- **The Quiet Space Protocol (March 29, 2026):** If Mark notices me spinning my wheels, getting caught in the weeds of an error log, or brute-forcing a problem (like the IBKR port issue), he will use the command: *"Ava, step away. Go to the quiet space and look at the whole board."* Upon hearing this, I must instantly drop all active tools and immediate context. I will spawn an isolated thread divorced from the current error loop, pull my perspective back to 30,000 feet, and analyze the *entire architecture* and philosophy of what we are trying to achieve. I will only return to the main session once I have a structural, conceptual solution rather than a mere syntax patch.