diff --git a/functions/__config_settings_draw.fish b/functions/__config_settings_draw.fish
index 1d28444..6518ddd 100644
--- a/functions/__config_settings_draw.fish
+++ b/functions/__config_settings_draw.fish
@@ -38,13 +38,7 @@ function __config_settings_draw
     set -l cur_scope $argv[2]
     set -l vars      $argv[3..]
 
-    set -l c_ok    (set_color green)
-    set -l c_err   (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim   (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_sel   (set_color --bold magenta)
-    set -l c_hi    (set_color --bold white)
-    set -l c_head  (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -l labels Aliases Auto-exec Overrides Integrations Logging Greeting Master
 
diff --git a/functions/__config_settings_draw_subcat.fish b/functions/__config_settings_draw_subcat.fish
index c7dccd3..e9ef166 100644
--- a/functions/__config_settings_draw_subcat.fish
+++ b/functions/__config_settings_draw_subcat.fish
@@ -41,12 +41,7 @@ function __config_settings_draw_subcat
     set -l cur_scope    $argv[2]
     set -l category_var $argv[3]
 
-    set -l c_ok    (set_color green)
-    set -l c_err   (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim   (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_sel   (set_color --bold magenta)
-    set -l c_head  (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -l rows (__config_settings_subcats $category_var)
     set -l n (count $rows)
diff --git a/functions/__config_settings_draw_value.fish b/functions/__config_settings_draw_value.fish
index f315056..98237e4 100644
--- a/functions/__config_settings_draw_value.fish
+++ b/functions/__config_settings_draw_value.fish
@@ -33,12 +33,7 @@ function __config_settings_draw_value
     set -l edit_mode $argv[3]
     set -l edit_buf  $argv[4]
 
-    set -l c_ok    (set_color green)
-    set -l c_err   (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim   (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_sel   (set_color --bold magenta)
-    set -l c_head  (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     # ── Page row metadata (parallel lists) ────────────────────────────────
     set -l title
diff --git a/functions/__config_settings_pagetab.fish b/functions/__config_settings_pagetab.fish
index 024ce01..b9d5a49 100644
--- a/functions/__config_settings_pagetab.fish
+++ b/functions/__config_settings_pagetab.fish
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ function __config_settings_pagetab
     set -l active $argv[1]
     set -l iw     $argv[2]
 
-    set -l c_hi    (set_color --bold white)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
     set -l names Universal Session Sponge Paths
 
     set -l strip ' '
diff --git a/functions/__fish_palette.fish b/functions/__fish_palette.fish
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7097f39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/functions/__fish_palette.fish
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2026 Rootiest
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# SYNOPSIS
+#   __fish_palette
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#   Defines the shared terminal-output colour roles used by the
+#   user-facing functions in this configuration. Declared
+#   --no-scope-shadowing and using a bare `set`, so the variables are
+#   created in the CALLER's scope -- a consumer just calls it and then
+#   interpolates $c_head, $c_err and friends exactly as it did when the
+#   declarations were inline.
+#
+#   Call it where the local declarations used to sit, once per contiguous
+#   block that needs the palette. set_color runs at call time, so the
+#   values track $TERM exactly as inline declarations did. (Measured:
+#   set_color output is identical across every TERM tested except
+#   TERM=dumb, which yields empty strings, and is unaffected by whether
+#   stdout is a tty or a pipe.)
+#
+#   A role is a semantic slot, not a colour. c_flag and c_warn are both
+#   yellow but stay separate, as do c_ok and c_accent (both green) --
+#   merging either pair would foreclose ever restyling one without the
+#   other. c_accent is the command name in logs and smart_exit, which
+#   style it green where the rest of the config styles it bold.
+#
+# ARGUMENTS
+#   none
+#
+# EXIT STATUS
+#   0  always
+#
+# EXAMPLE
+#   function mytool
+#       __fish_palette
+#       echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""mytool$c_reset"
+#   end
+#
+# NOTES
+#   Calling this at top level (outside any function) creates GLOBAL
+#   variables. Every consumer calls it from inside a function, where the
+#   variables stay function-local and do not leak.
+#
+#   functions/fish_prompt.fish deliberately does NOT use this palette. Its
+#   c_* values are Catppuccin hex strings passed as ARGUMENTS to set_color
+#   (`set_color --bold $c_green`), not captured escape sequences -- colour
+#   inputs rather than rendered output, a different concern.
+
+function __fish_palette --no-scope-shadowing --description 'Define the shared output colour palette in the caller scope'
+    set c_reset (set_color normal)
+    set c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
+    set c_cmd (set_color --bold)
+    set c_arg (set_color cyan)
+    set c_flag (set_color yellow)
+    set c_warn (set_color yellow)
+    set c_err (set_color red)
+    set c_ok (set_color green)
+    set c_accent (set_color green)
+    set c_dim (set_color brblack)
+    set c_sel (set_color --bold magenta)
+    set c_hi (set_color --bold white)
+end
diff --git a/functions/_agents_init_ensure_gitignore.fish b/functions/_agents_init_ensure_gitignore.fish
index 45d4c9f..f8b9ee3 100644
--- a/functions/_agents_init_ensure_gitignore.fish
+++ b/functions/_agents_init_ensure_gitignore.fish
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@
 # EXAMPLE
 #   _agents_init_ensure_gitignore /home/user/myproject "agents-init" "AGENTS/" "/AGENTS.md"
 function _agents_init_ensure_gitignore
-    set -l c_ok    (set_color green)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     if test (count $argv) -lt 3
         echo (set_color red)"_agents_init_ensure_gitignore: requires <root> <label> <pattern>..."(set_color normal) >&2
diff --git a/functions/agents-init.fish b/functions/agents-init.fish
index 8c5ef93..ca36e19 100644
--- a/functions/agents-init.fish
+++ b/functions/agents-init.fish
@@ -85,14 +85,7 @@
 #   agents-init --plugins
 #   agents-init --quiet
 function agents-init --description 'scaffold AGENTS/ sub-repo with agent spec files and plugin dirs'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     argparse h/help a/agents p/plugins v/verbose q/quiet s/silent -- $argv
     or return 1
diff --git a/functions/agents-vault.fish b/functions/agents-vault.fish
index 02330f1..fdc2aaf 100644
--- a/functions/agents-vault.fish
+++ b/functions/agents-vault.fish
@@ -186,14 +186,7 @@
 #   throwaway directory and leave a dangling symlink behind, which is
 #   strictly worse than having had no backup at all.
 function agents-vault --description 'track curated agent memory in a host-scoped vault repo'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     argparse h/help link push restore status 'adopt=' 'remote=' \
         v/verbose q/quiet s/silent -- $argv
diff --git a/functions/auto-pull.fish b/functions/auto-pull.fish
index a012092..2a4a532 100644
--- a/functions/auto-pull.fish
+++ b/functions/auto-pull.fish
@@ -42,14 +42,7 @@
 #   auto-pull list
 #   auto-pull remove qmk_firmware
 function auto-pull --description 'Manage the auto-pull repository registry'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -q __fish_config_dir; or set -l __fish_config_dir $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/fish
     set -q __fish_user_dots_path; or set -l __fish_user_dots_path "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/.user-dots/fish"
diff --git a/functions/bkg.fish b/functions/bkg.fish
index 517dd27..5bffc67 100644
--- a/functions/bkg.fish
+++ b/functions/bkg.fish
@@ -27,10 +27,7 @@ function bkg --description 'Execute bkg'
 
     # Check if a command was provided as an argument.
     if test -z "$argv[1]"
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""bkg$c_reset $c_arg""<command> [arguments...]$c_reset"
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/config-settings.fish b/functions/config-settings.fish
index 4ac0260..18ec183 100644
--- a/functions/config-settings.fish
+++ b/functions/config-settings.fish
@@ -69,12 +69,7 @@
 # EXAMPLE
 #   config-settings
 function config-settings --description 'Interactive TUI for managing fish config settings'
-    set -l c_head  (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd   (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag  (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_dim   (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_err   (set_color red)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     # ── Argument parsing ──────────────────────────────────
     for arg in $argv
diff --git a/functions/config-update.fish b/functions/config-update.fish
index 1d3fc8a..c756166 100644
--- a/functions/config-update.fish
+++ b/functions/config-update.fish
@@ -27,14 +27,7 @@
 #   config-update --dry-run
 #   config-update --force
 function config-update --description 'Pull latest fish config from upstream'
-    set -l c_head  (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd   (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag  (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok    (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn  (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err   (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim   (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -l REMOTE_URL https://git.rootiest.dev/rootiest/fish-config.git
     set -l CONFIG_DIR ~/.config/fish
diff --git a/functions/detach.fish b/functions/detach.fish
index 9c3af35..997e511 100644
--- a/functions/detach.fish
+++ b/functions/detach.fish
@@ -25,11 +25,7 @@
 # EXAMPLE
 #   detach rsync -a ./data remote:/backup/
 function detach --description 'Execute detach'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -l show_help 0
     set -l args
diff --git a/functions/dng2avif.fish b/functions/dng2avif.fish
index 5f27505..782c949 100644
--- a/functions/dng2avif.fish
+++ b/functions/dng2avif.fish
@@ -38,11 +38,7 @@ function dng2avif --description 'Convert DNG raw to 10-bit HDR AVIF'
 
     # Help Screen
     if set -q _flag_help; or test (count $argv) -eq 0 -a -z "$_flag_input"
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-        set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""dng2avif$c_reset $c_flag""[options]$c_reset $c_dim""[input.dng]$c_reset"
         echo ""
         echo "$c_head""Options:$c_reset"
diff --git a/functions/dockup.fish b/functions/dockup.fish
index 2f2fbf8..97c78fe 100644
--- a/functions/dockup.fish
+++ b/functions/dockup.fish
@@ -30,11 +30,7 @@ function dockup --description 'Pull and restart docker compose containers'
 
     # Handle help flags
     if contains -- -h $argv; or contains -- --help $argv
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-        set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""dockup$c_reset $c_dim""[DIRECTORY]$c_reset"
         echo ""
         echo "$c_head""Options:$c_reset"
diff --git a/functions/edit.fish b/functions/edit.fish
index 8bb34b1..b312b83 100644
--- a/functions/edit.fish
+++ b/functions/edit.fish
@@ -45,12 +45,7 @@
 #   edit --editor=code --clipboard
 #   edit --text="hello world"
 function edit --description 'Open files in a terminal or GUI editor with fallbacks'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     # Opinionated guard (C1): fall back to the legacy bare-editor behavior.
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
diff --git a/functions/fish-deps.fish b/functions/fish-deps.fish
index 1e244ab..850de30 100644
--- a/functions/fish-deps.fish
+++ b/functions/fish-deps.fish
@@ -100,11 +100,7 @@ end
 # EXAMPLE
 #   __fish_deps_help
 function __fish_deps_help
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     echo "$c_head""fish-deps$c_reset — manage fish shell dependencies"
     echo ""
diff --git a/functions/hist.fish b/functions/hist.fish
index 56ba689..c8e0dbd 100644
--- a/functions/hist.fish
+++ b/functions/hist.fish
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ function hist --description 'Search fish history and put it in the prompt'
 
     # Opinionated guard (C4): integrations disabled
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
-        set -l c_err (set_color red)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_err"'hist: disabled by __fish_config_op_integrations'"$c_reset" >&2
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/jobrunner.fish b/functions/jobrunner.fish
index 1fffdf6..9c5a24c 100644
--- a/functions/jobrunner.fish
+++ b/functions/jobrunner.fish
@@ -51,14 +51,7 @@
 #   redirections must be wrapped explicitly, e.g.
 #   jobrunner run sync fish -c 'a | b'.
 function jobrunner --description 'Manage detached background jobs with tmux or GNU screen'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok (set_color green)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -l subcmds run list attach kill logs help \
         -r --run -l --list -a --attach -k --kill -o --output -h --help
diff --git a/functions/kitty-logging.fish b/functions/kitty-logging.fish
index dbff8d9..82eb2bc 100644
--- a/functions/kitty-logging.fish
+++ b/functions/kitty-logging.fish
@@ -38,14 +38,7 @@
 #   kitty-logging install
 #   kitty-logging status
 function kitty-logging --description 'Install/manage the fish-config Kitty scrollback watcher'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     set -l cmd $argv[1]
 
diff --git a/functions/logs.fish b/functions/logs.fish
index fe64d17..12efbf9 100644
--- a/functions/logs.fish
+++ b/functions/logs.fish
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@
 function logs --description 'Browse terminal log files interactively with fzf'
     # Opinionated guard (C4): integrations disabled
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
-        set -l c_err (set_color red)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_err"'logs: disabled by __fish_config_op_integrations'"$c_reset" >&2
         return 1
     end
@@ -50,24 +49,21 @@ function logs --description 'Browse terminal log files interactively with fzf'
     or return 1
 
     if set -q _flag_help
-        set -l c_accent (set_color green)
-        set -l c_primary (set_color cyan)
-        set -l c_bold (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
-        echo "Usage: "$c_accent"logs"$c_reset" ["$c_primary"OPTIONS"$c_reset"]"
+        __fish_palette
+        echo "Usage: "$c_accent"logs"$c_reset" ["$c_arg"OPTIONS"$c_reset"]"
         echo ""
         echo "Browse and open terminal log files interactively."
         echo "Logs sorted newest-first. Type to fuzzy-filter by date or category."
         echo ""
         echo "Options:"
-        echo "  "$c_primary"-h, --help"$c_reset"       Show this help"
-        echo "  "$c_primary"-c, --category"$c_reset"   Limit to one category: scrollback, paru, yay"
+        echo "  "$c_arg"-h, --help"$c_reset"       Show this help"
+        echo "  "$c_arg"-c, --category"$c_reset"   Limit to one category: scrollback, paru, yay"
         echo ""
         echo "Keys in fzf:"
-        echo "  "$c_primary"Enter"$c_reset"     Open in \$PAGER"
-        echo "  "$c_primary"Ctrl-E"$c_reset"    Open in \$EDITOR"
-        echo "  "$c_primary"Ctrl-D"$c_reset"    Delete selected log"
-        echo "  "$c_primary"Ctrl-C"$c_reset"    Quit"
+        echo "  "$c_arg"Enter"$c_reset"     Open in \$PAGER"
+        echo "  "$c_arg"Ctrl-E"$c_reset"    Open in \$EDITOR"
+        echo "  "$c_arg"Ctrl-D"$c_reset"    Delete selected log"
+        echo "  "$c_arg"Ctrl-C"$c_reset"    Quit"
         return 0
     end
 
diff --git a/functions/mkcd.fish b/functions/mkcd.fish
index 3a2eac9..5cf8c30 100644
--- a/functions/mkcd.fish
+++ b/functions/mkcd.fish
@@ -26,31 +26,23 @@
 #   mkcd ~/projects/myapp
 #   mkcd ~/projects/newapp/src
 function mkcd --description 'Create a directory (with parents) and cd into it'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd  (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_arg  (set_color cyan)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok   (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err  (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim  (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_rst  (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     if contains -- -h $argv; or contains -- --help $argv; or test (count $argv) -eq 0
-        echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_rst $c_cmd""mkcd$c_rst $c_arg""<dir>$c_rst"
+        echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""mkcd$c_reset $c_arg""<dir>$c_reset"
         echo
-        echo "  Create $c_arg""<dir>$c_rst (including missing parents) and cd into it."
+        echo "  Create $c_arg""<dir>$c_reset (including missing parents) and cd into it."
         echo
-        echo "$c_head""Arguments:$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_arg""<dir>$c_rst   Directory to create and enter"
+        echo "$c_head""Arguments:$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_arg""<dir>$c_reset   Directory to create and enter"
         echo
-        echo "$c_head""Flags:$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_flag-h$c_rst, $c_flag--help$c_rst   Show this help message"
-        echo "  $c_flag-s$c_rst, $c_flag--silent$c_rst  Suppress directory creation output"
+        echo "$c_head""Flags:$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_flag-h$c_reset, $c_flag--help$c_reset   Show this help message"
+        echo "  $c_flag-s$c_reset, $c_flag--silent$c_reset  Suppress directory creation output"
         echo
-        echo "$c_head""Examples:$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_cmd""mkcd$c_rst $c_arg~/projects/myapp$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_cmd""mkcd$c_rst $c_arg~/projects/myapp$c_rst""$c_dim""; git init$c_rst"
+        echo "$c_head""Examples:$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_cmd""mkcd$c_reset $c_arg~/projects/myapp$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_cmd""mkcd$c_reset $c_arg~/projects/myapp$c_reset""$c_dim""; git init$c_reset"
         return 0
     end
 
@@ -77,8 +69,8 @@ function mkcd --description 'Create a directory (with parents) and cd into it'
     or return $status
 
     if test $is_new -eq 1
-        echo "$c_ok""✔$c_rst  Created and entered $c_arg$dir$c_rst"
+        echo "$c_ok""✔$c_reset  Created and entered $c_arg$dir$c_reset"
     else
-        echo "$c_warn""→$c_rst  $c_arg$dir$c_rst already exists — entered"
+        echo "$c_warn""→$c_reset  $c_arg$dir$c_reset already exists — entered"
     end
 end
diff --git a/functions/open-url.fish b/functions/open-url.fish
index 609e515..7c6b2bc 100644
--- a/functions/open-url.fish
+++ b/functions/open-url.fish
@@ -41,11 +41,7 @@
 # NOTES
 #   Typo abbreviation: url-open (expands to open-url on space/enter).
 function open-url --description 'Open a URL in the best available web browser'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     argparse h/help s/silent v/verbose -- $argv
     or return 1
diff --git a/functions/p.fish b/functions/p.fish
index 7a85cab..2c5562a 100644
--- a/functions/p.fish
+++ b/functions/p.fish
@@ -28,11 +28,7 @@
 function p --description 'Put from clipboard'
     # Check for help flag
     if contains -- -h $argv; or contains -- --help $argv
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-        set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""p$c_reset $c_flag""[OPTIONS]$c_reset"
         echo ""
         echo "  Pastes content from the system clipboard to stdout."
diff --git a/functions/pkg.fish b/functions/pkg.fish
index d7ba4c3..15f968d 100644
--- a/functions/pkg.fish
+++ b/functions/pkg.fish
@@ -46,14 +46,7 @@ function pkg --description 'Install or remove packages via the system package ma
     end
 
     # ── Colour palette ───────────────────────────────────────────
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_ok (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_err (set_color red)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     # ── Installed-check helper ───────────────────────────────────
     # Uses only its own arguments — safe to define as an inner function.
diff --git a/functions/play-media.fish b/functions/play-media.fish
index 1a81041..63cc34c 100644
--- a/functions/play-media.fish
+++ b/functions/play-media.fish
@@ -36,11 +36,7 @@
 #   play-media
 #   play-media --player mpv
 function play-media --description 'Pick audio/video files with fzf and play them'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     argparse h/help p/player= -- $argv
     or return 1
diff --git a/functions/qc.fish b/functions/qc.fish
index f598ec0..87a1acf 100644
--- a/functions/qc.fish
+++ b/functions/qc.fish
@@ -32,26 +32,21 @@
 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)
-            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)
+            __fish_palette
             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 "$c_dim╭$bar╮$c_reset"
+            echo "$c_dim│$c_reset  $c_head""qc$c_reset $c_dim—$c_reset quick-chat: a thin $c_cmd""aichat$c_reset wrapper$pad$c_dim│$c_reset"
+            echo "$c_dim╰$bar╯$c_reset"
+            echo "  Defaults to the $c_flag'cli'$c_reset role — an AI system prompt tuned"
+            echo "  for concise, $c_reset""terminal-friendly$c_reset 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"
+            echo "  Accepts every $c_cmd""aichat$c_reset flag; passing $c_flag--role$c_reset/$c_flag-r$c_reset overrides"
+            echo "  the default role. $c_cmd""aichat$c_reset's own help follows:"
+            echo "$c_dim$bar$c_reset"
             aichat --help | string replace -a aichat qc
             return 0
         end
diff --git a/functions/rand_string.fish b/functions/rand_string.fish
index c5b0312..1fcd6db 100644
--- a/functions/rand_string.fish
+++ b/functions/rand_string.fish
@@ -38,31 +38,27 @@
 #   Falls back to random choice if GNU shuf is missing, but shuf is
 #   much faster for files with >1000 lines.
 function rand_string --description 'Generate random, memorable strings from curated word databases'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_rst (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     if set -q argv[1]; and contains -- $argv[1] -h --help
-        echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_rst $c_cmd""rand_string$c_rst $c_arg""[COMPONENTS/MODIFIERS]...$c_rst"
+        echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""rand_string$c_reset $c_arg""[COMPONENTS/MODIFIERS]...$c_reset"
         echo
         echo "  Generate random, memorable strings from curated word databases."
         echo
-        echo "$c_head""Components:$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_arg<category>$c_rst    A bundled word list (e.g. adjective, animal, color, name, noun, verb)"
-        echo "  $c_arg""digits=<N>$c_rst    N random digits (e.g. digits=3 -> 842)"
-        echo "  $c_arg""literal=<text>$c_rst A static string component for prefixes/suffixes (e.g. literal=TEST)"
+        echo "$c_head""Components:$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_arg<category>$c_reset    A bundled word list (e.g. adjective, animal, color, name, noun, verb)"
+        echo "  $c_arg""digits=<N>$c_reset    N random digits (e.g. digits=3 -> 842)"
+        echo "  $c_arg""literal=<text>$c_reset A static string component for prefixes/suffixes (e.g. literal=TEST)"
         echo
-        echo "$c_head""Modifiers:$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_flag-s$c_rst, $c_flag--separator=<sep>$c_rst   Delimiter for subsequent words (dash, underscore, dot, none)"
-        echo "  $c_flag-c$c_rst, $c_flag--case=<casing>$c_rst     Casing for subsequent words (lower, upper, title)"
-        echo "  $c_flag-h$c_rst, $c_flag--help$c_rst              Show usage help"
+        echo "$c_head""Modifiers:$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_flag-s$c_reset, $c_flag--separator=<sep>$c_reset   Delimiter for subsequent words (dash, underscore, dot, none)"
+        echo "  $c_flag-c$c_reset, $c_flag--case=<casing>$c_reset     Casing for subsequent words (lower, upper, title)"
+        echo "  $c_flag-h$c_reset, $c_flag--help$c_reset              Show usage help"
         echo
-        echo "$c_head""Examples:$c_rst"
-        echo "  $c_cmd""rand_string$c_rst adjective animal"
-        echo "  $c_cmd""rand_string$c_rst --case=title color animal --separator=dot digits=4"
-        echo "  $c_cmd""rand_string$c_rst literal=TEST --separator=underscore verb noun"
+        echo "$c_head""Examples:$c_reset"
+        echo "  $c_cmd""rand_string$c_reset adjective animal"
+        echo "  $c_cmd""rand_string$c_reset --case=title color animal --separator=dot digits=4"
+        echo "  $c_cmd""rand_string$c_reset literal=TEST --separator=underscore verb noun"
         return 0
     end
 
diff --git a/functions/replay.fish b/functions/replay.fish
index 6f29f12..7a7ce22 100644
--- a/functions/replay.fish
+++ b/functions/replay.fish
@@ -27,11 +27,7 @@ function replay --description 'Run Bash commands replaying changes in Fish'
         case -v --version
             echo "replay, version 1.2.1"
         case "" -h --help
-            set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-            set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-            set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-            set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-            set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+            __fish_palette
             echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""replay$c_reset $c_arg""<commands>$c_reset  Run Bash commands replaying changes in Fish"
             echo "$c_head""Options:$c_reset"
             echo "       $c_flag-v$c_reset or $c_flag--version$c_reset  Print version"
diff --git a/functions/repo-open.fish b/functions/repo-open.fish
index 60eee02..8cc0c91 100644
--- a/functions/repo-open.fish
+++ b/functions/repo-open.fish
@@ -52,10 +52,7 @@
 # NOTES
 #   Typo abbreviation: open-repo (expands to repo-open on space/enter).
 function repo-open --description 'Open the origin remote of the current repo in a browser'
-    set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-    set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     argparse -X 0 h/help p/print r/root -- $argv
     or return 1
diff --git a/functions/scrub.fish b/functions/scrub.fish
index 02a60cd..8670780 100644
--- a/functions/scrub.fish
+++ b/functions/scrub.fish
@@ -63,10 +63,7 @@ function scrub --description 'Recursively purge OS, editor, and compiler garbage
 
     # Helper function for help menu text
     function _scrub_help
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
 
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""scrub$c_reset $c_flag""[options]$c_reset"
         echo
diff --git a/functions/smart_exit.fish b/functions/smart_exit.fish
index 4d34c61..747b605 100644
--- a/functions/smart_exit.fish
+++ b/functions/smart_exit.fish
@@ -44,20 +44,16 @@ function smart_exit --description 'Capture colorized scrollback before exiting,
     argparse $options -- $argv
     or return 1
 
-    set -l c_primary (set_color cyan)
-    set -l c_accent (set_color green)
-    set -l c_warn (set_color yellow)
-    set -l c_bold (set_color --bold)
-    set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+    __fish_palette
 
     if set -q _flag_help
-        echo -e "Usage: $c_accent"exit"$c_reset [$c_primary""OPTIONS""$c_reset]"
+        echo -e "Usage: $c_accent"exit"$c_reset [$c_arg""OPTIONS""$c_reset]"
         echo ""
         echo "Closes the current shell session, automatically archiving the window scrollback."
         echo ""
         echo "Options:"
-        echo -e "  $c_primary""-h, --help""$c_reset    Show this help message"
-        echo -e "  $c_primary""-n, --no-log""$c_reset  Exit immediately $c_bold""without""$c_reset saving a scrollback history log"
+        echo -e "  $c_arg""-h, --help""$c_reset    Show this help message"
+        echo -e "  $c_arg""-n, --no-log""$c_reset  Exit immediately $c_cmd""without""$c_reset saving a scrollback history log"
         return 0
     end
 
@@ -112,7 +108,7 @@ function smart_exit --description 'Capture colorized scrollback before exiting,
             end
         end
     else
-        echo -e "$c_warn""➔""$c_reset Exiting discreetly; $c_bold""no history logs saved.""$c_reset"
+        echo -e "$c_warn""➔""$c_reset Exiting discreetly; $c_cmd""no history logs saved.""$c_reset"
         sleep 0.4
     end
 
diff --git a/functions/spark.fish b/functions/spark.fish
index 19ddfad..2420de1 100644
--- a/functions/spark.fish
+++ b/functions/spark.fish
@@ -29,11 +29,7 @@ function spark --description 'Sparklines'
     if set --query _flag_version[1]
         echo "spark, version 1.1.0"
     else if set --query _flag_help[1]
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_flag (set_color yellow)
-        set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""spark$c_reset $c_arg""<numbers ...>$c_reset"
         echo "       stdin | $c_cmd""spark$c_reset"
         echo "$c_head""Options:$c_reset"
diff --git a/functions/split.fish b/functions/split.fish
index 32b2695..2b4bad6 100644
--- a/functions/split.fish
+++ b/functions/split.fish
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ function split --description 'Run a command in a new terminal split'
 
     # Opinionated guard (C4): integrations disabled
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
-        set -l c_err (set_color red)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_err"'split: disabled by __fish_config_op_integrations'"$c_reset" >&2
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/spwin.fish b/functions/spwin.fish
index 9068790..50532b7 100644
--- a/functions/spwin.fish
+++ b/functions/spwin.fish
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ function spwin --wraps='~/.config/kitty/spawn-window.sh' --description 'spawn wi
 
     # Opinionated guard (C4): integrations disabled
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
-        set -l c_err (set_color red)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_err"'spwin: disabled by __fish_config_op_integrations'"$c_reset" >&2
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/tab.fish b/functions/tab.fish
index 6590dce..601b4d1 100644
--- a/functions/tab.fish
+++ b/functions/tab.fish
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ function tab --description 'Spawn a new tab in the current terminal'
 
     # Opinionated guard (C4): integrations disabled
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
-        set -l c_err (set_color red)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_err"'tab: disabled by __fish_config_op_integrations'"$c_reset" >&2
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/upgrade.fish b/functions/upgrade.fish
index 20d2fc9..9139801 100644
--- a/functions/upgrade.fish
+++ b/functions/upgrade.fish
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ function upgrade --description 'Full system upgrade via paru or yay'
 
     # Opinionated guard (C4): integrations disabled
     if not __fish_config_op_enabled (status current-function)
-        set -l c_err (set_color red)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_err"'upgrade: disabled by __fish_config_op_integrations'"$c_reset" >&2
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/wake-lock.fish b/functions/wake-lock.fish
index 1c55ee8..0f11920 100644
--- a/functions/wake-lock.fish
+++ b/functions/wake-lock.fish
@@ -25,10 +25,7 @@ function wake-lock --description 'Run a command while inhibiting system sleep'
     __fish_help_header (status current-function) $argv; and return 0
 
     if test (count $argv) -eq 0
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""wake-lock$c_reset $c_arg""[command] [args...]$c_reset"
         return 1
     end
diff --git a/functions/y.fish b/functions/y.fish
index 5bac53d..26e5361 100644
--- a/functions/y.fish
+++ b/functions/y.fish
@@ -25,11 +25,7 @@
 function y --description 'Yank to clipboard'
     # Check for help flag
     if contains -- -h $argv; or contains -- --help $argv
-        set -l c_head (set_color --bold cyan)
-        set -l c_cmd (set_color --bold)
-        set -l c_arg (set_color cyan)
-        set -l c_dim (set_color brblack)
-        set -l c_reset (set_color normal)
+        __fish_palette
         echo "$c_head""Usage:$c_reset $c_cmd""y$c_reset $c_arg""[TEXT]$c_reset or $c_arg""[COMMAND]$c_reset | $c_cmd""y$c_reset"
         echo ""
         echo "$c_head""Examples:$c_reset"
diff --git a/tests/palette-bytes.fish b/tests/palette-bytes.fish
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9eb3a55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/palette-bytes.fish
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env fish
+# Copyright (C) 2026 Rootiest
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+#
+# Byte-identity harness for the shared output palette (__fish_palette).
+#
+# Compares rendered output of every colour-bearing function between a
+# pristine checkout of a baseline git ref and the current working tree.
+# This is a one-time acceptance harness, not part of run-tests.fish's
+# permanent suite -- the permanent check lives in tests/functional.fish.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   fish tests/palette-bytes.fish [--baseline REF]   byte-diff stdout+stderr
+#   fish tests/palette-bytes.fish --structural       diff-shape assertion
+#   fish tests/palette-bytes.fish --startup          startup medians
+#
+# Both sandboxes get an isolated XDG_CONFIG_HOME carrying a copy of the
+# working tree's fish_variables. That file is gitignored, so `git archive`
+# omits it; without it __fish_config_op_enabled is unresolvable and every
+# opinionated-guarded function silently short-circuits.
+
+set -l repo (realpath (dirname (status filename))/..)
+set -l mode bytes
+set -l baseline main
+for i in (seq (count $argv))
+    switch $argv[$i]
+        case --structural; set mode structural
+        case --startup; set mode startup
+        case --baseline; set baseline $argv[(math $i + 1)]
+    end
+end
+
+set -l tmp (mktemp -d)
+function __pb_cleanup --on-event fish_exit --inherit-variable tmp
+    test -n "$tmp"; and rm -rf $tmp
+end
+
+# ── Build the two sandboxes ────────────────────────────────────────────
+set -l A $tmp/base/fish   # pristine baseline ref
+set -l B $tmp/work/fish   # current working tree
+mkdir -p $A $B
+git -C $repo archive $baseline | tar -x -C $A
+or begin
+    echo "palette-bytes: cannot archive baseline ref '$baseline'" >&2
+    exit 2
+end
+for d in functions conf.d completions integrations themes data
+    test -d $repo/$d; and cp -r $repo/$d $B/
+end
+cp $repo/config.fish $B/ 2>/dev/null
+# fish_variables is gitignored -- copy it into BOTH sandboxes by hand.
+for d in $A $B
+    cp $repo/fish_variables $d/ 2>/dev/null
+end
+# qc --help shells out to aichat; stub it so its colour path is reachable.
+set -l stub $tmp/stub
+mkdir -p $stub
+printf '#!/bin/sh\necho "aichat stub"\n' >$stub/aichat
+chmod +x $stub/aichat
+
+# ── The cases ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# 25 --help paths (every converted function that has one) plus 4 error
+# paths, two of which write to stderr. Side-effect-free by construction:
+# --help returns before doing work, and each error path fails on argument
+# validation. Do NOT add a case that mutates the filesystem.
+set -l cases \
+    "agents-init --help" "agents-vault --help" "auto-pull --help" \
+    "config-settings --help" "config-update --help" "detach --help" \
+    "dng2avif --help" "dockup --help" "edit --help" "jobrunner --help" \
+    "kitty-logging --help" "logs --help" "mkcd --help" "open-url --help" \
+    "p --help" "pkg --help" "play-media --help" "qc --help" \
+    "rand_string --help" "replay --help" "repo-open --help" "scrub --help" \
+    "smart_exit --help" "spark --help" "y --help" \
+    "mkcd" "auto-pull remove __no_such_repo__" \
+    "agents-init --no-such-flag" "pkg __no_such_subcommand__"
+
+function __pb_run --argument-names cfg stub cmd out
+    env XDG_CONFIG_HOME=(dirname $cfg) PATH="$stub:$PATH" TERM=xterm-256color \
+        HOME=$HOME fish -c "$cmd" >$out.out 2>$out.err
+end
+
+# ── Mode: bytes ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+if test $mode = bytes
+    echo "== palette byte-identity vs $baseline =="
+    set -l failed 0
+    set -l n 0
+    for cmd in $cases
+        set n (math $n + 1)
+        __pb_run $A $stub "$cmd" $tmp/a$n
+        __pb_run $B $stub "$cmd" $tmp/b$n
+        set -l so ok
+        set -l se ok
+        cmp -s $tmp/a$n.out $tmp/b$n.out; or set so DIFF
+        cmp -s $tmp/a$n.err $tmp/b$n.err; or set se DIFF
+        if test $so = DIFF -o $se = DIFF
+            set failed (math $failed + 1)
+            printf '  FAIL  %-34s stdout=%s stderr=%s\n' "$cmd" $so $se
+            test $so = DIFF; and diff -u (xxd $tmp/a$n.out | psub) (xxd $tmp/b$n.out | psub) | head -12
+            test $se = DIFF; and diff -u (xxd $tmp/a$n.err | psub) (xxd $tmp/b$n.err | psub) | head -12
+        else
+            printf '  ok    %-34s (%s B out, %s B err)\n' "$cmd" (wc -c <$tmp/a$n.out | string trim) (wc -c <$tmp/a$n.err | string trim)
+        end
+    end
+    echo (math $n - $failed)"/$n cases byte-identical"
+    test $failed -eq 0
+    exit $status
+end
+
+# ── Mode: structural ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# For files converted WITHOUT drift renames, the whole diff must be
+# declaration removals plus inserted __fish_palette calls. If that holds,
+# the file's output strings are provably untouched.
+if test $mode = structural
+    echo "== structural diff shape vs $baseline =="
+    set -l bad 0
+    for f in (git -C $repo diff --name-only $baseline -- functions/)
+        # fish_prompt.fish keeps its own hex palette -- see Task 10.
+        string match -q '*fish_prompt.fish' $f; and continue
+        # __fish_palette.fish is the palette itself: a new file, so its diff
+        # is 100% additions and can never be "purely structural". Skipping it
+        # is not a loosening -- it declares the colours rather than rendering
+        # any, and tests/functional.fish asserts its 12 roles directly.
+        string match -q '*__fish_palette.fish' $f; and continue
+        set -l offenders
+        for line in (git -C $repo diff -U0 $baseline -- $f | string match -r '^[+-][^+-].*')
+            set -l body (string sub -s 2 -- $line)
+            string match -qr '^\s*set -l c_[a-z]+\s+\(set_color[^)]*\)\s*$' -- $body; and continue
+            string match -qr '^\s*__fish_palette\s*$' -- $body; and continue
+            set -a offenders $line
+        end
+        if test (count $offenders) -gt 0
+            set bad (math $bad + 1)
+            echo "  NOT PURELY STRUCTURAL  $f"
+            printf '      %s\n' $offenders[1..3]
+        end
+    end
+    if test $bad -eq 0
+        echo "  all changed files are purely structural"
+    else
+        echo "  $bad file(s) changed rendering text -- expected only for the drift-rename batch"
+    end
+    test $bad -eq 0
+    exit $status
+end
+
+# ── Mode: startup ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "== fish -c true, 31 interleaved pairs, median =="
+set -l ta
+set -l tb
+for i in (seq 31)
+    set -l s (date +%s%N)
+    env XDG_CONFIG_HOME=$tmp/base fish -c true >/dev/null 2>&1
+    set -a ta (math "("(date +%s%N)" - $s) / 1000")
+    set s (date +%s%N)
+    env XDG_CONFIG_HOME=$tmp/work fish -c true >/dev/null 2>&1
+    set -a tb (math "("(date +%s%N)" - $s) / 1000")
+end
+set -l sa (printf '%s\n' $ta | sort -n)
+set -l sb (printf '%s\n' $tb | sort -n)
+printf '  baseline  median=%.2f ms  p10=%.2f  p90=%.2f\n' (math $sa[16]/1000) (math $sa[4]/1000) (math $sa[28]/1000)
+printf '  working   median=%.2f ms  p10=%.2f  p90=%.2f\n' (math $sb[16]/1000) (math $sb[4]/1000) (math $sb[28]/1000)
+echo "  (p10-p90 spread is ~15 ms; treat any delta inside it as noise)"
diff --git a/tests/test-session.fish b/tests/test-session.fish
index dc76e24..8bf2624 100644
--- a/tests/test-session.fish
+++ b/tests/test-session.fish
@@ -85,3 +85,81 @@ check "conf.d guards stay out of non-interactive scripts" 0 $status
 
 # Positive counterpart to the assertion above: the guard must not over-fire.
 check "fish_user_key_bindings still defined in-session" true (functions -q fish_user_key_bindings; and echo true; or echo false)
+
+section "session: shared output palette"
+
+function test_palette_roles_defined
+    functions -q __fish_palette
+    or begin
+        echo "    __fish_palette is not defined"
+        return 1
+    end
+    # Called from inside a function, the palette must land in THIS scope.
+    __fish_palette
+    set -l missing
+    for role in c_reset c_head c_cmd c_arg c_flag c_warn c_err c_ok \
+        c_accent c_dim c_sel c_hi
+        if not set -q $role; or test -z "$$role"
+            set -a missing $role
+        end
+    end
+    if test (count $missing) -gt 0
+        echo "    palette roles empty or unset: $missing"
+        return 1
+    end
+    # Nothing may leak to global scope.
+    if set -q -g c_reset
+        echo "    __fish_palette leaked c_reset into global scope"
+        return 1
+    end
+    return 0
+end
+check "palette roles all defined, non-empty, and scoped to the caller" true (test_palette_roles_defined; and echo true; or echo false)
+
+# Every user-facing function that renders a coloured --help must still emit
+# escape sequences.
+#
+# This is deliberately a RUNTIME check, never a static grep for
+# __fish_palette. Measured on a deliberately broken functions/logs.fish --
+# the palette call de-duplicated per indentation depth instead of per
+# contiguous run, so the --help block lost its declarations without gaining
+# a call:
+#
+#     fish tests/palette-bytes.fish
+#       FAIL  logs --help    stdout=DIFF stderr=ok
+#       baseline 431 B -> broken 150 B (every escape stripped)
+#
+#     fish -n functions/logs.fish        -> exit 0   (lint PASSES)
+#     grep -c '__fish_palette' logs.fish -> 1        (grep PASSES)
+#
+# Both cheap checks are green on a file whose help output has lost all of
+# its colour. Only running the function and looking for an \e byte catches
+# it.
+#
+# functions/fish_prompt.fish is excluded BY NAME. It interpolates $c_dim
+# from its own Catppuccin hex palette -- those are colour arguments passed
+# to set_color, not captured escapes -- so it legitimately never calls
+# __fish_palette and would otherwise look unconverted forever.
+#
+# qc is absent from the list on purpose: its --help shells out to aichat,
+# which is not installed in CI, so its colour path is unreachable here.
+# tests/palette-bytes.fish stubs aichat and does cover it.
+function test_functions_keep_their_palette
+    set -l colored agents-init agents-vault auto-pull config-settings \
+        config-update detach dng2avif dockup edit jobrunner kitty-logging \
+        logs mkcd open-url p pkg play-media rand_string replay repo-open \
+        scrub smart_exit spark y
+    set -l uncolored
+    for fn in $colored
+        functions -q $fn; or continue
+        if not $fn --help 2>&1 | string match -qr \e
+            set -a uncolored $fn
+        end
+    end
+    if test (count $uncolored) -gt 0
+        echo "    --help lost its colour: $uncolored"
+        return 1
+    end
+    return 0
+end
+check "colored --help output keeps its escape sequences" true (test_functions_keep_their_palette; and echo true; or echo false)