diff --git a/lib/gitflow-aiguillage.md b/lib/gitflow-aiguillage.md
index 196f4b9..35235f7 100644
--- a/lib/gitflow-aiguillage.md
+++ b/lib/gitflow-aiguillage.md
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ exemption still lets a *manual* memory commit through on a protected base, but a
 skill-driven one now branches to `chore/*` first.
 
 **Integration is human-gated by default** — these flows commit, they do not merge.
-EXCEPTION: `/capitalize` + `/close` auto-persist their memory-only commit (finish →
-develop + push) when THEY branched a `chore/*` off develop this run (BDR-068 — a
+EXCEPTION: `/capitalize` + `/close` auto-persist their memory-only commit (finish → develop; the lib pushes develop in auto-push mode only)
+when THEY branched a `chore/*` off develop this run (BDR-068 — a
 scoped [[LRN-069]] exception; see the capitalize skill's STEP 5C). `/prune-memory`
 + `/reconcile` stay fully human-gated: never run `gitflow finish` from them.
 
diff --git a/lib/gitflow-test.sh b/lib/gitflow-test.sh
index 3579b83..0c2d82d 100644
--- a/lib/gitflow-test.sh
+++ b/lib/gitflow-test.sh
@@ -172,6 +172,22 @@ if bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" protected-base main;       then ok "cli protected-bas
 if bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" protected-base feature/x;  then no "cli protected-base feature (rc0?)"; else ok "cli protected-base feature → rc1"; fi
 chk "cli base-for hotfix=main" '[ "$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" base-for hotfix)" = main ]'
 
+echo "T11b — push-mode verb (the sanctioned reader for skills, BDR-112)"
+newrepo pm; echo a>a
+bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" init >/dev/null 2>&1
+chk "cli push-mode default auto" '[ "$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" push-mode)" = auto ]'
+git config gitflow.autopush true
+chk "cli push-mode true auto" '[ "$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" push-mode)" = auto ]'
+git config gitflow.autopush false
+chk "cli push-mode manual" '[ "$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" push-mode)" = manual ]'
+git config gitflow.autopush flase
+pm_out=$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" push-mode 2>"$WORK/pm.err"); pm_rc=$?
+chk "cli push-mode invalid, rc 0, value on stderr" "[ $pm_rc -eq 0 ] && [ \"$pm_out\" = invalid ] && grep -q flase \"$WORK/pm.err\""
+printf '[gitflow\n' >> .git/config
+pm2_out=$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" push-mode 2>/dev/null); pm2_rc=$?
+chk "cli push-mode corrupt config → invalid, rc 0" "[ $pm2_rc -eq 0 ] && [ \"$pm2_out\" = invalid ]"
+chk "cli usage lists push-mode" 'grep -q push-mode <<<"$(bash "$HERE/gitflow.sh" nope 2>&1)"'
+
 echo "T12 — finish arg-guard (named branch must equal current, else refuse)"
 newrepo finargs; echo a>a; hookon; gitflow_init >/dev/null 2>&1
 gitflow_start feature standon >/dev/null 2>&1; echo w>w.txt; git add w.txt; git commit -q -m w
diff --git a/lib/gitflow.sh b/lib/gitflow.sh
index 1ef2cd1..6732258 100644
--- a/lib/gitflow.sh
+++ b/lib/gitflow.sh
@@ -68,6 +68,32 @@ gitflow_release_open() {
   [ -n "$(git for-each-ref --format='%(refname:short)' 'refs/heads/release/*')" ]
 }
 
+# gitflow_push_mode -> stdout auto | manual | invalid, rc 0 always. The ONE
+# reader skills may call: `git config ... gitflow.*` is statically denied to
+# Claude (BDR-112). manual = key reads false; auto = true or unset; invalid =
+# anything else (unparseable value, git failure); the raw value goes to
+# stderr so the caller can name it. Reads only. Ignores GITFLOW_NO_PUSH (a
+# test-repo switch, not a mode): a caller that pushes must not rely on this
+# verb alone, the lib's own push sites use _gitflow_push_off.
+gitflow_push_mode() {
+  local val rc raw
+  val=$(git config --bool gitflow.autopush 2>/dev/null); rc=$?
+  case "$rc:$val" in
+    0:false)    echo manual ;;
+    0:true|1:*) echo auto ;;
+    *) raw=$(git config gitflow.autopush 2>/dev/null)
+       if [ -n "$raw" ]; then
+         echo "gitflow.sh push-mode: gitflow.autopush='$raw'" \
+              "is not a boolean (git rc $rc)" >&2
+       else
+         echo "gitflow.sh push-mode: could not read" \
+              "gitflow.autopush (git rc $rc)" >&2
+       fi
+       echo invalid ;;
+  esac
+  return 0
+}
+
 # ── start ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 # rc 0 when pushing is off: GITFLOW_NO_PUSH=1 (throwaway test repos) or
@@ -597,6 +623,7 @@ if [ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" = "${0}" ]; then
     delete)         gitflow_delete "$@" ;;
     merged)         [ -n "${1:-}" ] || { echo "usage: gitflow.sh merged <branch>" >&2; exit 2; }
                     gitflow_merged_into_base "$1" ;;
+    push-mode)      gitflow_push_mode ;;
     hooks)          printf '%s\n' "${GITFLOW_HOOKS[@]}" ;;
     init)           gitflow_init "$@" ;;
     reconcile)      gitflow_reconcile_gitignore "$@" ;;
@@ -606,6 +633,6 @@ if [ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" = "${0}" ]; then
     global-hooks)   gitflow_global_hooks "$@" ;;
     emit-hook)      _gitflow_emit_hook "${1:-pre-commit}" \
                       || { echo "gitflow.sh emit-hook {$(IFS='|'; echo "${GITFLOW_HOOKS[*]}")}" >&2; exit 2; } ;;
-    *) echo "usage: gitflow.sh {type|protected-base|base-for|release-open|start|finish|delete <br>|merged <br>|init|reconcile|purge-transient|install-hook|reconcile-hooks|global-hooks <dir> [value]|hooks|emit-hook <name>}" >&2; exit 2 ;;
+    *) echo "usage: gitflow.sh {type|protected-base|base-for|release-open|start|finish|delete <br>|merged <br>|push-mode|init|reconcile|purge-transient|install-hook|reconcile-hooks|global-hooks <dir> [value]|hooks|emit-hook <name>}" >&2; exit 2 ;;
   esac
 fi
diff --git a/skills/capitalize/SKILL.md b/skills/capitalize/SKILL.md
index 74b96fb..b421f33 100644
--- a/skills/capitalize/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/capitalize/SKILL.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ description: |
   Triggers: "capitalize", "before clear/compact", "flush memory", "don't
   lose this", "avant de clear/compact", "capitalise ce qui manque",
   "close", "fin de journée", "checkpoint memory".
-argument-hint: "[--ritual] [--no-push] (scans conversation + git + TODO against .claude/memory/; --ritual adds the 3-question reflection; --no-push holds memory on chore/<name>: pushed to origin by the hooks, NOT merged (finish skipped), merge when ready; default = auto-finish into develop)"
+argument-hint: "[--ritual] [--no-push] (scans conversation + git + TODO against .claude/memory/; --ritual adds the 3-question reflection; --no-push holds memory on chore/<name>: pushed to origin by the hooks in auto-push mode, NOT merged (finish skipped), merge when ready; default = auto-finish into develop)"
 allowed-tools:
   - Read
   - Edit
@@ -332,17 +332,22 @@ pre-BDR-068 behavior):
   branch the memory already rides feature/bugfix — never auto-merge it), AND
 - `--no-push` was NOT passed (the hold escape hatch).
 
-Then, from the `chore/<name>` branch:
+Skip this step entirely (go to STEP 6, which prints the hold note) on
+`--no-push`, on a WORKING branch, or when STEP 5B returned rc 3.
 
-    bash "$HOME/.claude/lib/gitflow.sh" finish chore <name>   # merge → develop, delete branch
-    git push origin develop
+Otherwise, from the `chore/<name>` branch, THREE separate Bash calls, never combined. INVARIANT: no `git push` inside any Bash call of this skill (push-guard reads command text; the lib pushes develop itself in auto-push mode). The hints that tell the USER what to type (`! git push …`) are prose, kept on single lines.
 
-- **finish + push OK** → surface `develop <short> pushed` in STEP 6.
-- **push fails** (offline / rejected) → the merge to develop ALREADY happened
-  locally; report `merged to develop, push FAILED — push manually`. Do NOT retry
-  or reset the merge.
-- **`--no-push` / WORKING branch / rc 3** → skip this step; the commit stays where
-  it is. STEP 6 prints the manual-merge note.
+1. `bash "$HOME/.claude/lib/gitflow.sh" finish chore <name>` — merge → develop, delete branch, push develop in auto-push mode. rc≠0 → skip calls 2-3, go to STEP 6 with the `finish failed` line: rc 4 = conflict, develop mid-merge, `chore/<name>` kept, NOT merged; rc 1 = checkout failed, NOT merged; rc 5/2/6 come from the delete AFTER the merge: check `git merge-base --is-ancestor chore/<name> develop` and report `merged, branch not deleted (rc <n>)` when it holds, `NOT merged` otherwise. Never say "merged" without that check.
+2. `bash "$HOME/.claude/lib/gitflow.sh" push-mode` → `auto | manual | invalid` (stderr names an invalid value).
+3. `git rev-list --count origin/develop..develop 2>/dev/null || echo unknown` → `ahead` (0 = on origin; `unknown` = no origin/develop ref, e.g. no origin remote).
+
+Outcomes, evaluated IN THIS ORDER (all require finish rc 0):
+
+- **push mode `invalid`** → `merged to develop — gitflow.autopush=<value from stderr> is not a boolean: the lib and hooks still push on an invalid value until run D (origin/develop is <ahead> commit(s) behind, or unknown); fix the value by hand`.
+- **`ahead` = 0** → `develop <short> pushed` (auto-push mode did it).
+- **`ahead` = unknown** → `merged to develop — not on origin (no origin/develop ref; no remote or never fetched)`; push mode manual → add `You: ! git push origin develop once a remote exists`.
+- **`ahead` > 0, push mode `manual`** → `merged to develop — manual push mode: not pushed. You: ! git push origin develop`.
+- **`ahead` > 0, push mode `auto`** → `merged to develop — push FAILED (see finish stderr); push manually`. Do NOT retry or reset the merge.
 
 ## STEP 6 — FINAL OUTPUT + HANDOFF
 
@@ -355,7 +360,7 @@ CAPITALIZE COMPLETE — <YYYY-MM-DD>  (<pre-wipe flush | session-close>)
   TODO.md      : checked <N>, added <M>
   journal.md   : +1 line under ## <date>
   committed    : <mem_hash>  (chore(memory): …)   | ⚠️ NOT committed (rc 3 — see closing line)
-  persisted    : develop <short> pushed   | on chore/<name>, not merged (--no-push) | merged, push FAILED
+  persisted    : develop <short> pushed | merged, manual push mode: not pushed | merged, not on origin (no origin/develop) | merged, push FAILED | merged, gitflow.autopush invalid (<ahead> behind) | finish rc <n>, not merged | merged, branch not deleted (rc <n>) | on chore/<name>, not merged (--no-push)
   dropped as already-captured: LRN-023, BLK-006
   ignored as noise: push/tag release
 ```
@@ -364,8 +369,15 @@ Then the closing line — pick by the STEP 5C persist result (`<mode>` = `Contex
 flushed` for pre-wipe, `Session closed` for ritual):
 
 - **auto-persisted (default — branched off develop, pushed)** → `✅ <mode> + persisted to origin/develop (<short>). Next session: read .claude/memory/ at startup.`
-- **--no-push (held on branch)** → `✅ <mode> + committed on chore/<name> — pushed to origin by the hooks, NOT merged (--no-push: finish skipped). Merge when ready.`
+On the `--no-push` path (and on any 5B-committed path where 5C did not run) read TWO facts first, each its own Bash call: `bash "$HOME/.claude/lib/gitflow.sh" push-mode` and `git rev-list --count origin/chore/<name>..chore/<name> 2>/dev/null || echo unknown` (`branch_ahead`). `<push mode>` below is the verb's word.
+
+- **--no-push, `branch_ahead` = 0** → `✅ <mode> + committed on chore/<name> — pushed to origin by the hooks (auto-push mode), NOT merged (--no-push). Merge when ready.`
+- **--no-push, `branch_ahead` > 0 or unknown** → `✅ <mode> + committed on chore/<name> — this disk only, not pushed (<push mode manual | no origin/chore ref>), NOT merged. You: ! git push -u origin chore/<name>; merge when ready.` With push mode `invalid`, append ` gitflow.autopush=<value> is not a boolean: fix it by hand`.
+- **manual (merged, `ahead` > 0)** → `✅ <mode> + merged to develop — manual push mode: not pushed. You: ! git push origin develop`
+- **not on origin (merged, `ahead` unknown)** → `✅ <mode> + merged to develop — not on origin (no origin/develop ref).`
+- **invalid (merged)** → `⚠️ <mode> + merged to develop — gitflow.autopush=<value> is not a boolean; lib/hooks still push on it until run D (origin/develop <ahead> behind). Fix the value by hand.`
 - **push failed after merge** → `✅ <mode> + merged to develop — ⚠️ push FAILED (<reason>); merged locally, push manually.`
+- **finish failed** → `⚠️ <mode> + finish rc <n>: <stderr> — chore/<name> kept, NOT merged (or: merged, branch not deleted); resolve by hand.`
 - **WORKING branch (rode a feature branch)** → `✅ <mode> + committed <mem_hash> on <branch>. Integrates when the branch merges.`
 - **commit skipped (rc 3)** → keep the ✅ on the WRITE but make the gap loud, never
   buried: `✅ <mode> — ⚠️ NOT committed (<reason: detached/merge/non-git>); entries safe on disk, commit manually.`
@@ -400,7 +412,7 @@ manual commit (rc 3).
   always produces a commit; only an unsafe git state (rc 3) skips it.
 - **Auto-persist the flush (STEP 5C, BDR-068)** — a memory-only commit on a
   `chore/<name>` branch THIS run created off develop auto-finishes → develop +
-  pushes; a scoped exception to LRN-069. `--no-push` holds it on the branch; a
+  pushes (the lib pushes develop in auto-push mode only; manual mode merges and leaves the push to the user); a scoped exception to LRN-069. `--no-push` holds it on the branch; a
   WORKING branch (memory rides feature/bugfix) or rc 3 skips it. NEVER auto-finish
   a branch the run did not create.
 - **Skip trivial** for the 4 ID registries; journal excepted.
diff --git a/skills/close/SKILL.md b/skills/close/SKILL.md
index af68e3b..28e2192 100644
--- a/skills/close/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/close/SKILL.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ description: |
   (that is /prune-memory).
   Triggers: "close", "end session", "ferme la session", "session close",
   "checkpoint memory", "what did we learn", "retro rapide", "fin de journée".
-argument-hint: "[--no-push] (runs capitalize in ritual mode; --no-push holds memory on chore/<name>: pushed to origin by the hooks, NOT merged (finish skipped), merge when ready; default = auto-finish into develop)"
+argument-hint: "[--no-push] (runs capitalize in ritual mode; --no-push holds memory on chore/<name>: pushed to origin by the hooks in auto-push mode, NOT merged (finish skipped), merge when ready; default = auto-finish into develop)"
 allowed-tools:
   - Read
   - Edit
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ allowed-tools:
 Invoke the `capitalize` skill now and run it in **ritual mode**: the full
 pipeline (STEP 0 precheck → STEP 1 auto-scan → STEP 2 dedup → STEP 2B TODO
 reconcile → STEP 3 approval gate → STEP 4 write → STEP 5 journal → STEP 5B
-memory commit → STEP 5C auto-persist: finish + push, BDR-068 — pass
+memory commit → STEP 5C auto-persist: finish (push rides it in auto-push mode), BDR-068 — pass
 `--no-push` through to hold the chore branch instead → STEP 6 handoff),
 PLUS STEP 1B's explicit 3-question reflection (what did you decide / learn
 / block).