diff --git a/VISION.md b/VISION.md
index 900e5a9475..96491c7c65 100644
--- a/VISION.md
+++ b/VISION.md
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ Buzz extends the standard Nostr event format with custom kind numbers for enterp
 
 New message type? New kind integer. Zero breaking changes.
 
+**The conversation is Nostr; Buzz adds accessories around it.** Messages, threads, reactions, and the rest of the conversation are signed Nostr events, and Nostr reads must cover all of that state, so a standards-leaning Buzz client stays possible. Around it, the relay serves accessories that don't fit that shape: Blossom media, git smart HTTP, workflow webhooks, derived unread counts, and namespaced `/buzz/v1/...` endpoints for backend-for-frontend reads (thread catch-up, sync) over the same authoritative store. We start with this rule and refine it as more cases show up.
+
 ---
 
 ## Architecture