)"
+    assert f"-webkit-mask-image: {mask};" in block
+    assert f"mask-image: {mask};" in block
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Glow layer — the phase-22 final values
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_glow_animates_breathe_not_blink() -> None:
+    """body::after runs bg-glow-breathe 14s ease-in-out infinite alternate
+    — the owner-confirmed 14s breathing period (untouched)."""
+    block = _glow_rule(_css())
+    assert "animation: bg-glow-breathe 14s ease-in-out infinite alternate" in block
+
+
+def test_glow_keyframes_narrowed_opacity_swing() -> None:
+    """The opacity swing is narrowed to 0.85↔1 (phase-08's 0.65↔1 was the
+    only visible motion and read as a blink). The gentle scale (1↔1.05)
+    stays."""
+    keyframes = re.search(
+        r"@keyframes bg-glow-breathe\s*\{([\s\S]*?)\n\}", _css()
+    )
+    assert keyframes, "styles.css must define @keyframes bg-glow-breathe"
+    body = keyframes.group(1)
+    assert re.search(r"opacity:\s*0\.85", body), "glow low must be 0.85"
+    assert re.search(r"opacity:\s*1;?", body), "glow high must be 1"
+    assert "0.65" not in body, "the blinking 0.65 low must not return"
+    assert re.search(r"scale\(1\)", body)
+    assert re.search(r"scale\(1\.05\)", body)
+
+
+def test_glow_colors_and_radii_untouched() -> None:
+    """Phase-22 is a perception fix, not a redesign: the two glow
+    gradients (indigo top-left, cyan bottom-right) keep phase-08's colors
+    and radii."""
+    block = _glow_rule(_css())
+    assert (
+        "radial-gradient(circle 56rem at 12% 8%, rgb(109 120 242 / 0.14), "
+        "transparent 62%)" in block
+    )
+    assert (
+        "radial-gradient(circle 60rem at 88% 92%, rgb(34 211 238 / 0.10), "
+        "transparent 62%)" in block
+    )
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Phase-08 anchor: pure CSS, zero JS, no blur
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_no_blur_no_js_in_background_layers() -> None:
+    """The phase-08 performance anchor: no `filter: blur` (or any filter)
+    on either layer, and the animation is CSS-only (both layers carry an
+    `animation:` shorthand; nothing in styles.css references a script)."""
+    for name, block in (("body::before", _grid_rule(_css())),
+                        ("body::after", _glow_rule(_css()))):
+        assert "filter" not in block, f"{name} must not use any filter"
+        assert "animation:" in block, f"{name} must be CSS-animated"
+    assert "blur" not in _css_no_comments(), (
+        "no filter: blur anywhere in styles.css (phase-08 perf anchor)"
+    )