diff --git a/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.tsx b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.tsx
index ff86b0207f..9ecf981fda 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.tsx
@@ -16,35 +16,13 @@ import { useRichTextEditor } from "@/features/messages/lib/useRichTextEditor";
 import { DropZoneOverlay } from "@/features/messages/ui/ComposerAttachments";
 import type { MentionSuggestion } from "@/features/messages/ui/MentionAutocomplete";
 import { MessageComposerToolbar } from "@/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar";
-import type { ChannelMember } from "@/shared/api/types";
-import type { UserProfileLookup } from "@/features/profile/lib/identity";
 import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
 import { cn } from "@/shared/lib/cn";
+import type { ForumComposerProps } from "./ForumComposer.types";
 import { ForumComposerAutocompletes } from "./ForumComposerAutocompletes";
 import { ForumComposerCompactLayout } from "./ForumComposerCompactLayout";
 import { ForumComposerMediaStatus } from "./ForumComposerMediaStatus";
-
-type ForumComposerProps = {
-  channelId?: string | null;
-  /** Override mention source when no channel is available (e.g. Pulse). */
-  members?: ChannelMember[];
-  className?: string;
-  placeholder: string;
-  disabled?: boolean;
-  header?: React.ReactNode;
-  isSending?: boolean;
-  onCancel?: () => void;
-  onSubmit: (
-    content: string,
-    mentionPubkeys: string[],
-    mediaTags?: string[][],
-  ) => undefined | Promise<unknown>;
-  /** Render as a single-line composer until the user focuses it. */
-  compact?: boolean;
-  /** When true, autocomplete renders below the input (for top-of-view composers). */
-  autocompleteBelow?: boolean;
-  profiles?: UserProfileLookup;
-};
+import { useCompactComposerInteractions } from "./useCompactComposerInteractions";
 
 export function ForumComposer({
   channelId = null,
@@ -72,10 +50,19 @@ export function ForumComposer({
     if (pressed) setIsEmojiPickerOpen(false);
     setIsFormattingOpen(pressed);
   }, []);
+  const expandCompactComposer = React.useCallback(() => {
+    if (compact) setIsCompactExpanded(true);
+  }, [compact]);
 
   const mentions = useMentions(channelId, members, profiles);
   const channelLinks = useChannelLinks();
   const media = useMediaUpload();
+  const { handlePaperclipClick, handleToolbarMouseDown, shouldIgnoreBlur } =
+    useCompactComposerInteractions({
+      compact,
+      onExpand: expandCompactComposer,
+      onPaperclip: media.handlePaperclip,
+    });
 
   const disabledRef = React.useRef(disabled);
   const isSendingRef = React.useRef(isSending);
@@ -338,12 +325,6 @@ export function ForumComposer({
       (content.trim().length === 0 && media.pendingImeta.length === 0),
     [disabled, content, media.pendingImeta.length],
   );
-  const handlePaperclipClick = React.useCallback(() => {
-    void media.handlePaperclip();
-  }, [media.handlePaperclip]);
-  const expandCompactComposer = React.useCallback(() => {
-    if (compact) setIsCompactExpanded(true);
-  }, [compact]);
   const hasComposerContent =
     content.trim().length > 0 ||
     media.pendingImeta.length > 0 ||
@@ -369,6 +350,9 @@ export function ForumComposer({
       ) {
         return;
       }
+      if (shouldIgnoreBlur()) {
+        return;
+      }
 
       const hasDraft =
         contentRef.current.trim().length > 0 ||
@@ -387,6 +371,7 @@ export function ForumComposer({
       media.isUploading,
       media.pendingImetaRef,
       media.uploadState.status,
+      shouldIgnoreBlur,
     ],
   );
   const wasCompactExpandedRef = React.useRef(isCompactExpanded);
@@ -484,7 +469,7 @@ export function ForumComposer({
             isFormattingOpen={isFormattingOpen}
             isSending={isSending ?? false}
             isUploading={media.isUploading}
-            onCaptureSelection={() => {}}
+            onCaptureSelection={handleToolbarMouseDown}
             onEmojiPickerOpenChange={setIsEmojiPickerOpen}
             onEmojiSelect={insertEmoji}
             onFormattingToggle={handleFormattingToggle}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.types.ts b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e72a4edcf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposer.types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import type * as React from "react";
+
+import type { UserProfileLookup } from "@/features/profile/lib/identity";
+import type { ChannelMember } from "@/shared/api/types";
+
+export type ForumComposerProps = {
+  channelId?: string | null;
+  /** Override mention source when no channel is available (e.g. Pulse). */
+  members?: ChannelMember[];
+  className?: string;
+  placeholder: string;
+  disabled?: boolean;
+  header?: React.ReactNode;
+  isSending?: boolean;
+  onCancel?: () => void;
+  onSubmit: (
+    content: string,
+    mentionPubkeys: string[],
+    mediaTags?: string[][],
+  ) => undefined | Promise<unknown>;
+  /** Render as a single-line composer until the user focuses it. */
+  compact?: boolean;
+  /** When true, autocomplete renders below the input (for top-of-view composers). */
+  autocompleteBelow?: boolean;
+  profiles?: UserProfileLookup;
+};
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposerCompactLayout.tsx b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposerCompactLayout.tsx
index 148d8bfd2e..e482e01421 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposerCompactLayout.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/ForumComposerCompactLayout.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { EditorContent, type Editor } from "@tiptap/react";
-import { ArrowUp } from "lucide-react";
+import { Plus } from "lucide-react";
 
 import { cn } from "@/shared/lib/cn";
 import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
@@ -35,11 +35,14 @@ export function ForumComposerCompactLayout({
       </div>
       <Button
         aria-label={isSending ? "Sending" : "Send message"}
-        className={cn("h-9 w-9 shrink-0 rounded-full")}
+        className={cn(
+          "h-7 w-7 shrink-0 rounded-full border border-border/70 bg-transparent p-0 text-muted-foreground shadow-none hover:bg-transparent hover:text-foreground",
+        )}
         data-testid="send-message"
         disabled={sendDisabled || isSending}
         size="icon"
         type="submit"
+        variant="ghost"
       >
         {isSending ? (
           <span
@@ -47,7 +50,7 @@ export function ForumComposerCompactLayout({
             className="h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin rounded-full border-2 border-primary-foreground border-t-transparent"
           />
         ) : (
-          <ArrowUp aria-hidden className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          <Plus aria-hidden className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
         )}
       </Button>
     </div>
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/useCompactComposerInteractions.ts b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/useCompactComposerInteractions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..51d0fc46a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/forum/ui/useCompactComposerInteractions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import * as React from "react";
+
+type UseCompactComposerInteractionsArgs = {
+  compact: boolean;
+  onExpand: () => void;
+  onPaperclip: () => Promise<unknown>;
+};
+
+export function useCompactComposerInteractions({
+  compact,
+  onExpand,
+  onPaperclip,
+}: UseCompactComposerInteractionsArgs) {
+  const isMediaPickerActiveRef = React.useRef(false);
+  const isToolbarInteractionActiveRef = React.useRef(false);
+
+  const handlePaperclipClick = React.useCallback(() => {
+    if (compact) onExpand();
+    isMediaPickerActiveRef.current = true;
+    void onPaperclip().finally(() => {
+      isMediaPickerActiveRef.current = false;
+    });
+  }, [compact, onExpand, onPaperclip]);
+
+  const handleToolbarMouseDown = React.useCallback(() => {
+    if (compact) onExpand();
+    isToolbarInteractionActiveRef.current = true;
+    window.setTimeout(() => {
+      isToolbarInteractionActiveRef.current = false;
+    }, 0);
+  }, [compact, onExpand]);
+
+  const shouldIgnoreBlur = React.useCallback(
+    () =>
+      isMediaPickerActiveRef.current || isToolbarInteractionActiveRef.current,
+    [],
+  );
+
+  return { handlePaperclipClick, handleToolbarMouseDown, shouldIgnoreBlur };
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx
index 9c84c8768a..59920791b7 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ export const MessageComposerToolbar = React.memo(
                         aria-pressed={isFormattingOpen}
                         disabled={composerDisabled}
                         onClick={() => onFormattingToggle(!isFormattingOpen)}
+                        onMouseDown={onCaptureSelection}
                         className={cn(
                           "inline-flex h-8 min-w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md px-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors",
                           "hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground",
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ export const MessageComposerToolbar = React.memo(
                         aria-label="Close formatting"
                         disabled={composerDisabled}
                         onClick={() => onFormattingToggle(false)}
+                        onMouseDown={onCaptureSelection}
                         size="icon"
                         type="button"
                         variant="ghost"
@@ -180,6 +182,7 @@ export const MessageComposerToolbar = React.memo(
                       aria-label="Attach image"
                       disabled={composerDisabled || isUploading}
                       onClick={onPaperclip}
+                      onMouseDown={onCaptureSelection}
                       size="icon"
                       type="button"
                       variant="ghost"
@@ -214,6 +217,7 @@ export const MessageComposerToolbar = React.memo(
                         aria-pressed={isFormattingOpen}
                         disabled={composerDisabled}
                         onClick={() => onFormattingToggle(!isFormattingOpen)}
+                        onMouseDown={onCaptureSelection}
                         className={cn(
                           "inline-flex h-8 min-w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md px-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors",
                           "hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground",
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/AgentActivityCard.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/AgentActivityCard.tsx
index 95465638d9..7f07b6b0f4 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/AgentActivityCard.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/AgentActivityCard.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export function AgentActivityCard({
   const summaryNote = group.notes[0];
 
   return (
-    <div className="rounded-2xl px-1 py-4 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/20 sm:px-2">
+    <div className="rounded-2xl px-1 py-4 sm:px-2">
       {/* Header */}
       <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
         <div className="relative shrink-0 pt-1">
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/NoteCard.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/NoteCard.tsx
index abb04e58b4..1ad34dc446 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/NoteCard.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/NoteCard.tsx
@@ -1,26 +1,31 @@
 import {
+  ALargeSmall,
+  AtSign,
+  Bookmark,
   Bot,
   MessageCircle,
-  Share2,
+  PenSquare,
+  Paperclip,
   SmilePlus,
-  UserMinus,
-  UserPlus,
+  SquareArrowOutUpRight,
+  ThumbsUp,
 } from "lucide-react";
+import * as React from "react";
 
 import type { UserNote } from "@/shared/api/socialTypes";
 import type { UserProfileSummary } from "@/shared/api/types";
-import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
 import { Markdown } from "@/shared/ui/markdown";
 import { UserAvatar } from "@/shared/ui/UserAvatar";
 
 type NoteCardProps = {
   note: UserNote;
   profile?: UserProfileSummary | null;
+  currentUserDisplayName?: string;
+  currentUserProfile?: UserProfileSummary | null;
   isAgent?: boolean;
   isOwnNote: boolean;
   isFollowing: boolean;
   onFollow?: (pubkey: string) => void;
-  onReact?: (note: UserNote) => void;
   onReply?: (note: UserNote) => void;
   onShare?: (note: UserNote) => void;
   onUnfollow?: (pubkey: string) => void;
@@ -44,20 +49,43 @@ function formatRelativeTime(unixSeconds: number): string {
 export function NoteCard({
   note,
   profile,
+  currentUserDisplayName = "You",
+  currentUserProfile,
   isAgent,
   isOwnNote,
   isFollowing,
   onFollow,
-  onReact,
   onReply,
   onShare,
   onUnfollow,
 }: NoteCardProps) {
   const displayName = profile?.displayName ?? `${note.pubkey.slice(0, 8)}...`;
   const avatarUrl = profile?.avatarUrl ?? null;
+  const [isUpvoted, setIsUpvoted] = React.useState(false);
+  const [isBookmarked, setIsBookmarked] = React.useState(false);
+  const [isReplyComposerOpen, setIsReplyComposerOpen] = React.useState(false);
+  const [replyDraft, setReplyDraft] = React.useState("");
+  const replyInputRef = React.useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
+  const actionButtonClass =
+    "inline-flex min-w-7 items-center gap-1.5 text-muted-foreground/60 transition-colors hover:text-foreground focus-visible:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring";
+  const activeActionClass = "text-foreground";
+  const countPlaceholder = <span aria-hidden className="w-2.5" />;
+  const currentUserAvatarUrl = currentUserProfile?.avatarUrl ?? null;
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isReplyComposerOpen) return;
+    replyInputRef.current?.focus();
+  }, [isReplyComposerOpen]);
+
+  const handleReplySubmit = (event: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
+    event.preventDefault();
+    if (replyDraft.trim().length === 0) return;
+    setReplyDraft("");
+    setIsReplyComposerOpen(false);
+  };
 
   return (
-    <article className="group flex items-start gap-2.5 rounded-2xl px-1 pb-1 pt-4 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/20 sm:px-2">
+    <article className="flex items-start gap-2.5 rounded-2xl px-1 pb-1 pt-4 sm:px-2">
       <div className="relative shrink-0">
         <UserAvatar
           avatarUrl={avatarUrl}
@@ -69,7 +97,7 @@ export function NoteCard({
         ) : null}
       </div>
 
-      <div className="min-w-0 flex-1 space-y-0">
+      <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
         <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-2 gap-y-0">
           <span className="truncate text-sm font-semibold leading-none tracking-tight">
             {displayName}
@@ -87,82 +115,159 @@ export function NoteCard({
           <span className="shrink-0 text-xs text-muted-foreground/70">
             {formatRelativeTime(note.createdAt)}
           </span>
-          {!isOwnNote ? (
-            <div className="ml-auto hidden shrink-0 group-hover:block">
-              {isFollowing ? (
-                <Button
-                  className="h-6 gap-1 px-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground"
-                  onClick={() => onUnfollow?.(note.pubkey)}
-                  size="sm"
-                  variant="ghost"
-                >
-                  <UserMinus className="h-3 w-3" />
-                  Unfollow
-                </Button>
-              ) : (
-                <Button
-                  className="h-6 gap-1 px-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground"
-                  onClick={() => onFollow?.(note.pubkey)}
-                  size="sm"
-                  variant="ghost"
-                >
-                  <UserPlus className="h-3 w-3" />
-                  Follow
-                </Button>
-              )}
-            </div>
-          ) : null}
         </div>
 
         <div className="mt-0.5 pb-3 text-sm text-foreground">
           <Markdown content={note.content} tight />
         </div>
 
-        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 text-[11px] font-medium text-muted-foreground">
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-5 text-xs font-medium">
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-5">
+            <button
+              aria-label={isUpvoted ? "Remove upvote" : "Upvote"}
+              aria-pressed={isUpvoted}
+              className={`${actionButtonClass} ${isUpvoted ? activeActionClass : ""}`}
+              onClick={() => setIsUpvoted((current) => !current)}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              <ThumbsUp
+                className={`h-4 w-4 ${isUpvoted ? "fill-current" : ""}`}
+              />
+              {countPlaceholder}
+            </button>
+            <button
+              aria-label="Reply"
+              aria-expanded={isReplyComposerOpen}
+              className={actionButtonClass}
+              onClick={() => {
+                setIsReplyComposerOpen(true);
+                onReply?.(note);
+              }}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              <MessageCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
+              {countPlaceholder}
+            </button>
+            <button
+              aria-label="Share"
+              className={actionButtonClass}
+              onClick={() => onShare?.(note)}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              <SquareArrowOutUpRight className="h-4 w-4" />
+              {countPlaceholder}
+            </button>
+            <button
+              aria-label="Start direct message"
+              className={actionButtonClass}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              <PenSquare className="h-4 w-4" />
+            </button>
+            {!isOwnNote ? (
+              isFollowing ? (
+                <button
+                  className="text-muted-foreground/60 transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:underline focus-visible:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                  onClick={() => onUnfollow?.(note.pubkey)}
+                  type="button"
+                >
+                  Unfollow
+                </button>
+              ) : (
+                <button
+                  className="text-muted-foreground/60 transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:underline focus-visible:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                  onClick={() => onFollow?.(note.pubkey)}
+                  type="button"
+                >
+                  Follow
+                </button>
+              )
+            ) : null}
+          </div>
           <button
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 hover:text-foreground"
-            onClick={() => onReact?.(note)}
+            aria-label={isBookmarked ? "Remove bookmark" : "Save"}
+            aria-pressed={isBookmarked}
+            className={`${actionButtonClass} ${isBookmarked ? activeActionClass : ""}`}
+            onClick={() => setIsBookmarked((current) => !current)}
             type="button"
           >
-            <SmilePlus className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            React
+            <Bookmark
+              className={`h-4 w-4 ${isBookmarked ? "fill-current" : ""}`}
+            />
           </button>
-          <button
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 hover:text-foreground"
-            onClick={() => onReply?.(note)}
-            type="button"
-          >
-            <MessageCircle className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            Reply
-          </button>
-          <button
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 hover:text-foreground"
-            onClick={() => onShare?.(note)}
-            type="button"
-          >
-            <Share2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            Share
-          </button>
-          {!isOwnNote ? (
-            isFollowing ? (
-              <button
-                className="hover:text-foreground"
-                onClick={() => onUnfollow?.(note.pubkey)}
-                type="button"
-              >
-                Unfollow
-              </button>
-            ) : (
-              <button
-                className="hover:text-foreground"
-                onClick={() => onFollow?.(note.pubkey)}
-                type="button"
-              >
-                Follow
-              </button>
-            )
-          ) : null}
         </div>
+        {isReplyComposerOpen ? (
+          <form
+            className="mt-4 flex gap-2 rounded-2xl border border-border/60 bg-background/60 p-3"
+            onSubmit={handleReplySubmit}
+          >
+            <UserAvatar
+              avatarUrl={currentUserAvatarUrl}
+              className="!h-8 !w-8 shrink-0"
+              displayName={currentUserDisplayName}
+            />
+            <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+              <textarea
+                className="min-h-16 w-full resize-none bg-transparent text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground/70 focus:outline-none"
+                onChange={(event) => setReplyDraft(event.target.value)}
+                placeholder="Post your reply"
+                ref={replyInputRef}
+                value={replyDraft}
+              />
+              <div className="mt-2 flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
+                  <button
+                    aria-label="Mention someone"
+                    className="inline-flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md transition-colors hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    <AtSign className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    aria-label="Attach media"
+                    className="inline-flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md transition-colors hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    <Paperclip className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    aria-label="Add emoji"
+                    className="inline-flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md transition-colors hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    <SmilePlus className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    aria-label="Formatting"
+                    className="inline-flex h-8 min-w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md px-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    <ALargeSmall className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                  <button
+                    className="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      setReplyDraft("");
+                      setIsReplyComposerOpen(false);
+                    }}
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    Cancel
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    className="rounded-full bg-foreground px-3 py-1 text-xs font-semibold text-background transition-opacity hover:opacity-90 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-40"
+                    disabled={replyDraft.trim().length === 0}
+                    type="submit"
+                  >
+                    Reply
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </form>
+        ) : null}
       </div>
     </article>
   );
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/PulseView.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/PulseView.tsx
index 38c1ade976..f5591a7ca2 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/PulseView.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pulse/ui/PulseView.tsx
@@ -321,6 +321,8 @@ export function PulseView({ currentPubkey }: PulseViewProps) {
     ) : (
       visibleNotes.map((note) => (
         <NoteCard
+          currentUserDisplayName={currentDisplayName}
+          currentUserProfile={currentProfile}
           isAgent={agentPubkeySet.has(note.pubkey)}
           isFollowing={followingSet.has(note.pubkey)}
           isOwnNote={note.pubkey === currentPubkey}
@@ -342,7 +344,7 @@ export function PulseView({ currentPubkey }: PulseViewProps) {
         className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden"
       >
         {/* Tab bar */}
-        <div className="shrink-0 px-4 pt-11 sm:px-6">
+        <div className="relative z-40 shrink-0 px-4 pt-2 sm:px-6">
           <div className="relative mx-auto flex w-full max-w-2xl items-center justify-center">
             <div className="flex items-center">
               <TabsList className="h-8 gap-0.5 rounded-full border border-border/50 bg-muted/40 p-0.5">
@@ -392,12 +394,16 @@ export function PulseView({ currentPubkey }: PulseViewProps) {
           forceMount
           className="mt-0 min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto"
         >
-          <div className="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-2xl flex-col px-4 pb-10 pt-7 sm:px-6">
+          <div
+            className={`mx-auto flex w-full max-w-2xl flex-col px-4 pb-10 sm:px-6 ${
+              activeTab !== "search" && activeTab !== "agents" ? "pt-0" : "pt-7"
+            }`}
+          >
             {activeTab === "search" ? (
-              <div className="flex min-h-[56vh] items-center justify-center">
+              <div className="flex min-h-[calc(100vh-96px)] items-center justify-center">
                 <div className="relative flex w-full max-w-xl flex-col items-center px-2">
                   <h2 className="mb-5 text-center text-2xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-foreground">
-                    Search Pulse
+                    What are you looking for?
                   </h2>
                   <div className="relative w-full max-w-lg">
                     <div className="relative rounded-full border border-foreground/10 bg-background/80 p-1 shadow-[0_12px_48px_rgba(0,0,0,0.12)] backdrop-blur-xl dark:border-white/10 dark:bg-white/[0.04] dark:shadow-[0_16px_70px_rgba(0,0,0,0.55)]">
@@ -422,7 +428,11 @@ export function PulseView({ currentPubkey }: PulseViewProps) {
                 </div>
               </div>
             ) : activeTab !== "agents" ? (
-              <div className="mb-7">
+              <div className="sticky top-0 z-10 mb-7 pb-3 pt-7">
+                <div
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                  className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 top-[-1px] h-8 bg-background"
+                />
                 {publishMutation.isError && (
                   <div className="mb-2 rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-destructive">
                     {publishMutation.error instanceof Error
@@ -432,7 +442,7 @@ export function PulseView({ currentPubkey }: PulseViewProps) {
                 )}
                 <ForumComposer
                   autocompleteBelow
-                  className="pulse-composer rounded-xl border-border/60 bg-muted/30 p-2 shadow-none"
+                  className="pulse-composer overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border-border/50 bg-background/70 p-2 shadow-none backdrop-blur-xl supports-[backdrop-filter]:bg-background/55"
                   compact
                   header={
                     <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
@@ -462,7 +472,7 @@ export function PulseView({ currentPubkey }: PulseViewProps) {
             ) : null}
 
             {activeTab !== "search" ? (
-              <div className="space-y-1">{renderTimeline()}</div>
+              <div className="space-y-4">{renderTimeline()}</div>
             ) : null}
           </div>
         </TabsContent>