diff --git a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/main.py b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/main.py
index 343c66c..fb237b5 100644
--- a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/main.py
+++ b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/main.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ look instead of a plain popup.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import signal
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -52,8 +53,17 @@ class BeaconApp(Gtk.Application):
         self._name_id = Gio.bus_own_name(
             Gio.BusType.SESSION, FDN_NAME, Gio.BusNameOwnerFlags.NONE,
             self._on_bus_acquired, None, self._on_name_lost)
+        # SIGUSR1 = close every visible card (the `Super+Ctrl+C` keybind, which
+        # used to run `dunstctl close-all`).
+        GLib.unix_signal_add(GLib.PRIORITY_DEFAULT, signal.SIGUSR1,
+                             self._on_sigusr1)
         self.hold()   # stay alive with no visible window
 
+    def _on_sigusr1(self) -> bool:
+        if self.window is not None:
+            self.window.close_all()
+        return GLib.SOURCE_CONTINUE
+
     def _on_bus_acquired(self, connection: Gio.DBusConnection, _name: str) -> None:
         assert self.window is not None
         self._server = NotificationServer(connection, self.window)
diff --git a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/window.py b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/window.py
index 1ccb710..3b473c1 100644
--- a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/window.py
+++ b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/beacon/window.py
@@ -85,6 +85,13 @@ class BeaconWindow(Gtk.ApplicationWindow):
         self._pending_reason[nid] = reason
         return True
 
+    def close_all(self, reason: int = 2) -> None:
+        """Dismiss every visible card (the old `dunstctl close-all` keybind).
+        reason 2 = dismissed by user. Each card plays its dissolve; removal and
+        the NotificationClosed signals follow as the outros finish."""
+        for nid in list(self._order):
+            self.close_notification(nid, reason=reason)
+
     # -- card lifecycle -------------------------------------------------------
     _pending_reason: dict[int, int] = {}
 
diff --git a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/config-updater/updater.conf b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/config-updater/updater.conf
index abf7a1d..6fa7914 100644
--- a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/config-updater/updater.conf
+++ b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/config-updater/updater.conf
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ SOURCE_BASE = ~/Dotfiles/desktopenvs/hyprdrive
 # ── deployed as ~/.config/<name> ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 config alacritty
 config astro-menu
+config beacon
 config btop
-config dunst
+config ghostty
 config gtk-3.0
 config hypr except usr
 config horizon-dock
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ config xfce4
 
 # ── intentionally not managed here ───────────────────────────────────────────
 ignore config-updater  # the updater itself
+ignore dunst           # superseded by beacon (the Cosmonaut Shell notif daemon)
 ignore CRT             # referenced from dotfiles path directly in binds.conf
 ignore greetd-tuigreet # deployed to /etc/greetd/ at install time
 ignore spicetify       # managed separately (spicetify handles its own config)
diff --git a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/hypr/usr/binds.lua b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/hypr/usr/binds.lua
index 16891d9..e703d55 100644
--- a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/hypr/usr/binds.lua
+++ b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/hypr/usr/binds.lua
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + X", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("hyprctl hyprsunset identity")
 hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + I", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("chamel toggle"))
 hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + U", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("chamel clear"))
 hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + Z", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("chamel clear-and-deactivate"))
-hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + C", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("dunstctl close-all"))
+hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + C", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("pkill -USR1 -f '[b]eacon/main.py'"))
 hl.bind(mainMod .. " + CTRL + G", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("~/.config/scripts/onscreenkb.sh"))
 hl.bind(mainMod .. " + SHIFT + C", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("~/.config/scripts/caffeine.sh"))
 hl.bind(mainMod .. " + SHIFT + B", hl.dsp.exec_cmd("[tag +centered-S] kitty bash ~/.config/scripts/enroll-biometrics.sh"))
diff --git a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/screenrec.sh b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/screenrec.sh
index 9f63495..34f3fb5 100755
--- a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/screenrec.sh
+++ b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/screenrec.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@
 
 endrec () {
     killall -s SIGINT wf-recorder
-    dunstctl close $nid
+    # beacon (the notif daemon) has no dunstctl; close the "recording started"
+    # card via the freedesktop CloseNotification method instead.
+    [ -n "$nid" ] && gdbus call --session --dest org.freedesktop.Notifications \
+        --object-path /org/freedesktop/Notifications \
+        --method org.freedesktop.Notifications.CloseNotification "$nid" >/dev/null 2>&1
     notify-send "recording ended - output to $outfile"
 }
 
diff --git a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/timer-run b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/timer-run
index f09ce97..e97472a 100755
--- a/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/timer-run
+++ b/desktopenvs/hyprdrive/scripts/timer-run
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ DURATION_STR=$(fmt_dur "$TOTAL")
 NOTIF_SUMMARY="⏰ Timer done${LABEL:+ — $LABEL}"
 NOTIF_BODY="Set for ${DURATION_STR}. Finished at $(date '+%H:%M:%S')."
 
-# ── dunst notification ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# ── desktop notification ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # notify-send needs DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS. If not in env, find it via the
-# running dunst process (reliable on single-user Wayland/Hyprland setups).
+# running beacon notif daemon (reliable on single-user Wayland/Hyprland setups).
 if [[ -z "${DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS:-}" ]]; then
   local_uid=$(id -u)
   # try to grab it from the environment of any process owned by this user
-  for pid in $(pgrep -u "$local_uid" dunst 2>/dev/null); do
+  for pid in $(pgrep -u "$local_uid" -f '[b]eacon/main.py' 2>/dev/null); do
     addr=$(cat /proc/$pid/environ 2>/dev/null \
            | tr '\0' '\n' \
            | grep '^DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=' \