docs(agent): clarify late steering timing

packages/core/agent/README.md

@@ -55,12 +55,14 @@ Turn and step boundaries and the model token stream are durable `session/event`
 The handle every plugin programs against:
 
 - `agent.send(content, options?)` — queue one independent FIFO item. If claimed, that item becomes the sole ordinary message in its turn; a claimed FIFO successor waits for that turn's checkpoint to settle. Broad cancellation, disposal, or a pre-start failure may instead drop it without a turn. Content and resolved source become one detached, deeply frozen lossless-JSON record before `agent/queued` and enqueue; invalid data throws synchronously, and caller or notification-listener in-place mutation cannot change the log or model input (`agent/prompt-submit` still rewrites by returning replacement content). The [one-send-one-turn Agent Note](../../../.agents/notes/implemented/simplification/2026-07-17-one-send-one-turn.md) owns the rationale.
-- `agent.steer(content, options?)` — steer a running turn (inject between steps); uses the same owned acceptance boundary and behaves like `send` when idle
+- `agent.steer(content, options?)` — submit steering while the agent is `running`. An open turn records it at the next steering checkpoint before a request or continuation decision; policy can still stop before another step. After turn close and its checkpoint, remaining steering becomes later queued input unless terminal turn policy, cancellation, or disposal discards it. The method uses the same synchronous snapshot-and-validation boundary as `send` and delegates to `send` when idle
 - `agent.inject(content, options?)` — accept detached in-session context without running the model; the next request sees its `context/message`. `options.envelope` defaults to the canonical `<context>` framing and may be `'raw'` when the caller owns a complete familiar frame; `options.meta` persists opaque JSON state without rendering it. While a turn is open it joins that turn, deferring FIFO while the current tool batch executes and draining before turn close if execution is interrupted; while idle it is wrapped in a one-shot `injection` turn and durability checkpoint ([the turn-enclosure invariant](../../../.agents/notes/implemented/architecture/2026-06-15-turn-enclosure-invariant.md)).
 - `agent.cancel(reason?)` — cancel ALL pending work: clears the queued + steering FIFOs, aborts the in-flight step, and drops a turn about to start (the pre-step window) so a queued-but-not-started prompt never runs. A UI/ACP `session/cancel` maps to this. The single public stop primitive. Idle with nothing pending → a safe no-op.
 - `agent.whenIdle()` — resolve once the agent reaches quiescence after settling out of `running` (idle → immediately; disposed → awaits the loop exit). A non-owner's quiescence-observation hook: it observes the work settling WITHOUT tearing the agent down. Teardown is separate — a lifecycle owner stops and unregisters via `AgentHandle.dispose()`, which awaits the loop exit directly.
 - `agent.session`, `agent.status`, `agent.options`, `agent.id`
 
+`running` describes a driver-wide drain interval, not proof that a turn is still open; it can cover turn close, the durability checkpoint, and consecutive queued turns.
+
 ### Extension points
 
 - Agent creation: `AgentLoop.create()` is the concrete config-path implementation (in `dsh-agent-loop`), while programmatic consumers create/resume owned agents through `ctx.agents.create()` / `ctx.agents.resume()`. Replace the loop by implementing `Agent` and registering via `ctx.agents.register()`.

packages/core/agent/src/types.ts

@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ export interface InjectOptions extends SendOptions {
 
 /**
  * An agent's lifecycle state, emitted on every transition as `agent/status`:
- * `idle` (parked, waiting for queued work), `running` (a turn is in progress),
- * `disposed` (terminal — no transition leaves it, and `send`/`steer`/`inject`
- * throw).
+ * `idle` (parked, waiting for queued work), `running` (the driver is draining
+ * work and may be closing or checkpointing a turn), `disposed` (terminal — no
+ * transition leaves it, and `send`/`steer`/`inject` throw).
  */
 export type AgentStatus = 'idle' | 'running' | 'disposed'
 
@@ -106,9 +106,12 @@ export interface Agent {
   send(content: ContentBlock[], options?: SendOptions): void
 
   /**
-   * Steer a running turn: content is injected between steps of the current
-   * turn. Uses the same owned-value and synchronous-validation boundary as
-   * {@link send}; when idle, behaves exactly like that method.
+   * Submit steering while the agent is `running`. An open turn records it at
+   * the next steering checkpoint before a request or continuation decision;
+   * policy may stop before another step. After turn close and its checkpoint,
+   * any remainder is queued for a later turn; terminal `agent/turn-stop`,
+   * cancellation, or disposal may discard it. Uses the same synchronous
+   * snapshot-and-validation boundary as {@link send}; when idle, delegates to it.
    */
   steer(content: ContentBlock[], options?: SendOptions): void