diff --git a/src/modules/event/steps/data/createur.steps.ts b/src/modules/event/steps/data/createur.steps.ts
index 54558ef..f6d5e13 100644
--- a/src/modules/event/steps/data/createur.steps.ts
+++ b/src/modules/event/steps/data/createur.steps.ts
@@ -19,18 +19,22 @@ Given('le créateur relaie l\'événement {string}', { timeout: 180000 }, async
 
 Then('le créateur n\'est pas participant de l\'événement {string}', { timeout: 60000 }, async function (this: FestipodWorld, title: string) {
   const eventId = (this as any).creatorEventId;
-  // Authoritative: the broker must hold 0 participations for (E, creator). Poll a
-  // little to absorb any pending write from a just-run leave.
+  // Wait for the REACTIVE state to settle to "not participating" (observes AD().*
+  // fed by the subscription push — NOT a broker re-read), the sign the sync has
+  // passed. Then do ONE authoritative broker read to prove the 0 is durable.
+  await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
+    (eventId) => {
+      const td = (window as any).__testData;
+      const uid = td.currentUserId;
+      return !!uid && !td.isParticipating(eventId, uid);
+    },
+    eventId,
+    { timeout: 30000 },
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to the single authoritative read */ });
   const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async ({ eventId }: { eventId: string }) => {
     const td = (window as any).__testData;
     const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-    let last = -1;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
-      last = await td.authParticipationCount(eventId, uid);
-      if (last === 0) return 0;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 750));
-    }
-    return last;
+    return td.authParticipationCount(eventId, uid);
   }, { eventId });
   expect(n, `creator must NOT be participating in "${title}" (broker count)`).to.equal(0);
 });
@@ -68,16 +72,22 @@ When('le créateur quitte son événement {string}', { timeout: 120000 }, async
 
 Then('le créateur est participant de l\'événement {string}', { timeout: 60000 }, async function (this: FestipodWorld, title: string) {
   const eventId = (this as any).creatorEventId;
+  // Wait for the REACTIVE join to settle (observes AD().isParticipating fed by the
+  // subscription push — NOT a broker re-read), then take ONE authoritative broker
+  // count to prove the participation is durable at the data level.
+  await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
+    (eventId) => {
+      const td = (window as any).__testData;
+      const uid = td.currentUserId;
+      return !!uid && td.isParticipating(eventId, uid);
+    },
+    eventId,
+    { timeout: 45000 },
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to the single authoritative read */ });
   const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async ({ eventId }: { eventId: string }) => {
     const td = (window as any).__testData;
     const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-    let last = 0;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
-      last = await td.authParticipationCount(eventId, uid);
-      if (last >= 1) return last;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1000));
-    }
-    return last;
+    return td.authParticipationCount(eventId, uid);
   }, { eventId });
   expect(n, `creator must be participating in "${title}" after joining`).to.equal(1);
 });
diff --git a/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription-inbox.steps.ts b/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription-inbox.steps.ts
index 14fc35f..4adbf5e 100644
--- a/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription-inbox.steps.ts
+++ b/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription-inbox.steps.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ Then('l\'utilisateur devient participant de l\'événement {string}', async func
   // Poll: the participation is written into its own protected doc and read back
   // reactively; under a busy wallet that read can lag, so accept the AUTHORITATIVE
   // broker count as well (the write is durable regardless of the reactive re-read).
+  // Wait for the REACTIVE participation to settle (observes AD().liveIsParticipating
+  // fed by the subscription push — NOT a broker re-read). Generous window: this
+  // reactive convergence IS the sync-passed signal.
   await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
     (title) => {
       const td = (window as any).__testData;
@@ -97,23 +100,16 @@ Then('l\'utilisateur devient participant de l\'événement {string}', async func
     },
     eventTitle,
     { timeout: 45000 },
-  ).catch(async () => {
-    // Reactive read lagged — confirm authoritatively against the broker, polling
-    // to absorb the index-append propagation lag of the per-entity fan-out.
-    const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async (title) => {
-      const td = (window as any).__testData;
-      const event = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
-      if (!event) return 0;
-      const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-      for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
-        const c = await td.authParticipationCount(event['@id'], uid);
-        if (c > 0) return c;
-        await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1500));
-      }
-      return 0;
-    }, eventTitle);
-    expect(n, `participation to "${eventTitle}" must exist on the broker`).to.be.greaterThan(0);
-  });
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to a single authoritative confirmation */ });
+  // Then ONE authoritative broker read to prove the participation is durable.
+  const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async (title) => {
+    const td = (window as any).__testData;
+    const event = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
+    if (!event) return 0;
+    const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
+    return td.authParticipationCount(event['@id'], uid);
+  }, eventTitle);
+  expect(n, `participation to "${eventTitle}" must exist on the broker`).to.be.greaterThan(0);
 });
 
 Then('le broker ne contient plus aucune participation à l\'événement {string}', async function (this: FestipodWorld, eventTitle: string) {
diff --git a/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription.steps.ts b/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription.steps.ts
index 04f2f78..7df4b89 100644
--- a/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription.steps.ts
+++ b/src/modules/event/steps/data/inscription.steps.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ Then('l\'utilisateur est participant de l\'événement {string}', async function
   // The participation is written into its own protected document and read back
   // reactively — poll (the read lags the write against the broker), resolving the
   // current user id at call time.
+  // Wait for the REACTIVE participation to settle (observes AD().isParticipating fed
+  // by the subscription push — NOT a broker re-read). Generous window: this reactive
+  // convergence IS the sync-passed signal.
   await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
     (title) => {
       const td = (window as any).__testData;
@@ -106,24 +109,18 @@ Then('l\'utilisateur est participant de l\'événement {string}', async function
       return !!event && td.isParticipating(event['@id'], uid);
     },
     eventTitle,
-    { timeout: 30000 },
-  ).catch(async () => {
-    // Reactive read lagged — confirm authoritatively against the broker, polling
-    // to absorb the index-append propagation lag of the per-entity fan-out.
-    const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async (title) => {
-      const td = (window as any).__testData;
-      const event = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
-      if (!event) return 0;
-      const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-      for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
-        const c = await td.authParticipationCount(event['@id'], uid);
-        if (c > 0) return c;
-        await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1500));
-      }
-      return 0;
-    }, eventTitle);
-    expect(n, `User should be participating in "${eventTitle}"`).to.be.greaterThan(0);
-  });
+    { timeout: 45000 },
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to a single authoritative confirmation */ });
+  // Then ONE authoritative broker read (bypasses the reactive set) to prove the
+  // participation is durable at the data level.
+  const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async (title) => {
+    const td = (window as any).__testData;
+    const event = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
+    if (!event) return 0;
+    const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
+    return td.authParticipationCount(event['@id'], uid);
+  }, eventTitle);
+  expect(n, `User should be participating in "${eventTitle}"`).to.be.greaterThan(0);
 });
 
 Then('l\'utilisateur n\'est plus participant de l\'événement {string}', async function (this: FestipodWorld, eventTitle: string) {
@@ -163,17 +160,27 @@ Then('le compteur dérivé de l\'événement {string} reflète l\'inscription',
   // (The absolute 1→2 convergence stays proven end-to-end by the @multibrowser
   // reactive scenario with a real owner A + joiner B.) Poll (the deposit's index
   // append + broker sync lag), bounded.
+  // First wait for the REACTIVE join to settle (observes AD().isParticipating fed by
+  // the subscription push — the sign the deposit's write path has run — NOT a broker
+  // re-read). THEN materialize the owner's derived active set from the broker ONCE.
+  await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
+    (title) => {
+      const td = (window as any).__testData;
+      const uid = td.currentUserId;
+      if (!uid) return false;
+      const ev = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
+      return !!ev && td.isParticipating(ev['@id'], uid);
+    },
+    eventTitle,
+    { timeout: 45000 },
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to the single authoritative materialization */ });
   const inActive = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async (title) => {
     const td = (window as any).__testData;
     const ev = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
     const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
     if (!ev || !uid) return false;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
-      const users: (string | null)[] = await td.activeRegistrationUsers(ev['@id']);
-      if (users.includes(uid)) return true;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 750));
-    }
-    return false;
+    const users: (string | null)[] = await td.activeRegistrationUsers(ev['@id']);
+    return users.includes(uid);
   }, eventTitle);
   expect(inActive, `the just-joined user must be in the owner-derived active set for "${eventTitle}"`).to.be.true;
 });
@@ -221,19 +228,27 @@ Then('l\'inscription est idempotente pour l\'événement {string}', async functi
   // and its index-append propagates async, so a single unpolled read can catch 0
   // before the write is queryable (observed flake) — poll until the durable state
   // (exactly 1) is visible, which also proves the second join did NOT add a dupe.
+  // First wait for the REACTIVE participation to settle (observes AD().isParticipating
+  // fed by the subscription push — the sync-passed signal — NOT a broker re-read).
+  // THEN read the AUTHORITATIVE broker count ONCE: exactly 1 proves the second join
+  // added no dupe (bypasses reactive-read lag).
+  await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
+    (title) => {
+      const td = (window as any).__testData;
+      const uid = td.currentUserId;
+      if (!uid) return false;
+      const event = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
+      return !!event && td.isParticipating(event['@id'], uid);
+    },
+    eventTitle,
+    { timeout: 45000 },
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to the single authoritative count */ });
   const n = await this.appFrame!.evaluate(async (title) => {
     const td = (window as any).__testData;
     const event = [...td.events].find((e: any) => e.title === title);
     if (!event) return -1;
     const uid = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-    let last = 0;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
-      last = await td.authParticipationCount(event['@id'], uid);
-      if (last === 1) return 1;   // exactly one — idempotent, stop early
-      if (last > 1) return last;  // a dupe leaked — fail fast with the real count
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1000));
-    }
-    return last;
+    return td.authParticipationCount(event['@id'], uid);
   }, eventTitle);
   expect(n, 'User should have exactly one participation record on the broker').to.equal(1);
 });
diff --git a/src/modules/event/steps/data/isolation.steps.ts b/src/modules/event/steps/data/isolation.steps.ts
index 62d2250..3e10fd7 100644
--- a/src/modules/event/steps/data/isolation.steps.ts
+++ b/src/modules/event/steps/data/isolation.steps.ts
@@ -20,14 +20,18 @@ Given('l\'identité A crée l\'événement {string} et s\'y inscrit', { timeout:
     const aId = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
     const created = await td.createEventReal(title);
     await td.appJoinEvent(created.id, aId);
-    // Wait until A's own participation is in A's reactive set (authoritative-ish).
-    for (let i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
-      if (td.isParticipating(created.id, aId)) break;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
-    }
-    return { eventId: created.id, aId, aParticipates: td.isParticipating(created.id, aId) };
+    return { eventId: created.id, aId };
   }, title);
-  expect(out.aParticipates, 'A must be participating in its own event before B arrives').to.be.true;
+  // OBSERVE the REACTIVE set until A's own join has settled (isParticipating reads
+  // AD() fed by the subscription push — NOT a broker re-read). This is the barrier
+  // that A's participation exists before B arrives; no broker polling.
+  const aParticipates = await this.appFrame!.waitForFunction(
+    ({ eventId, aId }: { eventId: string; aId: string }) =>
+      (window as any).__testData.isParticipating(eventId, aId),
+    { eventId: out.eventId, aId: out.aId },
+    { timeout: 45000 },
+  ).then(() => true).catch(() => false);
+  expect(aParticipates, 'A must be participating in its own event before B arrives').to.be.true;
   (this as any).isoEventId = out.eventId;
   (this as any).isoEventTitle = title;
   (this as any).isoAId = out.aId;
diff --git a/src/modules/event/steps/data/reconnexion.steps.ts b/src/modules/event/steps/data/reconnexion.steps.ts
index 264fa86..ace164c 100644
--- a/src/modules/event/steps/data/reconnexion.steps.ts
+++ b/src/modules/event/steps/data/reconnexion.steps.ts
@@ -59,45 +59,58 @@ When('une page fraîche pour la MÊME identité A recharge sur le même wallet',
 // flake. This mirrors how the app's own steps already poll participation.
 Then('l\'événement {string} est sur l\'accueil de la page fraîche A', { timeout: 60000 }, async function (this: FestipodWorld, title: string) {
   const freshFrame = (this as any).recoFreshFrame;
-  const onHome = await freshFrame.evaluate(async (title: string) => {
-    const td = (window as any).__testData;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
-      if (td.homeEventTitles().includes(title)) return true;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
-    }
-    return td.homeEventTitles().includes(title);
-  }, title);
+  // OBSERVE the REACTIVE home set (homeEventTitles reads AD().getUserEvents fed by
+  // the subscription push — NOT a broker re-read). waitForFunction re-evaluates the
+  // reactive getter until the cold-start union read converges; no broker polling.
+  const onHome = await freshFrame.waitForFunction(
+    (title: string) => (window as any).__testData.homeEventTitles().includes(title),
+    title,
+    { timeout: 30000 },
+  ).then(() => true).catch(() => false);
   expect(onHome, `"${title}" MUST appear on the fresh A page's home (getUserEvents(A) after reconnect)`).to.be.true;
 });
 
 Then('la page fraîche A est participante de l\'événement {string}', { timeout: 60000 }, async function (this: FestipodWorld, title: string) {
   const freshFrame = (this as any).recoFreshFrame;
   const eventId = (this as any).isoEventId;
-  const isPart = await freshFrame.evaluate(async ({ eventId }: { eventId: string }) => {
-    const td = (window as any).__testData;
-    const aId = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-    for (let i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
-      if (td.isParticipating(eventId, aId)) return true;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
-    }
-    return td.isParticipating(eventId, aId);
-  }, { eventId });
+  await freshFrame.evaluate(async () => { await (window as any).__testData.ensureCurrentUser(); });
+  // OBSERVE the REACTIVE participation set (isParticipating reads AD() fed by the
+  // subscription push — NOT a broker re-read). waitForFunction re-evaluates the
+  // reactive getter until the cold-start union read converges; no broker polling.
+  const isPart = await freshFrame.waitForFunction(
+    (eventId: string) => {
+      const td = (window as any).__testData;
+      const aId = td.currentUserId;
+      return !!aId && td.isParticipating(eventId, aId);
+    },
+    eventId,
+    { timeout: 30000 },
+  ).then(() => true).catch(() => false);
   expect(isPart, `The fresh A page MUST read its own participation in "${title}" after reconnect`).to.be.true;
 });
 
 Then('le compte autoritatif de participation de A à l\'événement {string} est {int}', { timeout: 60000 }, async function (this: FestipodWorld, _title: string, expected: number) {
   const freshFrame = (this as any).recoFreshFrame;
   const eventId = (this as any).isoEventId;
-  const count = await freshFrame.evaluate(async ({ eventId, expected }: { eventId: string; expected: number }) => {
+  await freshFrame.evaluate(async () => { await (window as any).__testData.ensureCurrentUser(); });
+  // First wait for the REACTIVE state to reflect the expectation (the sign the
+  // cold-start sync has passed — observes AD().isParticipating fed by the push, NOT
+  // a broker re-read). THEN do ONE authoritative broker read.
+  await freshFrame.waitForFunction(
+    ({ eventId, expected }: { eventId: string; expected: number }) => {
+      const td = (window as any).__testData;
+      const aId = td.currentUserId;
+      if (!aId) return false;
+      const isPart = td.isParticipating(eventId, aId);
+      return expected > 0 ? isPart : !isPart;
+    },
+    { eventId, expected },
+    { timeout: 30000 },
+  ).catch(() => { /* fall through to the single authoritative read */ });
+  const count = await freshFrame.evaluate(async ({ eventId }: { eventId: string }) => {
     const td = (window as any).__testData;
     const aId = await td.ensureCurrentUser();
-    let last = -1;
-    for (let i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
-      last = await td.authParticipationCount(eventId, aId);
-      if (last === expected) return last;
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
-    }
-    return last;
-  }, { eventId, expected });
+    return td.authParticipationCount(eventId, aId);
+  }, { eventId });
   expect(count, `Authoritative broker count of A's participation must be ${expected} after reconnect`).to.equal(expected);
 });