frontend/src/components/react/DeletePostButton.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { deletePost } from '../../lib/api';
+import { confirmDialog, notify } from '../../lib/confirm';
 
 interface Props {
   slug: string;
@@ -12,13 +13,19 @@ export default function DeletePostButton({ slug, title, variant = 'full' }: Prop
 
   async function handleClick() {
     if (busy) return;
-    if (!window.confirm(`Delete "${title}"? This cannot be undone.`)) return;
+    const ok = await confirmDialog({
+      title: 'Delete this work?',
+      message: `“${title}” will be permanently removed. This cannot be undone.`,
+      confirmLabel: 'Delete',
+      cancelLabel: 'Cancel',
+    });
+    if (!ok) return;
     setBusy(true);
     try {
       await deletePost(slug);
       window.location.href = '/';
     } catch (e) {
-      window.alert(`Failed to delete: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'unknown error'}`);
+      notify(`Failed to delete: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'unknown error'}`);
       setBusy(false);
     }
   }

frontend/src/components/react/PostList.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { deletePost } from '../../lib/api';
+import { confirmDialog, notify } from '../../lib/confirm';
 
 const PAGE_SIZE = 9;
 
@@ -66,13 +67,19 @@ export default function PostList({ posts: initialPosts, isAdmin = false }: Props
 
   async function handleDelete(slug: string, title: string) {
     if (deleting) return;
-    if (!window.confirm(`Take "${title}" off the wall? This cannot be undone.`)) return;
+    const ok = await confirmDialog({
+      title: 'Take this off the wall?',
+      message: `“${title}” will be removed from the catalogue. This cannot be undone.`,
+      confirmLabel: 'Remove',
+      cancelLabel: 'Keep',
+    });
+    if (!ok) return;
     setDeleting(slug);
     try {
       await deletePost(slug);
       setPosts(p => p.filter(x => x.slug !== slug));
     } catch (e) {
-      window.alert(`Failed to remove: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'unknown error'}`);
+      notify(`Failed to remove: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'unknown error'}`);
     } finally {
       setDeleting(null);
     }

frontend/src/components/react/admin/AssetManager.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { getAssets, uploadAsset, deleteAsset as deleteAssetApi, ApiError } from '../../../lib/api';
 import type { Asset } from '../../../lib/types';
+import { confirmDialog } from '../../../lib/confirm';
 
 interface Props {
   mode?: 'manage' | 'select';
@@ -42,7 +43,12 @@ export default function AssetManager({ mode = 'manage', onSelect }: Props) {
   }
 
   async function handleDelete(name: string) {
-    if (!confirm(`Delete "${name}" permanently?`)) return;
+    const ok = await confirmDialog({
+      title: 'Delete asset?',
+      message: `“${name}” will be permanently deleted. Posts referencing it will break.`,
+      confirmLabel: 'Delete',
+    });
+    if (!ok) return;
     try {
       await deleteAssetApi(name);
       showAlert('File deleted.', 'success');

frontend/src/components/react/admin/Editor.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { search, searchKeymap } from '@codemirror/search';
 import { closeBrackets } from '@codemirror/autocomplete';
 import { getPost, savePost, deletePost, getAssets, uploadAsset, ApiError } from '../../../lib/api';
 import type { Asset } from '../../../lib/types';
+import { confirmDialog } from '../../../lib/confirm';
 
 const AssetManager = lazy(() => import('./AssetManager'));
 
@@ -386,7 +387,12 @@ export default function Editor({ editSlug }: Props) {
 
   async function handleDelete() {
     const target = originalSlug || slug;
-    if (!confirm(`Remove work "${target}" from the catalogue permanently?`)) return;
+    const ok = await confirmDialog({
+      title: 'Remove from catalogue?',
+      message: `“${target}” will be permanently removed. This cannot be undone.`,
+      confirmLabel: 'Remove',
+    });
+    if (!ok) return;
     try {
       await deletePost(target);
       window.location.href = '/admin';

frontend/src/components/react/admin/Inbox.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { listMessages, deleteMessage, ApiError } from '../../../lib/api';
 import type { Message } from '../../../lib/types';
+import { confirmDialog, notify } from '../../../lib/confirm';
 
 export default function Inbox() {
   const [messages, setMessages] = useState<Message[] | null>(null);
@@ -23,12 +24,17 @@ export default function Inbox() {
   }
 
   async function remove(id: string) {
-    if (!confirm('Delete this message? This cannot be undone.')) return;
+    const ok = await confirmDialog({
+      title: 'Delete this message?',
+      message: 'This cannot be undone.',
+      confirmLabel: 'Delete',
+    });
+    if (!ok) return;
     try {
       await deleteMessage(id);
       setMessages(prev => (prev ?? []).filter(m => m.id !== id));
     } catch (e) {
-      alert(e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Failed to delete.');
+      notify(e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Failed to delete.');
     }
   }
 

frontend/src/layouts/Layout.astro

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ const hasContact = (siteConfig.contact_links?.length ?? 0) > 0;
 <html lang="en">
 	<head>
 		<meta charset="UTF-8" />
-		<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
+		<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
 		<link rel="icon" href={siteConfig.favicon} />
 		<meta name="generator" content={Astro.generator} />
 		<title>{fullTitle}</title>

frontend/src/lib/confirm.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+/*
+ * Imperative confirm() / notify() that replace native window.confirm /
+ * window.alert. The site hydrates many independent React islands that share
+ * no React root, so this is a vanilla DOM singleton: any island (or inline
+ * script) can `await confirmDialog(...)`. Styling is class-driven, so it
+ * inherits every theme — including the breakcore neon/hazard layer — for free.
+ */
+
+export interface ConfirmOptions {
+  title: string;
+  message?: string;
+  confirmLabel?: string;
+  cancelLabel?: string;
+  /** Visual weight of the confirm button. Defaults to 'danger'. */
+  tone?: 'danger' | 'primary';
+}
+
+let activeCleanup: (() => void) | null = null;
+
+export function confirmDialog(opts: ConfirmOptions): Promise<boolean> {
+  // Collapse any in-flight dialog (treat as cancel) before opening a new one.
+  activeCleanup?.();
+
+  return new Promise<boolean>(resolve => {
+    const {
+      title,
+      message,
+      confirmLabel = 'Confirm',
+      cancelLabel = 'Cancel',
+      tone = 'danger',
+    } = opts;
+
+    const lastFocused = document.activeElement as HTMLElement | null;
+    const prevOverflow = document.body.style.overflow;
+    document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+
+    const overlay = document.createElement('div');
+    overlay.className = 'cdialog-overlay';
+    overlay.setAttribute('role', 'alertdialog');
+    overlay.setAttribute('aria-modal', 'true');
+
+    const backdrop = document.createElement('div');
+    backdrop.className = 'cdialog-backdrop';
+    backdrop.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+
+    const panel = document.createElement('div');
+    panel.className = 'glass cdialog-panel';
+
+    const titleId = `cdlg-t-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`;
+    const h = document.createElement('h2');
+    h.className = 'cdialog-title';
+    h.id = titleId;
+    h.textContent = title;
+    overlay.setAttribute('aria-labelledby', titleId);
+    panel.appendChild(h);
+
+    if (message) {
+      const p = document.createElement('p');
+      p.className = 'cdialog-msg';
+      p.textContent = message;
+      panel.appendChild(p);
+    }
+
+    const actions = document.createElement('div');
+    actions.className = 'cdialog-actions';
+
+    const cancelBtn = document.createElement('button');
+    cancelBtn.type = 'button';
+    cancelBtn.className = 'btn btn--ghost';
+    cancelBtn.textContent = cancelLabel;
+
+    const confirmBtn = document.createElement('button');
+    confirmBtn.type = 'button';
+    confirmBtn.className = `btn ${tone === 'primary' ? 'btn--primary' : 'btn--danger'}`;
+    confirmBtn.textContent = confirmLabel;
+
+    actions.append(cancelBtn, confirmBtn);
+    panel.appendChild(actions);
+    overlay.append(backdrop, panel);
+    document.body.appendChild(overlay);
+
+    let settled = false;
+    function close(result: boolean) {
+      if (settled) return;
+      settled = true;
+      activeCleanup = null;
+      document.removeEventListener('keydown', onKey, true);
+      document.body.style.overflow = prevOverflow;
+      overlay.remove();
+      lastFocused?.focus?.();
+      resolve(result);
+    }
+
+    function onKey(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+      if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        close(false);
+      } else if (e.key === 'Tab') {
+        // Two-stop focus trap.
+        e.preventDefault();
+        const next = document.activeElement === confirmBtn ? cancelBtn : confirmBtn;
+        next.focus();
+      } else if (e.key === 'Enter' && document.activeElement === confirmBtn) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        close(true);
+      }
+    }
+
+    backdrop.addEventListener('click', () => close(false));
+    cancelBtn.addEventListener('click', () => close(false));
+    confirmBtn.addEventListener('click', () => close(true));
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', onKey, true);
+    activeCleanup = () => close(false);
+
+    // Destructive default: focus Cancel so an accidental Enter is safe.
+    (tone === 'primary' ? confirmBtn : cancelBtn).focus();
+  });
+}
+
+/** Transient bottom-center toast. Replaces window.alert for failures. */
+export function notify(message: string, tone: 'error' | 'success' = 'error') {
+  document.querySelector('.toast[data-notify]')?.remove();
+  const el = document.createElement('div');
+  el.className = `toast${tone === 'error' ? ' toast--error' : ''}`;
+  el.dataset.notify = '';
+  el.setAttribute('role', tone === 'error' ? 'alert' : 'status');
+  el.textContent = message;
+  el.addEventListener('click', () => el.remove());
+  document.body.appendChild(el);
+  window.setTimeout(() => el.remove(), 4500);
+}

frontend/src/styles/global.css

@@ -688,6 +688,21 @@ code, pre, kbd, samp {
     0 32px 60px -28px rgba(255, 46, 166, 0.45),
     0 0 32px -8px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 50%, transparent);
 }
+/* Keyboard focus for the card link — salon-appropriate inset frame + ring. */
+.plate:focus-visible {
+  outline: none;
+  box-shadow:
+    inset 0 0 0 2px var(--mauve),
+    0 0 0 3px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 40%, transparent),
+    0 22px 42px -28px rgba(20, 16, 12, 0.5);
+}
+.breakcore .plate:focus-visible {
+  box-shadow:
+    inset 0 0 0 2px var(--mauve),
+    0 0 0 2px var(--green),
+    0 0 28px -6px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 60%, transparent);
+}
+
 .plate .plate-image {
   position: relative;
   overflow: hidden;
@@ -1037,6 +1052,7 @@ code, pre, kbd, samp {
 .topbar-control:focus-visible {
   outline: none;
   border-color: var(--mauve);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 40%, transparent);
 }
 .topbar-control:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: default; }
 .topbar-control svg { width: 14px; height: 14px; flex-shrink: 0; }
@@ -1185,3 +1201,316 @@ input[type="date"] { color-scheme: light; }
   transform: scaleX(0);
   transition: transform 80ms linear;
 }
+
+/* ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+ * BREAKCORE — refined-neon layer.
+ * Everything below is scoped to `.breakcore`; salon / salon-noir / gothic
+ * are untouched. Aesthetic: editorial serif body in deliberate tension with
+ * hard-edged web-rot chrome — RGB split, hazard tape, neon outline, hard
+ * offset shadows. Motion is *reactive only* (hover / focus / one-shot on
+ * load) and settles fast. All motion is killed by prefers-reduced-motion
+ * at the very end of this file.
+ * ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ */
+
+/* CRT tube depth — static vignette layered on the existing base fill. */
+.breakcore body::before {
+  background-image: radial-gradient(
+    ellipse at center,
+    transparent 52%,
+    color-mix(in srgb, var(--crust) 75%, transparent) 100%
+  );
+}
+
+/* Nameplate — striped datamosh underline + glitch-shear burst on hover. */
+.breakcore .nameplate::after {
+  height: 3px;
+  bottom: -6px;
+  opacity: 0.9;
+  background: repeating-linear-gradient(
+    90deg,
+    var(--mauve) 0 6px,
+    var(--green) 6px 12px,
+    var(--blue) 12px 18px
+  );
+}
+@keyframes bc-shear {
+  0%   { clip-path: inset(0 0 0 0);     transform: translateX(0);
+         text-shadow: -1px 0 0 var(--teal), 1px 0 0 var(--mauve); }
+  20%  { clip-path: inset(16% 0 56% 0); transform: translateX(-5px);
+         text-shadow: -5px 0 0 var(--green), 5px 0 0 var(--mauve); }
+  40%  { clip-path: inset(62% 0 10% 0); transform: translateX(5px);
+         text-shadow: 5px 0 0 var(--teal), -5px 0 0 var(--red); }
+  60%  { clip-path: inset(30% 0 42% 0); transform: translateX(-3px);
+         text-shadow: -3px 0 0 var(--mauve), 3px 0 0 var(--green); }
+  80%  { clip-path: inset(6% 0 78% 0);  transform: translateX(2px);
+         text-shadow: 2px 0 0 var(--teal), -2px 0 0 var(--mauve); }
+  100% { clip-path: inset(0 0 0 0);     transform: translateX(0);
+         text-shadow: -1px 0 0 var(--teal), 1px 0 0 var(--mauve); }
+}
+.breakcore .nameplate:hover .nameplate-title {
+  animation: bc-shear 200ms steps(3, jump-none) 1;
+}
+
+/* Display headings — one-shot glitch-in on page load. The static chromatic
+ * text-shadow (defined earlier) remains as the resting state. */
+@keyframes bc-load-glitch {
+  0%   { opacity: 0; clip-path: inset(46% 0 46% 0); transform: translateX(-9px); }
+  20%  { opacity: 1; clip-path: inset(8% 0 70% 0);  transform: translateX(7px); }
+  40%  {            clip-path: inset(68% 0 8% 0);   transform: translateX(-5px); }
+  60%  {            clip-path: inset(24% 0 36% 0);  transform: translateX(3px); }
+  80%  {            clip-path: inset(4% 0 84% 0);   transform: translateX(-2px); }
+  100% { opacity: 1; clip-path: inset(0 0 0 0);     transform: translateX(0); }
+}
+.breakcore .prose h1,
+.breakcore h1.font-display {
+  animation: bc-load-glitch 460ms steps(5, jump-none) both;
+}
+
+/* Plate — hard hover (no soft lift), RGB-split image, scanline sweep. */
+.breakcore .plate:hover {
+  transform: translateY(-3px);
+}
+.breakcore .plate:hover .plate-caption-title {
+  text-shadow: -1px 0 0 var(--teal), 1px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+.breakcore .plate:hover .plate-image img {
+  filter:
+    drop-shadow(-3px 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 70%, transparent))
+    drop-shadow(3px 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--teal) 70%, transparent))
+    saturate(1.12) contrast(1.06);
+}
+.breakcore .plate .plate-image::after {
+  content: "";
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: translateY(-110%);
+  mix-blend-mode: screen;
+  background: linear-gradient(
+    180deg,
+    transparent 0%,
+    color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 28%, transparent) 46%,
+    color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 70%, transparent) 49%,
+    color-mix(in srgb, var(--green) 55%, transparent) 51%,
+    color-mix(in srgb, var(--sky) 28%, transparent) 54%,
+    transparent 100%
+  );
+}
+@keyframes bc-scan {
+  0%   { transform: translateY(-110%); opacity: 0; }
+  12%  { opacity: 1; }
+  88%  { opacity: 1; }
+  100% { transform: translateY(110%);  opacity: 0; }
+}
+.breakcore .plate:hover .plate-image::after,
+.breakcore .plate:focus-visible .plate-image::after {
+  animation: bc-scan 0.62s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) 1;
+}
+
+/* Section rule — hazard tape. Used on footer, post header, 404. */
+.breakcore .section-rule {
+  color: var(--green);
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  font-style: normal;
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.22em;
+}
+.breakcore .section-rule::before,
+.breakcore .section-rule::after {
+  height: 6px;
+  opacity: 0.55;
+  background: repeating-linear-gradient(
+    45deg,
+    var(--yellow) 0 8px,
+    var(--crust) 8px 16px
+  );
+}
+.breakcore .section-rule .ornament {
+  color: var(--mauve);
+}
+
+/* Chips — neon outline, monospace caps. */
+.breakcore .chip {
+  background: transparent;
+  border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--teal) 55%, transparent);
+  color: var(--teal);
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  font-style: normal;
+  font-size: 0.7rem;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+  border-radius: 0;
+}
+.breakcore .chip-accent {
+  background: var(--mauve);
+  color: var(--crust);
+  border-color: var(--mauve);
+}
+.breakcore .chip-draft {
+  background: transparent;
+  border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--green) 60%, transparent);
+  color: var(--green);
+}
+
+/* Plate caption meta — bracketed mono coordinates. */
+.breakcore .plate-caption-meta {
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  letter-spacing: 0.16em;
+}
+.breakcore .plate-caption-sep {
+  color: var(--green);
+  opacity: 1;
+}
+
+/* Buttons & inputs — square, hard offset block-shadow, neon focus. */
+.breakcore .btn,
+.breakcore .field-input,
+.breakcore .topbar-control,
+.breakcore .topbar-control kbd { border-radius: 0; }
+.breakcore .btn--primary {
+  color: var(--crust);
+  border-color: var(--mauve);
+  box-shadow: 3px 3px 0 0 var(--green);
+}
+.breakcore .btn--primary:hover {
+  background: var(--green);
+  border-color: var(--green);
+  color: var(--crust);
+  box-shadow: 3px 3px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+.breakcore .btn--primary:active {
+  transform: translate(2px, 2px);
+  box-shadow: 1px 1px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+.breakcore .btn--danger {
+  box-shadow: 3px 3px 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--red) 60%, var(--crust));
+}
+.breakcore .btn--danger:hover {
+  box-shadow: 3px 3px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+.breakcore .btn--danger:active {
+  transform: translate(2px, 2px);
+  box-shadow: 1px 1px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+.breakcore .btn:focus-visible {
+  border-color: var(--green);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px var(--green);
+}
+.breakcore .field-input:focus {
+  border-color: var(--green);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--surface0) 85%, var(--green) 8%);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px color-mix(in srgb, var(--green) 35%, transparent);
+}
+
+/* Prose links — magenta resting, acid-green on hover. */
+.breakcore .prose a {
+  text-decoration-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--mauve) 55%, transparent);
+}
+.breakcore .prose a:hover {
+  color: var(--green);
+  text-decoration-color: var(--green);
+}
+
+/* Reading progress — acid scan with bloom. */
+.breakcore .reading-progress {
+  background: var(--green);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 8px var(--green), 0 0 3px var(--mauve);
+}
+
+/* ───── Confirm dialog (replaces window.confirm) ───── */
+.cdialog-overlay {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 300;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  padding: 1rem;
+}
+.cdialog-backdrop {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--crust) 60%, transparent);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
+}
+.cdialog-panel {
+  position: relative;
+  width: 100%;
+  max-width: 26rem;
+  padding: 1.6rem 1.6rem 1.4rem;
+  animation: cdialog-in 0.18s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.7, 0.2, 1);
+}
+@keyframes cdialog-in {
+  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(10px) scale(0.98); }
+  to   { opacity: 1; transform: none; }
+}
+.cdialog-title {
+  font-family: var(--font-display);
+  font-style: italic;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  font-size: 1.4rem;
+  line-height: 1.15;
+  color: var(--text);
+  letter-spacing: -0.01em;
+}
+.cdialog-msg {
+  font-family: var(--font-sans);
+  font-size: 0.98rem;
+  line-height: 1.55;
+  color: var(--subtext1);
+  margin-top: 0.6rem;
+}
+.cdialog-actions {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
+  gap: 0.6rem;
+  margin-top: 1.5rem;
+}
+
+/* Breakcore: hard edges + hazard cap + chromatic title. */
+.breakcore .cdialog-panel {
+  border-radius: 0;
+  padding-top: 1.9rem;
+}
+.breakcore .cdialog-panel::before {
+  content: "";
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0 0 auto 0;
+  height: 5px;
+  background: repeating-linear-gradient(
+    45deg,
+    var(--yellow) 0 8px,
+    var(--crust) 8px 16px
+  );
+  opacity: 0.6;
+}
+.breakcore .cdialog-title {
+  text-shadow: -1px 0 0 var(--teal), 1px 0 0 var(--mauve);
+}
+
+/* Toast error variant (replaces window.alert). */
+.toast--error {
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--red);
+  color: var(--rosewater);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+.toast--error::before {
+  content: "⚠ ";
+  color: var(--red);
+}
+
+/* ═══ Reduced motion — universal kill-switch. Final word in the file so it
+ * overrides every animation/transition above, all themes. Content still
+ * resolves to its final state (forwards-filled keyframes complete). ═══ */
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  *,
+  *::before,
+  *::after {
+    animation-duration: 0.001ms !important;
+    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
+    transition-duration: 0.001ms !important;
+    scroll-behavior: auto !important;
+  }
+}