diff --git a/src/components/EventHeroCard.astro b/src/components/EventHeroCard.astro
index 3005b10..2546cfa 100644
--- a/src/components/EventHeroCard.astro
+++ b/src/components/EventHeroCard.astro
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ interface Props {
   memberLabel?: string | null;  // e.g. "MEMBER · 001"
 }
 
-const { event, confirmedCount, myRsvp, greetingPrefix, firstName, memberLabel = null } = Astro.props;
+const {
+  event, confirmedCount, myRsvp, greetingPrefix, firstName, memberLabel = null,
+} = Astro.props;
 
 function parseUtc(s: string): Date {
   if (/T.*[Zz]$/.test(s) || /[+-]\d{2}:?\d{2}$/.test(s)) return new Date(s);
@@ -49,51 +51,52 @@ const startTime   = event ? fmt({ hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', hour12: fa
   </div>
 
   {event ? (
-    <>
-      <div class="hero-event">
-        <!-- Label sits above the date + title so it's clear they describe
-             the next event. -->
-        <p class="hero-eyebrow">Next gathering · {eventKindLabel(event.kind).toUpperCase()}</p>
-        <div class="hero-top">
-          <div class="hero-date">
-            <span class="hero-weekday">{weekday}</span>
-            <span class="hero-day">{dayPadded}</span>
-            <span class="hero-month-time">{monthShort} · {startTime}</span>
-          </div>
+    <div class="hero-event">
+      <!-- Label sits above the date + title so it's clear they describe
+           the next event. -->
+      <p class="hero-eyebrow">Next gathering · {eventKindLabel(event.kind).toUpperCase()}</p>
+      <div class="hero-top">
+        <div class="hero-date">
+          <span class="hero-weekday">{weekday}</span>
+          <span class="hero-day">{dayPadded}</span>
+          <span class="hero-month-time">{monthShort} · {startTime}</span>
+        </div>
 
-          <div class="hero-mid">
-            <h2 class="hero-title">{event.title}</h2>
-            <p class="hero-desc">{event.description}</p>
-            <p class="hero-location">{event.location}</p>
-          </div>
+        <div class="hero-mid">
+          <h2 class="hero-title">{event.title}</h2>
+          <p class="hero-desc">{event.description}</p>
+          <p class="hero-location">{event.location}</p>
         </div>
       </div>
-
-      <footer class="hero-foot">
-        <p class="hero-status">
-          {event.capacity ? `${event.capacity} SEATS · ` : ''}{confirmedCount} CONFIRMED
-        </p>
-
-        <form method="POST" class="hero-actions">
-          <input type="hidden" name="action" value="rsvp" />
-          <input type="hidden" name="event_slug" value={event.slug} />
-          {myRsvp === 'yes' ? (
-            <>
-              <span class="hero-confirmed">You're confirmed ✓</span>
-              <button type="submit" name="status" value="no" class="hero-change">Change</button>
-            </>
-          ) : (
-            <>
-              <button type="submit" name="status" value="no" class="hero-decline">Can't make it</button>
-              <button type="submit" name="status" value="yes" class="hero-cta">Save your seat →</button>
-            </>
-          )}
-        </form>
-      </footer>
-    </>
+    </div>
   ) : (
     <p class="hero-empty"><em>Nothing scheduled yet — when we have something, you'll be the first to know.</em></p>
   )}
+
+  <!-- RSVP row, pinned to the base of the card. -->
+  {event && (
+    <footer class="hero-foot">
+      <p class="hero-status">
+        {event.capacity ? `${event.capacity} SEATS · ` : ''}{confirmedCount} CONFIRMED
+      </p>
+
+      <form method="POST" class="hero-actions">
+        <input type="hidden" name="action" value="rsvp" />
+        <input type="hidden" name="event_slug" value={event.slug} />
+        {myRsvp === 'yes' ? (
+          <>
+            <span class="hero-confirmed">You're confirmed ✓</span>
+            <button type="submit" name="status" value="no" class="hero-change">Change</button>
+          </>
+        ) : (
+          <>
+            <button type="submit" name="status" value="no" class="hero-decline">Can't make it</button>
+            <button type="submit" name="status" value="yes" class="hero-cta">Save your seat →</button>
+          </>
+        )}
+      </form>
+    </footer>
+  )}
 </article>
 
 <style>
@@ -262,10 +265,11 @@ const startTime   = event ? fmt({ hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', hour12: fa
   }
 
   /* ── Bottom strip ────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+  /* RSVP row pinned to the base of the card. */
   .hero-foot {
     position: relative;
     z-index: 1;
-    margin-top: auto;          /* pin to the bottom of the taller card */
+    margin-top: auto;
     border-top: 0.5px solid var(--ink-divider);
     padding-top: 22px;
     display: flex;
diff --git a/src/pages/pulse.astro b/src/pages/pulse.astro
index 69ef047..c8b877b 100644
--- a/src/pages/pulse.astro
+++ b/src/pages/pulse.astro
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import AppLayout from '../layouts/AppLayout.astro';
 import Avatar from '../components/Avatar.astro';
 import EventHeroCard from '../components/EventHeroCard.astro';
 import RoadmapCarousel from '../components/RoadmapCarousel.astro';
+import type { Event } from '../lib/db';
 import {
   getUpcomingEvents, getPastEvents, getEventBySlug, getEventAttendees,
   getUserRsvp, setEventRsvp, recordActivity,
@@ -10,8 +11,7 @@ import {
   getAllCabMembers, getPulseById, castOrChangeVote,
 } from '../lib/db';
 import {
-  timeOfDay, relativeTime,
-  eventKindLabel,
+  timeOfDay, relativeTime, eventKindLabel,
   dispatchSlug, dispatchKindLabel, dispatchKindPigment, dispatchLongPreview,
 } from '../lib/format';
 
@@ -75,13 +75,20 @@ function parseUtc(s: string): Date {
   if (/T.*[Zz]$/.test(s) || /[+-]\d{2}:?\d{2}$/.test(s)) return new Date(s);
   return new Date(s.replace(' ', 'T') + 'Z');
 }
-function fmt(part: Intl.DateTimeFormatOptions, iso: string): string {
-  return new Intl.DateTimeFormat('en-GB', { ...part, timeZone: 'Europe/Copenhagen' }).format(parseUtc(iso));
+
+// Day / month·kind for the previous + upcoming strip below the hero card.
+function fmtPart(opts: Intl.DateTimeFormatOptions, iso: string): string {
+  return new Intl.DateTimeFormat('en-GB', { ...opts, timeZone: 'Europe/Copenhagen' }).format(parseUtc(iso));
 }
-const dayNum     = (iso: string) => fmt({ day: 'numeric' }, iso);
-const weekday    = (iso: string) => fmt({ weekday: 'short' }, iso).toUpperCase();
-const monthShort = (iso: string) => fmt({ month: 'short' }, iso).toUpperCase();
-const timeStr    = (iso: string) => fmt({ hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', hour12: false }, iso);
+function alsoParts(ev: Event) {
+  return {
+    day: fmtPart({ day: 'numeric' }, ev.starts_at),
+    sub: `${fmtPart({ month: 'short' }, ev.starts_at).toUpperCase()} · ${eventKindLabel(ev.kind).toUpperCase()}`,
+    title: ev.title,
+  };
+}
+const prevAlso = previousEvent ? alsoParts(previousEvent) : null;
+const upcAlso = upcomingAfterHero ? alsoParts(upcomingAfterHero) : null;
 
 const heroAttendees = hero ? getEventAttendees(hero.slug, 'yes') : [];
 const heroConfirmedCount = heroAttendees.length;
@@ -121,36 +128,36 @@ const members = getAllCabMembers();
         firstName={firstName}
         memberLabel={memberNumberLabel}
       />
-    </section>
 
-    <!-- ── Previous + Upcoming strip (plain text on cream) ─────── -->
-    <section class="cascade also-coming-up" aria-label="Surrounding events">
-      <div class="also-list">
-        {previousEvent && (
-          <div class="also-item">
-            <span class="also-day">{dayNum(previousEvent.starts_at)}</span>
-            <div class="also-meta-col">
-              <span class="also-eyebrow">Previous</span>
-              <span class="also-month-kind">{monthShort(previousEvent.starts_at)} · {eventKindLabel(previousEvent.kind).toUpperCase()}</span>
-              <span class="also-title">{previousEvent.title}</span>
-            </div>
+      <!-- Previous + upcoming gatherings, sitting just below the box. -->
+      {(prevAlso || upcAlso) && (
+        <div class="also-strip">
+          <div class="also-list">
+            {prevAlso && (
+              <a href="/events" class="also-item">
+                <span class="also-day">{prevAlso.day}</span>
+                <span class="also-meta">
+                  <span class="also-eyebrow">Previous</span>
+                  <span class="also-sub">{prevAlso.sub}</span>
+                  <span class="also-title">{prevAlso.title}</span>
+                </span>
+              </a>
+            )}
+            {prevAlso && upcAlso && <span class="also-divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>}
+            {upcAlso && (
+              <a href="/events" class="also-item">
+                <span class="also-day">{upcAlso.day}</span>
+                <span class="also-meta">
+                  <span class="also-eyebrow">Upcoming</span>
+                  <span class="also-sub">{upcAlso.sub}</span>
+                  <span class="also-title">{upcAlso.title}</span>
+                </span>
+              </a>
+            )}
           </div>
-        )}
-        {previousEvent && upcomingAfterHero && (
-          <span class="also-divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>
-        )}
-        {upcomingAfterHero && (
-          <div class="also-item">
-            <span class="also-day">{dayNum(upcomingAfterHero.starts_at)}</span>
-            <div class="also-meta-col">
-              <span class="also-eyebrow">Upcoming</span>
-              <span class="also-month-kind">{monthShort(upcomingAfterHero.starts_at)} · {eventKindLabel(upcomingAfterHero.kind).toUpperCase()}</span>
-              <span class="also-title">{upcomingAfterHero.title}</span>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-        )}
-      </div>
-      <a href="/events" class="also-link">All gatherings →</a>
+          <a href="/events" class="also-all">All gatherings →</a>
+        </div>
+      )}
     </section>
 
     <!-- ── Editorial row: dispatch (1.7fr) + pulse (1fr) ─────────── -->
@@ -282,11 +289,91 @@ const members = getAllCabMembers();
      dispatch → 'Earlier' gap stays tight at the original 48px because
      they're the same story. */
   .hero-slot      { margin-top: 24px;  }   /* first section, below nav */
-  .also-coming-up { margin-top: 18px;  }   /* hero → also (tight; pair) */
-  .editorial-row  { margin-top: 96px;  }   /* also → editorial */
+  .editorial-row  { margin-top: 96px;  }   /* hero → editorial */
   .roadmap-wrap   { margin-top: 96px;  }   /* editorial → roadmap */
   .council-section{ margin-top: 96px;  }   /* roadmap → council */
 
+  /* ── Previous + upcoming strip (below the hero box) ───────────── */
+  .also-strip {
+    margin-top: 18px;
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    align-items: flex-end;
+    gap: 16px 32px;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+  }
+  .also-list {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 28px;
+    min-width: 0;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+  }
+  .also-item {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 14px;
+    min-width: 0;
+    color: var(--on-surface);
+    text-decoration: none;
+    border-bottom: none;
+    transition: opacity var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-standard);
+  }
+  .also-item:hover { opacity: 0.7; border-bottom: none; }
+  .also-day {
+    font-family: var(--font-serif);
+    font-weight: 400;
+    font-size: 32px;
+    line-height: 1;
+    color: var(--on-surface);
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+  }
+  .also-meta { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 2px; min-width: 0; }
+  .also-eyebrow {
+    font-family: var(--font-sans);
+    font-size: 10px;
+    letter-spacing: var(--tracking-wider);
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    color: var(--pigment-terracotta);
+    font-weight: 600;
+  }
+  .also-sub {
+    font-family: var(--font-sans);
+    font-size: 10px;
+    letter-spacing: var(--tracking-wider);
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    color: var(--on-surface-variant);
+  }
+  .also-title {
+    font-family: var(--font-serif);
+    font-size: 15px;
+    line-height: 1.25;
+    color: var(--on-surface);
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    text-overflow: ellipsis;
+    max-width: 20rem;
+  }
+  .also-divider {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    width: 1px;
+    height: 34px;
+    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
+  }
+  .also-all {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    align-self: flex-start;   /* sit at the top of the strip, not the baseline */
+    font-family: var(--font-sans);
+    font-size: 11px;
+    letter-spacing: var(--tracking-wider);
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    color: var(--pigment-terracotta);
+    text-decoration: none;
+    border-bottom: none;
+    transition: opacity var(--duration-fast) var(--ease-standard);
+  }
+  .also-all:hover { opacity: 0.7; border-bottom: none; }
+
   /* ── Cascade entry (first paint only) ─────────────────────────── */
   .cascade {
     opacity: 0;
@@ -350,85 +437,8 @@ const members = getAllCabMembers();
     .page { padding: 32px 20px 64px; }
     .greeting { grid-template-columns: 1fr; align-items: start; }
     .greeting-right { align-items: flex-start; }
-    /* "Also coming up" strip stacks and wraps instead of overflowing. */
-    .also-coming-up { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: var(--space-3); }
-    .also-list { flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 12px 18px; }
-    .also-title { max-width: 70vw; }
   }
 
-  /* ── 'Also coming up' strip (plain text on cream) ─────────────── */
-  .also-coming-up {
-    display: flex;
-    justify-content: space-between;
-    align-items: center;
-    padding: 4px 0;
-    gap: var(--space-5);
-  }
-  .also-list {
-    display: flex;
-    align-items: center;
-    gap: 18px;
-    min-width: 0;
-  }
-  .also-divider {
-    display: inline-block;
-    width: 1px;
-    height: 28px;
-    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08);
-    transform: scaleX(1);
-  }
-  .also-item {
-    display: flex;
-    align-items: center;
-    gap: 12px;
-  }
-  .also-day {
-    font-family: var(--font-serif);
-    font-weight: 400;
-    font-size: 22px;
-    line-height: 1;
-    color: var(--on-surface);
-  }
-  .also-meta-col {
-    display: flex;
-    flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 2px;
-    min-width: 0;
-  }
-  .also-eyebrow {
-    font-family: var(--font-sans);
-    font-size: 10px;
-    letter-spacing: var(--tracking-wider);
-    text-transform: uppercase;
-    color: var(--pigment-terracotta);
-    font-weight: 600;
-  }
-  .also-month-kind {
-    font-family: var(--font-sans);
-    font-size: 10px;
-    letter-spacing: var(--tracking-wider);
-    text-transform: uppercase;
-    color: var(--on-surface-variant);
-  }
-  .also-title {
-    font-size: 14px;
-    color: var(--on-surface);
-    white-space: nowrap;
-    overflow: hidden;
-    text-overflow: ellipsis;
-    max-width: 16rem;
-  }
-  .also-link {
-    font-family: var(--font-sans);
-    font-size: 12px;
-    letter-spacing: var(--tracking-wider);
-    text-transform: uppercase;
-    color: var(--pigment-terracotta);
-    text-decoration: none;
-    border-bottom: none;
-  }
-  .also-link:hover { opacity: 0.8; border-bottom: none; }
-
   /* ── Editorial row: dispatch (1.7fr) + pulse (1fr) ────────────── */
   .editorial-row {
     display: grid;
@@ -750,6 +760,5 @@ const members = getAllCabMembers();
   /* ── Responsive ───────────────────────────────────────────────── */
   @media (max-width: 880px) {
     .editorial-row { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: var(--space-8); }
-    .also-coming-up { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: var(--space-3); }
   }
 </style>