diff --git a/wiki/log/2026-08-06-cells-and-perception-capture.md b/wiki/log/2026-08-06-cells-and-perception-capture.md
index 171b4ae8..ce729006 100644
--- a/wiki/log/2026-08-06-cells-and-perception-capture.md
+++ b/wiki/log/2026-08-06-cells-and-perception-capture.md
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ Docs-path work: corpus gate via `./tools/check.sh --docs`, ledger reindex via
 
 ## Open
 
-- Perception-sink arbitration needs Cameron's acceptance before
+- Perception-sink arbitration: accepted by Cameron later the same session —
+  perception is a low-priority standing sink ahead of the passive core draw
+  (recorded in the decision volume and machine-work.md). Cleared for
   implementation dispatch.
 - Cell-piercing novelty classes are future design work in the owning specs.
 - Opportunity rates, densities, expiry windows: [TUNE].
diff --git a/wiki/log/decisions/2026-08-06.md b/wiki/log/decisions/2026-08-06.md
index 5e4d72ad..a91e12ef 100644
--- a/wiki/log/decisions/2026-08-06.md
+++ b/wiki/log/decisions/2026-08-06.md
@@ -120,10 +120,9 @@ grows.
 
 ### OPEN
 
-- **Arbitration of the perception spend.** Trace proposes a low-priority
-  standing perception sink — below explicit projects and standing upkeep,
-  above the passive core draw, with a host and reach boundary. Recorded as
-  PROPOSED in machine-work.md; Cameron has not accepted an exact mechanism.
+- **Arbitration of the perception spend — RESOLVED same day, below.** Trace
+  proposed a low-priority standing perception sink; Cameron accepted it in
+  the same session (see "Affirmed: the perception sink arbitration").
 - What pierces a stable cell — the novelty classes that interrupt one — is
   design work for the owning specs as cells become buildable in practice.
 - Opportunity rates, densities, and expiry windows: [TUNE].
@@ -227,3 +226,25 @@ discipline, binding 2026-08-06).
   `CONTROL`/`OWNERSHIP` and `CURRENT`/`FORMER` controller for one fact; the
   registry help line is the tiebreak, so ownership and former controller win.
   Owner: [action-vocabulary.md](../../interface/action-vocabulary.md).
+
+## Affirmed: the perception sink arbitration
+
+Cameron accepted Trace's proposed mechanism the same day, after the capture
+landed ("Yeah I agree with Trace, perception sink ahead of the core").
+
+### DECIDED
+
+- Opportunity perception is a **low-priority standing sink**: subordinate to
+  explicit projects and standing upkeep, ahead of the passive core draw, with
+  a real host and reach boundary.
+- The consequence is the point: looking wider trades directly against
+  researching deeper, and a fully committed fleet perceives nothing. No new
+  resource, no percentage allocation dial.
+
+### OPEN
+
+- Sink rates and any player control over the perception/research split:
+  [TUNE].
+
+Owner:
+[machine-work.md](../../mechanics/machine-work.md#opportunity-perception-adopted-2026-08-06-not-yet-implemented).
diff --git a/wiki/mechanics/machine-work.md b/wiki/mechanics/machine-work.md
index f8640470..bfdd9c5e 100644
--- a/wiki/mechanics/machine-work.md
+++ b/wiki/mechanics/machine-work.md
@@ -811,12 +811,14 @@ delivery.
 - **Discovery is a Thought spend, not a leftover.** No routed Thought is ever
   free today — the passive core converts everything that arrives into
   research — so opportunity perception must be a deliberate claim on the flow,
-  not a bonus computed from an abstract surplus scalar. [PROPOSED, Trace
-  2026-08-06, not yet accepted by Cameron: a low-priority standing
-  **perception sink**, subordinate to explicit projects and standing upkeep
-  but ahead of the passive core draw, with a real host and reach boundary —
-  making "surplus Thought is perception" mechanically true by trading
-  directly against research.] The exact arbitration is [OPEN].
+  not a bonus computed from an abstract surplus scalar. **The arbitration is
+  DECIDED (Cameron, 2026-08-06, accepting Trace's proposal): perception is a
+  low-priority standing sink** — subordinate to explicit projects and
+  standing upkeep, ahead of the passive core draw, with a real host and reach
+  boundary. "Surplus Thought is perception" is thereby mechanically true:
+  looking wider trades directly against researching deeper, and a fully
+  committed fleet perceives nothing. Sink rates and any player control over
+  the perception/research split are [TUNE].
 - **The opportunity is a persisted world object.** Exact source and target
   bindings, discovering host, discovered tick, expiry, immutable terms where
   terms apply, and seeded randomness are stored at discovery. The notices row