diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fd8214c..b86db0b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 It's an **editorial-style personal site** in a **gruvbox** palette, with the whole KDE
 desktop simulation kept behind a "Desktop mode" button. Two modes, one content set:
 
-- **Gruvbox editorial** (default) — a technical-print layout: serif headlines, mono labels in
-  the margin, hairline rules and a data strip. No images at all; the only graphics are the
-  social icons, used as monochrome CSS masks.
+- **Web** (default) — the editorial site: a technical-print layout painted in the gruvbox
+  palette, with serif headlines, mono labels in the margin, hairline rules and a data strip. No
+  images at all; the only graphics are the social icons, used as monochrome CSS masks.
 - **Desktop mode** — the KDE Plasma / Windows-style **desktop simulation**: draggable
   snap-to-grid icons, resizable/floating windows, a Start menu, taskbar, live clock and a
   working in-browser terminal (Alacritty). Reachable from the "Desktop mode" button and hidden
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ heatmap**, gym SBD and links to friends' sites.
 
 ## ✨ Features
 
-- **Gruvbox editorial by default** — a technical-print layout: serif headlines, mono labels in
-  the margin, hairline rules, a data strip. Text and type only — the sole graphics are the
-  social icons, rendered as monochrome CSS masks.
-- **Desktop mode (desktop-only)** — a "Desktop mode" button swaps to the KDE-style desktop;
-  the choice persists in `localStorage` (applied pre-paint to avoid a flash). Phones never get
-  it: the pre-paint script forces gruvbox and CSS hides the button, so the old iOS-style phone
-  home screen is gone.
+- **Web theme is the landing view** — the site always opens on the editorial page; the theme is
+  deliberately not persisted, so a reload never drops you into the desktop. A technical-print
+  layout with serif headlines, mono labels in the margin, hairline rules and a data strip. Text
+  and type only — the sole graphics are the social icons, rendered as monochrome CSS masks.
+- **Desktop mode (desktop-only)** — a "Desktop mode" button swaps to the KDE-style desktop for
+  the session. Phones never get it: the buttons are hidden, so the old iOS-style phone home
+  screen is gone.
 - **Draggable desktop icons** — free placement that snaps to a measured grid, one icon per
   cell, with a follow-the-cursor drag ghost. Icons shrink on cramped viewports so they never
   collide.
@@ -61,10 +61,11 @@ heatmap**, gym SBD and links to friends' sites.
 
 - **Framework:** Next.js 16 (App Router, Turbopack)
 - **Language:** TypeScript, React 19 (client components everywhere interactivity lives)
-- **Styling:** `src/app/globals.css` is the gruvbox editorial design system (CSS custom
-  properties, Tailwind v4 `@theme`/`@utility`, base + scroll reveals). `editorial.css` holds
-  page helpers; `page.css` keeps the shared component styles the desktop apps still use, and
-  `skeuo.css` is the KDE desktop. The editorial page itself is built from Tailwind utilities.
+- **Styling:** `src/app/globals.css` is the web editorial design system — the gruvbox palette as
+  CSS custom properties, plus Tailwind v4 `@theme`/`@utility`, base and scroll reveals.
+  `editorial.css` holds page helpers; `page.css` keeps the shared component styles the desktop
+  apps still use, and `skeuo.css` is the KDE desktop. The editorial page is built from Tailwind
+  utilities.
 - **Fonts:** Newsreader (display) + IBM Plex Sans/Mono (body/labels) via `next/font/google`;
   the desktop keeps its system sans stack.
 - **Images:** `next/image` — but the editorial page uses none (social SVGs as monochrome masks only).
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ they contend for `:3000` and `.next/dev/lock`.
 src/app/
   page.tsx                → renders <ThemeRoot/>, imports the theme stylesheets
   layout.tsx              → html shell + metadata; loads the fonts; injects ThemeScript
-  globals.css             → gruvbox editorial design system (tokens, @utility classes, base)
+  globals.css             → web editorial design system (gruvbox palette; tokens, @utility classes, base)
   editorial.css           → editorial page helpers (social masks, heatmap)
   page.css                → shared component styles still used by the desktop apps
   skeuo.css               → KDE desktop styles
@@ -182,10 +183,10 @@ src/app/
     frame/route.ts        → header-stripping proxy for unframeable friend sites
     ping/route.ts         → service health check (HTTP + Minecraft)
   components/
-    ThemeRoot.tsx           → gruvbox editorial vs. Desktop mode
-    ThemeScript.tsx         → pre-paint script: theme + device detection
+    ThemeRoot.tsx           → web editorial vs. Desktop mode
+    ThemeScript.tsx         → pre-paint script: device detection
     useTheme.ts             → theme state via useSyncExternalStore
-    EditorialSite.tsx       → the gruvbox editorial page (nav, hero, sections)
+    EditorialSite.tsx       → the web editorial page (nav, hero, sections)
     editorial-ui.tsx        → editorial primitives: Section, ServiceRow, Contributions, …
     WindowsDesktop.tsx      → desktop shell: icons, windows, taskbar, Start menu
     WinWindow.tsx           → one draggable/resizable window
diff --git a/agents.md b/agents.md
index b647fc5..a1a8a00 100644
--- a/agents.md
+++ b/agents.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ When in doubt, prefer updating. A stale README **or** agents.md is treated as a
 ## What this project is
 
 Personal portfolio site for **dvorakmortonxd.dev**. The default view is a
-**gruvbox editorial page** (a technical-print layout, no images); a "Desktop mode"
+**web editorial page** (a technical-print layout, no images); a "Desktop mode"
 button swaps to a **KDE Plasma desktop simulation**. Phones only ever get the
 editorial page.
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ token.** Do not print it, copy it into new files, or push it anywhere else.
 src/app/
   page.tsx              → renders <ThemeRoot/>, imports the theme stylesheets
   layout.tsx            → html shell, metadata, next/font, ThemeScript
-  globals.css           → gruvbox editorial design system (tokens, @utility, base, reveals)
+  globals.css           → web editorial design system (gruvbox palette; tokens, @utility, base, reveals)
   editorial.css         → editorial page helpers (social masks, heatmap)
   page.css              → shared component styles used by the desktop apps
   skeuo.css             → KDE Plasma desktop styles
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ src/app/
     frame/route.ts      → header-stripping proxy so an unframeable friend site loads in a window; host allowlist
   components/
     ThemeRoot.tsx       → editorial page by default, desktop when theme === "skeuo"
-    EditorialSite.tsx   → the gruvbox editorial page (nav, hero, sections)
+    EditorialSite.tsx   → the web editorial page (nav, hero, sections)
     editorial-ui.tsx    → editorial primitives: Reveal, Section, ServiceRow, Contributions, …
     WindowsDesktop.tsx  → "skeuo" theme, desktop: icons, windows, taskbar
     WinWindow.tsx       → a single draggable/resizable window
@@ -109,19 +109,18 @@ scripts/
 ```
 
 ### How UI selection works
-1. `ThemeScript` runs before paint. It reads `localStorage.theme` and sets
-   `data-theme` (`gruvbox` | `skeuo`) and `data-device` (`phone` | `desktop`) on
-   `<html>` from a user-agent sniff. On a phone it forces `gruvbox` and CSS hides
-   every `.desktop-toggle`, so the desktop is unreachable there.
+1. `ThemeScript` runs before paint and sets `data-device` (`phone` | `desktop`)
+   from a user-agent sniff. It does **not** read a stored theme, so the page always
+   lands on `web`. CSS hides every `.desktop-toggle` on phones.
 2. `useTheme()` (in `useTheme.ts`) reads `data-theme` via `useSyncExternalStore`;
-   `setTheme` writes the attribute, persists to `localStorage`, and dispatches
-   `theme-change`.
+   `setTheme` sets the attribute and dispatches `theme-change`. Nothing is
+   persisted, so a reload returns to `web`.
 3. `ThemeRoot` renders `EditorialSite` unless `theme === "skeuo"`, in which case it
    mounts `WindowsDesktop` instead. The editorial page stays mounted (hidden) while
    the desktop is up so its scroll position survives; the desktop mounts on demand
    (phones can never reach `skeuo`).
 
-Modes: `gruvbox` = the default editorial site, `skeuo` = KDE Plasma desktop.
+Modes: `web` = the editorial site (default/landing), `skeuo` = KDE Plasma desktop.
 
 The editorial page is **asset-free** apart from the social SVGs, which are used as
 monochrome CSS masks (`.social-mask` in `editorial.css`). `linkedin.svg` is a filled
diff --git a/src/app/components/ThemeRoot.tsx b/src/app/components/ThemeRoot.tsx
index 9366806..99b322f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ThemeRoot.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/ThemeRoot.tsx
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import { useTheme } from "./useTheme";
 import EditorialSite from "./EditorialSite";
 import WindowsDesktop from "./WindowsDesktop";
 
-// The gruvbox editorial site is the default. Phones can never reach the KDE
-// desktop: ThemeScript forces gruvbox there (ignoring a stored "skeuo") and CSS
-// hides the Desktop-mode buttons, so `theme === "skeuo"` is desktop-only.
+// The web editorial site is the default and always the landing view (the theme
+// is not persisted). Phones can never reach the KDE desktop: the Desktop-mode
+// buttons are hidden there, so `theme === "skeuo"` only happens on desktop.
 //
 // The editorial page stays mounted (hidden) while the desktop is up, so its
 // scroll position survives a round-trip. The desktop mounts on demand.
diff --git a/src/app/components/ThemeScript.tsx b/src/app/components/ThemeScript.tsx
index 8779772..4e47a61 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ThemeScript.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/ThemeScript.tsx
@@ -3,14 +3,10 @@
 import { useRef } from "react";
 import { useServerInsertedHTML } from "next/navigation";
 
-// Runs before paint so the saved theme and the phone/desktop split are applied
-// without a flash. It is injected with useServerInsertedHTML so the <script>
-// lives in the SSR HTML stream instead of inside the React tree — React 19
-// logs an error for script tags rendered by components on the client.
-//
-// Phones always get gruvbox: the desktop mode is mouse-oriented, so we ignore a
-// stored "skeuo" there and the CSS also hides the Desktop-mode button.
-const INIT_SCRIPT = `(function(){try{var t=localStorage.getItem('theme');var ua=navigator.userAgent||'';var phone=/(iPhone|iPod|Android.+Mobile|Windows Phone|IEMobile|BlackBerry|Opera Mini|Mobile)/i.test(ua);document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-device',phone?'phone':'desktop');if(phone){t='gruvbox';}if(t==='gruvbox'||t==='skeuo'){document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme',t);}}catch(e){}})();`;
+// Runs before paint to set the phone/desktop split. The theme itself is not
+// read from storage — the web theme is always the landing view — so this only
+// tags the device, which CSS uses to hide the Desktop-mode button on phones.
+const INIT_SCRIPT = `(function(){try{var ua=navigator.userAgent||'';var phone=/(iPhone|iPod|Android.+Mobile|Windows Phone|IEMobile|BlackBerry|Opera Mini|Mobile)/i.test(ua);document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-device',phone?'phone':'desktop');}catch(e){}})();`;
 
 export default function ThemeScript() {
   // useServerInsertedHTML can fire several times during a single render pass;
diff --git a/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx b/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx
index 7b179dd..1f5cc30 100644
--- a/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx
@@ -577,10 +577,10 @@ export default function WindowsDesktop() {
             type="button"
             className="win-theme-toggle"
             onClick={toggle}
-            title={`Switch to ${theme === "skeuo" ? "gruvbox" : "Desktop"} theme`}
+            title={`Switch to ${theme === "skeuo" ? "web" : "Desktop"} theme`}
           >
             <span aria-hidden="true">{theme === "skeuo" ? "▚" : "❖"}</span>
-            <span>{theme === "skeuo" ? "Gruvbox" : "Desktop"}</span>
+            <span>{theme === "skeuo" ? "Web" : "Desktop"}</span>
           </button>
 
           <Clock className="win-clock" />
diff --git a/src/app/components/apps.tsx b/src/app/components/apps.tsx
index 16b326a..b08273e 100644
--- a/src/app/components/apps.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/apps.tsx
@@ -45,14 +45,14 @@ function WelcomeApp() {
         <li>Drag windows around by their title bar.</li>
         <li>Use the buttons at the top-right to minimize, maximize or close.</li>
         <li>Open apps from the Gentoo launcher, bottom-left.</li>
-        <li>Switch back to the Gruvbox theme from the panel tray, bottom-right.</li>
+        <li>Switch back to the web theme from the panel tray, bottom-right.</li>
       </ul>
       <p className="app-preference">
         If you&#39;d prefer a normal website{" "}
         <button
           type="button"
           className="app-inline-link"
-          onClick={() => setTheme("gruvbox")}
+          onClick={() => setTheme("web")}
         >
           click here
         </button>
diff --git a/src/app/components/useTheme.ts b/src/app/components/useTheme.ts
index a196552..2fb390b 100644
--- a/src/app/components/useTheme.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/useTheme.ts
@@ -2,37 +2,30 @@
 
 import { useSyncExternalStore } from "react";
 
-// "gruvbox" is the editorial site (the default). "skeuo" is the KDE desktop,
-// reachable from the editorial page's Desktop-mode button on non-phones.
-export type Theme = "gruvbox" | "skeuo";
+// "web" is the editorial site and always the landing view. "skeuo" is the KDE
+// desktop, reachable from the editorial page's Desktop-mode button. The choice
+// is deliberately NOT persisted, so a reload always comes back to the web theme
+// (and there is no wrong-theme flash on load).
+export type Theme = "web" | "skeuo";
 
 const EVENT = "theme-change";
 
 function subscribe(callback: () => void) {
   window.addEventListener(EVENT, callback);
-  window.addEventListener("storage", callback);
-  return () => {
-    window.removeEventListener(EVENT, callback);
-    window.removeEventListener("storage", callback);
-  };
+  return () => window.removeEventListener(EVENT, callback);
 }
 
 function getSnapshot(): Theme {
-  return document.documentElement.getAttribute("data-theme") === "skeuo" ? "skeuo" : "gruvbox";
+  return document.documentElement.getAttribute("data-theme") === "skeuo" ? "skeuo" : "web";
 }
 
 function getServerSnapshot(): Theme {
-  return "gruvbox";
+  return "web";
 }
 
 export function setTheme(theme: Theme) {
   if (typeof document === "undefined") return;
   document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme", theme);
-  try {
-    localStorage.setItem("theme", theme);
-  } catch {
-    /* ignore */
-  }
   window.dispatchEvent(new Event(EVENT));
 }
 
@@ -41,6 +34,6 @@ export function useTheme() {
   return {
     theme,
     setTheme,
-    toggle: () => setTheme(theme === "skeuo" ? "gruvbox" : "skeuo"),
+    toggle: () => setTheme(theme === "skeuo" ? "web" : "skeuo"),
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index f36d4a9..d1b19b1 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 @import "tailwindcss";
 
 /* ============================================================
-   GRUVBOX EDITORIAL THEME (default)
+   WEB THEME (default)
    ------------------------------------------------------------
-   A "technical print" layout in gruvbox dark-hard. Tokens live
-   here; the page markup uses Tailwind utilities plus the
-   @utility classes below. Everything visual is scoped to
-   html[data-theme="gruvbox"] so the skeuo desktop (which reads
-   its own vars from skeuo.css) is never affected.
+   A "technical print" layout painted in the gruvbox dark-hard
+   palette. Tokens live here; the page markup uses Tailwind
+   utilities plus the @utility classes below. Everything visual
+   is scoped to html[data-theme="web"] so the skeuo desktop
+   (which reads its own vars from skeuo.css) is never affected.
    ============================================================ */
 
 :root {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 }
 
 /* Beats page.css's :root when the editorial theme is active. */
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] {
+html[data-theme="web"] {
   color-scheme: dark;
   --accent: #fe8019;
   --accent2: #d65d0e;
@@ -64,13 +64,13 @@ html[data-theme="gruvbox"] {
   --font-display: var(--font-news);
 }
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] {
+html[data-theme="web"] {
   scroll-behavior: smooth;
   scroll-padding-top: 5.5rem;
   background-color: var(--bg);
 }
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] body {
+html[data-theme="web"] body {
   background-color: var(--bg);
   background-image: radial-gradient(120% 60% at 50% -10%, rgba(254, 128, 25, 0.05), transparent 70%);
   background-repeat: no-repeat;
@@ -82,29 +82,29 @@ html[data-theme="gruvbox"] body {
   -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
 }
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] ::selection {
+html[data-theme="web"] ::selection {
   background: rgba(254, 128, 25, 0.28);
   color: var(--ink);
 }
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] :where(a, button, input, select, textarea, summary, [tabindex]):focus-visible {
+html[data-theme="web"] :where(a, button, input, select, textarea, summary, [tabindex]):focus-visible {
   outline: 2px solid var(--accent);
   outline-offset: 2px;
 }
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] ::-webkit-scrollbar {
+html[data-theme="web"] ::-webkit-scrollbar {
   width: 12px;
   height: 12px;
 }
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] ::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
+html[data-theme="web"] ::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
   background: var(--bg-well);
 }
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
+html[data-theme="web"] ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
   background: #3c3836;
   border: 3px solid var(--bg-well);
   border-radius: 99px;
 }
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
+html[data-theme="web"] ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
   background: #504945;
 }
 
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ html[data-device="phone"] .desktop-toggle {
 }
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-  html[data-theme="gruvbox"] {
+  html[data-theme="web"] {
     scroll-behavior: auto;
   }
   .reveal {
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ html[data-device="phone"] .desktop-toggle {
    Helpers
    ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] .link {
+html[data-theme="web"] .link {
   color: var(--accent);
   text-decoration: underline;
   text-decoration-thickness: 1px;
@@ -292,13 +292,13 @@ html[data-theme="gruvbox"] .link {
   text-decoration-color: rgba(254, 128, 25, 0.4);
   transition: text-decoration-color 150ms ease-out;
 }
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] .link:hover {
+html[data-theme="web"] .link:hover {
   text-decoration-color: var(--accent);
 }
 
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] .hide-scrollbar {
+html[data-theme="web"] .hide-scrollbar {
   scrollbar-width: none;
 }
-html[data-theme="gruvbox"] .hide-scrollbar::-webkit-scrollbar {
+html[data-theme="web"] .hide-scrollbar::-webkit-scrollbar {
   display: none;
 }
diff --git a/src/app/layout.tsx b/src/app/layout.tsx
index 698cef9..e9834bd 100644
--- a/src/app/layout.tsx
+++ b/src/app/layout.tsx
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export default function RootLayout({
   return (
     <html
       lang="en"
-      data-theme="gruvbox"
+      data-theme="web"
       suppressHydrationWarning
       className={`${news.variable} ${plex.variable} ${plexMono.variable}`}
     >
diff --git a/src/app/skeuo.css b/src/app/skeuo.css
index 334f46a..b74ad08 100644
--- a/src/app/skeuo.css
+++ b/src/app/skeuo.css
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
    SKEUOMORPHIC THEME
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    Desktop -> KDE Plasma (Breeze)
-   Active when <html data-theme="skeuo">. The gruvbox editorial
+   Active when <html data-theme="skeuo">. The web editorial
    site is the default; this is the alternate, reachable from
    the editorial page's Desktop-mode button or the tray.
    ============================================================ */