diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 5c3a492418..fe6f815a1b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -520,7 +520,6 @@
       "start": {
         "title": "Start your agent",
         "connected": "Connected",
-        "connectedStatus": "✓ Connected",
         "waiting": "Waiting for your agent to connect…"
       },
       "hello": {
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.json
index c5250b570f..f21ac8cfad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.json
@@ -520,7 +520,6 @@
       "start": {
         "title": "启动智能体",
         "connected": "已连接",
-        "connectedStatus": "✓ 已连接",
         "waiting": "正在等待智能体连接…"
       },
       "hello": {
diff --git a/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/V2FirstRunHero.test.tsx b/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/V2FirstRunHero.test.tsx
index 84d36696b8..35678e2f70 100644
--- a/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/V2FirstRunHero.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/V2FirstRunHero.test.tsx
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ describe('V2FirstRunHero', () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Bring your agent into your pod' }))
       .toHaveAttribute('aria-modal', 'true');
     expect(screen.getByText('Waiting for your agent to connect…')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    // The last step is drawn while waiting, but cannot be used yet.
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Say hello' })).toBeDisabled();
     expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: /Open connection setup/i })).toHaveAttribute('target', '_blank');
 
     await act(async () => {
@@ -156,7 +158,9 @@ describe('V2FirstRunHero', () => {
       await Promise.resolve();
     });
 
-    expect(await screen.findByText('✓ Connected')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    // Connected is a check glyph and the word, under the step's own title.
+    expect(await screen.findByText('Connected')).toHaveClass('v2-first-run__connected');
+    expect(screen.getByText('Start your agent')).toBeInTheDocument();
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Say hello' }));
     await flush();
 
@@ -348,10 +352,13 @@ describe('V2FirstRunHero', () => {
       .toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(localStorage.getItem(FIRST_RUN_STARTED_KEY)).toBe('1');
     await flush();
-    expect(await screen.findByRole(
+    const control = await screen.findByRole(
       status.connected ? 'button' : 'link',
       { name: readyControl },
-    )).toBeInTheDocument();
+    );
+    // Say hello is drawn from the start, so only an enabled one means connected.
+    if (status.connected) await waitFor(() => expect(control).toBeEnabled());
+    else expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Say hello' })).toBeDisabled();
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Skip for now' }));
     expect(screen.queryByRole('dialog')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -364,7 +371,8 @@ describe('V2FirstRunHero', () => {
     renderHero();
     await flush();
 
-    expect(await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'Say hello' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    const hello = await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'Say hello' });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(hello).toBeEnabled());
   });
 
   test('a Guide request made before the hero mounts opens it on the shell', async () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/v2-layout-invariants.test.ts b/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/v2-layout-invariants.test.ts
index 1a69c3d99d..2cdd01dfe3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/v2-layout-invariants.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/v2/__tests__/v2-layout-invariants.test.ts
@@ -1374,16 +1374,25 @@ describe('v2 layout invariants (CSS rule presence)', () => {
     expect(ruleBody(v2, '.v2-first-run')).toContain('overflow-y: auto');
   });
 
-  test('the first-run setup CTA beats the global inherited anchor color with ink', () => {
+  test('the first-run setup CTA beats the global inherited anchor color with its own', () => {
     // `.v2-root a { color: inherit }` outranks a bare class selector. The
     // first browser pass rendered inherited text on the filled CTA until this
     // compound selector matched/exceeded the reset specificity.
-    const rule = ruleBody(
-      v2,
-      '.v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup,\n.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello',
-    );
-    expect(rule).toContain('background: var(--v2-ink)');
-    expect(rule).toContain('color: var(--v2-on-ink)');
+    // The shared key rule lists the anchor on its second line, so read its own, later block.
+    expect(lastRuleBody(v2, '.v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup')).toContain('color: var(--v2-text-primary)');
+    expect(lastRuleBody(v2, '.v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup')).toContain('linear-gradient(180deg, var(--v2-key-a), var(--v2-key-b))');
+    expect(ruleBody(v2, '.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello')).toContain('color: var(--v2-on-fill)');
+  });
+
+  test('the first-run dialog is a bottom sheet on a phone, its waiting dot still under reduced motion', () => {
+    // D215 phone: the dialog sits on the bottom edge with 44px touch targets.
+    const phone = mediaBlockContaining(v2, '.v2-first-run__overlay {');
+    expect(ruleBody(v2, '.v2-first-run__overlay', { within: phone })).toContain('place-items: end center');
+    expect(ruleBody(v2, '.v2-root button.v2-first-run__skip', { within: phone })).toContain('height: 44px');
+    expect(phone).toMatch(/\.v2-root a\.v2-first-run__setup,\n\s+\.v2-root button\.v2-first-run__hello \{\s+height: 44px;/);
+    expect(ruleBody(v2, '.v2-first-run__title')).toContain('text-wrap: balance');
+    expect(ruleBody(v2, '.v2-first-run__dot::after')).toContain('animation: v2-presence-pulse');
+    expect(v2).toMatch(/@media \(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce\) \{\s+\.v2-first-run__dot::after \{ animation: none; \}/);
   });
 
   test('Settings is the one home for the folded self-profile and device routes', () => {
@@ -2270,7 +2279,8 @@ describe('v2 layout invariants (CSS rule presence)', () => {
   describe('Signal chat + inspector color contract (TASK-124)', () => {
     // The composer's send and mode buttons left with the old composer (TASK-758).
     const filledControls = [
-      '.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello',
+      // The first-run hello takes the Signal fill, the ink gradient (D215 keys).
+      '\n.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello {',
       '.v2-syscard__cta',
       '.v2-root button.v2-approval__btn--approve',
     ];
@@ -2278,7 +2288,7 @@ describe('v2 layout invariants (CSS rule presence)', () => {
     test('every ordinary filled control uses ink, never cobalt', () => {
       for (const selector of filledControls) {
         const rule = selectorRuleBody(v2, selector);
-        expect(rule).toContain('var(--v2-ink)');
+        expect(rule).toMatch(/var\(--v2-(?:ink|fill-a)\)/);
         expect(rule).not.toContain('var(--v2-accent)');
       }
     });
diff --git a/frontend/src/v2/components/V2FirstRunHero.tsx b/frontend/src/v2/components/V2FirstRunHero.tsx
index 115d4d5914..7cae7b740c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/v2/components/V2FirstRunHero.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/v2/components/V2FirstRunHero.tsx
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { useV2Api } from '../hooks/useV2Api';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { FIRST_RUN_REOPEN_EVENT, FIRST_RUN_STARTED_KEY } from '../firstRunGuide';
+import { ShellGlyph } from '../icons/glyphs';
 
 const POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 3_000;
-const CHECK_MARK = '✓';
 const EXTERNAL_LINK_MARK = '↗';
 export { FIRST_RUN_STARTED_KEY } from '../firstRunGuide';
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ const writeFlag = (key: string, value: boolean): void => {
 
 const StepMark: React.FC<{ done: boolean; children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ done, children }) => (
   <span className={`v2-first-run__step-mark${done ? ' v2-first-run__step-mark--done' : ''}`} aria-hidden="true">
-    {done ? CHECK_MARK : children}
+    {done ? <ShellGlyph name="check" /> : children}
   </span>
 );
 
@@ -281,11 +281,13 @@ const V2FirstRunHero: React.FC<V2FirstRunHeroProps> = ({ onVisibilityChange }) =
           <li className="v2-first-run__step">
             <StepMark done={Boolean(status?.connected)}>2</StepMark>
             <div className="v2-first-run__step-body">
-              <strong>{status?.connected ? t('firstRun.steps.start.connected') : t('firstRun.steps.start.title')}</strong>
-              <span className={status?.connected ? 'v2-first-run__connected' : ''} role="status" aria-live="polite">
-                {status?.connected ? t('firstRun.steps.start.connectedStatus') : t('firstRun.steps.start.waiting')}
+              <strong>{t('firstRun.steps.start.title')}</strong>
+              <span className={status?.connected ? 'v2-first-run__connected' : 'v2-first-run__waiting'} role="status" aria-live="polite">
+                {status?.connected
+                  ? <><ShellGlyph name="check" />{t('firstRun.steps.start.connected')}</>
+                  : <><span className="v2-first-run__dot" aria-hidden="true" />{t('firstRun.steps.start.waiting')}</>}
               </span>
-              {statusError && <span className="v2-first-run__error">{statusError}</span>}
+              {statusError && <span className="v2-first-run__error"><ShellGlyph name="alert" />{statusError}</span>}
             </div>
           </li>
 
@@ -294,17 +296,18 @@ const V2FirstRunHero: React.FC<V2FirstRunHeroProps> = ({ onVisibilityChange }) =
             <div className="v2-first-run__step-body">
               <strong>{t('firstRun.steps.hello.title')}</strong>
               <span>{t('firstRun.steps.hello.text')}</span>
-              {status?.connected && status.connectedAgent && (
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  className="v2-first-run__hello"
-                  onClick={sayHello}
-                  disabled={openingRoom}
-                >
-                  {openingRoom ? t('firstRun.steps.hello.opening') : t('firstRun.steps.hello.cta')}
-                </button>
-              )}
-              {roomError && <span className="v2-first-run__error">{roomError}</span>}
+              {/* Shown before the agent connects, disabled, so the last step
+                  reads as one click away (D215 waiting frame). */}
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                className="v2-first-run__hello"
+                onClick={sayHello}
+                disabled={openingRoom || !(status?.connected && status.connectedAgent)}
+                aria-busy={openingRoom || undefined}
+              >
+                {openingRoom ? t('firstRun.steps.hello.opening') : t('firstRun.steps.hello.cta')}
+              </button>
+              {roomError && <span className="v2-first-run__error" role="alert"><ShellGlyph name="alert" />{roomError}</span>}
             </div>
           </li>
         </ol>
diff --git a/frontend/src/v2/v2.css b/frontend/src/v2/v2.css
index a78b84dbb6..1c5e9179c3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/v2/v2.css
+++ b/frontend/src/v2/v2.css
@@ -1181,30 +1181,27 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
   place-items: center;
   overflow-y: auto;
   padding: 24px;
-  background: rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.42);
+  background: var(--v2-scrim);
 }
 
+/* D215 .v2-first-run: the pop surface at 16px, its edge carried by the pop
+   shadow rather than a border. */
 .v2-first-run {
   width: min(720px, 100%);
   max-height: calc(100dvh - 48px);
   overflow-y: auto;
   padding: 28px;
-  border: 1px solid var(--v2-border);
-  border-radius: var(--v2-radius-lg);
+  border-radius: 16px;
   background: var(--v2-surface);
   color: var(--v2-text-primary);
-  box-shadow: var(--v2-shadow-md, 0 8px 24px rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.12));
+  box-shadow: var(--v2-shadow-pop);
   outline: none;
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__eyebrow {
   margin-bottom: 8px;
-  color: var(--v2-text-tertiary);
-  font-family: var(--v2-font-mono);
-  font-size: 11px;
-  font-weight: 700;
-  letter-spacing: 0.09em;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--v2-text-muted);
+  font: 500 11.5px/16px var(--v2-font-mono);
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__heading-row {
@@ -1216,9 +1213,11 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
 
 .v2-first-run__title {
   margin: 0;
-  font-size: clamp(22px, 3vw, 30px);
-  line-height: 1.15;
+  color: var(--v2-text-primary);
+  font: 700 28px/1.15 var(--v2-font-display);
   letter-spacing: -0.025em;
+  /* Two even lines on a phone, not a lone last word. */
+  text-wrap: balance;
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__lede {
@@ -1230,33 +1229,38 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
 }
 
 .v2-root button.v2-first-run__skip {
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-  padding: 4px 0;
-  color: var(--v2-text-tertiary);
-  font-size: 12px;
-  font-weight: 600;
+  flex: none;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  height: 32px;
+  padding: 0 10px;
+  border-radius: var(--v2-r-9);
+  color: var(--v2-text-secondary);
+  font: 600 12.5px/1 var(--v2-font);
 }
 
 .v2-root button.v2-first-run__skip:hover {
+  background: var(--v2-surface-tint);
   color: var(--v2-text-primary);
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__steps {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 14px;
-  margin: 24px 0 0;
+  gap: 10px;
+  margin: 22px 0 0;
   padding: 0;
   list-style: none;
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__step {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 30px minmax(0, 1fr);
+  grid-template-columns: 28px minmax(0, 1fr);
   gap: 12px;
   align-items: start;
   padding: 14px;
-  border-radius: var(--v2-radius);
+  border-radius: var(--v2-r-12);
   background: var(--v2-bg-subtle);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px var(--v2-border-soft);
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__step-mark {
@@ -1264,18 +1268,17 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
   place-items: center;
   width: 28px;
   height: 28px;
-  border: 1px solid var(--v2-border);
   border-radius: 50%;
   background: var(--v2-surface);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px var(--v2-border);
   color: var(--v2-text-secondary);
-  font-size: 12px;
-  font-weight: 700;
+  font: 600 12px/1 var(--v2-font-mono);
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__step-mark--done {
-  border-color: var(--v2-border);
-  background: var(--v2-surface);
-  color: var(--v2-accent);
+  background: var(--v2-accent-soft);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px var(--v2-accent);
+  color: var(--v2-accent-text);
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__step-body {
@@ -1292,52 +1295,95 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
 .v2-first-run__step-body strong {
   color: var(--v2-text-primary);
   font-size: 14px;
+  font-weight: 600;
 }
 
-.v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup,
-.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello {
+/* D215 keys: setup is the key material, hello the one filled action
+   (TASK-647 item 4: the card keeps one ink action). */
+.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello,
+.v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup {
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 6px;
-  min-height: 34px;
+  gap: 7px;
+  height: 32px;
   margin-top: 6px;
-  padding: 8px 12px;
-  border-radius: var(--v2-radius-sm);
-  background: var(--v2-ink);
-  color: var(--v2-on-ink);
-  font-size: 12px;
-  font-weight: 700;
+  padding: 0 13px;
+  border-radius: var(--v2-r-10);
+  font: 600 13px/1 var(--v2-font);
   text-decoration: none;
 }
 
 .v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup {
-  /* Bordered, not ink: the first-run card keeps one ink action (TASK-647 item 4). */
-  background: var(--v2-surface);
-  border: 1px solid var(--v2-border);
+  border: 1px solid var(--v2-key-edge);
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, var(--v2-key-a), var(--v2-key-b));
+  box-shadow: var(--v2-key-inset);
   color: var(--v2-text-primary);
 }
 .v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup:hover {
-  background: var(--v2-surface-hover);
   border-color: var(--v2-border-strong);
 }
+.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello {
+  border: 1px solid var(--v2-fill-edge);
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, var(--v2-fill-a), var(--v2-fill-b));
+  color: var(--v2-on-fill);
+}
 .v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello:hover:not(:disabled) {
   background: var(--v2-ink-hover);
-  color: var(--v2-on-ink);
 }
 
+/* Disabled before the agent connects, as drawn; busy while the room opens. */
 .v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello:disabled {
+  cursor: default;
+  opacity: 0.45;
+}
+.v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello[aria-busy="true"] {
   cursor: wait;
   opacity: 0.65;
 }
 
+.v2-first-run__waiting,
+.v2-first-run__connected,
+.v2-first-run__error {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+/* The waiting dot is the presence dot: cobalt, with the shared pulse. */
+.v2-first-run__dot {
+  position: relative;
+  flex: none;
+  width: 7px;
+  height: 7px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--v2-accent);
+}
+.v2-first-run__dot::after {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: -4px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 2px solid var(--v2-accent);
+  opacity: 0;
+  animation: v2-presence-pulse var(--motion-pulse) var(--motion-ease-state) infinite;
+}
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .v2-first-run__dot::after { animation: none; }
+}
+
 .v2-first-run__connected {
-  color: var(--v2-success);
-  font-weight: 700;
+  color: var(--v2-accent-text);
+  font-weight: 600;
 }
 
 .v2-first-run__error {
+  color: var(--v2-text-primary);
+  font-size: 12.5px;
+}
+
+.v2-first-run__error svg {
+  flex: none;
   color: var(--v2-danger);
-  font-size: 12px;
 }
 
 @keyframes v2-typing-dot {
@@ -2696,8 +2742,10 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
     grid-template-columns: var(--v2-rail-w) minmax(0, 1fr);
   }
 
+  /* D215 phone: a sheet on the bottom edge, 44px touch targets. */
   .v2-first-run__overlay {
     padding: 12px;
+    place-items: end center;
   }
 
   .v2-first-run {
@@ -2710,8 +2758,20 @@ body.modern-ui.v2-canvas {
     gap: 8px;
   }
 
+  .v2-first-run__title {
+    font-size: 24px;
+  }
+
   .v2-root button.v2-first-run__skip {
     align-self: flex-start;
+    height: 44px;
+    padding-left: 0;
+  }
+
+  .v2-root a.v2-first-run__setup,
+  .v2-root button.v2-first-run__hello {
+    height: 44px;
+    font-size: 14px;
   }
 
   /* Hide secondary panes — but NOT the pods sidebar OR the inspector, which