# R09 — Settlement clears busy

Environment: fs-50; Linux 6.8.0-117-generic x86_64; Node v26.12.1; Playwright 1.60.0; Chrome Headless Shell 157.0.8103.38; isolated dev:server, T3CODE_DEV_SEED=0, fresh per-checkout SQLite; synthetic Fx fixture; RPC/MCP over loopback; UTC timestamps.

Scripted interaction (same inputs on both revisions; generated ids differ): For both successful and rejected held appearance: wait for timeout, retry a read, queue manager light appearance, release/reject original, then evaluate.

What differed: After refuses the read while overdue, retains serialization until real settlement, then applies mirror work and accepts a fresh action on both outcomes.

## C2 steps and timestamps

Before step times (UTC):

```jsonl
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.836Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"args":{"reuseExistingTab":false,"open":false}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.918Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","colorScheme":"dark"}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:55.438Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","selector":"body","timeoutMs":1000}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.328Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","expression":"document.body.dataset.probe=\"ok\"; \"ok\""}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.488Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480"}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.538Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"args":{"reuseExistingTab":false,"open":false}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.694Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","colorScheme":"dark"}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.216Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","selector":"body","timeoutMs":1000}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.615Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","expression":"document.body.dataset.probe=\"ok\"; \"ok\""}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.627Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480"}}
```

After step times (UTC):

```jsonl
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.112Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"args":{"reuseExistingTab":false,"open":false}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.158Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","colorScheme":"dark"}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.177Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","selector":"body","timeoutMs":1000}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.515Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","expression":"document.body.dataset.probe=\"ok\"; \"ok\""}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.543Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406"}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.565Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"args":{"reuseExistingTab":false,"open":false}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.654Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","colorScheme":"dark"}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.672Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","selector":"body","timeoutMs":1000}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.998Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","expression":"document.body.dataset.probe=\"ok\"; \"ok\""}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:26.021Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"args":{"tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406"}}
```

<a id="before"></a>
## Before — C2

SHA: [fa2f4ff2a2](https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code/commit/fa2f4ff2a2bac5ac92e07749f6b83b0003d642a0)

Agent-visible results (status/list fields selected; error text verbatim):

```jsonl
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.917Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"selectedStatusFields":{"available":true,"tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","url":null,"loading":false,"control":{"owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true,"generation":0},"dialog":null,"viewportSetting":{"_tag":"fill"},"viewport":{"width":1280,"height":800},"tabs":[{"tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true}]}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:53.936Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"Preview automation setColorScheme timed out after 15000ms."}],"isError":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.127Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.486Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{"value":"ok"}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.532Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.694Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"selectedStatusFields":{"available":true,"tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","url":null,"loading":false,"control":{"owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true,"generation":0},"dialog":null,"viewportSetting":{"_tag":"fill"},"viewport":{"width":1280,"height":800},"tabs":[{"tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true}]}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:12.714Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"Preview automation setColorScheme timed out after 15000ms."}],"isError":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.414Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.627Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{"value":"ok"}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.640Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{}}}
```

Relevant server milestones:

```jsonl
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:22.851Z","event":"host.connected","connectionId":"bb0cd425-09b7-4a2b-a500-62416afd6798"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.846Z","event":"request.start","operation":"open","requestId":"preview-44","tabId":"tab_3_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":660000,"connectionId":"bb0cd425-09b7-4a2b-a500-62416afd6798"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.906Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"tab.created","detail":{"desktop":false,"isolatedContext":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.906Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"setViewportSize.start","detail":[{"width":1280,"height":800}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.907Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"setViewportSize.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.927Z","event":"request.start","operation":"setColorScheme","requestId":"preview-45","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"bb0cd425-09b7-4a2b-a500-62416afd6798"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.928Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"dark"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:37.928Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.held","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:54.934Z","event":"host.connected","connectionId":"746164df-43f7-443a-b8a2-62c5ea4dfe2c"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:55.455Z","event":"request.start","operation":"waitFor","requestId":"preview-46","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":1000,"connectionId":"746164df-43f7-443a-b8a2-62c5ea4dfe2c"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:55.702Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.115Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"light"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.128Z","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.480Z","event":"request.start","operation":"evaluate","requestId":"preview-48","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"746164df-43f7-443a-b8a2-62c5ea4dfe2c"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.511Z","event":"request.start","operation":"close","requestId":"preview-50","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"746164df-43f7-443a-b8a2-62c5ea4dfe2c"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.564Z","event":"request.start","operation":"open","requestId":"preview-51","tabId":"tab_5_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":660000,"connectionId":"746164df-43f7-443a-b8a2-62c5ea4dfe2c"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.677Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"tab.created","detail":{"desktop":false,"isolatedContext":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.678Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"setViewportSize.start","detail":[{"width":1280,"height":800}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.682Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"setViewportSize.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.707Z","event":"request.start","operation":"setColorScheme","requestId":"preview-52","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"746164df-43f7-443a-b8a2-62c5ea4dfe2c"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.708Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"dark"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:56.710Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.held","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:13.712Z","event":"host.connected","connectionId":"c8993c19-f16f-4c48-a9be-fb75b6d77a37"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.229Z","event":"request.start","operation":"waitFor","requestId":"preview-53","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":1000,"connectionId":"c8993c19-f16f-4c48-a9be-fb75b6d77a37"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.355Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.error","detail":"Error: Synthetic gate rejection"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.399Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"light"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.415Z","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","event":"emulateMedia.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.622Z","event":"request.start","operation":"evaluate","requestId":"preview-55","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"c8993c19-f16f-4c48-a9be-fb75b6d77a37"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:32:14.636Z","event":"request.start","operation":"close","requestId":"preview-57","tabId":"tab_6_bea12b60-c14f-4580-bb58-2b38123bd480","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"c8993c19-f16f-4c48-a9be-fb75b6d77a37"}
```

<a id="after"></a>
## After — C2

SHA: [b088b88d19](https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code/commit/b088b88d19fb0edc43f754da2e1d199bda70d6d8)

Agent-visible results (status/list fields selected; error text verbatim):

```jsonl
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.157Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"selectedStatusFields":{"available":true,"tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","url":null,"loading":false,"control":{"owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true,"generation":0},"dialog":null,"viewportSetting":{"_tag":"fill"},"viewport":{"width":1280,"height":800},"tabs":[{"tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true}]}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:06.675Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"Preview automation setColorScheme timed out after 15000ms."}],"isError":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.205Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"This browser tab is busy with an earlier action that timed out. Open a new tab with preview_open and reuseExistingTab=false, or close this one with t3_preview_close."}],"isError":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.541Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{"value":"ok"}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.565Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.653Z","tool":"preview_open","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"selectedStatusFields":{"available":true,"tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","url":null,"loading":false,"control":{"owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true,"generation":0},"dialog":null,"viewportSetting":{"_tag":"fill"},"viewport":{"width":1280,"height":800},"tabs":[{"tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","owner":"agent","ownedByCaller":true}]}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:24.170Z","tool":"preview_set_appearance","caller":0,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"Preview automation setColorScheme timed out after 15000ms."}],"isError":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.689Z","tool":"preview_wait_for","caller":0,"result":{"content":[{"type":"text","text":"This browser tab is busy with an earlier action that timed out. Open a new tab with preview_open and reuseExistingTab=false, or close this one with t3_preview_close."}],"isError":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:26.020Z","tool":"preview_evaluate","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{"value":"ok"}}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:26.041Z","tool":"t3_preview_close","caller":0,"result":{"isError":false,"structuredContent":{}}}
```

Relevant server milestones:

```jsonl
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:29:29.949Z","event":"host.connected","connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.117Z","event":"request.start","operation":"open","requestId":"preview-31","tabId":"tab_2_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":660000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.150Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"tab.created","detail":{"desktop":false,"isolatedContext":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.150Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"setViewportSize.start","detail":[{"width":1280,"height":800}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.150Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"setViewportSize.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.163Z","event":"request.start","operation":"setColorScheme","requestId":"preview-32","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.163Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"dark"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:30:51.164Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.held","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.200Z","event":"request.start","operation":"waitFor","requestId":"preview-33","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":1000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.329Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.330Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"light"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.332Z","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.530Z","event":"request.start","operation":"evaluate","requestId":"preview-34","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.553Z","event":"request.start","operation":"close","requestId":"preview-36","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.577Z","event":"request.start","operation":"open","requestId":"preview-37","tabId":"tab_4_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":660000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.645Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"tab.created","detail":{"desktop":false,"isolatedContext":true}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.646Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"setViewportSize.start","detail":[{"width":1280,"height":800}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.646Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"setViewportSize.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.664Z","event":"request.start","operation":"setColorScheme","requestId":"preview-38","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.665Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"dark"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:08.666Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.held","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.682Z","event":"request.start","operation":"waitFor","requestId":"preview-39","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":1000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.800Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.error","detail":"Error: Synthetic gate rejection"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.800Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.start","detail":[{"colorScheme":"light"}]}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:25.811Z","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","event":"emulateMedia.end","detail":{}}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:26.012Z","event":"request.start","operation":"evaluate","requestId":"preview-40","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
{"time":"2026-11-10T11:31:26.033Z","event":"request.start","operation":"close","requestId":"preview-42","tabId":"tab_5_bd9d2d9d-727d-4676-b1e8-9554a31f1406","timeoutMs":15000,"connectionId":"09b81d2d-300e-436a-8035-a1f18530f0d1"}
```

AI-assisted; verified with the tests and tools listed above.