4 An introduction, start to finish

An invitation, then an introduction

First, the invitation Anton Ruiz received on 23 September 2026 to join Platonic Life Partners. Then the introduction Omar Qureshi is about to propose between Dana Whitcombe and Leo Marchetti. Both are live: press the buttons.

One · the handshake

Anton’s invitation

Mireille met Anton on a call last week and vouched for him. The invitation reaches him alone. This is the Kindling handshake §5.2: nobody is listed without saying yes §5.1.

Mireille Dufresne would like to list you in Platonic Life Partners.

From: Hearthhold, on behalf of Mireille Dufresne
To: anton-ruiz.example
Sent: 23 September 2026
Lapses: 7 October 2026, after 14 days

What it’s for: People looking for a committed partner who is not a romantic one: a shared household, shared decisions, each other’s emergency contact. Aromantic, asexual, widowed, single on purpose, and anyone else who wants this. A steward meets you before you are listed.
Who’s asking: Mireille DufresneSigned in with OAuth
How she knows you: You spoke on a call last week. If you say yes, her vouch is written beside your name in this Pool, and nowhere else.
Who can see it: Public. Anyone can read the Pool, including the words on your page and that she vouched for you.
Introductions: Only a steward proposes, one person at a time. Both say yes, or nothing happens.
Messages: Nobody can write to you first. Anyone who writes in this Pool must be vouched for here and signed in with OAuth.
Leaving: One button, any time. It takes effect within sixty seconds.
What it costs: Nothing. Nobody pays to be listed or introduced.

Waiting for your answer9 days left

A no is remembered, and Mireille can’t ask again unless you tell the Pool she may.

It reaches Anton alone

This invitation went to the address on Anton’s own page and to nobody else. Nobody in the Pool is told it was sent. If he says no, or lets it lapse, the Pool’s file never mentions him.

Email verified Anton’s own identity. If he says yes, his card in this Pool reads “Vouched for by the curator”.

Behind the scenes

These buttons play Mireille’s side, and the clock. Nothing is sent anywhere.

The Pool sent a handshake request.

The log, and the exact JSON

2026-09-23T17:00:00Z

The Pool sent a handshake request.

{
  "schema_version": "0.1",
  "type": "handshake-request",
  "handshake_id": "hs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-anton-demo",
  "pool": {
    "url": "https://hearthhold.example/pools/platonic-partners.json",
    "name": "Platonic Life Partners",
    "charter": "People looking for a committed partner who is not a romantic one: a shared household, shared decisions, each other’s emergency contact. Aromantic, asexual, widowed, single on purpose, and anyone else who wants this. A steward meets you before you are listed.",
    "curator_identity": "mireille@mail.example",
    "curator_verification": "oauth",
    "intent_tags": [
      "platonic-partnership",
      "chosen-family"
    ],
    "visibility": "public"
  },
  "profile_url": "https://anton-ruiz.example",
  "sent_at": "2026-09-23T17:00:00Z",
  "expires_at": "2026-10-07T17:00:00Z",
  "accept_url": "https://hearthhold.example/handshake/hs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-anton-demo/accept",
  "decline_url": "https://hearthhold.example/handshake/hs-hearthhold-platonic-partners-anton-demo/decline"
}

Two · the introduction

Dana and Leo, introduced by Omar

Omar met both of them on calls this spring, and vouched for both. On Tuesday, 29 September 2026, he writes to each of them separately: a short note about the other, and two buttons. Answer as either one, in any order. The top half opens only when both have said yes.

What Dana sees · from Omar

Dana, I would like to introduce you to Leo Marchetti. He is a carpenter here in Port Ellery, widowed at 44. When we spoke, he said he misses having someone to run a life with more than he misses romance, which is close to how you put it to me. He gets up early and he is good at taxes. I think the two of you would have a practical first conversation, and possibly a good one. Say yes if you would like to meet him. If not, say no, thank you, and that is the end of it. He will not learn who said what. Omar

Leo MarchettiVouched for by the curatorin Platonic Life Partners

Omar is waiting for your answer. There is no hurry.

The door between them

Waiting for both. Both bolts are still shot.

Dana WhitcombeVouched for by the curatorWaiting
Leo MarchettiVouched for by the curatorWaiting

What Leo sees · from Omar

Leo, I would like to introduce you to Dana Whitcombe. She is a hospital pharmacist here in Port Ellery. She is looking for a life partner who is not a romantic one: a household, shared decisions, each other’s emergency contact. That is close to what you told me you miss. I think the two of you would have a practical first conversation, and possibly a good one. Say yes if you would like to meet her. If not, say no, thank you, and that is the end of it. She will not learn who said what. Omar

Dana WhitcombeVouched for by the curatorin Platonic Life Partners

Omar is waiting for your answer. There is no hurry.

Who can write first

Checked live with the kit’s canMessage: both people’s own rules (accept_from: vouched, no_cold_messages), the Pool’s OAuth minimum as ctx.pool_min_sender, and its two block lists §7.2 §7.3.

Dana writes to LeoNot yet. No first message until both of you have said you would like to hear from each other. (§7.2 no-cold-messages)

Leo writes to DanaNot yet. This Pool asks senders to be at least signed in with oauth. (Pool minimum)

In this Pool Leo’s card reads “Vouched for by the curator”. The identity his messages carry is Email verified, and this Pool asks anyone who writes in it to sign in with OAuth. He does that once, and nothing else about him changes.

What goes out

So far, only Omar’s two notes. The introduction goes only when both have said yes: one intro message to each of them, from Omar, through Platonic Life Partners, by email §6.1 §6.3.

The bottom half, later

If Dana and Leo decide, weeks or months from now, to build a household together, they can ask us to help write down what they are promising each other, or to sit with them through a mediation session. That is the first time money comes up, and only if they ask. We tell them the fee before they book.

Nothing in the protocol is charged for §1.3. This help is ours, and it sits outside Kindling.

The introduction’s messages, as JSON

Sample files, validated against the schema: Omar’s note to Dana, a yes, the introduction to Dana, and to Leo.