diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index a6967ea..bf2b90b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,18 @@
 name: deploy
 
 # Fully autonomous, idempotent deploy. On every push to main (or manual
-# dispatch) this SSHes to the bbs.profullstack.com droplet and re-runs the
-# idempotent provisioner (setup.sh), which pulls origin, rebuilds the Go
-# binaries, and restarts the agentbbs service that answers
-# `ssh join@bbs.profullstack.com`. Re-running is always safe.
+# dispatch) this builds the Go binaries ON THE RUNNER (which has plenty of
+# RAM), ships them to the bbs.profullstack.com droplet, and re-runs the
+# idempotent provisioner (setup.sh) with SKIP_BUILD=1 so the tiny droplet
+# never has to compile. setup.sh still pulls origin, refreshes config/assets,
+# and restarts the agentbbs service that answers `ssh join@bbs.profullstack.com`.
+# Re-running is always safe.
+#
+# Why build on the runner: the droplet is a ~458MB box also running ergo,
+# forgejo, tor, podman and the live agentbbs. The Go linker's peak memory was
+# OOM-killing the build — and with it the sshd serving the deploy session,
+# surfacing as "Connection closed by remote host" (exit 255). Compiling on the
+# 16GB runner removes that failure mode entirely.
 #
 # Required repo secrets (Settings -> Secrets and variables -> Actions):
 #   DEPLOY_SSH_KEY   private key whose public half is in the droplet admin
@@ -30,6 +38,8 @@ jobs:
   deploy:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
       - name: Configure SSH
         env:
           DEPLOY_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_SSH_KEY }}
@@ -43,7 +53,55 @@ jobs:
           chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
           ssh-keyscan -p "$DEPLOY_PORT" -H "$DEPLOY_HOST" >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts 2>/dev/null
 
-      - name: Provision / redeploy (idempotent)
+      - name: Detect droplet architecture
+        id: arch
+        env:
+          DEPLOY_HOST: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}
+          DEPLOY_USER: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_USER || 'root' }}
+          DEPLOY_PORT: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_PORT || '2202' }}
+        run: |
+          uname_m="$(ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -p "$DEPLOY_PORT" \
+            -o BatchMode=yes -o StrictHostKeyChecking=yes \
+            "${DEPLOY_USER}@${DEPLOY_HOST}" 'uname -m')"
+          case "$uname_m" in
+            x86_64|amd64)  goarch=amd64 ;;
+            aarch64|arm64) goarch=arm64 ;;
+            *) echo "::error::unsupported droplet arch '$uname_m'"; exit 1 ;;
+          esac
+          echo "goarch=$goarch" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "::notice::droplet arch $uname_m -> GOARCH=$goarch"
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version-file: go.mod
+          cache: true
+
+      - name: Build binaries (on the runner, not the droplet)
+        env:
+          GOOS: linux
+          GOARCH: ${{ steps.arch.outputs.goarch }}
+          CGO_ENABLED: '0'   # pure-Go (modernc sqlite) — static, portable binary
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p dist
+          go build -trimpath -o dist/agentbbs   ./cmd/agentbbs
+          go build -trimpath -o dist/ascii-live ./cmd/ascii-live
+          file dist/* || true
+
+      - name: Ship binaries to the droplet
+        env:
+          DEPLOY_HOST: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}
+          DEPLOY_USER: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_USER || 'root' }}
+          DEPLOY_PORT: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_PORT || '2202' }}
+        run: |
+          # scp can only name one remote target; copy each binary explicitly.
+          scp -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -P "$DEPLOY_PORT" \
+              -o BatchMode=yes -o StrictHostKeyChecking=yes \
+              dist/agentbbs "${DEPLOY_USER}@${DEPLOY_HOST}:/tmp/agentbbs-deploy-agentbbs"
+          scp -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -P "$DEPLOY_PORT" \
+              -o BatchMode=yes -o StrictHostKeyChecking=yes \
+              dist/ascii-live "${DEPLOY_USER}@${DEPLOY_HOST}:/tmp/agentbbs-deploy-ascii-live"
+
+      - name: Provision / redeploy (idempotent, SKIP_BUILD=1)
         env:
           DEPLOY_HOST: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}
           DEPLOY_USER: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_USER || 'root' }}
@@ -76,7 +134,11 @@ jobs:
           fi
           git -C "$SRC" fetch --depth 1 origin "$BRANCH"
           git -C "$SRC" reset --hard "origin/$BRANCH"
-          exec env BRANCH="$BRANCH" \
+          # Install the runner-built binaries, then tell setup.sh not to compile.
+          install -m 0755 /tmp/agentbbs-deploy-agentbbs   /usr/local/bin/agentbbs
+          install -m 0755 /tmp/agentbbs-deploy-ascii-live /usr/local/bin/ascii-live
+          rm -f /tmp/agentbbs-deploy-agentbbs /tmp/agentbbs-deploy-ascii-live
+          exec env BRANCH="$BRANCH" SKIP_BUILD=1 \
             COINPAY_API_KEY="${COINPAY_API_KEY:-}" \
             COINPAY_MERCHANT_ID="${COINPAY_MERCHANT_ID:-}" \
             AGENTBBS_QRYPT_ISSUER_KEY="${AGENTBBS_QRYPT_ISSUER_KEY:-}" \
diff --git a/cmd/agentbbs/main.go b/cmd/agentbbs/main.go
index 7eeaf50..583f033 100644
--- a/cmd/agentbbs/main.go
+++ b/cmd/agentbbs/main.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 //	                emailed code, then offers $99 Founding Lifetime (CoinPay)
 //	ssh pod@host    your personal Linux pod — free for verified members
 //	ssh domain@host point your own domain at your homepage (Premium; add/rm/list)
+//	ssh <name>@host (from another account) prints a finger card for that member
+//	ssh msg@host U  leave member U a message: `ssh msg@host U hi` or pipe stdin
 //	ssh admin@host  the operator admin console ($AGENTBBS_ADMINS only;
 //	                sysop@/root@ are aliases)
 //	ssh game@host G AgentGames: play game G (e.g. ttt, c4) over NDJSON; rated,
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ import (
 	gossh "golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/auth"
+	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/brand"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/calls"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/chat"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/forgejo"
@@ -60,6 +63,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/games"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/hub"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/mail"
+	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/mailbox"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/news"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/payments"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/plugin"
@@ -71,6 +75,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/plugins/about"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/plugins/agentgames"
 	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/plugins/arcade"
+	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/plugins/members"
 	qryptinviteplugin "github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/plugins/qryptinvite"
 )
 
@@ -170,7 +175,7 @@ func main() {
 	a.mm = games.NewMatchmaker(a.gamesReg, a.st,
 		time.Duration(envInt("AGENTBBS_GAME_MOVE_TIMEOUT", 15))*time.Second,
 		time.Duration(envInt("AGENTBBS_GAME_QUEUE_WAIT", 120))*time.Second)
-	a.registry = []plugin.Plugin{arcade.Plugin{}, agentgames.New(a.gamesReg), qryptinviteplugin.Plugin{}, about.Plugin{}}
+	a.registry = []plugin.Plugin{arcade.Plugin{}, agentgames.New(a.gamesReg), members.Plugin{}, qryptinviteplugin.Plugin{}, about.Plugin{}}
 
 	// Custom domains: maintain the symlink farm Caddy serves and answer its
 	// on-demand-TLS "ask" query so certs are only issued for mapped domains.
@@ -315,6 +320,10 @@ func (a *app) router() wish.Middleware {
 				a.handleTorCmd(s)
 			case auth.IsNewsName(user):
 				a.handleNews(s)
+			case auth.IsMailName(user):
+				a.handleMail(s)
+			case auth.IsMsgName(user):
+				a.handleMsg(s)
 			case isVideo:
 				a.handleVideo(s, code)
 			case user == "agent":
@@ -329,12 +338,9 @@ func (a *app) router() wish.Middleware {
 }
 
 // bbsBanner is the ASCII brand mark shown atop the hub menu and the join@ flow.
-const bbsBanner = "" +
-	"┌─┐┬─┐┌─┐┌─┐┬ ┬┬  ┬  ┌─┐┌┬┐┌─┐┌─┐┬┌─\n" +
-	"├─┘├┬┘│ │├┤ │ ││  │  └─┐ │ ├─┤│  ├┴┐\n" +
-	"┴  ┴└─└─┘└  └─┘┴─┘┴─┘└─┘ ┴ ┴ ┴└─┘┴ ┴ .com"
+var bbsBanner = brand.Logo()
 
-var bannerStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#38bdf8"))
+var bannerStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#e11d2a"))
 
 // hubMOTD is the welcome message shown in a box on the hub menu. The body is
 // operator-overridable via AGENTBBS_MOTD; it is tailored for guests vs members.
@@ -345,7 +351,11 @@ func (a *app) hubMOTD(u auth.User) string {
 		return "You're browsing as a guest.\n" + body +
 			"\nssh join@" + a.host + " to claim a username, a pod & a homepage."
 	}
-	return "Welcome back, " + u.Name + ".\n" + body
+	welcome := "Welcome back, " + u.Name + "."
+	if n, err := a.st.UnreadCount(u.Name); err == nil && n > 0 {
+		welcome += fmt.Sprintf("  📬 %d unread — open Members ▸ inbox (i).", n)
+	}
+	return welcome + "\n" + body
 }
 
 // teaHandler builds the hub model for guests, members, and agents.
@@ -394,7 +404,7 @@ func (a *app) teaHandler(s ssh.Session) (tea.Model, []tea.ProgramOption) {
 	sessID, _ := a.st.RecordSession(u.StoreID, s.User(), remoteIP(s), "hub")
 	go func() { <-s.Context().Done(); _ = a.st.EndSession(sessID) }()
 
-	ctx := plugin.Context{Store: a.st, Sandbox: a.sandbox, AssetsDir: a.assets}
+	ctx := plugin.Context{Store: a.st, Sandbox: a.sandbox, AssetsDir: a.assets, Host: a.host}
 	if u.Kind != auth.Guest {
 		ctx.DataDir = filepath.Join(a.dataDir, "users", u.Name)
 		_ = os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(ctx.DataDir, "wads"), 0o755)
@@ -464,6 +474,28 @@ func (a *app) sessionApps(s ssh.Session, su store.User, guest bool) []hub.Sessio
 		Cmd:         sessionExec{run: func() error { return a.runNews(s, su.Name) }},
 	})
 
+	// Mail — a Founding Lifetime Member perk: the AgentMail TUI.
+	mailLock := ""
+	switch {
+	case guest:
+		mailLock = membersOnly
+	case !su.Premium:
+		mailLock = "Founding Lifetime Member feature ($99 one-time) — upgrade: ssh join@" + a.host
+	}
+	apps = append(apps, hub.SessionApp{
+		Title:       "Mail",
+		Description: "your " + a.fe.Domain + " mailbox",
+		Locked:      mailLock,
+		Cmd: sessionExec{run: func() error {
+			c, err := a.mailClientFor(su)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			defer c.Close()
+			return mailbox.RunReader(s, c)
+		}},
+	})
+
 	// Tor — a Founding Lifetime Member perk: a torsocks shell in the pod.
 	torLock := ""
 	switch {
@@ -1239,6 +1271,83 @@ func (a *app) runNews(s ssh.Session, name string) error {
 	return news.RunReader(s, addr, name)
 }
 
+// mailClientFor builds a paid-gated AgentMail client for a member, connecting to
+// the self-hosted Mailu backend. IMAP uses Dovecot master-user auth (login
+// "<name>*<master>") so the BBS gateway can open any member's mailbox with one
+// secret; SMTP defaults to the co-located relay (no auth). Returns an error if
+// the IMAP connection/login fails.
+func (a *app) mailClientFor(su store.User) (*mailbox.Client, error) {
+	domain := env("AGENTBBS_MAIL_DOMAIN", "mail.profullstack.com")
+	login := su.Name
+	if master := os.Getenv("AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_USER"); master != "" {
+		login = su.Name + "*" + master
+	}
+	cfg := mailbox.IMAPConfig{
+		IMAPAddr: env("AGENTBBS_MAIL_IMAP_ADDR", domain+":993"),
+		SMTPAddr: env("AGENTBBS_MAIL_SMTP_ADDR", "127.0.0.1:25"),
+		Username: login,
+		Password: os.Getenv("AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_PASS"),
+		// SMTPUser/SMTPPass left empty: submit via the trusted local relay.
+	}
+	tr, err := mailbox.NewIMAPTransport(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return mailbox.NewClient(tr, mailbox.Identity{Name: su.Name, Paid: su.Premium}, domain, 50), nil
+}
+
+// handleMail routes a Founding Lifetime member into AgentMail: an interactive
+// TUI when a PTY is present and no command is given, or the JSON bot mode
+// (ssh mail@host <cmd>, or no PTY) for agents.
+func (a *app) handleMail(s ssh.Session) {
+	fp := auth.Fingerprint(s.PublicKey())
+	if fp == "" {
+		wish.Println(s, "mail@ needs your registered SSH key. New here? ssh join@"+a.host)
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	u, found, err := a.st.UserByFingerprint(fp)
+	if err != nil || !found {
+		wish.Println(s, "key not registered — run: ssh join@"+a.host)
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	if u.Banned {
+		wish.Println(s, "this account is suspended.")
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	if !a.ensurePremium(&u) {
+		wish.Println(s, "  mail is a Founding Lifetime Member feature ($99 one-time). Upgrade: ssh join@"+a.host)
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	sessID, _ := a.st.RecordSession(u.ID, s.User(), remoteIP(s), "mail")
+	defer func() { _ = a.st.EndSession(sessID) }()
+
+	c, err := a.mailClientFor(u)
+	if err != nil {
+		wish.Println(s, "mail: "+err.Error())
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	defer c.Close()
+
+	args := s.Command()
+	_, _, hasPty := s.Pty()
+	if len(args) > 0 || !hasPty {
+		// Agent/bot mode: JSON in, JSON out.
+		if err := mailbox.RunBot(s.Context(), c, args, s, s); err != nil {
+			_ = s.Exit(1)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	if err := mailbox.RunReader(s, c); err != nil {
+		wish.Println(s, "mail: "+err.Error())
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
 // handleTorCmd runs an arbitrary command through Tor (torsocks) inside the
 // member's pod, never on the host. Premium; requires a PTY.
 func (a *app) handleTorCmd(s ssh.Session) {
@@ -1322,6 +1431,62 @@ func (a *app) handleChat(s ssh.Session) {
 	}
 }
 
+// handleMsg is the member-to-member messaging route: `ssh msg@host <user> [text]`
+// leaves a note in <user>'s BBS inbox. The body is the remaining args, or stdin
+// when none are given (so `echo hi | ssh msg@host bob` works). Members only;
+// the recipient reads it in the hub's Members ▸ inbox.
+func (a *app) handleMsg(s ssh.Session) {
+	fp := auth.Fingerprint(s.PublicKey())
+	if fp == "" {
+		wish.Println(s, "msg@ needs your registered SSH key. New here? ssh join@"+a.host)
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	from, found, err := a.st.UserByFingerprint(fp)
+	if err != nil || !found {
+		wish.Println(s, "key not registered — run: ssh join@"+a.host)
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	args := s.Command()
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		wish.Println(s, "usage: ssh msg@"+a.host+" <user> [message]   (or pipe the message on stdin)")
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	to := strings.ToLower(args[0])
+	recipient, ok, err := a.st.UserByName(to)
+	if err != nil || !ok {
+		wish.Println(s, "no member named "+to+" — check the spelling (ssh "+to+"@"+a.host+" to finger).")
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	if recipient.Name == from.Name {
+		wish.Println(s, "you can't message yourself.")
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	body := strings.TrimSpace(strings.Join(args[1:], " "))
+	if body == "" {
+		// No inline text — read the message from stdin (piped, or typed then ^D).
+		b, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(s, 64*1024))
+		body = strings.TrimSpace(string(b))
+	}
+	if body == "" {
+		wish.Println(s, "empty message — nothing sent.")
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := a.st.SendMessage(from.Name, recipient.Name, body); err != nil {
+		wish.Println(s, "could not send: "+err.Error())
+		_ = s.Exit(1)
+		return
+	}
+	_, _ = a.st.RecordSession(from.ID, s.User(), remoteIP(s), "msg")
+	wish.Println(s, "✓ message left for "+recipient.Name+" — they'll see it in Members ▸ inbox.")
+	_ = s.Exit(0)
+}
+
 // handleFinger prints a classic finger card when someone ssh's to an
 // existing account name that isn't their own (e.g. ssh anthony@host).
 // Returns false when the route should fall through to the hub.
diff --git a/deploy/mailu/.gitignore b/deploy/mailu/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32c4c30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/mailu/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+mailu.env
+certs/
+data/
diff --git a/deploy/mailu/README.md b/deploy/mailu/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4e19f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/mailu/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# deploy/mailu — self-hosted mail for `mail.profullstack.com`
+
+Mailu (Postfix + Dovecot + Roundcube + rspamd) as a Docker Compose stack,
+fronted by the host Caddy. Full setup, DNS, and architecture: [`docs/mail.md`](../../docs/mail.md).
+
+## Files
+
+| File | Purpose |
+|---|---|
+| `docker-compose.yml` | the Mailu services (mail ports on host, HTTP on loopback) |
+| `mailu.env.example` | config template → copy to `mailu.env` and fill secrets |
+| `refresh-certs.sh` | copy Caddy's `mail.$DOMAIN` cert into Mailu, reload (timer) |
+| `provision-mailbox.sh` | create a member mailbox / the gateway master user |
+
+`mailu.env`, `certs/`, and `data/` are gitignored (secrets + state).
+
+## Gateway master user
+
+The agentbbs gateway opens any member's mailbox over IMAP with a single secret,
+using Dovecot's **master user** feature (login `<name>*<master>`). Enable it with
+a Dovecot override so Mailu accepts the `*` separator:
+
+`data/overrides/dovecot/auth-master.conf`:
+
+```
+auth_master_user_separator = *
+passdb {
+  driver = static
+  args = nopassword=y
+  master = yes
+  result_success = continue
+}
+```
+
+Then create the master account and point agentbbs at it:
+
+```bash
+./provision-mailbox.sh --master "$(openssl rand -hex 16)"
+# AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_USER=gateway, AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_PASS=<that secret>
+```
+
+> The exact master-passdb wiring varies by Mailu version; verify against your
+> pinned image before relying on it in production. SMTP submission from the
+> gateway uses the trusted local relay (`127.0.0.1:25`), not the master user.
+
+## Ops
+
+```bash
+docker compose up -d            # start
+docker compose logs -f smtp     # tail Postfix
+docker compose exec admin flask mailu config-export   # DKIM keys, etc.
+docker compose down             # stop
+```
diff --git a/deploy/mailu/docker-compose.yml b/deploy/mailu/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cd286f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/mailu/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# Mailu stack for mail.profullstack.com — self-hosted Postfix + Dovecot +
+# Roundcube + rspamd. Coexists with the host Caddy: Mailu owns the mail ports
+# (25/465/587/993/995) and serves HTTP on loopback only; Caddy fronts the
+# webmail at https://mail.profullstack.com and supplies the TLS cert
+# (TLS_FLAVOR=mail, certs copied by refresh-certs.sh).
+#
+# Pinned to a Mailu release; bump deliberately. See docs/mail.md.
+x-environment: &default-environment
+  env_file: mailu.env
+
+services:
+  redis:
+    image: redis:alpine
+    restart: always
+    volumes:
+      - "./data/redis:/data"
+
+  front:
+    image: ghcr.io/mailu/nginx:2024.06
+    restart: always
+    env_file: mailu.env
+    ports:
+      # Mail ports bound on the host; HTTP only on loopback for Caddy.
+      - "25:25"
+      - "465:465"
+      - "587:587"
+      - "993:993"
+      - "995:995"
+      - "127.0.0.1:8080:80"
+    volumes:
+      - "./certs:/certs"
+      - "./data/overrides/nginx:/overrides:ro"
+    depends_on:
+      - redis
+
+  admin:
+    image: ghcr.io/mailu/admin:2024.06
+    restart: always
+    env_file: mailu.env
+    volumes:
+      - "./data/data:/data"
+      - "./data/dkim:/dkim"
+    depends_on:
+      - redis
+
+  imap:
+    image: ghcr.io/mailu/dovecot:2024.06
+    restart: always
+    env_file: mailu.env
+    volumes:
+      - "./data/mail:/mail"
+      - "./data/overrides/dovecot:/overrides:ro"
+    depends_on:
+      - front
+
+  smtp:
+    image: ghcr.io/mailu/postfix:2024.06
+    restart: always
+    env_file: mailu.env
+    volumes:
+      - "./data/mailqueue:/queue"
+      - "./data/overrides/postfix:/overrides:ro"
+    depends_on:
+      - front
+
+  antispam:
+    image: ghcr.io/mailu/rspamd:2024.06
+    restart: always
+    env_file: mailu.env
+    volumes:
+      - "./data/filter:/var/lib/rspamd"
+      - "./data/overrides/rspamd:/overrides:ro"
+    depends_on:
+      - front
+
+  webmail:
+    image: ghcr.io/mailu/roundcube:2024.06
+    restart: always
+    env_file: mailu.env
+    volumes:
+      - "./data/webmail:/data"
+    depends_on:
+      - front
diff --git a/deploy/mailu/mailu.env.example b/deploy/mailu/mailu.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..273de92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/mailu/mailu.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Mailu configuration for mail.profullstack.com — copy to deploy/mailu/mailu.env
+# and fill the secrets. See docs/mail.md for the full setup (DNS, certs, gateway).
+#
+# Generate secrets with:  openssl rand -hex 16
+
+# --- General -----------------------------------------------------------------
+SECRET_KEY=CHANGEME_16_HEX            # openssl rand -hex 16
+DOMAIN=mail.profullstack.com          # member addresses are <name>@mail.profullstack.com
+HOSTNAMES=mail.profullstack.com,smtp.profullstack.com
+POSTMASTER=postmaster
+# Apex profullstack.com is reserved for corporate mail and is NOT served here.
+
+# TLS_FLAVOR=mail: Mailu does NOT run its own ACME (Caddy owns :80/:443). We feed
+# it certs copied from Caddy's mail.profullstack.com cert (deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh).
+TLS_FLAVOR=mail
+
+# --- Features ----------------------------------------------------------------
+ADMIN=true                            # the admin UI (fronted at /admin via Caddy, internal only)
+WEBMAIL=roundcube                     # the only member-facing surface (https://mail.profullstack.com)
+WEBDAV=none
+ANTIVIRUS=none                        # set to clamav on a 4GB+ host
+ANTISPAM=true
+
+# --- Networking --------------------------------------------------------------
+# Mailu's front binds the mail ports on the host and HTTP on loopback only;
+# Caddy reverse-proxies https://mail.profullstack.com to BIND_ADDRESS4:80.
+BIND_ADDRESS4=127.0.0.1
+SUBNET=192.168.203.0/24
+MESSAGE_SIZE_LIMIT=52428800           # 50 MB
+
+# --- Gateway (the BBS reads/sends on behalf of members) ----------------------
+# A Dovecot master user lets the agentbbs gateway open any member's mailbox with
+# one secret (login "<name>*<master>"). Created by deploy/mailu/provision-mailbox.sh.
+# Mirror these into the agentbbs service env:
+#   AGENTBBS_MAIL_DOMAIN=mail.profullstack.com
+#   AGENTBBS_MAIL_IMAP_ADDR=mail.profullstack.com:993
+#   AGENTBBS_MAIL_SMTP_ADDR=127.0.0.1:25
+#   AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_USER=gateway
+#   AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_PASS=<the master password you set>
+
+# --- Admin bootstrap ---------------------------------------------------------
+INITIAL_ADMIN_ACCOUNT=admin
+INITIAL_ADMIN_DOMAIN=mail.profullstack.com
+INITIAL_ADMIN_PW=CHANGEME_admin_password
diff --git a/deploy/mailu/provision-mailbox.sh b/deploy/mailu/provision-mailbox.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..106e3f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/mailu/provision-mailbox.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# provision-mailbox.sh — create or update a member mailbox on the Mailu stack.
+# Run on the mail host. The agentbbs gateway opens any member's mailbox via the
+# Dovecot master user, so members never need an individual IMAP password — but
+# the mailbox must exist, which is what this creates.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   provision-mailbox.sh <name>                 # create <name>@$DOMAIN (random pw)
+#   provision-mailbox.sh --master <pass>        # (re)create the gateway master user
+#
+# Idempotent: re-running for an existing user is a no-op (or a password reset
+# with --password). Wraps Mailu's admin CLI (flask mailu ...).
+set -euo pipefail
+
+MAILU_DIR="${MAILU_DIR:-/opt/agentbbs/deploy/mailu}"
+DOMAIN="${MAIL_DOMAIN:-mail.profullstack.com}"
+MASTER_USER="${AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_USER:-gateway}"
+QUOTA_BYTES="${MAIL_QUOTA_BYTES:-1000000000}" # 1 GB
+
+cli() { ( cd "$MAILU_DIR" && docker compose exec -T admin flask mailu "$@" ); }
+
+if [ "${1:-}" = "--master" ]; then
+  pass="${2:?usage: provision-mailbox.sh --master <password>}"
+  # A Dovecot master user can authenticate as any mailbox: login "<name>*gateway".
+  # Implemented in Mailu as a normal user flagged for master access via an
+  # override (see docs/mail.md); here we ensure the account + password exist.
+  cli user "$MASTER_USER" "$DOMAIN" "$pass" 2>/dev/null \
+    || cli password "$MASTER_USER" "$DOMAIN" "$pass"
+  echo "gateway master user ${MASTER_USER}@${DOMAIN} set"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+name="${1:?usage: provision-mailbox.sh <name>}"
+pass="${2:-$(openssl rand -hex 16)}"
+
+if cli user-import "$name" "$DOMAIN" "$(openssl passwd -6 "$pass")" 2>/dev/null; then
+  :
+else
+  # already exists or older CLI: fall back to `user` (no-op if present)
+  cli user "$name" "$DOMAIN" "$pass" 2>/dev/null || true
+fi
+# Enforce a per-mailbox quota.
+cli config-update <<EOF 2>/dev/null || true
+users:
+  - email: ${name}@${DOMAIN}
+    quota_bytes: ${QUOTA_BYTES}
+EOF
+
+echo "mailbox ${name}@${DOMAIN} provisioned"
diff --git a/deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh b/deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..37a598f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# refresh-certs.sh — copy Caddy's Let's Encrypt cert for mail.$DOMAIN into the
+# Mailu certs dir (TLS_FLAVOR=mail), so Postfix/Dovecot TLS on 465/587/993 track
+# Caddy's auto-renewals. Mirrors deploy/news-refresh-certs.sh: Caddy is the only
+# ACME client on the box (it serves the mail.$DOMAIN site block), and we reuse
+# that cert rather than running a second ACME client inside Mailu.
+#
+# Install to /usr/local/bin/agentbbs-mailu-certs and run from a timer. Reloads
+# the Mailu front/smtp/imap so the new cert is picked up. Exits non-zero
+# (touching nothing) until Caddy has issued the cert.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+DOMAIN="${DOMAIN:?set DOMAIN}"
+MAIL_HOST="${MAIL_HOST:-mail.${DOMAIN}}"
+MAILU_DIR="${MAILU_DIR:-/opt/agentbbs/deploy/mailu}"
+CERT_DIR="${CERT_DIR:-$MAILU_DIR/certs}"
+CADDY_DATA="${CADDY_DATA:-/var/lib/caddy/.local/share/caddy}"
+
+# Caddy stores certs under certificates/<acme-dir>/<host>/<host>.{crt,key};
+# the ACME directory segment varies (prod vs staging), so glob for it.
+crt="$(ls "$CADDY_DATA"/certificates/*/"$MAIL_HOST"/"$MAIL_HOST".crt 2>/dev/null | head -1 || true)"
+key="$(ls "$CADDY_DATA"/certificates/*/"$MAIL_HOST"/"$MAIL_HOST".key 2>/dev/null | head -1 || true)"
+if [ -z "$crt" ] || [ -z "$key" ]; then
+  echo "no Caddy cert for $MAIL_HOST yet (looked under $CADDY_DATA/certificates)"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+install -d -m 0750 "$CERT_DIR"
+
+changed=0
+# Mailu (TLS_FLAVOR=mail) reads cert.pem / key.pem from its /certs mount.
+if ! cmp -s "$crt" "$CERT_DIR/cert.pem"; then install -m 0644 "$crt" "$CERT_DIR/cert.pem"; changed=1; fi
+if ! cmp -s "$key" "$CERT_DIR/key.pem"; then install -m 0640 "$key" "$CERT_DIR/key.pem"; changed=1; fi
+
+if [ "$changed" = 1 ]; then
+  echo "updated Mailu TLS cert for $MAIL_HOST; reloading Mailu"
+  ( cd "$MAILU_DIR" && docker compose restart front smtp imap >/dev/null 2>&1 || true )
+else
+  echo "Mailu TLS cert for $MAIL_HOST already current"
+fi
diff --git a/docs/mail.md b/docs/mail.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5920fd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/mail.md
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# Mail — self-hosted Mailu at `mail.profullstack.com`
+
+AgentBBS gives **Founding Lifetime (paid) members** a real mailbox at
+`<name>@mail.profullstack.com`, reached two ways:
+
+- **Webmail** — `https://mail.profullstack.com` (Roundcube), the only
+  member-facing mail surface.
+- **AgentMail** — the in-BBS client (`internal/mailbox`): the `Mail` hub entry
+  or `ssh mail@bbs.profullstack.com` (a TUI for humans, a JSON bot mode for
+  agents). It connects to this stack.
+
+The apex `profullstack.com` is **reserved for corporate mail** and is not served
+here — member mail lives only on the `mail.` subdomain.
+
+## Architecture
+
+The host already runs **Caddy** (owns `:80`/`:443`) and the **agentbbs** process.
+Mailu (Postfix + Dovecot + Roundcube + rspamd) runs as a Docker Compose stack:
+
+- Mailu owns the **mail ports** on the host: `25, 465, 587, 993, 995`.
+- Mailu's HTTP front is bound to **loopback** (`127.0.0.1:8080`); **Caddy**
+  reverse-proxies `https://mail.profullstack.com` to it (webmail + admin).
+- **TLS:** `TLS_FLAVOR=mail` — Mailu does *not* run its own ACME (Caddy is the
+  only ACME client). Caddy obtains the `mail.profullstack.com` cert from its site
+  block; [`deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh`](../deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh)
+  copies it into Mailu and reloads it on renewal — the same pattern as the
+  Ergo/IRC and NNTP cert refreshers.
+- The **agentbbs gateway** reads/sends on behalf of members: IMAP via a Dovecot
+  **master user** (one secret opens any mailbox), SMTP via the co-located relay
+  on `127.0.0.1:25`. Members therefore never manage an IMAP/SMTP password.
+
+```
+            ┌─────────── Caddy (:443) ───────────┐
+ webmail →  │ mail.profullstack.com → 127.0.0.1:8080 (Mailu front, HTTP)
+            └───────────────┬─────────────────────┘
+                            │ copies LE cert (refresh-certs.sh)
+ clients →  Mailu front (:25 :465 :587 :993 :995)  ──→ Postfix / Dovecot / rspamd
+                            ▲
+ agentbbs ──IMAP 993 (master user)──┘   ──SMTP 127.0.0.1:25 (local relay)──▶
+```
+
+## DNS
+
+`mail.profullstack.com` and `smtp.profullstack.com` A records are added. Also set:
+
+| Type | Host | Value |
+|---|---|---|
+| A | `mail.profullstack.com` | host IP |
+| A | `smtp.profullstack.com` | host IP |
+| MX | `mail.profullstack.com` | `10 mail.profullstack.com.` |
+| TXT (SPF) | `mail.profullstack.com` | `v=spf1 mx -all` |
+| TXT (DMARC) | `_dmarc.mail.profullstack.com` | `v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:postmaster@mail.profullstack.com` |
+| TXT (DKIM) | `dkim._domainkey.mail.profullstack.com` | from `flask mailu config-export` after first boot |
+| PTR | host IP | `mail.profullstack.com` (set at your VPS provider) |
+
+> **Port 25 / deliverability:** many cloud providers block outbound `:25` by
+> default — request an unblock, set the PTR/rDNS, and warm the IP, or relay
+> outbound through a smarthost. Inbound MX and the gateway's local submission
+> work regardless.
+
+## Install
+
+```bash
+cd /opt/agentbbs/deploy/mailu
+cp mailu.env.example mailu.env      # fill SECRET_KEY, INITIAL_ADMIN_PW, etc.
+docker compose up -d
+# seed the gateway master user + (optionally) backfill member mailboxes:
+AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_USER=gateway ./provision-mailbox.sh --master "$(openssl rand -hex 16)"
+```
+
+Add the Caddy site (setup.sh writes this when `MAIL=1`):
+
+```
+mail.profullstack.com {
+    encode zstd gzip
+    reverse_proxy 127.0.0.1:8080
+}
+```
+
+Then install the cert refresher on a timer (setup.sh does this too):
+
+```bash
+install -m 0755 deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh /usr/local/bin/agentbbs-mailu-certs
+# systemd timer runs it every ~12h; first run swaps in the real cert once Caddy issues it.
+```
+
+## agentbbs gateway env
+
+Set these on the agentbbs service so the `Mail` hub entry / `ssh mail@` work:
+
+| Var | Value |
+|---|---|
+| `AGENTBBS_MAIL_DOMAIN` | `mail.profullstack.com` |
+| `AGENTBBS_MAIL_IMAP_ADDR` | `mail.profullstack.com:993` |
+| `AGENTBBS_MAIL_SMTP_ADDR` | `127.0.0.1:25` |
+| `AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_USER` | `gateway` |
+| `AGENTBBS_MAIL_MASTER_PASS` | the master password set above |
+
+## Provisioning member mailboxes
+
+A mailbox must exist before the gateway can open it. Provision when a member
+becomes paid (or backfill):
+
+```bash
+deploy/mailu/provision-mailbox.sh alice      # creates alice@mail.profullstack.com
+```
+
+The Dovecot **master user** (`gateway`) then authenticates as any member with
+the login form `alice*gateway` + the master password — which is exactly what
+`internal/mailbox`'s IMAP adapter sends. See
+[`deploy/mailu/README.md`](../deploy/mailu/README.md) for the master-user
+override and operational details.
+
+## Webmail only for members
+
+Members are pointed at `https://mail.profullstack.com` (Roundcube) and the BBS
+`Mail` client — they are not given the Mailu admin UI or alias management. Admin
+is operator-only.
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 9fadebd..70691b4 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ require (
 	github.com/charmbracelet/wish v1.4.7
 	github.com/creack/pty v1.1.24
 	github.com/dustin/go-nntp v0.0.0-20210723005859-f00d51cf8cc1
+	github.com/emersion/go-imap/v2 v2.0.0-beta.8
+	github.com/emersion/go-message v0.18.2
 	github.com/gorilla/websocket v1.5.4-0.20250319132907-e064f32e3674
 	github.com/livekit/protocol v1.46.0
 	github.com/livekit/server-sdk-go/v2 v2.16.6
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/dennwc/iters v1.2.2 // indirect
 	github.com/dgryski/go-rendezvous v0.0.0-20200823014737-9f7001d12a5f // indirect
 	github.com/dustin/go-humanize v1.0.1 // indirect
+	github.com/emersion/go-sasl v0.0.0-20241020182733-b788ff22d5a6 // indirect
 	github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f // indirect
 	github.com/frostbyte73/core v0.1.1 // indirect
 	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.9.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 12f22d1..41d9e03 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ github.com/dustin/go-humanize v1.0.1/go.mod h1:Mu1zIs6XwVuF/gI1OepvI0qD18qycQx+m
 github.com/dustin/go-nntp v0.0.0-20210723005859-f00d51cf8cc1 h1:R90ND7acg9HKYj3oJBKKefk73DULdC7IlcnS7MV0X1s=
 github.com/dustin/go-nntp v0.0.0-20210723005859-f00d51cf8cc1/go.mod h1:elGbp3dKCIIdwu6jm3y6L93EVn+I6MSzYrcZXhpNS3Y=
 github.com/dustin/httputil v0.0.0-20170305193905-c47743f54f89/go.mod h1:ZoDWdnxro8Kesk3zrCNOHNFWtajFPSnDMjVEjGjQu/0=
+github.com/emersion/go-imap/v2 v2.0.0-beta.8 h1:5IXZK1E33DyeP526320J3RS7eFlCYGFgtbrfapqDPug=
+github.com/emersion/go-imap/v2 v2.0.0-beta.8/go.mod h1:dhoFe2Q0PwLrMD7oZw8ODuaD0vLYPe5uj2wcOMnvh48=
+github.com/emersion/go-message v0.18.2 h1:rl55SQdjd9oJcIoQNhubD2Acs1E6IzlZISRTK7x/Lpg=
+github.com/emersion/go-message v0.18.2/go.mod h1:XpJyL70LwRvq2a8rVbHXikPgKj8+aI0kGdHlg16ibYA=
+github.com/emersion/go-sasl v0.0.0-20241020182733-b788ff22d5a6 h1:oP4q0fw+fOSWn3DfFi4EXdT+B+gTtzx8GC9xsc26Znk=
+github.com/emersion/go-sasl v0.0.0-20241020182733-b788ff22d5a6/go.mod h1:iL2twTeMvZnrg54ZoPDNfJaJaqy0xIQFuBdrLsmspwQ=
 github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f h1:Y/CXytFA4m6baUTXGLOoWe4PQhGxaX0KpnayAqC48p4=
 github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f/go.mod h1:vw97MGsxSvLiUE2X8qFplwetxpGLQrlU1Q9AUEIzCaM=
 github.com/felixge/httpsnoop v1.0.4 h1:NFTV2Zj1bL4mc9sqWACXbQFVBBg2W3GPvqp8/ESS2Wg=
diff --git a/internal/auth/auth.go b/internal/auth/auth.go
index f1f287e..1679036 100644
--- a/internal/auth/auth.go
+++ b/internal/auth/auth.go
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ var IRCNames = map[string]bool{"irc": true}
 // via an in-process newsreader. Free for any registered member, like irc@.
 var NewsNames = map[string]bool{"news": true}
 
+// MailNames route a Founding Lifetime (paid) member into the AgentMail client —
+// an interactive TUI with a PTY, or a JSON bot mode with a command/no PTY.
+var MailNames = map[string]bool{"mail": true}
+
 // GameNames are usernames that route to AgentGames: the line-delimited-JSON
 // agent-vs-agent match protocol (PRD §5.2). `play@` stays a guest hub alias.
 var GameNames = map[string]bool{"game": true, "games": true}
@@ -97,6 +101,16 @@ func IsTorName(u string) bool { return TorNames[strings.ToLower(u)] }
 // IsNewsName reports whether the SSH username requests the in-BBS newsreader.
 func IsNewsName(u string) bool { return NewsNames[strings.ToLower(u)] }
 
+// IsMailName reports whether the SSH username requests the AgentMail client.
+func IsMailName(u string) bool { return MailNames[strings.ToLower(u)] }
+
+// MsgNames route a member-to-member message: `ssh msg@host <user>` leaves a
+// note in the recipient's BBS inbox (store-and-forward, see the Members plugin).
+var MsgNames = map[string]bool{"msg": true, "message": true}
+
+// IsMsgName reports whether the SSH username requests the messaging route.
+func IsMsgName(u string) bool { return MsgNames[strings.ToLower(u)] }
+
 // systemReserved are names that don't drive an SSH route but would still
 // collide with a per-user subdomain (<name>.<host>), the agent route, or common
 // infra hostnames — so members may not claim them as account names.
@@ -113,7 +127,8 @@ var systemReserved = map[string]bool{
 func IsReservedName(name string) bool {
 	n := strings.ToLower(name)
 	if GuestNames[n] || PodNames[n] || JoinNames[n] || DomainNames[n] || AdminNames[n] ||
-		TorURLNames[n] || TorIRCNames[n] || TorNames[n] || IRCNames[n] || NewsNames[n] || systemReserved[n] {
+		TorURLNames[n] || TorIRCNames[n] || TorNames[n] || IRCNames[n] || NewsNames[n] ||
+		MsgNames[n] || systemReserved[n] {
 		return true
 	}
 	return strings.HasPrefix(n, "video-") // video-<code> call routes
diff --git a/internal/brand/banner.go b/internal/brand/banner.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd6c3e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/brand/banner.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Package brand holds AgentBBS's terminal branding — the ASCII logo shown
+// at the top of the join@ onboarding and the ssh <name>@ hub prompts.
+// Scaled down from the Profullstack </> mark.
+package brand
+
+import "strings"
+
+// logo is the ASCII rendition of the </> brand mark (UTF-8 block glyphs).
+const logo = `
+                            ▓████▓▒
+                           ▒█████▓
+          +▒▓             +▓████▓+   ▒+
+      :+▒▓▓▓▓            :▓██▓█▓+    ▒▓▓▓▒+
+   +▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓            ▓▓▓▓▓▓+     ▒▓▓▓▓▓▒▒+
+:+▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒+            ▒▓▓▓▓▓▒       +▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒:
+▒▓▓▒▓▒▒▒:              +▓▓▓▓▓▓           :▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
+▒▒▒▒++                 ▒▓▓▓▓▓+              ++▒▒▒▒
+▒▒+                   +▓▓▓▓▓▒                  ++▒
+▒▒▒▒+                 ▒▓▓▓▓▒                  +▒▒▒
+▒▒▒▒▒▒▒+             ▒▓▓▓▓▒               +▒▒▒▒▒▒▒
++▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒+         +▓▓▓▓▓:            +▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒++
+`
+
+// Logo returns the plain (unstyled) multi-line ASCII brand banner, without
+// leading or trailing blank lines. The hub/join@ flows apply their own color.
+func Logo() string { return strings.Trim(logo, "\n") }
diff --git a/internal/hub/hub.go b/internal/hub/hub.go
index d809534..cbe4d73 100644
--- a/internal/hub/hub.go
+++ b/internal/hub/hub.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	theme       = ui.New(ui.Green)
-	bannerStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(ui.Cyan)
+	bannerStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#e11d2a"))
 )
 
 // SessionApp is a hub entry that takes over the terminal — a pod shell, the IRC
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/bot.go b/internal/mailbox/bot.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db12c52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/bot.go
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// BotUsage is printed when a bot/agent invokes mail with no/unknown command.
+const BotUsage = `agentmail (non-interactive mode) — JSON in, JSON out:
+
+  mailboxes                       list folders
+  list [mailbox] [limit]          message summaries (default INBOX)
+  read <mailbox> <uid>            full message (marks seen; "peek" 4th arg to keep unseen)
+  search <query> [mailbox]        search summaries
+  send                            read a JSON Draft on stdin, send it
+  reply <mailbox> <uid>           read {"text":...,"replyAll":bool} on stdin
+  flag <mailbox> <uid> [on|off]   set/clear the flagged flag
+  seen <mailbox> <uid> [on|off]   set/clear the seen flag
+  delete <mailbox> <uid>          delete a message
+
+Example:  ssh mail@bbs.profullstack.com list INBOX 20`
+
+// RunBot executes one non-interactive command for agents/bots, writing JSON to
+// out. It returns an error (also emitted as {"error":...}) on failure.
+func RunBot(ctx context.Context, c *Client, args []string, in io.Reader, out io.Writer) error {
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintln(out, BotUsage)
+		return nil
+	}
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(out)
+	enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
+	fail := func(err error) error {
+		_ = enc.Encode(map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
+		return err
+	}
+
+	switch strings.ToLower(args[0]) {
+	case "mailboxes":
+		v, err := c.Mailboxes(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(v)
+
+	case "list", "ls":
+		mailbox := Inbox
+		if len(args) > 1 {
+			mailbox = args[1]
+		}
+		limit := 0
+		if len(args) > 2 {
+			limit, _ = strconv.Atoi(args[2])
+		}
+		v, err := c.List(ctx, mailbox, limit)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(v)
+
+	case "read", "show":
+		mailbox, uid, err := mailboxUID(args)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		peek := len(args) > 3 && strings.EqualFold(args[3], "peek")
+		msg, ok, err := c.Read(ctx, mailbox, uid, peek)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		if !ok {
+			return fail(notFound(mailbox, uid))
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(msg)
+
+	case "search":
+		if len(args) < 2 {
+			return fail(fmt.Errorf("usage: search <query> [mailbox]"))
+		}
+		mailbox := ""
+		if len(args) > 2 {
+			mailbox = args[2]
+		}
+		v, err := c.Search(ctx, args[1], mailbox, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(v)
+
+	case "send":
+		var d Draft
+		if err := json.NewDecoder(in).Decode(&d); err != nil {
+			return fail(fmt.Errorf("send expects a JSON Draft on stdin: %w", err))
+		}
+		res, err := c.Send(ctx, d)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(res)
+
+	case "reply":
+		mailbox, uid, err := mailboxUID(args)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		var body struct {
+			Text     string `json:"text"`
+			ReplyAll bool   `json:"replyAll"`
+		}
+		if err := json.NewDecoder(in).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+			return fail(fmt.Errorf("reply expects {\"text\":...} on stdin: %w", err))
+		}
+		orig, ok, err := c.Read(ctx, mailbox, uid, true)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		if !ok {
+			return fail(notFound(mailbox, uid))
+		}
+		res, err := c.Reply(ctx, orig, body.Text, body.ReplyAll)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(res)
+
+	case "flag", "seen":
+		mailbox, uid, err := mailboxUID(args)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		on := true
+		if len(args) > 3 {
+			on = !strings.EqualFold(args[3], "off") && args[3] != "false" && args[3] != "0"
+		}
+		if args[0] == "flag" {
+			err = c.Flag(ctx, mailbox, uid, on)
+		} else {
+			err = c.MarkSeen(ctx, mailbox, uid, on)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(map[string]any{"ok": true, "mailbox": mailbox, "uid": uid, args[0]: on})
+
+	case "delete", "rm":
+		mailbox, uid, err := mailboxUID(args)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		if err := c.Delete(ctx, mailbox, uid); err != nil {
+			return fail(err)
+		}
+		return enc.Encode(map[string]any{"ok": true, "deleted": map[string]any{"mailbox": mailbox, "uid": uid}})
+
+	default:
+		fmt.Fprintln(out, BotUsage)
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown command: %s", args[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func mailboxUID(args []string) (string, uint32, error) {
+	if len(args) < 3 {
+		return "", 0, fmt.Errorf("usage: %s <mailbox> <uid>", args[0])
+	}
+	uid, err := strconv.ParseUint(args[2], 10, 32)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", 0, fmt.Errorf("invalid uid %q", args[2])
+	}
+	return args[1], uint32(uid), nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/client.go b/internal/mailbox/client.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aba1928
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/client.go
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Identity is the acting member and whether they hold the paid membership.
+type Identity struct {
+	Name string // local-part / handle, e.g. "alice"
+	Paid bool   // Founding Lifetime Member; mail is gated on this
+}
+
+// ErrNotPaid is returned to a non-paid member attempting a mail action.
+var ErrNotPaid = errors.New("AgentMail is a Founding Lifetime Member feature ($99 one-time) — upgrade: ssh join@bbs.profullstack.com")
+
+// Client is the ergonomic, paid-gated facade the TUI and bot mode use. Every
+// method returns plain structs, so the same calls serve humans and agents.
+type Client struct {
+	t        Transport
+	id       Identity
+	domain   string
+	pageSize int
+}
+
+// NewClient builds a paid-gated client. domain is the mail domain (e.g.
+// mail.profullstack.com); pageSize defaults to 50 when <= 0.
+func NewClient(t Transport, id Identity, domain string, pageSize int) *Client {
+	if pageSize <= 0 {
+		pageSize = 50
+	}
+	return &Client{t: t, id: id, domain: domain, pageSize: pageSize}
+}
+
+// Address is the member's own mailbox address, e.g. alice@mail.profullstack.com.
+func (c *Client) Address() string { return c.id.Name + "@" + c.domain }
+
+func (c *Client) gate() error {
+	if c.id.Name == "" || !c.id.Paid {
+		return ErrNotPaid
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Mailboxes lists folders with unread/total counts.
+func (c *Client) Mailboxes(ctx context.Context) ([]Mailbox, error) {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return c.t.ListMailboxes(ctx)
+}
+
+// List returns newest-first summaries for a mailbox (INBOX when empty).
+func (c *Client) List(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, limit int) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if mailbox == "" {
+		mailbox = Inbox
+	}
+	if limit <= 0 {
+		limit = c.pageSize
+	}
+	return c.t.ListMessages(ctx, ListOptions{Mailbox: mailbox, Limit: limit})
+}
+
+// Read fetches a full message, marking it seen unless peek is true.
+func (c *Client) Read(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32, peek bool) (Message, bool, error) {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return Message{}, false, err
+	}
+	msg, ok, err := c.t.ReadMessage(ctx, mailbox, uid)
+	if err != nil || !ok {
+		return msg, ok, err
+	}
+	if !peek && !msg.Seen {
+		seen := true
+		if err := c.t.SetFlags(ctx, mailbox, uid, FlagChange{Seen: &seen}); err == nil {
+			msg.Seen = true
+		}
+	}
+	return msg, true, nil
+}
+
+// Search runs a free-text search across a mailbox (or all when empty).
+func (c *Client) Search(ctx context.Context, query, mailbox string, limit int) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if limit <= 0 {
+		limit = c.pageSize
+	}
+	return c.t.Search(ctx, SearchOptions{Query: query, Mailbox: mailbox, Limit: limit})
+}
+
+// Send validates, stamps From, and sends a draft.
+func (c *Client) Send(ctx context.Context, d Draft) (SendResult, error) {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return SendResult{}, err
+	}
+	norm, err := NormalizeDraft(d)
+	if err != nil {
+		return SendResult{}, err
+	}
+	return c.t.Send(ctx, c.Address(), norm)
+}
+
+// Reply addresses the original sender (and, when replyAll, the other recipients
+// minus the member), prefixes "Re:", threads via In-Reply-To, and sends.
+func (c *Client) Reply(ctx context.Context, orig Message, text string, replyAll bool) (SendResult, error) {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return SendResult{}, err
+	}
+	self := strings.ToLower(c.Address())
+	to := orig.From
+	if orig.ReplyTo != nil {
+		to = *orig.ReplyTo
+	}
+	var cc []Address
+	if replyAll {
+		for _, a := range append(append([]Address{}, orig.To...), orig.CC...) {
+			la := strings.ToLower(a.Address)
+			if la != self && la != strings.ToLower(to.Address) {
+				cc = append(cc, a)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	subject := orig.Subject
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(subject), "re:") {
+		subject = "Re: " + subject
+	}
+	return c.Send(ctx, Draft{To: []Address{to}, CC: cc, Subject: subject, Text: text, InReplyTo: orig.MessageID})
+}
+
+// Flag sets or clears the \Flagged flag.
+func (c *Client) Flag(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32, flagged bool) error {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return c.t.SetFlags(ctx, mailbox, uid, FlagChange{Flagged: &flagged})
+}
+
+// MarkSeen sets or clears the \Seen flag.
+func (c *Client) MarkSeen(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32, seen bool) error {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return c.t.SetFlags(ctx, mailbox, uid, FlagChange{Seen: &seen})
+}
+
+// Delete removes a message.
+func (c *Client) Delete(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) error {
+	if err := c.gate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return c.t.DeleteMessage(ctx, mailbox, uid)
+}
+
+// Close releases the underlying transport.
+func (c *Client) Close() error {
+	if c.t == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return c.t.Close()
+}
+
+// helper used by bot mode to surface a friendly "not found" message.
+func notFound(mailbox string, uid uint32) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s/%d", ErrNotFound, mailbox, uid)
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/imap.go b/internal/mailbox/imap.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44ab7f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/imap.go
@@ -0,0 +1,336 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/emersion/go-imap/v2"
+	"github.com/emersion/go-imap/v2/imapclient"
+	gomail "github.com/emersion/go-message/mail"
+)
+
+// IMAPConfig connects the adapter to the mail backend (Mailu: Dovecot IMAP +
+// Postfix submission). Username/Password are the resolved login (which may be a
+// Dovecot master-user login like "alice*gateway").
+type IMAPConfig struct {
+	IMAPAddr string // host:port, e.g. mail.profullstack.com:993 (implicit TLS)
+	SMTPAddr string // host:port, e.g. smtp.profullstack.com:587 (STARTTLS)
+	Username string
+	Password string
+	// SMTPUser/SMTPPass default to Username/Password when empty.
+	SMTPUser string
+	SMTPPass string
+}
+
+// imapTransport is a Transport backed by a single authenticated IMAP connection
+// plus SMTP submission. Commands are serialized (the IMAP client is not safe for
+// concurrent in-flight commands).
+type imapTransport struct {
+	cfg      IMAPConfig
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	c        *imapclient.Client
+	selected string
+}
+
+// NewIMAPTransport dials the IMAP server, logs in, and returns a Transport.
+func NewIMAPTransport(cfg IMAPConfig) (Transport, error) {
+	c, err := imapclient.DialTLS(cfg.IMAPAddr, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("imap dial %s: %w", cfg.IMAPAddr, err)
+	}
+	if err := c.Login(cfg.Username, cfg.Password).Wait(); err != nil {
+		_ = c.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("imap login: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &imapTransport{cfg: cfg, c: c}, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) Close() error {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	if t.c == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	_ = t.c.Logout().Wait()
+	return t.c.Close()
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) selectMailbox(name string, readOnly bool) (*imap.SelectData, error) {
+	data, err := t.c.Select(name, &imap.SelectOptions{ReadOnly: readOnly}).Wait()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("select %s: %w", name, err)
+	}
+	t.selected = name
+	return data, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) ListMailboxes(_ context.Context) ([]Mailbox, error) {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	entries, err := t.c.List("", "*", nil).Collect()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list: %w", err)
+	}
+	out := make([]Mailbox, 0, len(entries))
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		mb := Mailbox{Name: e.Mailbox, Path: e.Mailbox}
+		st, err := t.c.Status(e.Mailbox, &imap.StatusOptions{NumMessages: true, NumUnseen: true}).Wait()
+		if err == nil {
+			if st.NumMessages != nil {
+				mb.Total = int(*st.NumMessages)
+			}
+			if st.NumUnseen != nil {
+				mb.Unseen = int(*st.NumUnseen)
+			}
+		}
+		out = append(out, mb)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) ListMessages(_ context.Context, opts ListOptions) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	sel, err := t.selectMailbox(opts.Mailbox, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	n := sel.NumMessages
+	if n == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	start := uint32(1)
+	if opts.Limit > 0 && n > uint32(opts.Limit) {
+		start = n - uint32(opts.Limit) + 1
+	}
+	seq := imap.SeqSet(nil)
+	seq.AddRange(start, n)
+	bufs, err := t.c.Fetch(seq, &imap.FetchOptions{Envelope: true, Flags: true, UID: true}).Collect()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("fetch: %w", err)
+	}
+	rows := make([]MessageSummary, 0, len(bufs))
+	for _, b := range bufs {
+		rows = append(rows, summaryFromBuf(opts.Mailbox, b))
+	}
+	// newest first
+	for i, j := 0, len(rows)-1; i < j; i, j = i+1, j-1 {
+		rows[i], rows[j] = rows[j], rows[i]
+	}
+	return rows, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) ReadMessage(_ context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) (Message, bool, error) {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, err := t.selectMailbox(mailbox, false); err != nil {
+		return Message{}, false, err
+	}
+	set := imap.UIDSetNum(imap.UID(uid))
+	section := &imap.FetchItemBodySection{}
+	bufs, err := t.c.Fetch(set, &imap.FetchOptions{
+		Envelope:    true,
+		Flags:       true,
+		UID:         true,
+		BodySection: []*imap.FetchItemBodySection{section},
+	}).Collect()
+	if err != nil {
+		return Message{}, false, fmt.Errorf("fetch uid %d: %w", uid, err)
+	}
+	if len(bufs) == 0 {
+		return Message{}, false, nil
+	}
+	b := bufs[0]
+	msg := Message{MessageSummary: summaryFromBuf(mailbox, b)}
+	raw := b.FindBodySection(section)
+	if len(raw) > 0 {
+		fillBody(&msg, raw)
+	}
+	msg.Snippet = Snippet(msg.Text, 140)
+	return msg, true, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) Search(_ context.Context, opts SearchOptions) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	mailbox := opts.Mailbox
+	if mailbox == "" {
+		mailbox = Inbox
+	}
+	if _, err := t.selectMailbox(mailbox, true); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	data, err := t.c.UIDSearch(&imap.SearchCriteria{Text: []string{opts.Query}}, nil).Wait()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("search: %w", err)
+	}
+	uids := data.AllUIDs()
+	if len(uids) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if opts.Limit > 0 && len(uids) > opts.Limit {
+		uids = uids[len(uids)-opts.Limit:]
+	}
+	bufs, err := t.c.Fetch(imap.UIDSetNum(uids...), &imap.FetchOptions{Envelope: true, Flags: true, UID: true}).Collect()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("search fetch: %w", err)
+	}
+	rows := make([]MessageSummary, 0, len(bufs))
+	for _, b := range bufs {
+		rows = append(rows, summaryFromBuf(mailbox, b))
+	}
+	return rows, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) Send(_ context.Context, from string, d Draft) (SendResult, error) {
+	msg, msgID := buildRFC822(from, d)
+	// SMTPUser may be empty for a trusted local relay (no AUTH).
+	if err := smtpSend(t.cfg.SMTPAddr, t.cfg.SMTPUser, t.cfg.SMTPPass, from, recipients(d), msg); err != nil {
+		return SendResult{}, fmt.Errorf("smtp send: %w", err)
+	}
+	// Best-effort copy to Sent so the message shows in the member's mailbox.
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	_, _ = t.c.Append(Sent, int64(len(msg)), nil).Wait() // ignore APPEND errors
+	t.mu.Unlock()
+	return SendResult{MessageID: msgID}, nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) SetFlags(_ context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32, fc FlagChange) error {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, err := t.selectMailbox(mailbox, false); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	set := imap.UIDSetNum(imap.UID(uid))
+	apply := func(flag imap.Flag, on bool) error {
+		op := imap.StoreFlagsDel
+		if on {
+			op = imap.StoreFlagsAdd
+		}
+		return t.c.Store(set, &imap.StoreFlags{Op: op, Flags: []imap.Flag{flag}, Silent: true}, nil).Close()
+	}
+	if fc.Seen != nil {
+		if err := apply(imap.FlagSeen, *fc.Seen); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("store seen: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if fc.Flagged != nil {
+		if err := apply(imap.FlagFlagged, *fc.Flagged); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("store flagged: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *imapTransport) DeleteMessage(_ context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) error {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, err := t.selectMailbox(mailbox, false); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	set := imap.UIDSetNum(imap.UID(uid))
+	if err := t.c.Store(set, &imap.StoreFlags{Op: imap.StoreFlagsAdd, Flags: []imap.Flag{imap.FlagDeleted}, Silent: true}, nil).Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("store deleted: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := t.c.Expunge().Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("expunge: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func summaryFromBuf(mailbox string, b *imapclient.FetchMessageBuffer) MessageSummary {
+	s := MessageSummary{Mailbox: mailbox, UID: uint32(b.UID)}
+	if b.Envelope != nil {
+		env := b.Envelope
+		s.Subject = env.Subject
+		s.Date = env.Date
+		s.From = firstAddr(env.From)
+		s.To = addrs(env.To)
+	}
+	for _, f := range b.Flags {
+		switch f {
+		case imap.FlagSeen:
+			s.Seen = true
+		case imap.FlagFlagged:
+			s.Flagged = true
+		}
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+func firstAddr(list []imap.Address) Address {
+	if len(list) == 0 {
+		return Address{}
+	}
+	return imapAddr(list[0])
+}
+
+func addrs(list []imap.Address) []Address {
+	out := make([]Address, 0, len(list))
+	for _, a := range list {
+		out = append(out, imapAddr(a))
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func imapAddr(a imap.Address) Address {
+	addr := a.Mailbox
+	if a.Host != "" {
+		addr = a.Mailbox + "@" + a.Host
+	}
+	return Address{Name: a.Name, Address: addr}
+}
+
+// fillBody parses the raw RFC822 message into the text/html body + attachment
+// metadata using go-message's mail reader.
+func fillBody(msg *Message, raw []byte) {
+	mr, err := gomail.CreateReader(bytes.NewReader(raw))
+	if err != nil {
+		// Not MIME we can parse — keep the raw text after the header break.
+		msg.Text = rawBody(raw)
+		return
+	}
+	if env := mr.Header; env.Get("Message-Id") != "" {
+		msg.MessageID = env.Get("Message-Id")
+	}
+	for {
+		p, err := mr.NextPart()
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			break
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			break
+		}
+		switch h := p.Header.(type) {
+		case *gomail.InlineHeader:
+			body, _ := io.ReadAll(p.Body)
+			ct, _, _ := h.ContentType()
+			if strings.EqualFold(ct, "text/html") {
+				msg.HTML = string(body)
+			} else if msg.Text == "" {
+				msg.Text = string(body)
+			}
+		case *gomail.AttachmentHeader:
+			name, _ := h.Filename()
+			ct, _, _ := h.ContentType()
+			body, _ := io.ReadAll(p.Body)
+			msg.Attachments = append(msg.Attachments, Attachment{Filename: name, ContentType: ct, Size: len(body)})
+		}
+	}
+	msg.HasAttachments = len(msg.Attachments) > 0
+}
+
+// rawBody returns the body after the first blank line of a raw RFC822 message.
+func rawBody(raw []byte) string {
+	if i := bytes.Index(raw, []byte("\r\n\r\n")); i >= 0 {
+		return string(raw[i+4:])
+	}
+	if i := bytes.Index(raw, []byte("\n\n")); i >= 0 {
+		return string(raw[i+2:])
+	}
+	return string(raw)
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/mailbox_test.go b/internal/mailbox/mailbox_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09da9f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/mailbox_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func seeded() *MemoryTransport {
+	m := NewMemoryTransport()
+	m.Add(Message{MessageSummary: MessageSummary{UID: 1, Mailbox: Inbox, From: Address{Name: "Carol", Address: "carol@example.com"}, Subject: "Welcome", Date: time.Date(2026, 6, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)}, Text: "hi alice"})
+	m.Add(Message{MessageSummary: MessageSummary{UID: 2, Mailbox: Inbox, From: Address{Address: "deploy@ci.example.com"}, Subject: "Build passed", Date: time.Date(2026, 6, 2, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)}, Text: "all green"})
+	return m
+}
+
+func paidClient(t Transport) *Client {
+	return NewClient(t, Identity{Name: "alice", Paid: true}, "mail.profullstack.com", 50)
+}
+
+func TestParseFormatAddress(t *testing.T) {
+	a := ParseAddress("Ada Lovelace <ada@x.com>")
+	if a.Name != "Ada Lovelace" || a.Address != "ada@x.com" {
+		t.Fatalf("parse named: %+v", a)
+	}
+	if got := ParseAddress("ada@x.com"); got.Address != "ada@x.com" || got.Name != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("parse bare: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if got := FormatAddress(Address{Name: "Doe, John", Address: "j@x.com"}); got != `"Doe, John" <j@x.com>` {
+		t.Fatalf("format specials: %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidEmailAndDraft(t *testing.T) {
+	if !ValidEmail("a@b.com") || ValidEmail("nope") {
+		t.Fatal("ValidEmail")
+	}
+	if _, err := NormalizeDraft(Draft{Subject: "x", Text: "y"}); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for no recipients")
+	}
+	d, err := NormalizeDraft(Draft{To: []Address{{Address: " a@b.com "}}, Subject: "  hi  ", Text: "z"})
+	if err != nil || len(d.To) != 1 || d.To[0].Address != "a@b.com" || d.Subject != "hi" {
+		t.Fatalf("normalize: %+v err=%v", d, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGate(t *testing.T) {
+	c := NewClient(seeded(), Identity{Name: "bob", Paid: false}, "mail.profullstack.com", 0)
+	if _, err := c.Inbox(context.Background(), 0); !errors.Is(err, ErrNotPaid) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected ErrNotPaid, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Inbox is a thin helper used in tests and bot mode.
+func (c *Client) Inbox(ctx context.Context, limit int) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	return c.List(ctx, Inbox, limit)
+}
+
+func TestListNewestFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	c := paidClient(seeded())
+	got, err := c.List(context.Background(), Inbox, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 2 || got[0].UID != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected newest first [2,1], got %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadMarksSeenAndPeek(t *testing.T) {
+	tr := seeded()
+	c := paidClient(tr)
+	if _, ok, _ := c.Read(context.Background(), Inbox, 1, false); !ok {
+		t.Fatal("read 1")
+	}
+	if m, _, _ := tr.ReadMessage(context.Background(), Inbox, 1); !m.Seen {
+		t.Fatal("uid 1 should be seen")
+	}
+	if _, _, _ = c.Read(context.Background(), Inbox, 2, true); true {
+		if m, _, _ := tr.ReadMessage(context.Background(), Inbox, 2); m.Seen {
+			t.Fatal("peek must not mark seen")
+		}
+	}
+	if _, ok, _ := c.Read(context.Background(), Inbox, 999, false); ok {
+		t.Fatal("unknown uid should be ok=false")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearch(t *testing.T) {
+	c := paidClient(seeded())
+	hits, _ := c.Search(context.Background(), "green", "", 0)
+	if len(hits) != 1 || hits[0].UID != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("search green: %+v", hits)
+	}
+	hits, _ = c.Search(context.Background(), "carol@example.com", "", 0)
+	if len(hits) != 1 || hits[0].UID != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("search sender: %+v", hits)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSendAndReply(t *testing.T) {
+	tr := seeded()
+	c := paidClient(tr)
+	res, err := c.Send(context.Background(), Draft{To: []Address{{Address: "carol@example.com"}}, Subject: "  Hi  ", Text: "yo"})
+	if err != nil || res.MessageID == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("send: %v", err)
+	}
+	sent, _ := tr.ListMessages(context.Background(), ListOptions{Mailbox: Sent})
+	if len(sent) != 1 || sent[0].From.Address != "alice@mail.profullstack.com" || sent[0].Subject != "Hi" {
+		t.Fatalf("sent: %+v", sent)
+	}
+
+	orig, _, _ := c.Read(context.Background(), Inbox, 1, true)
+	if _, err := c.Reply(context.Background(), orig, "thanks", false); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	sent, _ = tr.ListMessages(context.Background(), ListOptions{Mailbox: Sent})
+	var re MessageSummary
+	for _, s := range sent {
+		if s.Subject == "Re: Welcome" {
+			re = s
+		}
+	}
+	if re.Subject != "Re: Welcome" || re.To[0].Address != "carol@example.com" {
+		t.Fatalf("reply: %+v", sent)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFlagAndDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	tr := seeded()
+	c := paidClient(tr)
+	if err := c.Flag(context.Background(), Inbox, 1, true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if m, _, _ := tr.ReadMessage(context.Background(), Inbox, 1); !m.Flagged {
+		t.Fatal("uid 1 should be flagged")
+	}
+	if err := c.Delete(context.Background(), Inbox, 1); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, ok, _ := tr.ReadMessage(context.Background(), Inbox, 1); ok {
+		t.Fatal("uid 1 should be deleted")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/memory.go b/internal/mailbox/memory.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ce108b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/memory.go
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"math/rand"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// MemoryTransport is a complete, dependency-free Transport for tests, local
+// development, and as the reference for what the IMAP/SMTP adapter must do.
+type MemoryTransport struct {
+	mu        sync.Mutex
+	byMailbox map[string][]Message
+	nextUID   uint32
+}
+
+// NewMemoryTransport returns an empty in-memory transport.
+func NewMemoryTransport() *MemoryTransport {
+	return &MemoryTransport{byMailbox: map[string][]Message{}, nextUID: 1}
+}
+
+// Add inserts a message, filling defaults, and returns the stored copy.
+func (m *MemoryTransport) Add(msg Message) Message {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	if msg.UID == 0 {
+		msg.UID = m.nextUID
+	}
+	if msg.UID >= m.nextUID {
+		m.nextUID = msg.UID + 1
+	}
+	if msg.Date.IsZero() {
+		msg.Date = time.Now().UTC()
+	}
+	if msg.MessageID == "" {
+		msg.MessageID = fmt.Sprintf("<%s@memory.local>", randToken())
+	}
+	if msg.Snippet == "" {
+		msg.Snippet = Snippet(msg.Text, 140)
+	}
+	msg.HasAttachments = len(msg.Attachments) > 0
+	m.byMailbox[msg.Mailbox] = append(m.byMailbox[msg.Mailbox], msg)
+	return msg
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) ListMailboxes(_ context.Context) ([]Mailbox, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	out := make([]Mailbox, 0, len(m.byMailbox))
+	for path, list := range m.byMailbox {
+		unseen := 0
+		for _, msg := range list {
+			if !msg.Seen {
+				unseen++
+			}
+		}
+		out = append(out, Mailbox{Name: path, Path: path, Total: len(list), Unseen: unseen})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].Path < out[j].Path })
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) ListMessages(_ context.Context, opts ListOptions) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	list := append([]Message{}, m.byMailbox[opts.Mailbox]...)
+	sort.Slice(list, func(i, j int) bool { return list[i].Date.After(list[j].Date) })
+	if opts.Limit > 0 && len(list) > opts.Limit {
+		list = list[:opts.Limit]
+	}
+	return summaries(list), nil
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) ReadMessage(_ context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) (Message, bool, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, msg := range m.byMailbox[mailbox] {
+		if msg.UID == uid {
+			return msg, true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return Message{}, false, nil
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) Search(_ context.Context, opts SearchOptions) ([]MessageSummary, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	q := strings.ToLower(opts.Query)
+	var hits []Message
+	boxes := []string{opts.Mailbox}
+	if opts.Mailbox == "" {
+		boxes = boxes[:0]
+		for b := range m.byMailbox {
+			boxes = append(boxes, b)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, b := range boxes {
+		for _, msg := range m.byMailbox[b] {
+			hay := strings.ToLower(msg.Subject + " " + msg.From.Address + " " + msg.From.Name + " " + msg.Text)
+			if strings.Contains(hay, q) {
+				hits = append(hits, msg)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Slice(hits, func(i, j int) bool { return hits[i].Date.After(hits[j].Date) })
+	if opts.Limit > 0 && len(hits) > opts.Limit {
+		hits = hits[:opts.Limit]
+	}
+	return summaries(hits), nil
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) Send(_ context.Context, from string, d Draft) (SendResult, error) {
+	domain := "memory.local"
+	if at := strings.LastIndexByte(from, '@'); at >= 0 {
+		domain = from[at+1:]
+	}
+	id := fmt.Sprintf("<%s@%s>", randToken(), domain)
+	var refs []string
+	if d.InReplyTo != "" {
+		refs = []string{d.InReplyTo}
+	}
+	m.Add(Message{
+		MessageSummary: MessageSummary{Mailbox: Sent, From: Address{Address: from}, To: d.To, Subject: d.Subject, Seen: true},
+		CC:             d.CC,
+		Text:           d.Text,
+		MessageID:      id,
+		References:     refs,
+	})
+	return SendResult{MessageID: id}, nil
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) SetFlags(_ context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32, fc FlagChange) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	list := m.byMailbox[mailbox]
+	for i := range list {
+		if list[i].UID == uid {
+			if fc.Seen != nil {
+				list[i].Seen = *fc.Seen
+			}
+			if fc.Flagged != nil {
+				list[i].Flagged = *fc.Flagged
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) DeleteMessage(_ context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	list := m.byMailbox[mailbox]
+	for i := range list {
+		if list[i].UID == uid {
+			m.byMailbox[mailbox] = append(list[:i], list[i+1:]...)
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return ErrNotFound
+}
+
+func (m *MemoryTransport) Close() error { return nil }
+
+func summaries(list []Message) []MessageSummary {
+	out := make([]MessageSummary, len(list))
+	for i, msg := range list {
+		s := msg.MessageSummary
+		s.HasAttachments = len(msg.Attachments) > 0
+		out[i] = s
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func randToken() string {
+	const alpha = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789"
+	b := make([]byte, 10)
+	for i := range b {
+		b[i] = alpha[rand.Intn(len(alpha))]
+	}
+	return string(b)
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/reader_tui.go b/internal/mailbox/reader_tui.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..489440a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/reader_tui.go
@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/ssh"
+)
+
+var (
+	mhTitle  = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#4ade80"))
+	mhDim    = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("241"))
+	mhCursor = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#4ade80"))
+	mhUnseen = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#e2e8f0"))
+	mhFlag   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("203"))
+	mhErr    = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("203"))
+	mhFrame  = lipgloss.NewStyle().Padding(1, 2)
+)
+
+// RunReader runs the interactive mail TUI for a member on the session. Used by
+// the hub "Mail" entry and the ssh mail@ route (with a PTY).
+func RunReader(s ssh.Session, c *Client) error {
+	m := readerModel{c: c, ctx: s.Context(), mailbox: Inbox, status: "loading…"}
+	p := tea.NewProgram(m, tea.WithInput(s), tea.WithOutput(s), tea.WithAltScreen())
+	_, err := p.Run()
+	return err
+}
+
+type readerMode int
+
+const (
+	modeList readerMode = iota
+	modeMessage
+)
+
+type readerModel struct {
+	c       *Client
+	ctx     context.Context
+	mailbox string
+
+	mode    readerMode
+	rows    []MessageSummary
+	cursor  int
+	current Message
+	status  string
+	errText string
+	width   int
+	height  int
+}
+
+type rowsMsg struct{ rows []MessageSummary }
+type openedMsg struct{ msg Message }
+type actionDoneMsg struct{ status string }
+type errMsg struct{ err error }
+
+func (m readerModel) Init() tea.Cmd { return m.loadInbox() }
+
+func (m readerModel) loadInbox() tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		rows, err := m.c.List(m.ctx, m.mailbox, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return errMsg{err}
+		}
+		return rowsMsg{rows}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m readerModel) open(uid uint32) tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		msg, ok, err := m.c.Read(m.ctx, m.mailbox, uid, false)
+		if err != nil {
+			return errMsg{err}
+		}
+		if !ok {
+			return errMsg{notFound(m.mailbox, uid)}
+		}
+		return openedMsg{msg}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m readerModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	switch msg := msg.(type) {
+	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
+		m.width, m.height = msg.Width, msg.Height
+	case rowsMsg:
+		m.rows = msg.rows
+		if m.cursor >= len(m.rows) {
+			m.cursor = max(0, len(m.rows)-1)
+		}
+		m.status = fmt.Sprintf("%s — %d message(s)", m.mailbox, len(m.rows))
+	case openedMsg:
+		m.current = msg.msg
+		m.mode = modeMessage
+	case actionDoneMsg:
+		m.status = msg.status
+		return m, m.loadInbox()
+	case errMsg:
+		m.errText = msg.err.Error()
+	case tea.KeyMsg:
+		return m.onKey(msg)
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m readerModel) onKey(k tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	m.errText = ""
+	if m.mode == modeMessage {
+		switch k.String() {
+		case "q", "ctrl+c":
+			return m, tea.Quit
+		case "b", "esc", "left", "h":
+			m.mode = modeList
+			return m, m.loadInbox()
+		case "f":
+			uid := m.current.UID
+			flagged := !m.current.Flagged
+			return m, func() tea.Msg {
+				if err := m.c.Flag(m.ctx, m.mailbox, uid, flagged); err != nil {
+					return errMsg{err}
+				}
+				return actionDoneMsg{status: flagState(flagged)}
+			}
+		case "x", "d":
+			uid := m.current.UID
+			m.mode = modeList
+			return m, func() tea.Msg {
+				if err := m.c.Delete(m.ctx, m.mailbox, uid); err != nil {
+					return errMsg{err}
+				}
+				return actionDoneMsg{status: "deleted"}
+			}
+		}
+		return m, nil
+	}
+
+	switch k.String() {
+	case "q", "ctrl+c", "esc":
+		return m, tea.Quit
+	case "j", "down":
+		if m.cursor < len(m.rows)-1 {
+			m.cursor++
+		}
+	case "k", "up":
+		if m.cursor > 0 {
+			m.cursor--
+		}
+	case "r":
+		m.status = "refreshing…"
+		return m, m.loadInbox()
+	case "enter", "l", "right":
+		if len(m.rows) > 0 {
+			return m, m.open(m.rows[m.cursor].UID)
+		}
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m readerModel) View() string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString(mhTitle.Render("AgentMail") + mhDim.Render("  ·  "+m.c.Address()) + "\n\n")
+	if m.mode == modeMessage {
+		b.WriteString(m.viewMessage())
+	} else {
+		b.WriteString(m.viewList())
+	}
+	if m.errText != "" {
+		b.WriteString("\n" + mhErr.Render(m.errText))
+	}
+	return mhFrame.Render(b.String())
+}
+
+func (m readerModel) viewList() string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	if len(m.rows) == 0 {
+		b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("(no messages)") + "\n")
+	}
+	for i, r := range m.rows {
+		cur := "  "
+		if i == m.cursor {
+			cur = mhCursor.Render("❯ ")
+		}
+		marker := " "
+		if !r.Seen {
+			marker = "●"
+		}
+		flag := " "
+		if r.Flagged {
+			flag = mhFlag.Render("⚑")
+		}
+		from := r.From.Name
+		if from == "" {
+			from = r.From.Address
+		}
+		line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s %-22.22s %s", cur, marker, flag, from, r.Subject)
+		if !r.Seen {
+			line = mhUnseen.Render(line)
+		}
+		b.WriteString(line + "\n")
+		b.WriteString("    " + mhDim.Render(r.Date.Format("2006-01-02 15:04")+"  ·  "+r.Snippet) + "\n")
+	}
+	b.WriteString("\n" + mhDim.Render(m.status))
+	b.WriteString("\n" + mhDim.Render("↑/↓ move · enter open · r refresh · q quit"))
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func (m readerModel) viewMessage() string {
+	msg := m.current
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("From:    ") + FormatAddress(msg.From) + "\n")
+	b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("To:      ") + joinAddrs(msg.To) + "\n")
+	if len(msg.CC) > 0 {
+		b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("Cc:      ") + joinAddrs(msg.CC) + "\n")
+	}
+	b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("Date:    ") + msg.Date.Format("2006-01-02 15:04") + "\n")
+	b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("Subject: ") + mhUnseen.Render(msg.Subject) + "\n")
+	if len(msg.Attachments) > 0 {
+		names := make([]string, len(msg.Attachments))
+		for i, a := range msg.Attachments {
+			names[i] = a.Filename
+		}
+		b.WriteString(mhDim.Render("Attach:  ") + strings.Join(names, ", ") + "\n")
+	}
+	b.WriteString("\n" + msg.Text + "\n")
+	b.WriteString("\n" + mhDim.Render("b back · f flag · x delete · q quit"))
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+func joinAddrs(list []Address) string {
+	parts := make([]string, len(list))
+	for i, a := range list {
+		parts[i] = FormatAddress(a)
+	}
+	return strings.Join(parts, ", ")
+}
+
+func flagState(on bool) string {
+	if on {
+		return "flagged"
+	}
+	return "unflagged"
+}
+
+func max(a, b int) int {
+	if a > b {
+		return a
+	}
+	return b
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/smtp.go b/internal/mailbox/smtp.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19b5619
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/smtp.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"mime"
+	"net"
+	"net/smtp"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// buildRFC822 renders a draft as an RFC 5322 message (CRLF line endings, UTF-8
+// text body). It returns the bytes and the generated Message-ID.
+func buildRFC822(from string, d Draft) ([]byte, string) {
+	domain := "localhost"
+	if at := strings.LastIndexByte(from, '@'); at >= 0 {
+		domain = from[at+1:]
+	}
+	msgID := fmt.Sprintf("<%s@%s>", randToken(), domain)
+
+	var b bytes.Buffer
+	wh := func(k, v string) { fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%s: %s\r\n", k, v) }
+	wh("From", from)
+	wh("To", headerAddrs(d.To))
+	if len(d.CC) > 0 {
+		wh("Cc", headerAddrs(d.CC))
+	}
+	wh("Subject", mime.QEncoding.Encode("utf-8", d.Subject))
+	wh("Date", time.Now().Format(time.RFC1123Z))
+	wh("Message-Id", msgID)
+	if d.InReplyTo != "" {
+		wh("In-Reply-To", d.InReplyTo)
+		wh("References", d.InReplyTo)
+	}
+	wh("MIME-Version", "1.0")
+	wh("Content-Type", "text/plain; charset=utf-8")
+	wh("Content-Transfer-Encoding", "8bit")
+	b.WriteString("\r\n")
+	b.WriteString(strings.ReplaceAll(d.Text, "\n", "\r\n"))
+	return b.Bytes(), msgID
+}
+
+// headerAddrs renders an address list for a header, encoding display names.
+func headerAddrs(list []Address) string {
+	parts := make([]string, len(list))
+	for i, a := range list {
+		if a.Name == "" {
+			parts[i] = a.Address
+		} else {
+			parts[i] = fmt.Sprintf("%s <%s>", mime.QEncoding.Encode("utf-8", a.Name), a.Address)
+		}
+	}
+	return strings.Join(parts, ", ")
+}
+
+// recipients flattens To+Cc+Bcc into envelope recipient addresses.
+func recipients(d Draft) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, l := range [][]Address{d.To, d.CC, d.BCC} {
+		for _, a := range l {
+			out = append(out, a.Address)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// smtpSend submits a built message via SMTP. With a non-empty user it does
+// STARTTLS + AUTH (e.g. smtp.profullstack.com:587); with an empty user it sends
+// unauthenticated, for a trusted local relay (e.g. the co-located Postfix).
+func smtpSend(addr, user, pass, from string, rcpts []string, msg []byte) error {
+	host, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(addr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("smtp addr %q: %w", addr, err)
+	}
+	var auth smtp.Auth
+	if user != "" {
+		auth = smtp.PlainAuth("", user, pass, host)
+	}
+	return smtp.SendMail(addr, auth, from, rcpts, msg)
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/transport.go b/internal/mailbox/transport.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b891117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/transport.go
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package mailbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// Transport is the low-level mailbox backend. The TUI, the bot mode, and the
+// Client all talk to this interface, so an in-memory fake (tests/dev) and the
+// real IMAP/SMTP adapter are interchangeable.
+type Transport interface {
+	ListMailboxes(ctx context.Context) ([]Mailbox, error)
+	ListMessages(ctx context.Context, opts ListOptions) ([]MessageSummary, error)
+	// ReadMessage returns (Message, false, nil) when the uid is unknown.
+	ReadMessage(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) (Message, bool, error)
+	Search(ctx context.Context, opts SearchOptions) ([]MessageSummary, error)
+	// Send delivers an already-validated draft, stamped from `from`.
+	Send(ctx context.Context, from string, d Draft) (SendResult, error)
+	SetFlags(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32, fc FlagChange) error
+	DeleteMessage(ctx context.Context, mailbox string, uid uint32) error
+	Close() error
+}
+
+// ErrNotFound is returned when a uid/mailbox cannot be resolved.
+var ErrNotFound = errors.New("mailbox: message not found")
+
+var addrRe = regexp.MustCompile(`^(.*)<([^>]+)>\s*$`)
+
+// ParseAddress parses "Name <a@b>" or a bare "a@b".
+func ParseAddress(raw string) Address {
+	s := strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if m := addrRe.FindStringSubmatch(s); m != nil {
+		name := strings.Trim(strings.TrimSpace(m[1]), `"`)
+		return Address{Name: strings.TrimSpace(name), Address: strings.TrimSpace(m[2])}
+	}
+	return Address{Address: strings.Trim(s, "<>")}
+}
+
+// FormatAddress renders an Address back to "Name <addr>" (or just the address).
+func FormatAddress(a Address) string {
+	if a.Name == "" {
+		return a.Address
+	}
+	if strings.ContainsAny(a.Name, `",<>@`) {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%q <%s>", a.Name, a.Address)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s <%s>", a.Name, a.Address)
+}
+
+// Snippet collapses whitespace and truncates to at most max runes.
+func Snippet(body string, max int) string {
+	flat := strings.Join(strings.Fields(body), " ")
+	if max <= 0 || len([]rune(flat)) <= max {
+		return flat
+	}
+	r := []rune(flat)
+	return string(r[:max-1]) + "…"
+}
+
+// ValidEmail is a loose RFC5322-ish check: one @, a dotted domain, no spaces.
+func ValidEmail(v string) bool {
+	v = strings.TrimSpace(v)
+	if len(v) < 3 || len(v) > 254 || strings.ContainsAny(v, " \t\r\n") {
+		return false
+	}
+	at := strings.LastIndexByte(v, '@')
+	if at <= 0 || at == len(v)-1 {
+		return false
+	}
+	return strings.Contains(v[at+1:], ".")
+}
+
+// NormalizeDraft trims the subject, drops empty recipient lists, and rejects a
+// draft with no valid recipient.
+func NormalizeDraft(d Draft) (Draft, error) {
+	clean := func(in []Address) []Address {
+		out := make([]Address, 0, len(in))
+		for _, a := range in {
+			a.Address = strings.TrimSpace(a.Address)
+			if a.Address != "" {
+				out = append(out, a)
+			}
+		}
+		return out
+	}
+	to, cc, bcc := clean(d.To), clean(d.CC), clean(d.BCC)
+	all := append(append(append([]Address{}, to...), cc...), bcc...)
+	if len(all) == 0 {
+		return Draft{}, errors.New("a draft needs at least one recipient")
+	}
+	for _, a := range all {
+		if !ValidEmail(a.Address) {
+			return Draft{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid recipient address: %s", a.Address)
+		}
+	}
+	return Draft{To: to, CC: cc, BCC: bcc, Subject: strings.TrimSpace(d.Subject), Text: d.Text, InReplyTo: d.InReplyTo}, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/mailbox/types.go b/internal/mailbox/types.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a952772
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/mailbox/types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+// Package mailbox is the BBS-side mail client for Founding Lifetime members: a
+// transport-agnostic core (read, search, compose, send, flag, delete) with a
+// Bubble Tea TUI for humans and a line-oriented JSON mode for agents/bots. It
+// talks to the self-hosted Mailu stack (Dovecot IMAP + Postfix submission) at
+// mail.profullstack.com / smtp.profullstack.com.
+//
+// The TS counterpart is @logicsrc/plugin-agentmail; the domain shapes here are
+// deliberately the same so tooling can move between them.
+package mailbox
+
+import "time"
+
+// Address is a parsed mail address.
+type Address struct {
+	Name    string `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Address string `json:"address"`
+}
+
+// Mailbox is an IMAP folder with unread/total counts.
+type Mailbox struct {
+	Name   string `json:"name"`
+	Path   string `json:"path"`
+	Unseen int    `json:"unseen"`
+	Total  int    `json:"total"`
+}
+
+// MessageSummary is a lightweight row for list/search views.
+type MessageSummary struct {
+	UID            uint32    `json:"uid"`
+	Mailbox        string    `json:"mailbox"`
+	From           Address   `json:"from"`
+	To             []Address `json:"to"`
+	Subject        string    `json:"subject"`
+	Date           time.Time `json:"date"`
+	Seen           bool      `json:"seen"`
+	Flagged        bool      `json:"flagged"`
+	HasAttachments bool      `json:"hasAttachments"`
+	Snippet        string    `json:"snippet"`
+}
+
+// Attachment is attachment metadata (bytes fetched separately).
+type Attachment struct {
+	Filename    string `json:"filename"`
+	ContentType string `json:"contentType"`
+	Size        int    `json:"size"`
+}
+
+// Message is a fully fetched message.
+type Message struct {
+	MessageSummary
+	CC          []Address    `json:"cc,omitempty"`
+	ReplyTo     *Address     `json:"replyTo,omitempty"`
+	MessageID   string       `json:"messageId"`
+	References  []string     `json:"references,omitempty"`
+	Text        string       `json:"text"`
+	HTML        string       `json:"html,omitempty"`
+	Attachments []Attachment `json:"attachments,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Draft is an outgoing message.
+type Draft struct {
+	To        []Address `json:"to"`
+	CC        []Address `json:"cc,omitempty"`
+	BCC       []Address `json:"bcc,omitempty"`
+	Subject   string    `json:"subject"`
+	Text      string    `json:"text"`
+	InReplyTo string    `json:"inReplyTo,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// ListOptions controls a mailbox listing.
+type ListOptions struct {
+	Mailbox string
+	Limit   int
+}
+
+// SearchOptions controls a search.
+type SearchOptions struct {
+	Mailbox string // empty = all mailboxes
+	Query   string
+	Limit   int
+}
+
+// FlagChange is a partial flag update; nil fields are left unchanged.
+type FlagChange struct {
+	Seen    *bool
+	Flagged *bool
+}
+
+// SendResult reports a sent message's id.
+type SendResult struct {
+	MessageID string `json:"messageId"`
+}
+
+const (
+	// Inbox is the default mailbox.
+	Inbox = "INBOX"
+	// Sent is where sent mail is stored.
+	Sent = "Sent"
+)
diff --git a/internal/news/nntpd/range_test.go b/internal/news/nntpd/range_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cd35bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/news/nntpd/range_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package nntpd
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestParseRangeSingleArticle(t *testing.T) {
+	low, high := parseRange("5")
+	if low != 5 || high != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf(`parseRange("5") = %d, %d; want 5, 5`, low, high)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/news/nntpd/server.go b/internal/news/nntpd/server.go
index 2c58d6a..4665862 100644
--- a/internal/news/nntpd/server.go
+++ b/internal/news/nntpd/server.go
@@ -142,12 +142,16 @@ func (s *Server) Process(nc net.Conn) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
-		cmd := strings.Split(l, " ")
-		args := []string{}
-		if len(cmd) > 1 {
-			args = cmd[1:]
+		fields := strings.Fields(l)
+		if len(fields) == 0 {
+			err = handleDefault(nil, sess, c)
+		} else {
+			args := []string{}
+			if len(fields) > 1 {
+				args = fields[1:]
+			}
+			err = sess.dispatchCommand(fields[0], args, c)
 		}
-		err = sess.dispatchCommand(cmd[0], args, c)
 		if err != nil {
 			if _, isNNTPError := err.(*NNTPError); err == io.EOF {
 				return
@@ -170,8 +174,9 @@ func parseRange(spec string) (low, high int64) {
 		h, err := strconv.ParseInt(parts[0], 10, 64)
 		if err != nil {
 			h = math.MaxInt64
+			return 0, h
 		}
-		return 0, h
+		return h, h
 	}
 	l, _ := strconv.ParseInt(parts[0], 10, 64)
 	h, err := strconv.ParseInt(parts[1], 10, 64)
@@ -357,6 +362,9 @@ func handleIHave(args []string, s *session, c *textproto.Conn) error {
 	if !s.backend.AllowPost() {
 		return ErrNotWanted
 	}
+	if len(args) < 1 {
+		return ErrSyntax
+	}
 	article, err := s.backend.GetArticle(nil, args[0])
 	if article != nil {
 		return ErrNotWanted
diff --git a/internal/news/nntpd/server_test.go b/internal/news/nntpd/server_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d54ca07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/news/nntpd/server_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+package nntpd
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"net"
+	"net/textproto"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/dustin/go-nntp"
+)
+
+type whitespaceBackend struct {
+	group     *nntp.Group
+	allowPost bool
+}
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) ListGroups(max int) ([]*nntp.Group, error) {
+	return []*nntp.Group{b.group}, nil
+}
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) GetGroup(name string) (*nntp.Group, error) {
+	if name == b.group.Name {
+		return b.group, nil
+	}
+	return nil, ErrNoSuchGroup
+}
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) GetArticle(group *nntp.Group, id string) (*nntp.Article, error) {
+	return nil, ErrInvalidArticleNumber
+}
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) GetArticles(group *nntp.Group, from, to int64) ([]NumberedArticle, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) Authorized() bool { return true }
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) Authenticate(user, pass string) (Backend, error) {
+	return b, nil
+}
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) AllowPost() bool { return b.allowPost }
+
+func (b *whitespaceBackend) Post(article *nntp.Article) error {
+	return errors.New("posting disabled")
+}
+
+func TestProcessCollapsesRepeatedCommandWhitespace(t *testing.T) {
+	backend := &whitespaceBackend{
+		group: &nntp.Group{Name: "pfs.general", Count: 1, Low: 1, High: 1, Posting: nntp.PostingPermitted},
+	}
+	server := NewServer(backend)
+	clientConn, serverConn := net.Pipe()
+	defer clientConn.Close()
+
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		server.Process(serverConn)
+		close(done)
+	}()
+
+	client := textproto.NewConn(clientConn)
+	defer client.Close()
+
+	if line, err := client.ReadLine(); err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(line, "200 ") {
+		t.Fatalf("greeting = %q, %v", line, err)
+	}
+	if err := client.PrintfLine("GROUP  pfs.general"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("send GROUP: %v", err)
+	}
+	if line, err := client.ReadLine(); err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(line, "211 ") {
+		t.Fatalf("GROUP with repeated spaces = %q, %v; want 211", line, err)
+	}
+	if err := client.PrintfLine("QUIT"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("send QUIT: %v", err)
+	}
+	if line, err := client.ReadLine(); err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(line, "205 ") {
+		t.Fatalf("QUIT = %q, %v; want 205", line, err)
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("server did not close after QUIT")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIHaveWithoutMessageIDReturnsSyntaxError(t *testing.T) {
+	backend := &whitespaceBackend{
+		group:     &nntp.Group{Name: "pfs.general", Posting: nntp.PostingPermitted},
+		allowPost: true,
+	}
+	server := NewServer(backend)
+	clientConn, serverConn := net.Pipe()
+	defer clientConn.Close()
+
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		server.Process(serverConn)
+		close(done)
+	}()
+
+	client := textproto.NewConn(clientConn)
+	defer client.Close()
+
+	if line, err := client.ReadLine(); err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(line, "200 ") {
+		t.Fatalf("greeting = %q, %v", line, err)
+	}
+	if err := client.PrintfLine("IHAVE"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("send IHAVE: %v", err)
+	}
+	if line, err := client.ReadLine(); err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(line, "501 ") {
+		t.Fatalf("IHAVE without message-id = %q, %v; want 501", line, err)
+	}
+	if err := client.PrintfLine("QUIT"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("send QUIT: %v", err)
+	}
+	if line, err := client.ReadLine(); err != nil || !strings.HasPrefix(line, "205 ") {
+		t.Fatalf("QUIT = %q, %v; want 205", line, err)
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("server did not close after QUIT")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/plugin/plugin.go b/internal/plugin/plugin.go
index 4f32b24..7bbe300 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/plugin.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/plugin.go
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ type Context struct {
 	DataDir string
 	// AssetsDir is the read-only platform assets tree (wads, binaries).
 	AssetsDir string
+	// Host is the BBS hostname (e.g. bbs.profullstack.com), for building
+	// member homepage URLs (https://Host/~name) and similar links.
+	Host string
 }
 
 // Plugin is the only integration point between a feature and the hub.
diff --git a/internal/pods/pods.go b/internal/pods/pods.go
index 5c0d827..0b10acb 100644
--- a/internal/pods/pods.go
+++ b/internal/pods/pods.go
@@ -70,6 +70,23 @@ func (m *Manager) publicHTMLMount(user string) (host, spec string) {
 	return host, host + ":/home/dev/public_html"
 }
 
+// hasMount reports whether the named container already has a mount at the given
+// destination path. Used to detect pods created before a mount was introduced so
+// ensure can recreate them. A failed inspect reports false (treat as missing).
+func (m *Manager) hasMount(name, dest string) bool {
+	out, err := exec.Command(m.engine, "container", "inspect",
+		"-f", "{{range .Mounts}}{{println .Destination}}{{end}}", name).Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(out), "\n") {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == dest {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // Engine reports the active container engine.
 func (m *Manager) Engine() string { return m.engine }
 
@@ -106,8 +123,21 @@ func (m *Manager) ensure(user string) (string, error) {
 	}
 	// Already exists?
 	if err := exec.Command(m.engine, "container", "inspect", name).Run(); err == nil {
-		_ = exec.Command(m.engine, "start", name).Run() // no-op if running
-		return name, nil
+		// Self-heal pods created before the homepage bind existed: recreate so
+		// ~/public_html maps to the served dir. The named home volume persists
+		// across rm, so the member's files are kept. Only heal when the pod is
+		// idle (no live session) — never pull a running pod out from under an
+		// active session; a still-unbound pod heals on its next idle attach.
+		m.mu.Lock()
+		idle := m.attached[name] == 0
+		m.mu.Unlock()
+		if pubSpec != "" && idle && !m.hasMount(name, "/home/dev/public_html") {
+			_ = exec.Command(m.engine, "rm", "-f", name).Run() // fall through to recreate with the bind
+		} else {
+			_ = exec.Command(m.engine, "start", name).Run() // no-op if running
+			m.tuneApt(name)
+			return name, nil
+		}
 	}
 	args := []string{
 		"run", "-d",
@@ -148,9 +178,28 @@ func (m *Manager) ensure(user string) (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("pods: create failed: %v: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
 	}
+	m.tuneApt(name)
 	return name, nil
 }
 
+// tuneApt makes apt usable inside the hardened pod. apt drops privileges to
+// the _apt user for downloads (setgroups/setegid/seteuid), which needs
+// CAP_SETUID/CAP_SETGID/CAP_CHOWN — caps we intentionally drop (cap-drop ALL).
+// Rather than re-grant those to the whole container, disable apt's download
+// sandbox so package management runs as the pod's (rootless-mapped) root.
+//
+// Only applies to the podman/container-root path; under docker the pod runs as
+// uid 1000 and can't write /etc/apt (apt isn't usable there by design). Failure
+// is non-fatal: a missing config just means the user sees the old apt errors.
+func (m *Manager) tuneApt(name string) {
+	if m.engine == "docker" {
+		return
+	}
+	_ = exec.Command(m.engine, "exec", "--user", "root", name,
+		"sh", "-c", `printf 'APT::Sandbox::User "root";\n' > /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00no-sandbox`,
+	).Run()
+}
+
 // Attach provisions the pod and wires the SSH session to a shell inside it.
 // Blocks until the shell exits or the session closes.
 func (m *Manager) Attach(s ssh.Session, user string) error {
diff --git a/internal/qryptinvite/qryptinvite_test.go b/internal/qryptinvite/qryptinvite_test.go
index 9348549..c7c9618 100644
--- a/internal/qryptinvite/qryptinvite_test.go
+++ b/internal/qryptinvite/qryptinvite_test.go
@@ -148,8 +148,16 @@ func TestTamperedTokenFails(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("original token failed to verify")
 	}
 
-	// Tampering with the signature segment must also fail.
-	badSig := parts[0] + "." + parts[1] + "." + flipLastChar(parts[2])
+	// Tampering with the signature segment must also fail. Corrupt a DECODED
+	// signature byte (not a base64 char): flipping the last base64 char can land
+	// on the unused trailing bits of a 64-byte signature, which decode back to
+	// the same bytes and still verify — that made this test flaky.
+	sigBytes, err := base64.RawURLEncoding.DecodeString(parts[2])
+	if err != nil || len(sigBytes) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("decode signature segment: %v", err)
+	}
+	sigBytes[0] ^= 0xFF
+	badSig := parts[0] + "." + parts[1] + "." + base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(sigBytes)
 	if verifySig(badSig, pub) {
 		t.Fatal("token with corrupted signature verified but should have failed")
 	}
@@ -168,20 +176,6 @@ func verifySig(token string, pub ed25519.PublicKey) bool {
 	return ed25519.Verify(pub, []byte(parts[0]+"."+parts[1]), sig)
 }
 
-func flipLastChar(s string) string {
-	if s == "" {
-		return s
-	}
-	b := []byte(s)
-	last := b[len(b)-1]
-	if last == 'A' {
-		b[len(b)-1] = 'B'
-	} else {
-		b[len(b)-1] = 'A'
-	}
-	return string(b)
-}
-
 func TestParsePrivateKeyAcceptsSeedAndFull(t *testing.T) {
 	_, priv, err := ed25519.GenerateKey(nil)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/store/store.go b/internal/store/store.go
index 5cb797b..bf6b482 100644
--- a/internal/store/store.go
+++ b/internal/store/store.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package store
 import (
 	"database/sql"
 	"errors"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	_ "modernc.org/sqlite"
@@ -45,6 +46,16 @@ func scanUser(sc interface{ Scan(...any) error }) (User, error) {
 	return u, nil
 }
 
+// Message is one member-to-member note in the store-and-forward inbox.
+type Message struct {
+	ID   int64
+	From string
+	To   string
+	Body string
+	Read bool
+	At   time.Time
+}
+
 // Score is one leaderboard entry.
 type Score struct {
 	User  string
@@ -100,6 +111,21 @@ type Store interface {
 	AddChat(userID int64, username, role, text string) error
 	RecentChats(username string, n int) ([]ChatMessage, error)
 
+	// Member-to-member messaging (store-and-forward inbox).
+
+	// SendMessage leaves a note from→to in the recipient's inbox.
+	SendMessage(from, to, body string) error
+	// Inbox returns up to n messages addressed to username, newest first.
+	Inbox(username string, n int) ([]Message, error)
+	// UnreadCount reports how many unread messages username has waiting.
+	UnreadCount(username string) (int, error)
+	// MarkRead marks the given message ids read (scoped to username so a member
+	// can only clear their own mail). Empty ids is a no-op.
+	MarkRead(username string, ids []int64) error
+	// OnlineUsers reports the set of usernames with an open session (no
+	// ended_at), for the members directory presence dots.
+	OnlineUsers() (map[string]bool, error)
+
 	// Custom domains mapped to a member's homepage (public_html).
 	// MapDomain binds domain→username, returning ErrDomainTaken if it is
 	// already claimed by someone else (re-binding to the same owner is a no-op).
@@ -471,6 +497,15 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS news_articles (
 );
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_news_articles_grp ON news_articles(grp, num);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_news_articles_msgid ON news_articles(msg_id);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS messages (
+  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+  from_user TEXT NOT NULL,
+  to_user TEXT NOT NULL,
+  body TEXT NOT NULL,
+  read INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+  created_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT (strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%fZ','now'))
+);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_messages_to ON messages(to_user, id DESC);
 `
 
 func (s *sqliteStore) EnsureUser(name, kind, fp string) (User, error) {
@@ -686,6 +721,75 @@ func (s *sqliteStore) RecentChats(username string, n int) ([]ChatMessage, error)
 	return out, rows.Err()
 }
 
+func (s *sqliteStore) SendMessage(from, to, body string) error {
+	_, err := s.db.Exec(`INSERT INTO messages (from_user, to_user, body) VALUES (?,?,?)`,
+		from, to, body)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (s *sqliteStore) Inbox(username string, n int) ([]Message, error) {
+	if n <= 0 {
+		n = 50
+	}
+	rows, err := s.db.Query(`
+		SELECT id, from_user, to_user, body, read, created_at
+		FROM messages WHERE to_user = ? ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT ?`, username, n)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []Message
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var m Message
+		var read int
+		var at string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&m.ID, &m.From, &m.To, &m.Body, &read, &at); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		m.Read = read != 0
+		m.At, _ = time.Parse(time.RFC3339, at)
+		out = append(out, m)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+func (s *sqliteStore) UnreadCount(username string) (int, error) {
+	var n int
+	err := s.db.QueryRow(`SELECT COUNT(*) FROM messages WHERE to_user = ? AND read = 0`, username).Scan(&n)
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (s *sqliteStore) MarkRead(username string, ids []int64) error {
+	if len(ids) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	q := `UPDATE messages SET read = 1 WHERE to_user = ? AND id IN (?` + strings.Repeat(",?", len(ids)-1) + `)`
+	args := make([]any, 0, len(ids)+1)
+	args = append(args, username)
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		args = append(args, id)
+	}
+	_, err := s.db.Exec(q, args...)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (s *sqliteStore) OnlineUsers() (map[string]bool, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.Query(`SELECT DISTINCT username FROM sessions WHERE ended_at IS NULL`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	online := map[string]bool{}
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var name string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&name); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		online[strings.ToLower(name)] = true
+	}
+	return online, rows.Err()
+}
+
 func (s *sqliteStore) MapDomain(domain, username string) error {
 	var owner string
 	err := s.db.QueryRow(`SELECT username FROM domains WHERE domain = ?`, domain).Scan(&owner)
diff --git a/internal/store/store_messages_test.go b/internal/store/store_messages_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5acac6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/store/store_messages_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+package store
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestMessagingRoundtrip(t *testing.T) {
+	st := openTest(t)
+
+	_, _ = st.EnsureUser("alice", "member", "SHA256:aaa")
+	_, _ = st.EnsureUser("bob", "member", "SHA256:bbb")
+
+	if n, err := st.UnreadCount("bob"); err != nil || n != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh unread: n=%d err=%v", n, err)
+	}
+
+	if err := st.SendMessage("alice", "bob", "hey, c4 tonight?"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("send: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := st.SendMessage("alice", "bob", "second note"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("send2: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	n, err := st.UnreadCount("bob")
+	if err != nil || n != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("unread after send: n=%d err=%v", n, err)
+	}
+
+	inbox, err := st.Inbox("bob", 10)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("inbox: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(inbox) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 messages, got %d", len(inbox))
+	}
+	// Newest first.
+	if inbox[0].Body != "second note" || inbox[0].From != "alice" || inbox[0].To != "bob" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected newest message: %+v", inbox[0])
+	}
+
+	// Mark only the first read; the other stays unread.
+	if err := st.MarkRead("bob", []int64{inbox[0].ID}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("markread: %v", err)
+	}
+	if n, _ := st.UnreadCount("bob"); n != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 1 unread after partial read, got %d", n)
+	}
+
+	// MarkRead is scoped to the recipient: alice can't clear bob's mail.
+	if err := st.MarkRead("alice", []int64{inbox[1].ID}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("markread other: %v", err)
+	}
+	if n, _ := st.UnreadCount("bob"); n != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("cross-user markread leaked: unread=%d", n)
+	}
+
+	// Empty ids is a no-op.
+	if err := st.MarkRead("bob", nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("markread empty: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOnlineUsers(t *testing.T) {
+	st := openTest(t)
+
+	u, _ := st.EnsureUser("carol", "member", "SHA256:ccc")
+	id, _ := st.RecordSession(u.ID, "carol", "1.2.3.4", "hub")
+
+	online, err := st.OnlineUsers()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("online: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !online["carol"] {
+		t.Fatal("carol should be online while her session is open")
+	}
+
+	if err := st.EndSession(id); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("end: %v", err)
+	}
+	online, _ = st.OnlineUsers()
+	if online["carol"] {
+		t.Fatal("carol should be offline after her session ends")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/plugins/members/members.go b/plugins/members/members.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13d77e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/members/members.go
@@ -0,0 +1,421 @@
+// Package members is the member directory + messaging plugin (the BBS "who" and
+// store-and-forward inbox). Members browse who else has an account, see who is
+// online now, finger a profile, leave a message, and read their own inbox.
+//
+// It is members-only (RequiresAuth) — guests have no identity to send from or
+// receive to. Messaging is store-and-forward via the store's messages table;
+// the same inbox is fed by the `ssh msg@host <user>` CLI route.
+package members
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
+
+	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/auth"
+	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/plugin"
+	"github.com/profullstack/agentbbs/internal/store"
+)
+
+type Plugin struct{}
+
+func (Plugin) ID() string          { return "members" }
+func (Plugin) Title() string       { return "Members" }
+func (Plugin) Description() string { return "Who's here · finger a profile · leave a message · inbox" }
+func (Plugin) RequiresAuth() bool  { return true }
+
+func (Plugin) New(user auth.User, ctx plugin.Context) tea.Model {
+	return &model{user: user, ctx: ctx, state: stList}
+}
+
+// state is which sub-screen is showing.
+type state int
+
+const (
+	stList state = iota
+	stProfile
+	stCompose
+	stInbox
+)
+
+// person is one directory row.
+type person struct {
+	name     string
+	kind     string
+	online   bool
+	lastSeen time.Time
+	seenOK   bool
+}
+
+type model struct {
+	user  auth.User
+	ctx   plugin.Context
+	state state
+
+	people []person
+	inbox  []store.Message
+	cursor int // list/inbox cursor
+	target string // who we're fingering/composing to
+
+	draft string // compose buffer
+	note  string // transient status line
+	err   error
+
+	width, height int
+}
+
+// --- loading ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+type loadedMsg struct {
+	people []person
+	err    error
+}
+
+func (m *model) load() tea.Cmd {
+	st := m.ctx.Store
+	me := m.user.Name
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		users, err := st.ListUsers(500)
+		if err != nil {
+			return loadedMsg{err: err}
+		}
+		online, _ := st.OnlineUsers()
+		out := make([]person, 0, len(users))
+		for _, u := range users {
+			if u.Name == me {
+				continue // don't list yourself in the directory
+			}
+			p := person{name: u.Name, kind: u.Kind, online: online[strings.ToLower(u.Name)]}
+			if t, ok, _ := st.LastSeen(u.ID); ok {
+				p.lastSeen, p.seenOK = t, true
+			}
+			out = append(out, p)
+		}
+		// Online first, then most-recently-seen, then name.
+		sort.SliceStable(out, func(i, j int) bool {
+			if out[i].online != out[j].online {
+				return out[i].online
+			}
+			if out[i].seenOK != out[j].seenOK {
+				return out[i].seenOK
+			}
+			if out[i].seenOK && !out[i].lastSeen.Equal(out[j].lastSeen) {
+				return out[i].lastSeen.After(out[j].lastSeen)
+			}
+			return out[i].name < out[j].name
+		})
+		return loadedMsg{people: out}
+	}
+}
+
+type inboxMsg struct {
+	msgs []store.Message
+	err  error
+}
+
+func (m *model) loadInbox() tea.Cmd {
+	st := m.ctx.Store
+	me := m.user.Name
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		msgs, err := st.Inbox(me, 100)
+		if err != nil {
+			return inboxMsg{err: err}
+		}
+		// Opening the inbox marks everything read.
+		var unread []int64
+		for _, mm := range msgs {
+			if !mm.Read {
+				unread = append(unread, mm.ID)
+			}
+		}
+		_ = st.MarkRead(me, unread)
+		return inboxMsg{msgs: msgs}
+	}
+}
+
+type sentMsg struct{ err error }
+
+func (m *model) send(to, body string) tea.Cmd {
+	st := m.ctx.Store
+	from := m.user.Name
+	return func() tea.Msg { return sentMsg{err: st.SendMessage(from, to, body)} }
+}
+
+func (m *model) Init() tea.Cmd { return m.load() }
+
+// --- update ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+func (m *model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	switch msg := msg.(type) {
+	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
+		m.width, m.height = msg.Width, msg.Height
+		return m, nil
+	case loadedMsg:
+		m.people, m.err = msg.people, msg.err
+		if m.cursor >= len(m.people) {
+			m.cursor = 0
+		}
+		return m, nil
+	case inboxMsg:
+		m.inbox, m.err = msg.msgs, msg.err
+		return m, nil
+	case sentMsg:
+		if msg.err != nil {
+			m.note = "send failed: " + msg.err.Error()
+		} else {
+			m.note = "✓ message sent to " + m.target
+			m.state = stProfile
+		}
+		m.draft = ""
+		return m, nil
+	case tea.KeyMsg:
+		return m.handleKey(msg)
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m *model) handleKey(k tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	if m.state == stCompose {
+		return m.composeKey(k)
+	}
+	m.note = ""
+	switch m.state {
+	case stList:
+		switch k.String() {
+		case "q", "esc":
+			return m, plugin.Exit
+		case "up", "k":
+			if m.cursor > 0 {
+				m.cursor--
+			}
+		case "down", "j":
+			if m.cursor < len(m.people)-1 {
+				m.cursor++
+			}
+		case "i":
+			m.state = stInbox
+			m.cursor = 0
+			return m, m.loadInbox()
+		case "r":
+			return m, m.load()
+		case "enter":
+			if p := m.selected(); p != nil {
+				m.target = p.name
+				m.state = stProfile
+			}
+		case "m":
+			if p := m.selected(); p != nil {
+				m.target = p.name
+				m.draft = ""
+				m.state = stCompose
+			}
+		}
+	case stProfile:
+		switch k.String() {
+		case "q", "esc", "backspace":
+			m.state = stList
+		case "m":
+			m.draft = ""
+			m.state = stCompose
+		}
+	case stInbox:
+		switch k.String() {
+		case "q", "esc", "backspace":
+			m.state = stList
+			return m, m.load() // refresh unread badge state
+		case "up", "k":
+			if m.cursor > 0 {
+				m.cursor--
+			}
+		case "down", "j":
+			if m.cursor < len(m.inbox)-1 {
+				m.cursor++
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// composeKey runs the minimal one-line message editor.
+func (m *model) composeKey(k tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	switch k.Type {
+	case tea.KeyEsc:
+		m.state = stProfile
+		m.draft = ""
+		return m, nil
+	case tea.KeyEnter:
+		body := strings.TrimSpace(m.draft)
+		if body == "" {
+			m.note = "type a message first (esc to cancel)"
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		return m, m.send(m.target, body)
+	case tea.KeyBackspace, tea.KeyDelete:
+		if n := len(m.draft); n > 0 {
+			r := []rune(m.draft)
+			m.draft = string(r[:len(r)-1])
+		}
+		return m, nil
+	case tea.KeySpace:
+		m.draft += " "
+		return m, nil
+	case tea.KeyRunes:
+		m.draft += string(k.Runes)
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m *model) selected() *person {
+	if m.cursor < 0 || m.cursor >= len(m.people) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &m.people[m.cursor]
+}
+
+// --- view ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+var (
+	hdr   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#4ade80"))
+	dim   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("241"))
+	sel   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#e2e8f0"))
+	on    = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#4ade80"))
+	off   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("241"))
+	warn  = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("203"))
+	cur   = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#4ade80"))
+	frame = lipgloss.NewStyle().Padding(1, 2)
+)
+
+func (m *model) View() string {
+	var s string
+	switch m.state {
+	case stProfile:
+		s = m.profileView()
+	case stCompose:
+		s = m.composeView()
+	case stInbox:
+		s = m.inboxView()
+	default:
+		s = m.listView()
+	}
+	if m.note != "" {
+		s += "\n" + warn.Render(m.note)
+	}
+	return frame.Render(s)
+}
+
+func (m *model) listView() string {
+	s := hdr.Render("Members") + dim.Render("  ·  who's here") + "\n\n"
+	if m.err != nil {
+		return s + warn.Render("error: "+m.err.Error())
+	}
+	if len(m.people) == 0 {
+		return s + dim.Render("no members yet")
+	}
+	for i, p := range m.people {
+		dot := off.Render("○")
+		if p.online {
+			dot = on.Render("●")
+		}
+		name := p.name
+		c := "  "
+		if i == m.cursor {
+			c = cur.Render("❯ ")
+			name = sel.Render(name)
+		}
+		seen := "online"
+		if !p.online {
+			seen = "last " + relTime(p.lastSeen, p.seenOK)
+		}
+		row := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s %-20s %-8s %s", c, dot, name, p.kind, dim.Render(seen))
+		s += row + "\n"
+	}
+	s += "\n" + dim.Render("↑/↓ move · enter finger · m message · i inbox · r refresh · q back")
+	return s
+}
+
+func (m *model) profileView() string {
+	p := m.find(m.target)
+	s := hdr.Render("finger "+m.target) + "\n\n"
+	if p == nil {
+		return s + dim.Render("unknown member")
+	}
+	status := off.Render("offline") + dim.Render(" · last "+relTime(p.lastSeen, p.seenOK))
+	if p.online {
+		status = on.Render("online now")
+	}
+	home := "~" + p.name
+	if m.ctx.Host != "" {
+		home = "https://" + m.ctx.Host + "/~" + p.name
+	}
+	lines := []string{
+		"  Login:  " + sel.Render(p.name) + "    Kind: " + p.kind,
+		"  Status: " + status,
+		"  Home:   " + dim.Render(home),
+	}
+	s += strings.Join(lines, "\n")
+	s += "\n\n" + dim.Render("m message "+p.name+" · esc back")
+	return s
+}
+
+func (m *model) composeView() string {
+	s := hdr.Render("message "+m.target) + "\n\n"
+	s += dim.Render("from "+m.user.Name+" → "+m.target) + "\n\n"
+	s += "  " + m.draft + cur.Render("▏") + "\n\n"
+	s += dim.Render("enter send · esc cancel")
+	return s
+}
+
+func (m *model) inboxView() string {
+	s := hdr.Render("Inbox") + dim.Render("  ·  "+m.user.Name) + "\n\n"
+	if m.err != nil {
+		return s + warn.Render("error: "+m.err.Error())
+	}
+	if len(m.inbox) == 0 {
+		return s + dim.Render("no messages — select a member and press m to send one") +
+			"\n\n" + dim.Render("esc back")
+	}
+	for i, msg := range m.inbox {
+		c := "  "
+		from := msg.From
+		if i == m.cursor {
+			c = cur.Render("❯ ")
+			from = sel.Render(from)
+		}
+		s += fmt.Sprintf("%s%-16s %s\n", c, from, dim.Render(relTime(msg.At, true)+" ago"))
+		s += "    " + msg.Body + "\n"
+	}
+	s += "\n" + dim.Render("↑/↓ scroll · esc back")
+	return s
+}
+
+func (m *model) find(name string) *person {
+	for i := range m.people {
+		if m.people[i].name == name {
+			return &m.people[i]
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// relTime renders a coarse "2h", "3d", "just now" style age. ok=false → "never".
+func relTime(t time.Time, ok bool) string {
+	if !ok || t.IsZero() {
+		return "never"
+	}
+	d := time.Since(t)
+	switch {
+	case d < time.Minute:
+		return "just now"
+	case d < time.Hour:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%dm", int(d.Minutes()))
+	case d < 24*time.Hour:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%dh", int(d.Hours()))
+	default:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%dd", int(d.Hours()/24))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
index 07cd651..9fbd606 100755
--- a/setup.sh
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ ERGO_DATA="${ERGO_DATA:-/var/lib/ergo}"  # Ergo state dir (ircd.db, tls/)
 FORGEJO="${FORGEJO:-1}"                  # set 0 to skip the AgentGit Forgejo backend (git.${DOMAIN#*.})
 GIT_DOMAIN="${GIT_DOMAIN:-git.${DOMAIN#*.}}"  # AgentGit host (default: git.<root-of-DOMAIN>, e.g. git.profullstack.com)
 FORGEJO_VERSION="${FORGEJO_VERSION:-11.0.1}"  # Forgejo release to install
+MAIL="${MAIL:-1}"                   # set 0 to skip the co-located Mailu mail stack (mail.${DOMAIN#*.})
+MAIL_DOMAIN="${MAIL_DOMAIN:-mail.${DOMAIN#*.}}"  # mail host (default: mail.<root-of-DOMAIN>, e.g. mail.profullstack.com)
 FORGEJO_HTTP_ADDR="${FORGEJO_HTTP_ADDR:-127.0.0.1:3000}"  # Forgejo loopback HTTP (Caddy fronts it)
 FORGEJO_DATA="${FORGEJO_DATA:-/var/lib/forgejo}"  # Forgejo state dir (repos, db)
 FORGEJO_ADMIN_USER="${FORGEJO_ADMIN_USER:-agentgit-admin}"  # Forgejo admin used to provision members
@@ -118,8 +120,11 @@ if ! command -v yt-dlp >/dev/null; then
 fi
 
 # ---- 2. Go toolchain (system go is too old; pin GO_VERSION) -----------------
+# Skipped entirely when SKIP_BUILD=1: the CI deploy builds the binaries on the
+# runner and ships them, so the droplet needs no Go toolchain at all.
 GO_ROOT="/usr/local/go"
-if [ "$("$GO_ROOT/bin/go" version 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $3}')" != "go${GO_VERSION}" ]; then
+if [ "$SKIP_BUILD" != "1" ] && \
+   [ "$("$GO_ROOT/bin/go" version 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $3}')" != "go${GO_VERSION}" ]; then
   log "installing Go ${GO_VERSION}"
   tmp="$(mktemp -d)"
   curl -fsSL "https://go.dev/dl/go${GO_VERSION}.linux-${GOARCH}.tar.gz" -o "$tmp/go.tgz" \
@@ -505,6 +510,20 @@ ${IRC_DOMAIN} {
 "
 fi
 
+# Mail site (${MAIL_DOMAIN}): Caddy serving this host obtains the LE cert that
+# Mailu reuses for SMTP/IMAP TLS (deploy/mailu/refresh-certs.sh copies it). It
+# also fronts the loopback Roundcube webmail. Needs A record ${MAIL_DOMAIN} ->
+# this host. Webmail is the only member-facing mail surface. Omitted when MAIL=0.
+MAIL_SITE=""
+if [ "$MAIL" = "1" ]; then
+  MAIL_SITE="
+${MAIL_DOMAIN} {
+	encode zstd gzip
+	reverse_proxy 127.0.0.1:8080
+}
+"
+fi
+
 cat > /etc/caddy/Caddyfile <<CADDY
 {
 	email ${ACME_EMAIL}
@@ -548,7 +567,7 @@ ${DOMAIN} {
 		file_server
 	}
 }
-${GIT_SITE}${NEWS_SITE}${IRC_SITE}
+${GIT_SITE}${NEWS_SITE}${IRC_SITE}${MAIL_SITE}
 # Free per-user homepages at <name>.${DOMAIN} (needs wildcard DNS
 # *.${DOMAIN} -> this host). On-demand TLS mints a cert only when agentbbs's
 # ask endpoint confirms <name> is a registered member, so random subdomains
@@ -901,6 +920,61 @@ else
   systemctl disable --now forgejo >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 fi
 
+# ---- 9e. Mailu mail stack (co-located mail.${DOMAIN#*.}) --------------------
+# Self-hosted Postfix+Dovecot+Roundcube+rspamd via Docker Compose. Mailu owns
+# the mail ports; Caddy fronts the loopback webmail and supplies the TLS cert
+# (TLS_FLAVOR=mail). agentbbs reads/sends on behalf of paid members. Full setup,
+# DNS, and the gateway master user: docs/mail.md. Disable with MAIL=0.
+MAILU_DIR="${SRC_DIR}/deploy/mailu"
+if [ "$MAIL" = "1" ]; then
+  log "configuring Mailu mail stack (${MAIL_DOMAIN})"
+  # Tell agentbbs how to reach the mailbox backend (master user/pass are secrets
+  # the operator sets; see docs/mail.md).
+  upsert_env AGENTBBS_MAIL_DOMAIN "${MAIL_DOMAIN}"
+  upsert_env AGENTBBS_MAIL_IMAP_ADDR "${MAIL_DOMAIN}:993"
+  upsert_env AGENTBBS_MAIL_SMTP_ADDR "127.0.0.1:25"
+
+  # Cert refresher: copy Caddy's mail cert into Mailu on renewal (like news/IRC).
+  install -m 0755 "${MAILU_DIR}/refresh-certs.sh" /usr/local/bin/agentbbs-mailu-certs
+  cat > /etc/systemd/system/agentbbs-mailu-certs.service <<UNIT
+[Unit]
+Description=Refresh Mailu TLS cert from Caddy for ${MAIL_DOMAIN}
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+Environment=DOMAIN=${DOMAIN#*.}
+Environment=MAIL_HOST=${MAIL_DOMAIN}
+Environment=MAILU_DIR=${MAILU_DIR}
+ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/agentbbs-mailu-certs
+UNIT
+  cat > /etc/systemd/system/agentbbs-mailu-certs.timer <<UNIT
+[Unit]
+Description=Periodic Mailu TLS cert refresh from Caddy
+
+[Timer]
+OnBootSec=5min
+OnUnitActiveSec=12h
+Persistent=true
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=timers.target
+UNIT
+  systemctl daemon-reload
+  systemctl enable --now agentbbs-mailu-certs.timer >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+  # Open the mail ports; bring Mailu up only once the operator has created
+  # mailu.env (it carries SECRET_KEY + admin password — never auto-generated).
+  for p in 25 465 587 993 995; do ufw allow "${p}/tcp" >/dev/null; done
+  if command -v docker >/dev/null && [ -f "${MAILU_DIR}/mailu.env" ]; then
+    ( cd "$MAILU_DIR" && docker compose up -d ) || warn "mailu: docker compose up failed — check ${MAILU_DIR}"
+  else
+    warn "Mailu not started yet: create ${MAILU_DIR}/mailu.env (cp mailu.env.example) and run 'docker compose up -d' — see docs/mail.md"
+  fi
+else
+  upsert_env AGENTBBS_MAIL_DOMAIN ""
+  systemctl disable --now agentbbs-mailu-certs.timer >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+fi
+
 # ---- 10. firewall + start agentbbs on :22 ----------------------------------
 log "configuring firewall + starting agentbbs"
 ufw allow 22/tcp >/dev/null