.about-ct {
  --ct-ink: #0c1917;
  --ct-emerald: #123c36;
  --ct-emerald-2: #1b5e52;
  --ct-turquoise: #2c8c82;
  --ct-gold: #c9a24b;
  --ct-gold-2: #b58c35;
  --ct-ivory: #0c1917;
  --ct-ivory-dim: #4a5553;
  --ct-line: rgba(12, 25, 23, 0.15);
  --ct-line-soft: rgba(12, 25, 23, 0.08);
  --ct-sp-1: 8px; --ct-sp-2: 12px; --ct-sp-3: 16px; --ct-sp-4: 24px;
  --ct-sp-5: 32px; --ct-sp-6: 48px; --ct-sp-7: 64px; --ct-sp-8: 96px; --ct-sp-9: 128px;
}

.about-ct {
  background: transparent;
  color: var(--ct-ivory);
  font-family: 'Work Sans', sans-serif;
  overflow-x: hidden;
  padding-top: 2rem;
}

.about-ct::before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  top: -2rem; left: 0; right: 0;
  height: 4rem;
  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--ms-vellum, #F2E8D3), transparent);
  pointer-events: none;
  z-index: 0;
}
.about-ct *, .about-ct *::before, .about-ct *::after { box-sizing: border-box; }
.about-ct a { text-decoration: none; }
.about-ct h1, .about-ct h2, .about-ct h3 { font-family: 'Amiri', serif; }
.about-ct .ct-mono { font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; letter-spacing: 0.04em; }

.about-ct .ct-container { max-width: 1180px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 var(--ct-sp-5); }
.about-ct section { position: relative; padding: var(--ct-sp-9) 0; }

/* eyebrow */
.about-ct .ct-eyebrow {
  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: var(--ct-sp-2);
  font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.3em;
  text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ct-gold-2);
  margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-3);
}
.about-ct .ct-eyebrow .ct-mark { width: 14px; height: 14px; opacity: 0.95; animation: ctSpinSlow 9s linear infinite; }
@keyframes ctSpinSlow { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }

.about-ct .ct-headline { font-size: clamp(28px, 3.4vw, 42px); font-weight: 700; color: var(--ct-ivory); margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-3); line-height: 1.18; letter-spacing: -0.01em; }
.about-ct .ct-sub { color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); font-weight: 300; font-size: 16px; max-width: 620px; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0; }

/* reveal */
.about-ct .ct-reveal { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(24px); transition: opacity 0.9s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1), transform 0.9s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.2,1); }
.about-ct .ct-reveal.in { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }

/* bead-thread divider */
.about-ct .ct-thread { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: var(--ct-sp-3); padding: 0; }
.about-ct .ct-thread .ct-tline { height: 1px; width: 100%; max-width: 220px; background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, var(--ct-line), transparent); }
.about-ct .ct-thread .ct-tbead { width: 22px; height: 22px; flex: none; opacity: 0.9; animation: ctSpinSlow 14s linear infinite reverse; }

/* ================= CONNECT ================= */
.about-ct .ct-connect-header { margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-7); max-width: 680px; }
.about-ct .ct-doorway-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.25fr 1fr; gap: var(--ct-sp-5); align-items: stretch; }

.about-ct .ct-door-feature {
  position: relative;
  border: 1px solid var(--ct-line-soft);
  border-radius: 190px 190px 16px 16px;
  padding: var(--ct-sp-7) var(--ct-sp-5) var(--ct-sp-6);
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.4);
  overflow: hidden;
  cursor: pointer;
  display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; text-align: center;
  transition: border-color 0.5s ease, transform 0.5s ease;
}
.about-ct .ct-door-feature::before {
  content: ''; position: absolute; inset: 0;
  background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='52' height='52'%3E%3Cpath d='M26 2 L50 26 L26 50 L2 26 Z M26 2 L26 50 M2 26 L50 26' stroke='%23c9a24b' stroke-width='0.55' fill='none' opacity='0.45'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.6s ease; pointer-events: none;
}
.about-ct .ct-door-feature:hover { border-color: var(--ct-gold); transform: translateY(-4px); }
.about-ct .ct-door-feature:hover::before { opacity: 1; }
.about-ct .ct-door-feature .ct-ring {
  width: 88px; height: 88px; border-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid var(--ct-line);
  display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-4); position: relative; z-index: 1;
}
.about-ct .ct-door-feature .ct-ring svg { width: 38px; height: 38px; stroke: var(--ct-gold-2); fill: none; stroke-width: 1.3; }
.about-ct .ct-door-feature h3 { font-size: 24px; margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-2); position: relative; z-index: 1; }
.about-ct .ct-door-feature p { font-size: 14px; color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 280px; margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-5); position: relative; z-index: 1; }
.about-ct .ct-door-cta { position: relative; z-index: 1; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: var(--ct-sp-2); font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.16em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ct-gold-2); }
.about-ct .ct-door-cta svg { width: 22px; height: 22px; transition: transform 0.8s cubic-bezier(.16,1,.3,1); }
.about-ct .ct-door-feature:hover .ct-door-cta svg { transform: rotate(135deg); }

.about-ct .ct-door-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; border: 1px solid var(--ct-line-soft); border-radius: 16px; overflow: hidden; }
.about-ct .ct-door-row {
  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: var(--ct-sp-4);
  padding: var(--ct-sp-5) var(--ct-sp-4);
  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--ct-line-soft);
  cursor: pointer; transition: background 0.4s ease, padding-left 0.4s ease;
  flex: 1;
}
.about-ct .ct-door-row:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
.about-ct .ct-door-row:hover { background: rgba(0,0,0,0.03); padding-left: var(--ct-sp-5); }
.about-ct .ct-door-row .ct-r-icon { width: 46px; height: 46px; min-width: 46px; border-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid var(--ct-line); display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; }
.about-ct .ct-door-row .ct-r-icon svg { width: 20px; height: 20px; stroke: var(--ct-gold-2); fill: none; stroke-width: 1.5; }
.about-ct .ct-door-row h4 { margin: 0 0 3px; font-size: 15px; color: var(--ct-ivory); font-weight: 600; }
.about-ct .ct-door-row span { font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); font-weight: 300; }
.about-ct .ct-door-row .ct-r-go { margin-left: auto; width: 16px; height: 16px; opacity: 0.8; }

/* ================= MISSION ================= */
.about-ct .ct-mission-grid { position: relative; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.15fr 0.85fr; gap: var(--ct-sp-5); align-items: stretch; }
.about-ct .ct-mihrab {
  position: relative;
  border: 1px solid var(--ct-line);
  border-radius: 16px;
  padding: var(--ct-sp-7) var(--ct-sp-5) var(--ct-sp-5);
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.4);
  overflow: hidden;
}
.about-ct .ct-mihrab::after {
  content: ''; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%);
  width: 240px; height: 240px; border-radius: 50%;
  border: 1px solid var(--ct-line);
  background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(201,162,75,0.08), transparent 70%);
}
.about-ct .ct-mihrab-eyebrow { color: var(--ct-gold-2); font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; font-size: 10.5px; letter-spacing: 0.24em; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid var(--ct-line); display: inline-block; padding: 5px 12px; border-radius: 100px; margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-4); }
.about-ct .ct-mihrab h2 { font-size: clamp(26px, 3vw, 34px); margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-3); color: var(--ct-ivory); }
.about-ct .ct-mihrab p { color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.75; max-width: 460px; margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-6); }
.about-ct .ct-tile-stats { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3,1fr); gap: var(--ct-sp-3); }
.about-ct .ct-tile-stat { border: 1px solid var(--ct-line-soft); border-radius: 8px; padding: var(--ct-sp-4) var(--ct-sp-2); text-align: center; background: rgba(201,162,75,0.04); transition: background 0.4s ease, border-color 0.4s ease; }
.about-ct .ct-tile-stat:hover { background: rgba(201,162,75,0.1); border-color: var(--ct-line); }
.about-ct .ct-tile-stat .ct-num { font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; font-size: 26px; color: var(--ct-gold-2); }
.about-ct .ct-tile-stat .ct-lbl { font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); margin-top: var(--ct-sp-1); }

.about-ct .ct-roundel-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--ct-sp-3); justify-content: center; }
.about-ct .ct-roundel {
  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: var(--ct-sp-4);
  border: 1px solid var(--ct-line-soft); border-radius: 10px; padding: var(--ct-sp-4) var(--ct-sp-4);
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.4);
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: border-color 0.4s ease, background 0.4s ease, transform 0.4s ease;
}
.about-ct .ct-roundel:hover { border-color: var(--ct-gold); background: rgba(201,162,75,0.07); transform: translateX(var(--ct-sp-1)); }
.about-ct .ct-roundel-icon { width: 42px; height: 42px; min-width: 42px; border-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid var(--ct-line); display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; }
.about-ct .ct-roundel-icon svg { width: 20px; height: 20px; stroke: var(--ct-gold-2); fill: none; stroke-width: 1.5; }
.about-ct .ct-roundel h4 { margin: 0 0 3px; font-size: 14.5px; color: var(--ct-ivory); font-weight: 600; }
.about-ct .ct-roundel span { font-size: 12px; color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); font-weight: 300; }
.about-ct .ct-roundel-arrow { margin-left: auto; width: 18px; height: 18px; }

/* ================= NETWORK ================= */
.about-ct .ct-spread {
  position: relative;
  background: #fdfbf7; color: var(--ct-ink);
  border-radius: 14px; overflow: hidden;
  display: grid; grid-template-columns: 0.95fr 1.05fr;
}
.about-ct .ct-spread .ct-corner { position: absolute; width: 56px; height: 56px; opacity: 0.8; z-index: 2; }
.about-ct .ct-spread .ct-corner svg { width: 100%; height: 100%; }
.about-ct .ct-spread .ct-corner.ct-tl { top: 14px; left: 14px; }
.about-ct .ct-spread .ct-corner.ct-tr { top: 14px; right: 14px; transform: scaleX(-1); }
.about-ct .ct-spread .ct-corner.ct-bl { bottom: 14px; left: 14px; transform: scaleY(-1); }
.about-ct .ct-spread .ct-corner.ct-br { bottom: 14px; right: 14px; transform: scale(-1,-1); }

.about-ct .ct-spread-page { padding: var(--ct-sp-7) var(--ct-sp-6); }
.about-ct .ct-spread-page.ct-left { padding-right: var(--ct-sp-7); }
.about-ct .ct-spread-page.ct-right { padding-left: var(--ct-sp-7); position: relative; }
.about-ct .ct-spine {
  position: absolute; left: 0; top: 8%; bottom: 8%; width: 1px;
  background: linear-gradient(180deg, transparent, var(--ct-gold), transparent);
}
.about-ct .ct-spine::before, .about-ct .ct-spine::after { content: ''; position: absolute; left: -3px; width: 7px; height: 1px; background: var(--ct-gold); }
.about-ct .ct-spine::before { top: 18%; }
.about-ct .ct-spine::after { top: 82%; }

.about-ct .ct-manuscript-tag { font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; font-size: 10.5px; letter-spacing: 0.24em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ct-emerald); border-bottom: 1px solid var(--ct-emerald); display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 4px; margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-4); }
.about-ct .ct-spread-page h2 { font-size: clamp(24px, 2.6vw, 30px); margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-3); color: var(--ct-emerald); line-height: 1.25; }
.about-ct .ct-spread-page p { color: #3a3226; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0; max-width: 400px; }

.about-ct .ct-seal-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
.about-ct .ct-seal-item {
  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: var(--ct-sp-3);
  padding: var(--ct-sp-4) var(--ct-sp-1); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(18,60,54,0.14);
  cursor: pointer; transition: padding-left 0.35s ease, background 0.35s ease;
}
.about-ct .ct-seal-item:first-child { padding-top: 0; }
.about-ct .ct-seal-item:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
.about-ct .ct-seal-item:hover { padding-left: var(--ct-sp-3); background: rgba(201,162,75,0.10); }
.about-ct .ct-seal-dot { width: 30px; height: 30px; min-width: 30px; }
.about-ct .ct-seal-item h4 { margin: 0; font-size: 15px; color: var(--ct-emerald); font-weight: 600; }
.about-ct .ct-seal-item .ct-go { margin-left: auto; width: 15px; height: 15px; }

/* ================= JOURNEY ================= */
.about-ct .ct-journey-header { margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-8); max-width: 680px; }
.about-ct .ct-cascade-wrap { position: relative; }
.about-ct .ct-cascade-svg { position: absolute; inset: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; z-index: 0; }
.about-ct .ct-cascade-line { stroke: var(--ct-line); stroke-width: 1; fill: none; }
.about-ct .ct-cascade-line-anim { stroke: var(--ct-gold); stroke-width: 1.3; fill: none; stroke-dasharray: 5 7; animation: ctDashmove 3.4s linear infinite; }
@keyframes ctDashmove { to { stroke-dashoffset: -120; } }

.about-ct .ct-steps { position: relative; z-index: 1; display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3,1fr); gap: var(--ct-sp-5); }
.about-ct .ct-step { text-align: left; max-width: 280px; }
.about-ct .ct-step:nth-child(1) { margin-top: 0; }
.about-ct .ct-step:nth-child(2) { margin-top: 56px; }
.about-ct .ct-step:nth-child(3) { margin-top: 112px; }

.about-ct .ct-step-arch {
  width: 84px; height: 84px; margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-4); border-radius: 50%;
  border: 1px solid var(--ct-line); display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
  background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(201,162,75,0.10), transparent 70%);
  position: relative; transition: transform 0.5s ease, border-color 0.5s ease;
}
.about-ct .ct-step:hover .ct-step-arch { transform: scale(1.08) rotate(-6deg); border-color: var(--ct-gold); }
.about-ct .ct-step-arch .ct-num-ar { font-family: 'Amiri', serif; font-size: 28px; color: var(--ct-gold-2); position: relative; z-index: 1; }
.about-ct .ct-step-arch .ct-ghost-num {
  position: absolute; font-family: 'Amiri', serif; font-size: 120px; color: var(--ct-gold);
  opacity: 0.05; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -58%); pointer-events: none; user-select: none;
}
.about-ct .ct-step-tag { font-family: 'IBM Plex Mono', monospace; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; color: var(--ct-gold-2); text-transform: uppercase; margin-bottom: var(--ct-sp-1); display: block; }
.about-ct .ct-step h3 { font-size: 17px; margin: 0 0 var(--ct-sp-2); color: var(--ct-ink); }
.about-ct .ct-step p { font-size: 13px; color: var(--ct-ivory-dim); font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.65; margin: 0; }

/* ================= RESPONSIVE ================= */
@media (max-width: 920px) {
  .about-ct .ct-doorway-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .about-ct .ct-mission-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .about-ct .ct-spread { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .about-ct .ct-spine { display: none; }
  .about-ct .ct-spread-page.ct-left { padding-right: var(--ct-sp-6); }
  .about-ct .ct-spread-page.ct-right { padding-left: var(--ct-sp-6); border-top: 1px solid rgba(18,60,54,0.14); }
  .about-ct .ct-steps { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: var(--ct-sp-6); }
  .about-ct .ct-step:nth-child(1), .about-ct .ct-step:nth-child(2), .about-ct .ct-step:nth-child(3) { margin-top: 0; }
  .about-ct .ct-cascade-svg { display: none; }
  .about-ct .ct-step { max-width: none; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .about-ct .ct-eyebrow .ct-mark,
  .about-ct .ct-thread .ct-tbead,
  .about-ct .ct-cascade-line-anim { animation: none !important; }
}