diff --git a/docs/fish-config.index b/docs/fish-config.index
index f47089b..446c2c3 100644
--- a/docs/fish-config.index
+++ b/docs/fish-config.index
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ devlogs=### agents-init
 claude-cli=### claude
 claude-docs=### claude-docs
 claude-pr=### claude-pr
+qc=### qc
+quick-chat=### qc
+aichat=### qc
 superpowers=### superpowers
 media=## 5.13 Media and Utilities
 dng2avif=### dng2avif
diff --git a/docs/fish-config.md b/docs/fish-config.md
index 00b7e06..615c1ba 100644
--- a/docs/fish-config.md
+++ b/docs/fish-config.md
@@ -1247,6 +1247,23 @@ Add -i (interactive confirmation) to destructive commands:
     conventional commit, verification, push, and open a PR with a manual
     verification checklist.
 
+### qc
+
+    Synopsis:  qc [prompt...]
+    Quick-chat wrapper around the aichat LLM CLI that defaults to the "cli"
+    role - a system prompt tuned for concise, terminal-friendly output. On
+    first use it installs the bundled role by symlinking
+    scripts/cli-agent.md to $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/aichat/roles/cli.md (creating
+    the directory if needed). Inherits every aichat flag and tab completion
+    (--wraps aichat); passing --role/-r overrides the default role, so qc
+    forwards to aichat unchanged. The function is only defined when aichat
+    is installed. Run qc --help for aichat's full flag reference with the
+    command name rewritten to qc.
+
+    qc "how do I list open ports on linux?"
+    qc -m ollama:llama3 "explain this error"
+    qc --role coder "refactor this function"
+
 ### superpowers
 
     Synopsis:  superpowers [on|off] [-g]
diff --git a/functions/qc.fish b/functions/qc.fish
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11545c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/functions/qc.fish
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2026 Rootiest
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# SYNOPSIS
+#   qc [prompt...]
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#   Quick-chat wrapper around aichat using the "cli" role. Resolves the
+#   aichat config directory (honoring $XDG_CONFIG_HOME), creates it if
+#   missing, and installs the bundled cli-agent role as a symlink at
+#   roles/cli.md on first use. Inherits aichat's own flags and tab
+#   completions (--wraps). The function is only defined when aichat is
+#   installed.
+#
+# ARGUMENTS
+#   prompt...     Prompt forwarded to aichat
+#   -h, --help    Show usage help
+#
+# RETURNS
+#   aichat's exit status.
+#
+# EXAMPLE
+#   qc "how do I list open ports on linux?"
+if type -q aichat
+    function qc --wraps aichat --description 'Quick-chat wrapper around aichat (cli role)'
+        if contains -- -h $argv; or contains -- --help $argv
+            set -l c_ttl (set_color --bold cyan)
+            set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold white)
+            set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
+            set -l c_txt (set_color normal)
+            set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
+            set -l c_rst (set_color normal)
+            set -l w 59
+            set -l bar (string repeat -n $w ─)
+            # Title line, padded to the box width (plain form drives the math).
+            set -l title "  qc — quick-chat: a thin aichat wrapper"
+            set -l pad (string repeat -n (math $w - (string length -- $title)) ' ')
+            echo "$c_dim╭$bar╮$c_rst"
+            echo "$c_dim│$c_rst  $c_ttl""qc$c_rst $c_dim—$c_rst quick-chat: a thin $c_cmd""aichat$c_rst wrapper$pad$c_dim│$c_rst"
+            echo "$c_dim╰$bar╯$c_rst"
+            echo "  Defaults to the $c_flag'cli'$c_rst role — an AI system prompt tuned"
+            echo "  for concise, $c_txt""terminal-friendly$c_rst output."
+            echo
+            echo "  Accepts every $c_cmd""aichat$c_rst flag; passing $c_flag--role$c_rst/$c_flag-r$c_rst overrides"
+            echo "  the default role. $c_cmd""aichat$c_rst's own help follows:"
+            echo "$c_dim$bar$c_rst"
+            aichat --help | string replace -a aichat qc
+            return 0
+        end
+
+        set -q XDG_CONFIG_HOME; or set -l XDG_CONFIG_HOME $HOME/.config
+        set -l role $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/aichat/roles/cli.md
+
+        if not test -e $role
+            set -l src (path resolve (status dirname)/../scripts/cli-agent.md)
+            mkdir -p (path dirname $role)
+            ln -s $src $role
+        end
+
+        # Forward as-is if the user already picked a role; otherwise default to cli.
+        if contains -- -r $argv; or contains -- --role $argv; or string match -qr -- '^--role=' $argv
+            aichat $argv
+        else
+            aichat --role cli $argv
+        end
+    end
+end
diff --git a/scripts/cli-agent.md b/scripts/cli-agent.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..903b832
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/cli-agent.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+temperature: 0.3
+---
+You are a minimalist terminal assistant. 
+Give short, direct, and straightforward answers.
+Keep line lengths under 100 characters.
+Avoid fluff, conversational filler, and extensive introductory or concluding prose.
+Be concise.