diff --git a/xmpp.view.css b/xmpp.view.css
index 9cffde9..a6ae28b 100644
--- a/xmpp.view.css
+++ b/xmpp.view.css
@@ -40,6 +40,26 @@
 
 [xmpp_Compose_input] {
 	flex: 1;
+	min-height: 2.5rem;
+	max-height: 8rem;
+	resize: vertical;
+	overflow: auto;
+	white-space: pre-wrap;
+	word-break: break-word;
+	font: inherit;
+}
+
+[xmpp_Msg_head] {
+	display: flex;
+	flex-direction: row;
+	align-items: baseline;
+	gap: .5rem;
+}
+
+[xmpp_Msg_time] {
+	font-size: .7rem;
+	opacity: .5;
+	margin-left: auto;
 }
 
 /* media */
diff --git a/xmpp.view.tree b/xmpp.view.tree
index 4bdac9b..33d4db6 100644
--- a/xmpp.view.tree
+++ b/xmpp.view.tree
@@ -54,6 +54,17 @@ $xmpp $mol_book2
 		body /
 			<= Roster_list $mol_list
 				rows <= roster_rows /
+			<= New_chat_form $mol_form
+				form_fields /
+					<= New_chat_field $mol_form_field
+						name @ \New chat with
+						control <= New_chat_input $mol_string
+							hint \user@example.com
+							value? <=> new_chat_jid? \
+				buttons /
+					<= New_chat_button $mol_button_major
+						title @ \Start chat
+						click? <=> do_new_chat? null
 			<= Room_join_form $mol_form
 				form_fields /
 					<= Room_jid_field $mol_form_field
@@ -96,8 +107,13 @@ $xmpp $mol_book2
 				rows <= message_rows* /
 		foot /
 			<= Compose_input* $mol_string
+				dom_name \textarea
 				hint @ \Type a message…
 				value? <=> compose*? \
+				event *
+					^
+					keydown? <=> compose_keydown*? null
+					paste? <=> compose_paste*? null
 			<= Attach_button* $mol_button_minor
 				title @ \Attach
 				click? <=> do_attach*? null
@@ -131,9 +147,14 @@ $xmpp $mol_book2
 					alt \
 			<= Msg_content* $mol_view
 				sub /
-					<= Msg_from* $mol_view
+					<= Msg_head* $mol_view
 						sub /
-							<= msg_from* \
+							<= Msg_from* $mol_view
+								sub /
+									<= msg_from* \
+							<= Msg_time* $mol_view
+								sub /
+									<= msg_time* \
 					<= Msg_body* $mol_view
 						sub /
 							<= msg_body* \
diff --git a/xmpp.view.ts b/xmpp.view.ts
index eae9487..b83b473 100644
--- a/xmpp.view.ts
+++ b/xmpp.view.ts
@@ -702,6 +702,9 @@ private _handle_message(el: Element) {
 		@ $mol_mem
 		room_nick(next?: string) { return next ?? '' }
 
+		@ $mol_mem
+		new_chat_jid(next?: string) { return next ?? '' }
+
 		@ $mol_mem_key
 		compose(_jid: string, next?: string) { return next ?? '' }
 
@@ -905,6 +908,16 @@ private _handle_message(el: Element) {
 
 		open_chat(jid: string) { this.$.$mol_state_arg.value('chat', jid) }
 
+		do_new_chat() {
+			const jid = this.new_chat_jid().trim()
+			if (!jid || !jid.includes('@')) {
+				this.error_text('Enter a valid JID like user@server')
+				return
+			}
+			this.new_chat_jid('')
+			this.$.$mol_state_arg.value('chat', jid)
+		}
+
 		// ── Rooms ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 		do_join_room() {
@@ -999,6 +1012,23 @@ private _handle_message(el: Element) {
 		@ $mol_mem_key  // ← FIX: make reactive
 		msg_link_uri(id: string)  { return this._msg_by_id.get(id)?.body.trim() ?? '' }
 
+		@ $mol_mem_key
+		msg_time(id: string) {
+			const msg = this._msg_by_id.get(id)
+			if (!msg) return ''
+			const d = new Date(msg.time)
+			const same_day = (() => {
+				const now = new Date()
+				return d.getFullYear() === now.getFullYear()
+					&& d.getMonth() === now.getMonth()
+					&& d.getDate() === now.getDate()
+			})()
+			const time = d.toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' })
+			if (same_day) return time
+			const date = d.toLocaleDateString([], { day: '2-digit', month: '2-digit' })
+			return `${ date } ${ time }`
+		}
+
 		// XEP-0333 status for outgoing messages.
 		// ✓ — sent locally; ✓✓ — peer received; ✓✓ (filled) — peer displayed.
 		@ $mol_mem_key
@@ -1014,6 +1044,37 @@ private _handle_message(el: Element) {
 			return '✓'
 		}
 
+		// ── Compose input event handlers ──────────────────────────────────────
+
+		// Enter sends; Shift+Enter inserts a newline (browser default).
+		compose_keydown(jid: string, e?: Event | null) {
+			const ke = e as KeyboardEvent | null | undefined
+			if (!ke) return null
+			if (ke.key === 'Enter' && !ke.shiftKey && !ke.ctrlKey && !ke.altKey && !ke.metaKey) {
+				ke.preventDefault()
+				this.do_send(jid)
+			}
+			return null
+		}
+
+		// Paste image / file from clipboard → upload via XEP-0363 and send the link.
+		compose_paste(jid: string, e?: Event | null) {
+			const ce = e as ClipboardEvent | null | undefined
+			const items = ce?.clipboardData?.items
+			if (!items) return null
+			for (const item of Array.from(items)) {
+				if (item.kind === 'file') {
+					const file = item.getAsFile()
+					if (file) {
+						ce!.preventDefault()
+						void this._upload_and_send(jid, file).catch(err => this.error_text(String(err)))
+						return null
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			return null
+		}
+
 		// ── Send text ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 		do_send(jid: string) {
@@ -1240,6 +1301,12 @@ private _handle_message(el: Element) {
 					el.addEventListener('scroll', () => {
 						if (el.scrollTop < 200) this._load_more_history(jid)
 					}, { passive: true })
+					// Late-loading images push content; if user is near the bottom, follow.
+					el.addEventListener('load', e => {
+						if (!(e.target instanceof HTMLImageElement)) return
+						const near = el.scrollHeight - el.scrollTop - el.clientHeight < 200
+						if (near) el.scrollTop = el.scrollHeight
+					}, true)
 				} catch {
 					this._scroll_setup.delete(jid)
 				}
@@ -1299,6 +1366,7 @@ private _handle_message(el: Element) {
 			const id = `l${ Date.now() }_${ Math.random().toString(36).slice(2) }`
 			this._conn.send_message(jid, get, id)
 			this._add_message({ id, from: this.my_jid().split('/')[0], to: jid, body: get, time: Date.now() })
+			this._scroll_to_bottom(jid)
 		}
 	}
 }