diff --git a/.claude/CLAUDE.md b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
index 28f6f1f..b7c9a6c 100644
--- a/.claude/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/.claude/CLAUDE.md
@@ -79,15 +79,15 @@ Include: keywords users say, questions they ask, symptoms they describe, tool na
 
 ## Skill Composition Frontmatter
 
-Optional fields for declarative composition. The Claude Code harness ignores them;
-the LLM reads them as part of the skill content and acts accordingly.
+Optional fields for declarative composition. The Claude Code harness ignores them; the
+LLM reads them as part of the skill content and acts accordingly.
 
-| Field | Type | Purpose |
-|---|---|---|
-| `next-skill` | string | Happy-path handoff — the skill or command to invoke after this one completes |
-| `requires` | YAML sequence | Prerequisites; each entry is `skill:name`, `tool:name`, or `mcp:name` |
-| `model-hint` | string | Preferred model tier when delegated as a subagent: `sonnet`, `opus`, or `haiku` |
-| `stability` | string | `stable` (default) or `experimental` — signals maturity for opt-in gating |
+| Field        | Type          | Purpose                                                                         |
+| ------------ | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `next-skill` | string        | Happy-path handoff — the skill or command to invoke after this one completes    |
+| `requires`   | YAML sequence | Prerequisites; each entry is `skill:name`, `tool:name`, or `mcp:name`           |
+| `model-hint` | string        | Preferred model tier when delegated as a subagent: `sonnet`, `opus`, or `haiku` |
+| `stability`  | string        | `stable` (default) or `experimental` — signals maturity for opt-in gating       |
 
 All fields are optional. Skills without them work unchanged.
 
@@ -96,9 +96,10 @@ All fields are optional. Skills without them work unchanged.
 ```yaml
 ---
 name: brainstorm-synthesis
-version: 1.1.0
+version: 1.1.1
 category: planning
 model-hint: opus
+stability: experimental
 next-skill: ship
 requires:
   - skill:brainstorming
@@ -109,13 +110,17 @@ triggers:
 
 **`next-skill` convention:** Use the bare skill/command name (same as the slash command
 without the `/`). Commands and skills are both valid targets. The LLM reads this and
-invokes the next skill when its task is complete — no new infrastructure required.
+offers the handoff when its task is complete — the user confirms before the next skill
+runs. This is a suggestion, not an auto-chain; the LLM should never silently invoke the
+next skill without user awareness.
 
 **`requires` convention:** Use `skill:name` for skill dependencies, `tool:name` for
-Claude Code tools (Read, Bash, etc.), `mcp:name` for MCP servers. Informational for
-now; `/ai-coding-config doctor` can validate these in the future.
+Claude Code tools (Read, Bash, etc.), `mcp:name` for MCP servers. Informational for now;
+`/ai-coding-config doctor` can validate these in the future.
 
-**Annotated chains in this repo:**
+**Annotated chains in this repo** (source skills only — downstream commands like
+`verify-fix` can't declare `requires` back, and terminal skills like `ship` are
+invokable standalone):
 
 - `brainstorming → brainstorm-synthesis → ship` (planning)
 - `systematic-debugging → verify-fix` (debugging)
diff --git a/plugins/core/skills/CLAUDE.md b/plugins/core/skills/CLAUDE.md
index 0d28f5e..481a5c8 100644
--- a/plugins/core/skills/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/plugins/core/skills/CLAUDE.md
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ Core principle: If you can't explain WHY it's broken, you're not ready to fix it
 These fields let skills declare their place in a workflow. The Claude Code harness
 ignores them; the LLM reads and acts on them as part of the skill content.
 
-**`next-skill`**: The skill or command to invoke after this one completes. Use the bare
-name (same as the slash command without `/`).
+**`next-skill`**: The skill or command to offer as a handoff after this one completes.
+Use the bare name (same as the slash command without `/`). The LLM surfaces this as a
+suggestion — the user confirms before the next skill runs. Never auto-invoke silently.
 
 ```yaml
 next-skill: ship
@@ -107,8 +108,9 @@ Options: `sonnet`, `opus`, `haiku`.
 model-hint: opus
 ```
 
-**`stability`**: Maturity marker. Omit for `stable` (default). Mark `experimental` when
-behavior may change or the skill is under active development.
+**`stability`**: Maturity marker — `stable` (default) or `experimental`. Omit for stable
+skills. Mark `experimental` when behavior may change or the skill is under active
+development.
 
 ```yaml
 stability: experimental
diff --git a/plugins/core/skills/brainstorm-synthesis/SKILL.md b/plugins/core/skills/brainstorm-synthesis/SKILL.md
index 1e4fdfc..c39b28f 100644
--- a/plugins/core/skills/brainstorm-synthesis/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/core/skills/brainstorm-synthesis/SKILL.md
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 name: brainstorm-synthesis
 # prettier-ignore
 description: "Use when facing hard architectural decisions, multiple valid approaches exist, need diverse perspectives before committing, or want M-of-N synthesis on complex problems"
-version: 1.1.0
+version: 1.1.1
 category: planning
 model-hint: opus
+stability: experimental
 next-skill: ship
 requires:
   - skill:brainstorming