diff --git a/Checks/app-startup.py b/Checks/app-startup.py
index 4c830f4..4ec23db 100644
--- a/Checks/app-startup.py
+++ b/Checks/app-startup.py
@@ -332,11 +332,6 @@ def check_cli_instances(root, app, fixtures):
         print("PASS actual resolved CLI handoff: two isolated GUI episodes, authenticated encrypted HLS, independent default VTT, v2 progress and quit")
 
     def check_stream_queue_instance():
-        # DEBUG-queue-startup: distinguish queue startup from ordinary empty startup.
-        invoke(["--new-instance", "--no-config"])
-        empty_states = wait_states(1, lambda _: True, "diagnostic empty startup creates its window")
-        quit_instance(next(iter(empty_states)), 1)
-        wait_states(0, lambda _: True, "diagnostic empty startup quits")
         session = (root / "stream-queue-session").resolve()
         session.mkdir(mode=0o700)
         paths = [session / "first.jsonl", session / "second.jsonl"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 120e524..da029c8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ To run without installing, use `make run`. The built `.build/terebi.app` is self
 - **Streams:** use **Open Stream…** (**⇧⌘O**) or drop a supported link. YouTube supports individual videos, not playlists or channels. Miruro links must use `https://barelystarted.miruro.tv/watch/<opaque-id>/<slug>?ep=<episode>` with an explicit positive episode number; arbitrary streaming sites are not supported.
 - **Stream queues:** integrations can supply an ordered YouTube/Miruro queue with `--new-instance --queue-file /absolute/queue.json`. The same sidebar supports play, reorder, remove, previous/next and automatic advance. Only the selected item resolves, including fresh resolution on revisits; local-file batches still use natural filename order.
 - **Seeking:** click or drag the progress track or thumb to seek. The thumb centers on the cursor, clamped to the track endpoints.
-- **Miruro metadata:** titles and opening/ending intervals load independently of playback when available. Small rounded gaps mark interval boundaries in the slider. Inside a segment, **Skip Opening** or **Skip Ending** appears at the top-right below the titlebar for up to ten seconds or until the segment ends; clicking seeks to its end. Its background fill drains as the offer expires, with a short entrance/exit transition; Reduce Motion uses stepped countdown updates without the transition. Ignored offers stay dismissed until the media is closed or replaced. Missing/invalid metadata leaves playback usable, and timings may differ between cuts. Nothing skips automatically.
+- **Miruro metadata:** titles and opening/ending intervals load independently of playback when available. Small rounded gaps mark interval boundaries in the slider. Inside a segment, **Skip Opening** or **Skip Ending** appears at the top-right below the titlebar for up to ten seconds or until the segment ends; clicking seeks to its end. A light background fill grows as the offer expires, with a short entrance/exit transition; Reduce Motion uses stepped countdown updates without the transition. Ignored offers stay dismissed until the media is closed or replaced. Missing/invalid metadata leaves playback usable, and timings may differ between cuts. Nothing skips automatically.
 - **Resume:** videos resume their saved position; finished videos restart from the beginning. Live and audio-only media do not save progress.
 - **Compact mode:** press **P** for a floating player; double-click it to restore. Drag noninteractive areas to move the window. Use the titlebar pin to keep the normal window on top.
 - **Quality:** YouTube defaults to SDR up to 1080p. Use **gear → Quality** for other available resolutions or automatic quality.
diff --git a/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift b/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift
index a02f12b..8ecd0f0 100644
--- a/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift
+++ b/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift
@@ -3354,10 +3354,10 @@ private struct PlayerContent: View {
                                 PlayerGlass(cornerRadius: 8)
                                 TimelineView(.animation(minimumInterval: reduceMotion ? 1 : 1.0 / 30)) { _ in
                                     GeometryReader { geometry in
-                                        let remaining = model.skipOfferRemainingFraction
-                                        Color(SunsetPalette.accent).opacity(0.25)
+                                        let elapsed = 1 - model.skipOfferRemainingFraction
+                                        Color(SunsetPalette.text).opacity(0.25)
                                             .frame(width: geometry.size.width *
-                                                (reduceMotion ? ceil(remaining * 10) / 10 : remaining))
+                                                (reduceMotion ? floor(elapsed * 10) / 10 : elapsed))
                                     }
                                 }
                             }
@@ -3574,6 +3574,7 @@ struct TerebiApp: App {
             PlayerContent(model: model)
                 .focusedSceneObject(model)
         }
+        .defaultLaunchBehavior(.presented)
         .defaultSize(width: 640, height: 400)
         .windowResizability(.contentSize)
         .windowStyle(.hiddenTitleBar)
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index ecc6202..4772838 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     - audited SDK 27.0 / Swift 6.4 with the macOS 15 minimum retained; migrated Cast discovery to NWBrowser and production activation to activate(). Real Bonjour identity/name/update/order/deduplication/removal/restart and routable-endpoint checks, loopback Cast transitions, focused startup-error alerts and a cooperating-launcher production smoke for cold start/CLI reuse/document handoff/keyboard playback passed. The existing full CLI snapshot-harness timeout remains; macOS 15 runtime and physical-Cast verification remain unverified. Observation, glass and the existing native bridges were left unchanged.
 - [x] fix the readme. it's currently bloated with irrelevant implementation detail and other such nonsense. it should do the job of a readme only, nothing more.
 - [x] add a skip button when current playback is inside either an opening or an ending segment.
-    - Skip Opening/Ending uses validated metadata, seeks to the segment end and disappears after ten seconds (including while paused) or on leaving the segment; ignored segments stay dismissed until close/media replacement. A draining background shows remaining offer time, with 200 ms fade/slide transitions; Reduce Motion uses stepped countdown updates without transitions. Native HLS, exact-EOF, controlled-clock countdown/dismissal and loopback Cast checks passed. Button placement, animation feel and physical-Cast verification remain unverified; rapid play/seek probes encountered Core Audio startup errors on Bluetooth output.
+    - Skip Opening/Ending uses validated metadata, seeks to the segment end and disappears after ten seconds (including while paused) or on leaving the segment; ignored segments stay dismissed until close/media replacement. A light background fills with elapsed offer time, with 200 ms fade/slide transitions; Reduce Motion uses stepped countdown updates without transitions. Native HLS, exact-EOF, controlled-clock countdown/dismissal and loopback Cast checks passed. Button placement, animation feel and physical-Cast verification remain unverified; rapid play/seek probes encountered Core Audio startup errors on Bluetooth output.
 - [ ] improve: subtitles.
     - decrease padding on captions
     - decrease font size of captions by 10 percent
\ No newline at end of file