diff --git a/docs/recipe-customization.md b/docs/recipe-customization.md
index 2210a0e..4617efd 100644
--- a/docs/recipe-customization.md
+++ b/docs/recipe-customization.md
@@ -123,9 +123,6 @@ _This table is GENERATED from the `runner/harness/meta.py` KEYS registry by `scr
 | `DEPS` | `list[str]` | `[]` | Dep recipes deployed/provisioned alongside (e.g. `["keycloak"]`); creds land in `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE`. |
 | `WARM_CANONICAL` | `bool` | `False` | Enroll the recipe in the warm/canonical app system (docs/warm.md): green cold runs on LATEST advance the canonical snapshot. |
 | `SCREENSHOT` | `hook` | `None` | Callable driving Playwright to a safe, credential-free post-login view for the results-card screenshot (default: landing page). |
-| `CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY` **(deprecated)** | `bool` | `False` | DEPRECATED (P2 deletes): ship `tests/<recipe>/compose.ccci.yml` instead — the harness auto-copies it and auto-uses `--chaos` for the base deploy. |
-| `OIDC_AT_INSTALL` **(deprecated)** | `bool` | `False` | DEPRECATED (P2 deletes): install-time deps provisioning becomes the ONLY mode when `DEPS` is set. |
-| `SKIP_GENERIC` **(deprecated)** | `list[str]` | `[]` | DEPRECATED (P2 deletes; zero users): suppress the generic floor for the listed ops. The env form `CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC*` stays as a dev-only escape hatch. |
 
 <!-- META-TABLE-END -->
 
diff --git a/runner/harness/deps.py b/runner/harness/deps.py
index 11445ae..f0fc97e 100644
--- a/runner/harness/deps.py
+++ b/runner/harness/deps.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Per Phase-2 DECISIONS:
 Run state:
 - `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE` — JSON file written by the orchestrator after each dep deploys; each entry is
   `{"recipe": "<dep-recipe>", "domain": "<dep-domain>", "version": null}`. Tests access via the
-  `deps_apps` pytest fixture defined in `tests/conftest.py`.
+  `deps` pytest fixture defined in `tests/conftest.py`.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ def write_run_state(deps_state) -> None:
     """Write the deps state file ($CCCI_DEPS_FILE). Two shapes supported (canonical=keyed dict):
 
     1. **Legacy list-of-entries:** `[{"recipe": "<dep>", "domain": "<d>"}, ...]` (Q2.3 original).
-       Still accepted by `load_run_state` for backwards compat — `deps_apps` fixture flattens.
+       Still accepted by `load_run_state` for backwards compat — the `deps` fixture flattens.
     2. **NEW per-spec dict (operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan §3.2):**
        `{"<dep_recipe>": {"recipe": "<dep>", "domain": "<d>", "realm": "...",
        "client_id": "...", "client_secret": "...", "admin_user": "...", "admin_password": "..."}}`.
-       The `setup_custom_tests.sh` per-recipe hook reads this via `jq` to wire OIDC env.
+       The per-recipe `install_steps.sh` hook reads this via `jq` to wire OIDC env.
 
     No-op if `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE` isn't set."""
     path = os.environ.get("CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def load_run_state():
 
 
 def deps_as_dict(state) -> dict[str, dict]:
-    """Coerce either shape (legacy list or new dict) into a recipe→entry dict for the deps_apps
+    """Coerce either shape (legacy list or new dict) into a recipe→entry dict for the `deps`
     fixture + dependent-tests consumption."""
     if isinstance(state, dict):
         return state
diff --git a/runner/harness/lifecycle.py b/runner/harness/lifecycle.py
index c670496..d8eebd6 100644
--- a/runner/harness/lifecycle.py
+++ b/runner/harness/lifecycle.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import glob
 import json
 import os
 import re
+import shutil
 import socket
 import ssl
 import subprocess
@@ -125,6 +126,34 @@ def _record_deploy() -> None:
         f.write(str(n + 1))
 
 
+def ccci_overlay_path(recipe: str) -> str:
+    """The cc-ci-owned compose overlay for a recipe (rcust P2a: first-class, auto-discovered)."""
+    return os.path.join(meta_mod.TESTS_DIR, recipe, "compose.ccci.yml")
+
+
+def has_ccci_overlay(recipe: str) -> bool:
+    return os.path.isfile(ccci_overlay_path(recipe))
+
+
+def provide_ccci_overlay(recipe: str) -> None:
+    """Copy tests/<recipe>/compose.ccci.yml into THIS run's recipe checkout (ABRA_DIR-aware), so
+    the recipe's COMPOSE_FILE reference resolves (rcust P2a — the harness owns the copy; recipes
+    no longer ship install_steps.sh boilerplate for it). No-op for recipes without an overlay."""
+    src = ccci_overlay_path(recipe)
+    if not os.path.isfile(src):
+        return
+    dest_dir = abra.recipe_dir(recipe)
+    if not os.path.isdir(dest_dir):
+        print(f"  ccci-overlay: recipe dir {dest_dir} missing — cannot provide overlay", flush=True)
+        raise RuntimeError(f"recipe checkout missing for {recipe}: {dest_dir}")
+    shutil.copy(src, os.path.join(dest_dir, "compose.ccci.yml"))
+    print(
+        f"  ccci-overlay: provided compose.ccci.yml to the {recipe} checkout "
+        "(first-class overlay; base deploy auto-chaos)",
+        flush=True,
+    )
+
+
 def _run_install_steps(hook: tuple[str, str], recipe: str, domain: str) -> None:
     """Run a recipe's custom install-steps hook (install_steps.sh) during the install tier — after
     `abra app new` + env defaults + secret generate, before deploy (Phase 1d DG5). The hook gets the
@@ -212,11 +241,12 @@ def deploy_app(
 ) -> None:
     """Create + configure + deploy an app. Forces LETS_ENCRYPT_ENV='' so traefik serves the
     wildcard cert via the file provider and NEVER attempts ACME (adversary finding A1). Applies any
-    per-recipe EXTRA_ENV (recipe_meta.py) and the custom install-steps hook (Phase 1d) before deploy.
+    per-recipe EXTRA_ENV (recipe_meta.py), the custom install-steps hook (Phase 1d), and the
+    first-class `tests/<recipe>/compose.ccci.yml` overlay (rcust P2a) before deploy.
 
-    `meta` is the recipe's loaded RecipeMeta (EXTRA_ENV / CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY); the orchestrator
-    loads once and passes it down. Callers without one in hand (fixtures, warm reconcile) may omit
-    it — it is then loaded here via the single meta.load() path.
+    `meta` is the recipe's loaded RecipeMeta (EXTRA_ENV); the orchestrator loads once and passes
+    it down. Callers without one in hand (fixtures, warm reconcile) may omit it — it is then
+    loaded here via the single meta.load() path.
 
     `deploy_timeout` is the subprocess timeout for `abra app deploy`. Caller (orchestrator) passes
     `recipe_meta.DEPLOY_TIMEOUT` so heavy recipes (ghost, matrix-synapse, lasuite-meet) can extend
@@ -251,16 +281,18 @@ def deploy_app(
                 flush=True,
             )
             chaos = True
-        # A recipe may force a chaos base deploy via recipe_meta CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY=True when an
-        # install_steps hook adds an untracked compose overlay to the recipe checkout (e.g. discourse's
-        # compose.ccci.yml, provided by install_steps for the pinned base). The untracked file makes
-        # abra's pinned-deploy clean-tree check FATA ('has locally unstaged changes'); chaos skips lint +
-        # the clean-tree gate and deploys the EXPLICITLY-checked-out pinned version (we already ran
-        # recipe_checkout(version) above) — NOT latest. Same mechanism as the lightweight-tag branch.
-        elif meta.CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY:
+        # A first-class cc-ci compose overlay (tests/<recipe>/compose.ccci.yml, copied into the
+        # checkout below — rcust P2a) is an UNTRACKED file in the recipe checkout, which makes
+        # abra's pinned-deploy clean-tree check FATA ('has locally unstaged changes'). Auto-chaos:
+        # chaos skips lint + the clean-tree gate and deploys the EXPLICITLY-checked-out pinned
+        # version (we already ran recipe_checkout(version) above) — NOT latest. Same mechanism as
+        # the lightweight-tag branch. (Replaces the deleted CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY meta flag — the
+        # overlay's presence IS the signal, killing the R7 implicit coupling.)
+        elif has_ccci_overlay(recipe):
             print(
-                f"  deploy_app({recipe}@{version}): CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY set → chaos base deploy of the "
-                "checked-out pinned version (skips clean-tree/lint; deploys version, not LATEST)",
+                f"  deploy_app({recipe}@{version}): compose.ccci.yml overlay present → chaos base "
+                "deploy of the checked-out pinned version (skips clean-tree/lint; deploys version, "
+                "not LATEST)",
                 flush=True,
             )
             chaos = True
@@ -276,6 +308,12 @@ def deploy_app(
         abra.secret_generate(domain)
     if install_steps_hook:
         _run_install_steps(install_steps_hook, recipe, domain)
+    # First-class cc-ci compose overlay (rcust P2a): if the recipe ships
+    # tests/<recipe>/compose.ccci.yml, copy it into THIS run's recipe checkout (ABRA_DIR-aware)
+    # so the COMPOSE_FILE reference in the recipe's EXTRA_ENV resolves. Untracked, so it persists
+    # across the later PR-head checkout (idempotent when the head ships the same fix). Replaces
+    # the per-recipe install_steps.sh copy boilerplate + CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY flag (auto-chaos above).
+    provide_ccci_overlay(recipe)
     # HQ1: warm the local image store before the (real, unchanged) abra deploy.
     prepull_images(recipe, domain)
     abra.deploy(domain, chaos=chaos, timeout=deploy_timeout)
diff --git a/runner/harness/meta.py b/runner/harness/meta.py
index 8214cee..9f1c67d 100644
--- a/runner/harness/meta.py
+++ b/runner/harness/meta.py
@@ -120,29 +120,9 @@ KEYS: tuple[Key, ...] = (
         None,
         "Callable driving Playwright to a safe, credential-free post-login view for the results-card screenshot (default: landing page).",
     ),
-    # ---- Deprecated (deleted in restructure P2; registered so P1 lands green before P2 removes
-    # them — see recipe-custom-restructure-full-plan.md "Decisions locked") -----------------------
-    Key(
-        "CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY",
-        "bool",
-        False,
-        "DEPRECATED (P2 deletes): ship `tests/<recipe>/compose.ccci.yml` instead — the harness auto-copies it and auto-uses `--chaos` for the base deploy.",
-        deprecated=True,
-    ),
-    Key(
-        "OIDC_AT_INSTALL",
-        "bool",
-        False,
-        "DEPRECATED (P2 deletes): install-time deps provisioning becomes the ONLY mode when `DEPS` is set.",
-        deprecated=True,
-    ),
-    Key(
-        "SKIP_GENERIC",
-        "list[str]",
-        [],
-        "DEPRECATED (P2 deletes; zero users): suppress the generic floor for the listed ops. The env form `CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC*` stays as a dev-only escape hatch.",
-        deprecated=True,
-    ),
+    # (CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY, OIDC_AT_INSTALL and SKIP_GENERIC were deleted in restructure P2:
+    # compose.ccci.yml is first-class + auto-chaos; install-time deps wiring is the only mode;
+    # the generic floor is suppressible only via the dev-only CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC* env form.)
 )
 
 _REGISTRY: dict[str, Key] = {k.name: k for k in KEYS}
diff --git a/runner/run_recipe_ci.py b/runner/run_recipe_ci.py
index 2045b2f..59f84ef 100644
--- a/runner/run_recipe_ci.py
+++ b/runner/run_recipe_ci.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ ALL_STAGES = ("install", "upgrade", "backup", "restore", "custom")
 
 def sso_dep_unverified(declared, deps_ready: bool, requires_deps_skipped: int) -> bool:
     """F2-11 gate predicate (pure, unit-tested). True when a recipe declares DEPS but its
-    setup_custom_tests failed (deps not ready) AND that caused ≥1 `requires_deps` (SSO/OIDC) test
+    dep provisioning failed (deps not ready) AND that caused ≥1 `requires_deps` (SSO/OIDC) test
     to SKIP. In that case the recipe's characteristic SSO claim was NOT verified, so the run must
     NOT report GREEN — even though a skip-only pytest file exits 0 and leaves every tier 'pass'.
     Generic-tier failure-isolation is preserved (those results stand); only the green SIGNAL is
@@ -254,16 +254,22 @@ def _tier_env(domain: str) -> dict:
     return dict(os.environ, CCCI_APP_DOMAIN=domain, CCCI_BASE_URL=f"https://{domain}")
 
 
-def _skip_generic(op: str, meta) -> bool:
+def skip_generic_env_overrides() -> list[str]:
+    """Active CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC* env overrides (rcust P2c: the meta key is deleted; the env form
+    is a documented LOCAL-DEV-ONLY escape hatch). Surfaced loudly when set in a CI (drone) run —
+    it reduces generic-floor coverage and must never silently ride a CI verdict."""
+    return sorted(
+        k for k in os.environ if k.startswith("CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC") and _truthy(os.environ.get(k))
+    )
+
+
+def _skip_generic(op: str) -> bool:
     """Whether the generic assertion for `op` is opted out (Phase 1e HC3). Default: run (additive).
-    Opt-out, any of: env CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC (all ops), env CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC_<OP>, or the recipe's
-    declarative recipe_meta.SKIP_GENERIC list (op name, or "all"/"*")."""
+    Opt-out via env only (dev-only escape hatch, P2c): CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC (all ops) or
+    CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC_<OP>. The recipe_meta SKIP_GENERIC key is deleted (zero users)."""
     if _truthy(os.environ.get("CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC")):
         return True
-    if _truthy(os.environ.get(f"CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC_{op.upper()}")):
-        return True
-    sg = [str(s).lower() for s in (meta.SKIP_GENERIC or [])]
-    return "all" in sg or "*" in sg or op in sg
+    return _truthy(os.environ.get(f"CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC_{op.upper()}"))
 
 
 def _run_pre_hook(recipe: str, op: str, repo_local: str | None, domain: str, meta) -> None:
@@ -360,7 +366,7 @@ def run_lifecycle_tier(
     a {tier,source,file,rc,junit} record appended, so the run can assemble per-stage/per-test
     results.json + the level afterwards. Purely additive — does not change the verdict."""
     overlay = discovery.resolve_overlay_op(recipe, op, repo_local)
-    skip_gen = _skip_generic(op, meta)
+    skip_gen = _skip_generic(op)
     files: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
     if not skip_gen:
         files.append(discovery.generic_op(op))
@@ -423,7 +429,7 @@ def run_lifecycle_tier(
 def _enrich_deps_with_sso(parent_recipe: str, parent_domain: str, deps_list) -> dict[str, dict]:
     """For each dep, set up a fresh realm/client + test user via the harness's provider-specific
     setup function, then return a recipe→entry dict carrying domain + admin + realm/client/user
-    info — the shape the `setup_custom_tests.sh` hook (and dependent tests) read.
+    info — the shape the `install_steps.sh` hook (and dependent tests) read.
 
     Provider routing: today only `keycloak` is supported. authentik will need a parallel
     `setup_authentik_realm` when an authentik-dep recipe enrolls (DEFERRED.md #9).
@@ -437,7 +443,7 @@ def _enrich_deps_with_sso(parent_recipe: str, parent_domain: str, deps_list) ->
         if not dep_recipe or not dep_domain:
             continue
         if dep_recipe != "keycloak":
-            # Provider not yet supported — record bare entry; setup_custom_tests.sh / tests will
+            # Provider not yet supported — record bare entry; install_steps.sh / tests will
             # raise if they need realm/client info they don't see.
             out[dep_recipe] = entry
             continue
@@ -481,12 +487,10 @@ def _provision_deps(
 
     Splits deps into live-warm (shared provider at a stable domain + a per-run realm) vs cold
     (co-deployed per run), provisions each dep's SSO realm/client/user, and persists the enriched
-    dict the `setup_custom_tests.sh`/`install_steps.sh` hooks + dependent tests read. Raises on any
-    failure (the caller marks deps-not-ready). Used by BOTH wiring paths:
-    - post-deploy (legacy): provision AFTER generic tiers, then `setup_custom_tests.sh` does an
-      in-place OIDC redeploy.
-    - install-time (`OIDC_AT_INSTALL`, Q3.2a): provision BEFORE the single deploy so the
-      install-tier `install_steps.sh` hook wires OIDC env into that one deploy — no reconverge.
+    dict the `install_steps.sh` hooks + dependent tests read. Raises on any failure (the caller
+    marks deps-not-ready). Install-time wiring is the ONLY mode (rcust P2b): provision BEFORE the
+    single deploy so the install-tier `install_steps.sh` hook wires OIDC env into that one deploy —
+    no reconverge, no post-deploy `setup_custom_tests.sh` machinery.
     """
     warm_deps, cold_deps = [], []
     for d in declared:
@@ -515,32 +519,6 @@ def _provision_deps(
     return deps_state
 
 
-def _run_setup_custom_tests_hook(recipe: str, domain: str, deps_file: str) -> None:
-    """Run `tests/<recipe>/setup_custom_tests.sh` if present (operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan
-    §3.2). The hook reads `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE`, sets OIDC env via `abra app config set` + secret
-    insert, and triggers an in-place `abra app deploy --force --chaos`. Failure here propagates
-    to mark deps-not-ready (caught in main())."""
-    path = os.path.join(ROOT, "tests", recipe, "setup_custom_tests.sh")
-    if not os.path.isfile(path):
-        # No hook = recipe doesn't need post-deps wiring; deps are deployed + creds available
-        # via deps_apps fixture as-is.
-        print(
-            f"  setup_custom_tests: no hook at {os.path.relpath(path, ROOT)} (deps creds ready in $CCCI_DEPS_FILE)",
-            flush=True,
-        )
-        return
-    print(f"  setup_custom_tests hook: {os.path.relpath(path, ROOT)}", flush=True)
-    rc = subprocess.run(
-        ["bash", path],
-        check=False,
-        env=dict(os.environ, CCCI_APP_DOMAIN=domain, CCCI_RECIPE=recipe, CCCI_DEPS_FILE=deps_file),
-    )
-    if rc.returncode != 0:
-        raise RuntimeError(
-            f"setup_custom_tests.sh exited {rc.returncode} (deps env not wired into parent)"
-        )
-
-
 def run_custom(
     recipe: str,
     repo_local: str | None,
@@ -644,9 +622,13 @@ def run_quick(
             print(f"!! canonical reattach/readiness failed: {_scrub(str(e))}", flush=True)
 
         if warm_ok:
-            # 2) deps (warm keycloak + per-run realm) — mirrors main()'s warm/cold split
+            # 2) deps (warm keycloak + per-run realm) — mirrors main()'s warm/cold split. NB
+            # (rcust P2b): deps are provisioned (realm/creds in $CCCI_DEPS_FILE) but quick mode
+            # cannot do install-time OIDC env wiring — the canonical app pre-exists its per-run
+            # realm. No quick-enrolled recipe declares DEPS today; if one ever does, its
+            # requires_deps tests will exercise creds-only flows or skip (F2-11 keeps the signal).
             if declared:
-                print(f"\n===== setup_custom_tests (quick): deps {declared} =====", flush=True)
+                print(f"\n===== deps (quick): {declared} =====", flush=True)
                 try:
                     warm_deps, cold_deps = [], []
                     for d in declared:
@@ -667,12 +649,11 @@ def run_quick(
                         print(f"  dep: using live-warm {d} @ {wd} (per-run realm)", flush=True)
                     deps_state = _enrich_deps_with_sso(recipe, domain, deps_list)
                     deps_mod.write_run_state(deps_state)
-                    _run_setup_custom_tests_hook(recipe, domain, depsfile)
                 except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001
                     deps_ready = False
                     deps_not_ready_reason = _scrub(str(e))[:300]
                     print(
-                        f"!! setup_custom_tests failed (deps-not-ready): {deps_not_ready_reason}",
+                        f"!! dep provisioning failed (deps-not-ready): {deps_not_ready_reason}",
                         flush=True,
                     )
 
@@ -787,7 +768,7 @@ def run_quick(
         overall = 1
     if sso_unverified:
         print(
-            f"!! DEPS={declared} but setup_custom_tests failed and {requires_deps_skipped} "
+            f"!! DEPS={declared} but dep provisioning failed and {requires_deps_skipped} "
             "requires_deps SKIPPED — SSO NOT verified (F2-11)",
             file=sys.stderr,
         )
@@ -871,6 +852,17 @@ def main() -> int:
     print(
         f"== cc-ci run: recipe={recipe} ref={ref} pr={os.environ.get('PR', '0')} stages={sorted(stages)}"
     )
+    # P2c: the CCCI_SKIP_GENERIC* env escape hatch is LOCAL-DEV-ONLY. If it rides a CI (drone)
+    # run, shout — generic-floor coverage is reduced and the verdict must not look routine.
+    for ov in skip_generic_env_overrides():
+        if os.environ.get("DRONE"):
+            print(
+                f"!! {ov}=1 — dev-only generic-floor override ACTIVE IN A CI RUN; generic "
+                "assertions are suppressed for the affected op(s). This must never gate a merge.",
+                flush=True,
+            )
+        else:
+            print(f"== {ov}=1 (dev-only generic-floor override active)", flush=True)
     # Concurrent-run safety is structural: this run's recipe trees live in its own ABRA_DIR
     # (exported here, before ANY abra call), so no recipe-tree lock exists; same-DOMAIN runs
     # serialise on the app-domain flock taken in deploy_app (see docs/concurrency.md).
@@ -933,10 +925,8 @@ def main() -> int:
     os.environ["CCCI_OP_STATE_FILE"] = statefile
     op_state: dict = {}
 
-    # Run-scoped dep state (Phase 2 Q2.3, refined per operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan §1):
-    # deps now deploy AFTER generic tiers (between RESTORE and CUSTOM) so a failed dep deploy
-    # cannot break the generic-tier signal. The `setup_custom_tests` step deploys each dep + runs
-    # `tests/<recipe>/setup_custom_tests.sh` to wire OIDC env via in-place redeploy.
+    # Run-scoped dep state (Phase 2 Q2.3; install-time-only since rcust P2b): deps are provisioned
+    # BEFORE the single deploy so install_steps.sh wires OIDC env into that one deploy.
     # `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE` is written with the full creds dict the hook script needs (jq-readable).
     depsfile = _run_state_path("deps") + ".json"
     with open(depsfile, "w") as f:
@@ -948,14 +938,8 @@ def main() -> int:
         os.remove(skipfile)
     os.environ["CCCI_DEPS_SKIP_REPORT"] = skipfile
     declared = list(meta.DEPS)
-    # Q3.2a: a recipe that tolerates OIDC env at first boot AND whose deps are live-warm wires OIDC
-    # at INSTALL time (provision the realm BEFORE the single deploy; install_steps.sh writes the env
-    # into it) instead of the post-deploy in-place `--chaos` redeploy — which is flaky on the heavy
-    # 12-service lasuite-drive stack (collabora WOPI race; see JOURNAL Step 0). Opt-in per recipe.
-    oidc_at_install = bool(meta.OIDC_AT_INSTALL) and bool(declared)
     if declared:
-        when = "BEFORE deploy (install-time OIDC)" if oidc_at_install else "AFTER generic tiers"
-        print(f"\n===== DEPS declared (provision {when}): {declared} =====", flush=True)
+        print(f"\n===== DEPS declared (provision BEFORE deploy): {declared} =====", flush=True)
     deps_state: dict[str, dict] = {}  # new shape: recipe→entry dict (sso-dep plan §1)
     deps_ready = True
     deps_not_ready_reason: str = ""
@@ -969,7 +953,7 @@ def main() -> int:
         # install_steps.sh can read $CCCI_DEPS_FILE and wire the OIDC env into that one deploy. On
         # failure we mark deps-not-ready but STILL deploy the recipe alone (install_steps.sh no-ops
         # on an empty deps file) so the generic tiers run; the OIDC custom test then skips → F2-11. ----
-        if oidc_at_install:
+        if declared:
             print(
                 f"\n===== install-time OIDC: provisioning deps {declared} BEFORE deploy =====",
                 flush=True,
@@ -1105,41 +1089,11 @@ def main() -> int:
                     if backup_cap
                     else "skip"
                 )
-            # ---- setup_custom_tests step (NEW, operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan §3.2) ----
-            # Deploy each declared dep + wire OIDC env into the parent app via the per-recipe
-            # setup_custom_tests.sh hook + in-place redeploy. Failure here marks deps-not-ready
-            # but does NOT abort the run — @pytest.mark.requires_deps tests skip with reason;
-            # non-deps custom tests still run normally.
-            if declared and not oidc_at_install:
-                # LEGACY post-deploy path: provision deps AFTER generic tiers, then wire OIDC env
-                # into the parent via the setup_custom_tests.sh hook + an in-place `--chaos` redeploy.
-                print("\n===== setup_custom_tests: deps + OIDC wiring =====", flush=True)
-                try:
-                    deps_state = _provision_deps(recipe, domain, ref, declared)
-                    # Run the per-recipe post-deps hook (jq-driven OIDC wiring + in-place redeploy)
-                    _run_setup_custom_tests_hook(recipe, domain, depsfile)
-                except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001 — setup failure is ISOLATED to dep-marked tests
-                    deps_ready = False
-                    deps_not_ready_reason = _scrub(str(e))[:300]
-                    print(
-                        f"!! setup_custom_tests failed (deps-not-ready): {deps_not_ready_reason}",
-                        flush=True,
-                    )
-            elif declared and oidc_at_install and deps_ready:
-                # INSTALL-TIME path (Q3.2a): deps were provisioned BEFORE the single deploy and the
-                # install-tier install_steps.sh hook already wired OIDC env into that one deploy —
-                # so NO re-provision, NO reconverge here. Run only the post-deploy setup hook
-                # (e.g. lasuite-drive's minio-createbuckets one-shot), which needs the live stack.
-                print("\n===== post-deploy setup (OIDC already wired at install) =====", flush=True)
-                try:
-                    _run_setup_custom_tests_hook(recipe, domain, depsfile)
-                except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001 — isolated to dep-marked / state-dependent tests
-                    deps_ready = False
-                    deps_not_ready_reason = _scrub(str(e))[:300]
-                    print(
-                        f"!! post-deploy setup failed: {deps_not_ready_reason}",
-                        flush=True,
-                    )
+            # (rcust P2b: install-time deps wiring is the ONLY mode — deps were provisioned BEFORE
+            # the single deploy and install_steps.sh wired the OIDC env into it. The legacy
+            # post-deploy provisioning + setup_custom_tests.sh redeploy machinery is deleted; a
+            # recipe's post-deploy seeding belongs in ops.py pre_install, e.g. lasuite-drive's
+            # MinIO bucket one-shot.)
 
             # ---- CUSTOM tier ----
             if "custom" in stages:
@@ -1214,8 +1168,7 @@ def main() -> int:
 
     # ---- per-op summary (DG6 feed) ----
     # SSO-dep plan §1: DG4.1 generalised — one `abra app new` per app in the run (recipe + each
-    # COLD dep). In-place reconfigure-and-redeploy (the setup_custom_tests step's
-    # `abra app deploy --force --chaos`) is NOT a fresh `app_new` and does NOT increment the count.
+    # COLD dep). Chaos redeploys are NOT a fresh `app_new` and do NOT increment the count.
     # WC1: a live-warm dep (keycloak) is NOT deployed by the run — it only gets a per-run realm — so
     # warm deps contribute 0. So expected = 1 + (number of COLD deps that actually got deployed).
     _dep_entries = deps_state.values() if isinstance(deps_state, dict) else (deps_state or [])
@@ -1256,12 +1209,12 @@ def main() -> int:
         overall = 1
     if any(v == "fail" for v in results.values()):
         overall = 1
-    # F2-11: a deps-declaring recipe whose setup_custom_tests failed has NOT verified its SSO/OIDC
+    # F2-11: a deps-declaring recipe whose dep provisioning failed has NOT verified its SSO/OIDC
     # claim — its requires_deps tests SKIPPED (a skip-only file exits 0, so without this the run
     # would report GREEN). Fail the run for that recipe; generic-tier results above are untouched.
     if sso_dep_unverified(declared, deps_ready, requires_deps_skipped):
         print(
-            f"!! recipe declares DEPS={declared} but setup_custom_tests failed and "
+            f"!! recipe declares DEPS={declared} but dep provisioning failed and "
             f"{requires_deps_skipped} requires_deps (SSO) test(s) were SKIPPED — SSO claim NOT "
             f"verified; failing run (F2-11). deps-not-ready: {deps_not_ready_reason}",
             file=sys.stderr,
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 017a279..35d47bd 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -14,12 +14,7 @@ import pytest
 
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "runner"))
 from harness import deps as deps_mod  # noqa: E402
-from harness import lifecycle, naming
-from harness import meta as meta_mod
-
-
-def _short(s: str, n: int = 8) -> str:
-    return "".join(c for c in s if c.isalnum())[:n] or "local"
+from harness import meta as meta_mod  # noqa: E402
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
@@ -27,16 +22,6 @@ def recipe() -> str:
     return os.environ.get("RECIPE", "custom-html")
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def app_domain(recipe) -> str:
-    # Docker swarm config/secret names = <stackname>_<res>_<ver> must be <= 64 chars, and
-    # stackname is the sanitized domain. ".ci.commoninternet.net" alone is 22 chars, so the
-    # subdomain label must stay short. Use <recipe[:4]>-<6hex(recipe|pr|ref)> — unique per run,
-    # collision-safe across recipes (full recipe in the hash), readable context lives in the
-    # Drone build params + PR comment. (Deviation from plan §4.0 long name; see DECISIONS.md.)
-    return naming.app_domain(recipe, os.environ.get("PR", "0"), os.environ.get("REF"))
-
-
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def meta(recipe):
     """The recipe's FULL validated customization (RecipeMeta, attribute access) via the single
@@ -55,32 +40,33 @@ def live_app() -> str:
     return domain
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def deps_apps() -> dict[str, str]:
-    """Phase 2 Q2.3 dependency-resolver contract (refined operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan §1):
-    when a recipe declares `DEPS = [...]` in its `recipe_meta.py`, the orchestrator deploys each
-    dep AFTER the generic tiers (between RESTORE and CUSTOM) and persists their per-run identity
-    + SSO creds to `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE`. Tests access the dep's per-run domain via this fixture.
-    For full SSO creds (realm/client/secret/admin) use the `deps_creds` fixture instead.
+class _DepEntry(dict):
+    """One provisioned dep (full creds dict) with attribute sugar: `entry.domain`, `entry.realm`,
+    `entry.client_secret`, ... — dict-style access works too (rcust P2d)."""
 
-    Returns `{dep_recipe: domain}` (str→str). Empty when no deps declared OR deps-not-ready."""
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        try:
+            return self[name]
+        except KeyError as e:
+            raise AttributeError(name) from e
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def deps() -> dict[str, _DepEntry]:
+    """The recipe's provisioned deps (rcust P2d — consolidates the old `deps_apps`+`deps_creds`
+    pair). When a recipe declares `DEPS = [...]` in its `recipe_meta.py`, the orchestrator
+    provisions each dep BEFORE the single deploy and persists per-run identity + SSO creds to
+    `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE`. `deps["keycloak"]` carries domain/realm/client_id/client_secret/user/
+    password/email/admin_user/admin_password/discovery_url/token_url/... (`.domain` etc. work as
+    attributes). Empty when no deps declared OR deps-not-ready — pair with
+    `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so the F2-11 skip-report keeps the green signal honest."""
     state = deps_mod.deps_as_dict(deps_mod.load_run_state())
-    return {r: e["domain"] for r, e in state.items() if e.get("domain")}
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def deps_creds() -> dict[str, dict]:
-    """Full SSO-creds dict for each declared dep (operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan §1).
-    `deps_creds["keycloak"]` returns the entry written by setup_custom_tests with keys
-    domain/realm/client_id/client_secret/user/password/email/admin_user/admin_password/
-    discovery_url/token_url/.... Use this in `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` tests that need to
-    authenticate via OIDC."""
-    return deps_mod.deps_as_dict(deps_mod.load_run_state())
+    return {r: _DepEntry(e) for r, e in state.items()}
 
 
 def pytest_collection_modifyitems(config, items):
     """SSO-dep plan §4: tests marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` are skipped with reason
-    `deps-not-ready: <captured-err>` when the orchestrator's setup_custom_tests step failed
+    `deps-not-ready: <captured-err>` when the orchestrator's dep provisioning failed
     (orchestrator sets CCCI_DEPS_READY=0 in env). Non-deps custom tests are unaffected.
 
     This is failure-isolation per plan §1 — generic tiers cannot break the SSO-marked tests'
@@ -113,40 +99,5 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
     """Register the `requires_deps` marker so pytest doesn't warn about it."""
     config.addinivalue_line(
         "markers",
-        "requires_deps: test requires DEPS-declared services + setup_custom_tests success.",
+        "requires_deps: test requires DEPS-declared services + dep provisioning success.",
     )
-
-
-def _wait_healthy(domain, meta):
-    lifecycle.wait_healthy(
-        domain,
-        ok_codes=tuple(meta.HEALTH_OK),
-        path=meta.HEALTH_PATH,
-        deploy_timeout=meta.DEPLOY_TIMEOUT,
-        http_timeout=meta.HTTP_TIMEOUT,
-    )
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def deployed(recipe, app_domain, meta, request):
-    """Function-scoped: deploy the current/$REF version healthy, guaranteed teardown after.
-    Used by stages that start from current (install/backup)."""
-    version = os.environ.get("VERSION") or None
-    lifecycle.janitor()
-    request.addfinalizer(lambda: lifecycle.teardown_app(app_domain))
-    lifecycle.deploy_app(recipe, app_domain, version=version)
-    _wait_healthy(app_domain, meta)
-    return app_domain
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def deployed_app(recipe, app_domain, meta):
-    """Install stage: deploy the recipe and wait until healthy; tear down at session end."""
-    version = os.environ.get("VERSION") or None
-    lifecycle.janitor()  # sweep orphans from crashed runs first
-    try:
-        lifecycle.deploy_app(recipe, app_domain, version=version, secrets=True)
-        _wait_healthy(app_domain, meta)
-        yield app_domain
-    finally:
-        lifecycle.teardown_app(app_domain)
diff --git a/tests/discourse/install_steps.sh b/tests/discourse/install_steps.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 930e663..0000000
--- a/tests/discourse/install_steps.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-# discourse — INSTALL-TIME hook (Phase 2 Q4.6). Runs during the install tier AFTER `abra app new` +
-# EXTRA_ENV + `abra app secret generate` and BEFORE the single `abra app deploy`
-# (lifecycle.py::_run_install_steps), with CCCI_RECIPE / CCCI_APP_DOMAIN in env.
-#
-# Purpose: provide the cc-ci re-pin+grace overlay (compose.ccci.yml) to the recipe checkout so the
-# UPGRADE-tier BASE deploy (published 0.7.0+3.3.1, whose compose pins the Docker-Hub-removed
-# `bitnami/discourse:3.3.1` and ships a too-tight 5m start_period) is deployable and can survive the
-# 15-25min Rails cold boot — so upgrade-to-latest can run. See compose.ccci.yml's header for the full
-# rationale. The overlay is referenced by recipe_meta COMPOSE_FILE; it is a cc-ci file (not part of the
-# recipe), so copying it here makes it resolvable. It persists across the later `git checkout <head>`
-# (untracked) so the head deploy also merges it (idempotent — the PR head already re-pins + ships 20m).
-# CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY=True is set so abra's pinned-deploy clean-tree check doesn't FATA on the overlay.
-set -euo pipefail
-
-: "${CCCI_RECIPE:?missing CCCI_RECIPE}"
-SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
-# Resolve the recipe tree the way abra does: $ABRA_DIR (the per-run tree inside a CI run) else
-# the canonical ~/.abra — the overlay must land in the tree this run actually deploys from.
-RECIPE_DIR="${ABRA_DIR:-${HOME}/.abra}/recipes/${CCCI_RECIPE}"
-
-if [ ! -d "$RECIPE_DIR" ]; then
-  echo "  discourse install_steps: recipe dir $RECIPE_DIR missing — cannot provide compose.ccci.yml" >&2
-  exit 1
-fi
-
-cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/compose.ccci.yml" "$RECIPE_DIR/compose.ccci.yml"
-echo "  discourse install_steps: provided compose.ccci.yml (bitnamilegacy re-pin + 20m start_period grace) to recipe checkout (${CCCI_RECIPE})"
diff --git a/tests/discourse/recipe_meta.py b/tests/discourse/recipe_meta.py
index 9092875..d532a42 100644
--- a/tests/discourse/recipe_meta.py
+++ b/tests/discourse/recipe_meta.py
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ HTTP_TIMEOUT = 1200
 #   (1) it pins the Docker-Hub-removed `bitnami/discourse:3.3.1` (404) → overlay re-pins app+sidekiq to
 #       `bitnamilegacy/discourse:3.3.1` (namespace-only, identical image), the same re-pin the PR makes;
 #   (2) its 5m start_period is too tight for the 15-25min Rails boot → overlay widens it to 20m (grace).
-# install_steps.sh provides the overlay; CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY skips the clean-tree gate on the untracked
-# overlay; it persists across the head checkout (idempotent — the PR head already re-pins + ships 20m).
+# The harness auto-provides the overlay to the checkout and auto-chaoses the base deploy
+# (first-class compose.ccci.yml, rcust P2a); it persists across the head checkout (idempotent — the
+# PR head already re-pins + ships 20m).
 # Upgrade crossover: 0.7.0 (re-pinned base) → PR head; full assertions run on the HEAD. The 0.7.0
 # *custom* tests are not separately run (custom tier runs once, on the head — policy §1 allows skip+record).
-CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY = True
 UPGRADE_BASE_VERSION = "0.7.0+3.3.1"
 EXTRA_ENV = {
     "TIMEOUT": "3600",  # abra's internal convergence wait; matches DEPLOY_TIMEOUT (slow Rails boot headroom)
diff --git a/tests/ghost/install_steps.sh b/tests/ghost/install_steps.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 2c2dc50..0000000
--- a/tests/ghost/install_steps.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-# ghost — INSTALL-TIME hook (Phase 2 F2-14b). Runs during the install tier AFTER `abra app new` +
-# EXTRA_ENV + `abra app secret generate` and BEFORE the single `abra app deploy`
-# (lifecycle.py::_run_install_steps), with CCCI_RECIPE / CCCI_APP_DOMAIN in env.
-#
-# Purpose: provide the cc-ci start_period-grace overlay (compose.ccci.yml) to the recipe checkout so
-# the UPGRADE-tier BASE deploy (a previous published version whose app healthcheck still ships the
-# too-tight 1m start_period) can survive ghost's ~6-9min fresh-DB migration and converge. See
-# compose.ccci.yml's header for the full rationale. The overlay is referenced by recipe_meta
-# COMPOSE_FILE; copying it here (it is a cc-ci file, not part of the recipe) makes it resolvable.
-# It persists across the later `git checkout <head>` (untracked) so the head deploy also merges it
-# (idempotent — the PR head already ships 15m). CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY=True is set so abra's pinned-deploy
-# clean-tree check doesn't FATA on the untracked overlay.
-set -euo pipefail
-
-: "${CCCI_RECIPE:?missing CCCI_RECIPE}"
-SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
-# Resolve the recipe tree the way abra does: $ABRA_DIR (the per-run tree inside a CI run) else
-# the canonical ~/.abra — the overlay must land in the tree this run actually deploys from.
-RECIPE_DIR="${ABRA_DIR:-${HOME}/.abra}/recipes/${CCCI_RECIPE}"
-
-if [ ! -d "$RECIPE_DIR" ]; then
-  echo "  ghost install_steps: recipe dir $RECIPE_DIR missing — cannot provide compose.ccci.yml" >&2
-  exit 1
-fi
-
-cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/compose.ccci.yml" "$RECIPE_DIR/compose.ccci.yml"
-echo "  ghost install_steps: provided compose.ccci.yml (app start_period grace) to recipe checkout (${CCCI_RECIPE})"
diff --git a/tests/ghost/recipe_meta.py b/tests/ghost/recipe_meta.py
index 710f50f..b7c29bd 100644
--- a/tests/ghost/recipe_meta.py
+++ b/tests/ghost/recipe_meta.py
@@ -31,16 +31,15 @@ HTTP_TIMEOUT = 900
 # (plan-ccci-compose-overlay-policy.md §1), so the harness base-deploys the previous PUBLISHED version
 # (1.1.1+6-alpine) — which predates the PR and still ships the too-tight 1m start_period → it would
 # deadlock on the same migration kill. compose.ccci.yml re-applies the 15m grace to the BASE so the
-# from-version is deployable; install_steps.sh provides it to the checkout; CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY skips the
-# clean-tree gate on that untracked overlay. It persists across the head checkout (idempotent — the PR
-# head already ships 15m). This is the policy-blessed "minimal overlay on the from-version so
+# from-version is deployable; the harness auto-provides it to the checkout and auto-chaoses the base
+# deploy (first-class compose.ccci.yml, rcust P2a). It persists across the head checkout (idempotent —
+# the PR head already ships 15m). This is the policy-blessed "minimal overlay on the from-version so
 # upgrade-to-latest can run" — grace-only, masks no defect, weakens no test.
 # TIMEOUT/DEPLOY_TIMEOUT 2400s: the BASE cold boot's wall-time is mysql fresh-dir init (~6min, during
 # which the app crash-loops harmlessly on `ECONNREFUSED 3306` until mysql accepts connections — no
 # migration progress lost, it hasn't started) PLUS the ~9-15min schema migration (round-trip-bound,
 # slower under host load). 1200s was too tight (full4 killed at the near-final `email_recipients`
 # tables while still 0/1); 2400s gives headroom while still bounding a genuine hang (matches discourse).
-CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY = True
 EXTRA_ENV = {
     "TIMEOUT": "2400",
     "COMPOSE_FILE": "compose.yml:compose.ccci.yml",
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_create_doc.py b/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_create_doc.py
index 161462d..e73d70f 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_create_doc.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_create_doc.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ persistence". This is the canonical create-an-object + read-it-back for lasuite-
 
 Flow (uses an OIDC token from the dep keycloak):
 1. Obtain a JWT via OIDC password grant against the dep keycloak (the test user is provisioned
-   by the orchestrator's setup_custom_tests step).
+   by the orchestrator's dep-provisioning step).
 2. POST `/api/v1.0/documents/` with `Authorization: Bearer <jwt>` to create a new doc with a
    unique title; capture the returned `id`.
 3. GET `/api/v1.0/documents/<id>/` with the same Bearer token; assert the returned title and
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Non-vacuous: a misconfigured OIDC, broken backend, or missing endpoint fails at
 broken. The marker-in-the-title + id round-trip proves the doc actually persisted in lasuite-
 docs's database after going through the recipe's nginx → backend → postgres path.
 
-Marked @pytest.mark.requires_deps — skips with `deps-not-ready` if setup_custom_tests failed.
+Marked @pytest.mark.requires_deps — skips with `deps-not-ready` if dep provisioning failed.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ from harness import sso
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires_deps
-def test_create_doc_and_read_back(live_app, deps_creds):
+def test_create_doc_and_read_back(live_app, deps):
     """Create a doc via the authenticated API; fetch it back; assert round-trip."""
-    kc = deps_creds["keycloak"]
+    kc = deps["keycloak"]
 
     # Obtain a JWT via OIDC password grant
     access_token = sso.oidc_password_grant(
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_login.py b/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_login.py
index 2a05c68..fa527cb 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_login.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_login.py
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ SOURCE: references/recipe-maintainer/recipe-info/lasuite-docs/tests/oidc_login.p
 End-to-end flow:
 1. GET `/api/v1.0/users/me/` without auth → asserts the response REDIRECTS to the dep
    keycloak's realm auth endpoint (the recipe is correctly configured to challenge
-   unauthenticated callers — wired via setup_custom_tests.sh).
+   unauthenticated callers — wired via install_steps.sh).
 2. Obtain an OIDC token from the dep keycloak via password grant
    (the test user provisioned by the orchestrator's realm setup).
 3. Call `/api/v1.0/users/me/` with `Authorization: Bearer <jwt>` → asserts 200 and the
    returned user's email matches the provisioned test user.
 
-Marked @pytest.mark.requires_deps — skips with `deps-not-ready` if setup_custom_tests failed.
+Marked @pytest.mark.requires_deps — skips with `deps-not-ready` if dep provisioning failed.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ def _get_no_redirect(url: str) -> tuple[int, str]:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires_deps
-def test_oidc_login_via_keycloak(live_app, deps_creds):
+def test_oidc_login_via_keycloak(live_app, deps):
     """Anonymous → redirect to keycloak; password-grant token → 200 from /api/v1.0/users/me/."""
-    kc = deps_creds["keycloak"]
+    kc = deps["keycloak"]
 
     # Step 1: unauthenticated GET → 302 to keycloak realm's auth endpoint
     status, redirect = _get_no_redirect(f"https://{live_app}/api/v1.0/users/me/")
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py b/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
index 4c3d19e..bd865de 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-docs/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 Refactored to the refined SSO-dep model:
 - The orchestrator deploys a per-run keycloak dep AFTER generic tiers and provisions a fresh
   realm/client/user via `harness.sso.setup_keycloak_realm`. The creds are written to
-  `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE` (read here via the `deps_creds` fixture).
+  `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE` (read here via the `deps` fixture).
 - This test no longer calls `setup_keycloak_realm` itself — that's the orchestrator's job in
-  the setup_custom_tests step. We just consume the credentials and exercise the OIDC flow.
-- Marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so if setup_custom_tests failed, this test SKIPs with a
+  the dep-provisioning step. We just consume the credentials and exercise the OIDC flow.
+- Marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so if dep provisioning failed, this test SKIPs with a
   clear `deps-not-ready` reason rather than red-flagging a non-recipe failure.
 """
 
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ def _b64url_decode(seg: str) -> bytes:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires_deps
-def test_oidc_password_grant_against_dep_keycloak(live_app, deps_creds):
+def test_oidc_password_grant_against_dep_keycloak(live_app, deps):
     """The dep keycloak issues a JWT for the pre-provisioned test user via OIDC password grant."""
-    assert "keycloak" in deps_creds, (
-        f"keycloak creds not in deps_creds; got {list(deps_creds.keys())}. "
-        "setup_custom_tests should have populated this."
+    assert "keycloak" in deps, (
+        f"keycloak creds not in deps; got {list(deps.keys())}. "
+        "dep provisioning should have populated this."
     )
-    kc = deps_creds["keycloak"]
+    kc = deps["keycloak"]
 
     # Sanity-check the creds shape — orchestrator-written
     assert kc["domain"]
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-docs/install_steps.sh b/tests/lasuite-docs/install_steps.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d845418
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lasuite-docs/install_steps.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# lasuite-docs — INSTALL-TIME OIDC wiring hook (rcust P2b; migrated from the deleted
+# setup_custom_tests.sh post-deploy path — sibling of lasuite-drive/-meet's hooks).
+#
+# Runs during the install tier AFTER `abra app new` + EXTRA_ENV + `abra app secret generate`, and
+# BEFORE the single `abra app deploy` (lifecycle.py::_run_install_steps). Writing OIDC env + the
+# real client secret HERE means the recipe deploys ONCE with OIDC already wired — no post-deploy
+# reconverge. The orchestrator provisions the per-run realm/client on the (live-warm) keycloak
+# BEFORE this hook and writes $CCCI_DEPS_FILE (the recipe→creds dict). docs' OIDC settings are
+# config-only (validated by `manage.py check`, not fetched at boot), so the stack boots healthy
+# with the env set. Env names per lasuite-docs's .env.sample (same values the old post-deploy
+# hook wrote — byte-identical wiring, only the timing moved).
+#
+# Env supplied by the harness:
+#   CCCI_APP_DOMAIN — the per-run lasuite-docs app domain
+#   CCCI_APP_ENV    — path to the app's .env (the one `abra app deploy` reads)
+#   CCCI_DEPS_FILE  — JSON {keycloak: {domain, realm, client_id, client_secret, ...}} (may be empty)
+set -euo pipefail
+
+: "${CCCI_APP_DOMAIN:?missing}"
+ENV_PATH="${CCCI_APP_ENV:?missing}"
+
+# No deps file / no keycloak entry → install-time provisioning failed or was skipped. NO-OP so the
+# recipe still boots; the @requires_deps OIDC custom test then SKIPs and F2-11 flips the run RED.
+if [ -z "${CCCI_DEPS_FILE:-}" ] || [ ! -s "${CCCI_DEPS_FILE}" ]; then
+  echo "  install_steps: no deps file — skipping OIDC wiring (recipe boots without OIDC)"
+  exit 0
+fi
+KC_DOMAIN=$(jq -r '.keycloak.domain        // empty' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
+KC_REALM=$(jq -r '.keycloak.realm         // empty' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
+KC_CLIENT=$(jq -r '.keycloak.client_id     // empty' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
+KC_SECRET=$(jq -r '.keycloak.client_secret // empty' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
+if [ -z "$KC_DOMAIN" ] || [ -z "$KC_SECRET" ]; then
+  echo "  install_steps: deps file has no keycloak domain/secret — skipping OIDC wiring"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+echo "  lasuite-docs install_steps: wiring OIDC at install against keycloak ${KC_DOMAIN}"
+
+# 1) Insert the OIDC client secret at a bumped version (abra already generated oidc_rpcs:v1; swarm
+# forbids overwriting a secret at the same version). The app is not deployed yet — a swarm secret
+# can be created independently — so the single deploy below picks up v2.
+CUR_VER=$(grep -E '^\s*SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION=' "$ENV_PATH" | tail -1 | cut -d= -f2 | tr -d '"\r' || echo "v1")
+NEW_NUM=$((${CUR_VER#v} + 1))
+NEW_VER="v${NEW_NUM}"
+INSERT_LOG=$(abra app secret insert "$CCCI_APP_DOMAIN" oidc_rpcs "$NEW_VER" "$KC_SECRET" --no-input -C -o 2>&1) ||
+  INSERT_LOG=$(script -qec "abra app secret insert $CCCI_APP_DOMAIN oidc_rpcs $NEW_VER $KC_SECRET --no-input -C -o" /dev/null 2>&1) ||
+  {
+    echo "  install_steps: abra app secret insert oidc_rpcs@$NEW_VER failed: $INSERT_LOG"
+    exit 1
+  }
+sed -i "s|^\s*SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION=.*|SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION=$NEW_VER|" "$ENV_PATH"
+echo "  install_steps: oidc_rpcs secret inserted at $NEW_VER (was $CUR_VER)"
+
+# 2) Write OIDC env vars to the app's .env (names per lasuite-docs's .env.sample). Ensure a
+# trailing newline first so appends never concatenate onto the last line.
+write_env() {
+  local key="$1" val="$2"
+  sed -i "/^\s*#\?\s*${key}=/d" "$ENV_PATH"
+  [ -z "$(tail -c1 "$ENV_PATH" 2>/dev/null)" ] || printf '\n' >>"$ENV_PATH"
+  printf '%s=%s\n' "$key" "$val" >>"$ENV_PATH"
+}
+write_env OIDC_REALM "$KC_REALM"
+write_env OIDC_OP_DISCOVERY_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/.well-known/openid-configuration"
+write_env OIDC_OP_AUTHORIZATION_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/auth"
+write_env OIDC_OP_TOKEN_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/token"
+write_env OIDC_OP_USER_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/userinfo"
+write_env OIDC_OP_LOGOUT_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/logout"
+write_env OIDC_OP_JWKS_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/certs"
+write_env OIDC_RP_CLIENT_ID "$KC_CLIENT"
+write_env OIDC_RP_SIGN_ALGO "RS256"
+write_env OIDC_RP_SCOPES "openid email profile"
+
+echo "  lasuite-docs install_steps: OIDC env wired into .env (deploy will pick it up, no reconverge)"
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-docs/setup_custom_tests.sh b/tests/lasuite-docs/setup_custom_tests.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 8f61331..0000000
--- a/tests/lasuite-docs/setup_custom_tests.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-# lasuite-docs — post-deps setup hook (operator-2026-05-28 SSO-dep plan §3.2).
-#
-# Runs AFTER the generic tiers (install/upgrade/backup/restore) and AFTER each declared dep is
-# deployed + provisioned with realm/client via the harness. The orchestrator has written
-# $CCCI_DEPS_FILE with the keycloak dep's domain + realm + client_secret + admin creds.
-#
-# This hook:
-#   1. Reads the dep's connection info from $CCCI_DEPS_FILE.
-#   2. Inserts the OIDC client secret as an abra app secret (recipe-conventional name oidc_rpcs).
-#   3. Writes the OIDC env vars to the running app's .env via `abra app config set`.
-#   4. Triggers an in-place `abra app deploy --force --chaos` so the new env takes effect.
-#      THIS IS NOT a fresh `abra app new` — the deploy-count guard (DG4.1, generalised) still
-#      sees one app_new per app.
-#
-# Env supplied by the orchestrator:
-#   CCCI_APP_DOMAIN  — the running per-run lasuite-docs app domain
-#   CCCI_RECIPE      — "lasuite-docs"
-#   CCCI_DEPS_FILE   — JSON file (dict shape: {dep_recipe: {domain, realm, client_id, ...}, ...})
-set -euo pipefail
-
-: "${CCCI_APP_DOMAIN:?missing}"
-: "${CCCI_DEPS_FILE:?missing}"
-test -s "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE" || {
-  echo "  setup_custom_tests: deps file empty"
-  exit 1
-}
-
-# Read keycloak dep info via jq
-KC_DOMAIN=$(jq -r '.keycloak.domain' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
-KC_REALM=$(jq -r '.keycloak.realm' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
-KC_CLIENT=$(jq -r '.keycloak.client_id' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
-KC_SECRET=$(jq -r '.keycloak.client_secret' "$CCCI_DEPS_FILE")
-if [ -z "$KC_DOMAIN" ] || [ "$KC_DOMAIN" = "null" ]; then
-  echo "  setup_custom_tests: no keycloak.domain in deps"
-  exit 1
-fi
-if [ -z "$KC_SECRET" ] || [ "$KC_SECRET" = "null" ]; then
-  echo "  setup_custom_tests: no keycloak.client_secret"
-  exit 1
-fi
-
-echo "  lasuite-docs setup_custom_tests: wiring OIDC against keycloak dep ${KC_DOMAIN}"
-
-# 1) Insert the OIDC client secret AT A BUMPED VERSION (the recipe-maintainer pattern).
-# `abra app new -S` already generated `oidc_rpcs:v1` (random) — Docker Swarm forbids overwriting
-# a secret at the same version, so we bump the version (v2), insert our value there, then
-# update SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION in the .env to point at the new one.
-ENV_PATH="$HOME/.abra/servers/default/${CCCI_APP_DOMAIN}.env"
-CUR_VER=$(grep -E '^\s*SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION=' "$ENV_PATH" | tail -1 | cut -d= -f2 | tr -d '"\r' || echo "v1")
-NEW_NUM=$((${CUR_VER#v} + 1))
-NEW_VER="v${NEW_NUM}"
-
-INSERT_LOG=$(abra app secret insert "$CCCI_APP_DOMAIN" oidc_rpcs "$NEW_VER" "$KC_SECRET" --no-input -C -o 2>&1) ||
-  INSERT_LOG=$(script -qec "abra app secret insert $CCCI_APP_DOMAIN oidc_rpcs $NEW_VER $KC_SECRET --no-input -C -o" /dev/null 2>&1) ||
-  {
-    echo "  setup_custom_tests: abra app secret insert oidc_rpcs@$NEW_VER failed: $INSERT_LOG"
-    exit 1
-  }
-# Repoint the env var to the new version
-sed -i "s|^\s*SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION=.*|SECRET_OIDC_RPCS_VERSION=$NEW_VER|" "$ENV_PATH"
-echo "  setup_custom_tests: oidc_rpcs secret inserted at $NEW_VER (was $CUR_VER)"
-
-# 2) Write OIDC env vars to the app's .env (names per lasuite-docs's .env.sample).
-# Ensure the file ends with a newline FIRST so our appends don't concatenate onto the last line
-# (we saw `TIMEOUT=900OIDC_REALM=...` malformed by a missing-trailing-newline file).
-[ -z "$(tail -c1 "$ENV_PATH" 2>/dev/null)" ] || printf '\n' >>"$ENV_PATH"
-write_env() {
-  local key="$1" val="$2"
-  # remove any existing key (commented or live) then append the live key=val
-  sed -i "/^\s*#\?\s*${key}=/d" "$ENV_PATH"
-  # Re-ensure trailing newline after each delete (sed may leave the file without one)
-  [ -z "$(tail -c1 "$ENV_PATH" 2>/dev/null)" ] || printf '\n' >>"$ENV_PATH"
-  printf '%s=%s\n' "$key" "$val" >>"$ENV_PATH"
-}
-write_env OIDC_REALM "$KC_REALM"
-write_env OIDC_OP_DISCOVERY_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/.well-known/openid-configuration"
-write_env OIDC_OP_AUTHORIZATION_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/auth"
-write_env OIDC_OP_TOKEN_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/token"
-write_env OIDC_OP_USER_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/userinfo"
-write_env OIDC_OP_LOGOUT_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/logout"
-write_env OIDC_OP_JWKS_ENDPOINT "https://${KC_DOMAIN}/realms/${KC_REALM}/protocol/openid-connect/certs"
-write_env OIDC_RP_CLIENT_ID "$KC_CLIENT"
-write_env OIDC_RP_SIGN_ALGO "RS256"
-write_env OIDC_RP_SCOPES "openid email profile"
-
-# 3) Trigger an in-place redeploy so the env update takes effect. --force re-deploys even when
-# the recipe hasn't changed; --chaos avoids the chaos prompt; --no-input non-interactive.
-abra app deploy "$CCCI_APP_DOMAIN" --force --chaos --no-input 2>&1 | tail -10
-
-echo "  lasuite-docs setup_custom_tests: OIDC wired + redeployed"
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-drive/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py b/tests/lasuite-drive/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
index e2aaef7..7a8f8f7 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-drive/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-drive/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 Drive (La Suite Drive) is OIDC-required: login is gated by an external OpenID Connect provider.
 Mirrors the proven lasuite-docs SSO model:
 - The orchestrator deploys a per-run keycloak dep AFTER the generic tiers and provisions a fresh
-  realm/client/user via `harness.sso.setup_keycloak_realm`; `setup_custom_tests.sh` then wires the
+  realm/client/user via `harness.sso.setup_keycloak_realm`; `install_steps.sh` then wires the
   OIDC env + client secret into the running drive app and redeploys. Creds land in `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE`
-  (read here via the `deps_creds` fixture).
+  (read here via the `deps` fixture).
 - This test consumes those creds and exercises the real OIDC flow against the dep keycloak: discovery
   endpoint advertises the realm, and a password grant yields a valid JWT with the expected claims.
-- Marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so if setup_custom_tests failed the test SKIPs with a clear
+- Marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so if dep provisioning failed the test SKIPs with a clear
   `deps-not-ready` reason — and (per F2-11) the orchestrator then fails the run rather than going
   green on a skipped SSO test.
 
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ def _b64url_decode(seg: str) -> bytes:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires_deps
-def test_oidc_password_grant_against_dep_keycloak(live_app, deps_creds):
+def test_oidc_password_grant_against_dep_keycloak(live_app, deps):
     """The dep keycloak issues a JWT for the pre-provisioned test user via OIDC password grant."""
-    assert "keycloak" in deps_creds, (
-        f"keycloak creds not in deps_creds; got {list(deps_creds.keys())}. "
-        "setup_custom_tests should have populated this."
+    assert "keycloak" in deps, (
+        f"keycloak creds not in deps; got {list(deps.keys())}. "
+        "dep provisioning should have populated this."
     )
-    kc = deps_creds["keycloak"]
+    kc = deps["keycloak"]
 
     # Creds shape. WC1: realm is per-run namespaced "<parent>-<6hex>"; client_id stays the parent.
     assert kc["domain"]
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh b/tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh
index c864ff3..01999e3 100755
--- a/tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh
+++ b/tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # BEFORE the single `abra app deploy` (runner/harness/lifecycle.py::_run_install_steps). By writing
 # the OIDC env + the real client secret into the app's `.env` HERE, the recipe deploys ONCE with
 # OIDC already wired — eliminating the flaky post-deploy in-place `--force --chaos` 12-service
-# reconverge that the old setup_custom_tests.sh did (collabora WOPI-discovery race; see JOURNAL
+# post-deploy reconverge (collabora WOPI-discovery race; see JOURNAL
 # Step 0). The orchestrator provisions the per-run realm/client on the live-warm keycloak BEFORE
 # this hook and writes $CCCI_DEPS_FILE (the recipe→creds dict).
 #
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py b/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py
index ca97673..2c6697c 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ in the `db` service. The backup path exercises the recipe's pg_backup.sh DB-dump
 backupbot-labelled)."""
 
 import os
+import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
 
@@ -12,6 +13,47 @@ sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "..", "runner")
 from harness import lifecycle  # noqa: E402
 
 
+def pre_install(domain, meta):
+    """Post-deploy seed for the custom tier (the former setup_custom_tests.sh, moved here in rcust
+    P2b — install_steps.sh runs PRE-deploy and cannot touch the live stack). The deploy alone does
+    NOT create the MinIO bucket: `minio-createbuckets` is a `replicas:0` one-shot (restart_policy:
+    none) that must be triggered. The MinIO storage test asserts the bucket exists, so trigger it
+    here and poll. `--detach` is REQUIRED: the job creates the bucket then EXITS 0, so it never
+    holds a steady 1/1 replica — a blocking scale would wait forever."""
+    stack = domain.replace(".", "_")
+    print("  pre_install: creating MinIO bucket via the minio-createbuckets one-shot", flush=True)
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["docker", "service", "scale", "--detach", f"{stack}_minio-createbuckets=1"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    check = (
+        'mc alias set _c http://localhost:9000 "$(cat /run/secrets/minio_ru)" '
+        '"$(cat /run/secrets/minio_rp)" >/dev/null 2>&1 && '
+        "mc ls _c/drive-media-storage >/dev/null 2>&1"
+    )
+    for i in range(30):
+        cid = subprocess.run(
+            ["docker", "ps", "-q", "-f", f"name={stack}_minio.1"],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=False,
+        ).stdout.split()
+        if cid and (
+            subprocess.run(
+                ["docker", "exec", cid[0], "sh", "-c", check], capture_output=True, check=False
+            ).returncode
+            == 0
+        ):
+            print(
+                f"  pre_install: bucket drive-media-storage present after {i + 1} poll(s)",
+                flush=True,
+            )
+            return
+        time.sleep(3)
+    raise AssertionError("minio-createbuckets one-shot did not create drive-media-storage in 90s")
+
+
 def _wait_collabora_ready(domain, timeout=420):
     """Gate the upgrade op on collabora being FULLY ready (WOPI discovery endpoint → 200), not just
     container 1/1 'running'. coolwsd takes ~2min to boot (pre-reads 1300+ l10n files + RSA keygen);
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-drive/recipe_meta.py b/tests/lasuite-drive/recipe_meta.py
index 615a51c..c084bdd 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-drive/recipe_meta.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-drive/recipe_meta.py
@@ -18,20 +18,17 @@ DEPLOY_TIMEOUT = 1800
 HTTP_TIMEOUT = 900
 
 # Base deploy/lifecycle proven cold-green @2026-05-28 (install: pass; 12 services incl.
-# onlyoffice+collabora) once the Docker Hub rate limit was fixed. The keycloak SSO dep is now
-# enabled: declaring DEPS triggers the orchestrator's setup_custom_tests step (deploy keycloak +
-# provision realm/client/user + run tests/lasuite-drive/setup_custom_tests.sh to wire OIDC env +
-# in-place redeploy). functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py then exercises the SSO flow.
+# onlyoffice+collabora) once the Docker Hub rate limit was fixed. Declaring DEPS makes the
+# orchestrator provision keycloak (realm/client/user) BEFORE the single deploy;
+# functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py then exercises the SSO flow.
 DEPS = ["keycloak"]
 
-# Q3.2a (plan-lasuite-drive-oidc-robustness.md Part A): wire OIDC at INSTALL time, not via a
-# post-deploy in-place `--chaos` redeploy. The orchestrator provisions the per-run realm on the
-# live-warm keycloak BEFORE the single `abra app deploy`, and tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh
-# writes the OIDC env + client secret into the .env that one deploy reads. This eliminates the flaky
-# 12-service reconverge (collabora WOPI-discovery race; JOURNAL Step 0). Drive boots fine with OIDC
-# env set because keycloak is live-warm (discovery reachable at boot). setup_custom_tests.sh now
-# only triggers the post-deploy MinIO bucket one-shot.
-OIDC_AT_INSTALL = True
+# OIDC is wired at INSTALL time (the only deps mode since rcust P2b; Q3.2a pioneered it here):
+# the orchestrator provisions the per-run realm on the live-warm keycloak BEFORE the single
+# `abra app deploy`, and tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh writes the OIDC env + client secret
+# into the .env that one deploy reads. No post-deploy reconverge (the flaky 12-service collabora
+# WOPI race is structurally gone). The post-deploy MinIO bucket one-shot lives in ops.py
+# pre_install (the former setup_custom_tests.sh, deleted in P2b).
 
 
 def READY_PROBE(domain):
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-drive/setup_custom_tests.sh b/tests/lasuite-drive/setup_custom_tests.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 65d84f2..0000000
--- a/tests/lasuite-drive/setup_custom_tests.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-# lasuite-drive — POST-DEPLOY setup hook (Phase 2 Q3.2a).
-#
-# As of Q3.2a (plan-lasuite-drive-oidc-robustness.md Part A) OIDC is wired at INSTALL time by
-# tests/lasuite-drive/install_steps.sh (before the single `abra app deploy`), so this hook NO LONGER
-# does any OIDC env wiring or in-place redeploy — that eliminated the flaky 12-service reconverge
-# (collabora WOPI race; see JOURNAL Step 0). What remains here is the ONE post-deploy step that
-# genuinely needs the live stack: triggering the MinIO bucket-creation one-shot. The orchestrator
-# runs this only on the install-time path AFTER the deploy is healthy (deps already provisioned).
-#
-# Env supplied by the orchestrator:
-#   CCCI_APP_DOMAIN  — the running per-run lasuite-drive app domain
-#   CCCI_DEPS_FILE   — JSON deps creds dict (unused here now; OIDC handled at install)
-set -euo pipefail
-
-: "${CCCI_APP_DOMAIN:?missing}"
-
-# The deploy alone does NOT create the MinIO bucket — `minio-createbuckets` is a `replicas:0`
-# one-shot (restart_policy: none) that must be triggered. The MinIO storage test asserts the bucket
-# exists, so create it here. `--detach` is REQUIRED: the job creates the bucket then EXITS 0, so it
-# never holds a steady 1/1 replica; a blocking `docker service scale ...=1` would wait forever and
-# hang the run. With `--detach` the scale just submits the one-run and returns; the poll loop below
-# confirms the bucket was actually created.
-STACK=$(printf '%s' "$CCCI_APP_DOMAIN" | tr '.' '_')
-echo "  setup: creating MinIO bucket via the minio-createbuckets one-shot (scale 0->1)"
-docker service scale --detach "${STACK}_minio-createbuckets=1" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-# Wait up to 90s for the one-shot to create the bucket (mc mb drive/drive-media-storage; exit 0).
-# Poll by checking the bucket directly from the running minio replica container.
-for i in $(seq 1 30); do
-  MC_CID=$(docker ps -q -f "name=${STACK}_minio.1" | head -1)
-  if [ -n "$MC_CID" ] && docker exec "$MC_CID" sh -c \
-    'mc alias set _c http://localhost:9000 "$(cat /run/secrets/minio_ru)" "$(cat /run/secrets/minio_rp)" >/dev/null 2>&1 && mc ls _c/drive-media-storage >/dev/null 2>&1'; then
-    echo "  setup: bucket drive-media-storage present after ${i} poll(s)"
-    break
-  fi
-  sleep 3
-done
-
-echo "  lasuite-drive setup_custom_tests: post-deploy MinIO bucket step complete (OIDC wired at install)"
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_meeting_flow.py b/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_meeting_flow.py
index 333f6a4..4e72c4b 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_meeting_flow.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_meeting_flow.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ def _b64url(seg: str) -> bytes:
     return base64.urlsafe_b64decode(seg + "=" * ((4 - len(seg) % 4) % 4))
 
 
-def _creds(deps_creds: dict) -> dict:
-    kc = deps_creds["keycloak"]
+def _creds(deps: dict) -> dict:
+    kc = deps["keycloak"]
     return {
         "provider": "keycloak",
         "provider_domain": kc["domain"],
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ def _creds(deps_creds: dict) -> dict:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires_deps
-def test_create_room_get_livekit_token_and_read_back(live_app, deps_creds):
-    assert "keycloak" in deps_creds, f"keycloak creds missing; got {list(deps_creds.keys())}"
+def test_create_room_get_livekit_token_and_read_back(live_app, deps):
+    assert "keycloak" in deps, f"keycloak creds missing; got {list(deps.keys())}"
     base = f"https://{live_app}"
-    token = sso.oidc_password_grant(_creds(deps_creds))
+    token = sso.oidc_password_grant(_creds(deps))
     assert isinstance(token, str) and token.count(".") == 2, "OIDC access token is not a JWT"
     auth = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"}
 
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py b/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
index 3335d2c..bac033d 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-meet/functional/test_oidc_with_keycloak.py
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 Meet (La Suite Meet) is OIDC-required: login is gated by an external OpenID Connect provider.
 Mirrors the proven lasuite-docs SSO model:
 - The orchestrator deploys a per-run keycloak dep AFTER the generic tiers and provisions a fresh
-  realm/client/user via `harness.sso.setup_keycloak_realm`; `setup_custom_tests.sh` then wires the
+  realm/client/user via `harness.sso.setup_keycloak_realm`; `install_steps.sh` then wires the
   OIDC env + client secret into the running drive app and redeploys. Creds land in `$CCCI_DEPS_FILE`
-  (read here via the `deps_creds` fixture).
+  (read here via the `deps` fixture).
 - This test consumes those creds and exercises the real OIDC flow against the dep keycloak: discovery
   endpoint advertises the realm, and a password grant yields a valid JWT with the expected claims.
-- Marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so if setup_custom_tests failed the test SKIPs with a clear
+- Marked `@pytest.mark.requires_deps` so if dep provisioning failed the test SKIPs with a clear
   `deps-not-ready` reason — and (per F2-11) the orchestrator then fails the run rather than going
   green on a skipped SSO test.
 
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ def _b64url_decode(seg: str) -> bytes:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.requires_deps
-def test_oidc_password_grant_against_dep_keycloak(live_app, deps_creds):
+def test_oidc_password_grant_against_dep_keycloak(live_app, deps):
     """The dep keycloak issues a JWT for the pre-provisioned test user via OIDC password grant."""
-    assert "keycloak" in deps_creds, (
-        f"keycloak creds not in deps_creds; got {list(deps_creds.keys())}. "
-        "setup_custom_tests should have populated this."
+    assert "keycloak" in deps, (
+        f"keycloak creds not in deps; got {list(deps.keys())}. "
+        "dep provisioning should have populated this."
     )
-    kc = deps_creds["keycloak"]
+    kc = deps["keycloak"]
 
     # Creds shape. WC1: realm is per-run namespaced "<parent>-<6hex>"; client_id stays the parent.
     assert kc["domain"]
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-meet/install_steps.sh b/tests/lasuite-meet/install_steps.sh
index 8d310eb..3ea39e1 100755
--- a/tests/lasuite-meet/install_steps.sh
+++ b/tests/lasuite-meet/install_steps.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 # Runs during the install tier AFTER `abra app new` + EXTRA_ENV + `abra app secret generate`, and
 # BEFORE the single `abra app deploy` (lifecycle.py::_run_install_steps). Writing OIDC env + the real
 # client secret HERE means the recipe deploys ONCE with OIDC already wired — no post-deploy reconverge
-# (OIDC_AT_INSTALL). The orchestrator provisions the per-run realm/client on the live-warm keycloak
+# (install-time deps wiring — the only mode since rcust P2b). The orchestrator provisions the
+# per-run realm/client on the live-warm keycloak
 # BEFORE this hook and writes $CCCI_DEPS_FILE (the recipe→creds dict).
 #
 # Meet's OIDC is REQUIRED (recipe README). Same La Suite/impress env contract as drive, with meet's
diff --git a/tests/lasuite-meet/recipe_meta.py b/tests/lasuite-meet/recipe_meta.py
index b921e6b..63d0ab5 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-meet/recipe_meta.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-meet/recipe_meta.py
@@ -13,13 +13,12 @@ HEALTH_OK = (200, 301, 302)
 DEPLOY_TIMEOUT = 1200
 HTTP_TIMEOUT = 600
 
-# SSO-dependent (recipe.toml requires=["keycloak"], [sso] provider=keycloak). Wire OIDC at INSTALL
-# time against the live-warm keycloak — same machinery as lasuite-drive (Q3.2a): the orchestrator
-# provisions the per-run realm BEFORE the single `abra app deploy`, and tests/lasuite-meet/
-# install_steps.sh writes the OIDC env + client secret into that one deploy (no post-deploy
-# reconverge). Meet boots fine with OIDC env set because keycloak is live-warm.
+# SSO-dependent (recipe.toml requires=["keycloak"], [sso] provider=keycloak). OIDC is wired at
+# INSTALL time (the only deps mode since rcust P2b) against the live-warm keycloak: the
+# orchestrator provisions the per-run realm BEFORE the single `abra app deploy`, and
+# tests/lasuite-meet/install_steps.sh writes the OIDC env + client secret into that one deploy
+# (no post-deploy reconverge). Meet boots fine with OIDC env set because keycloak is live-warm.
 DEPS = ["keycloak"]
-OIDC_AT_INSTALL = True
 
 
 def EXTRA_ENV(domain):
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_f211_sso_skip.py b/tests/unit/test_f211_sso_skip.py
index 4df8d72..bca4297 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_f211_sso_skip.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_f211_sso_skip.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def test_sso_dep_unverified_true_when_declared_notready_and_skipped():
 
 
 def test_sso_dep_unverified_false_when_deps_ready():
-    """deps ready (setup_custom_tests succeeded) → SSO tests actually ran → not a failure."""
+    """deps ready (dep provisioning succeeded) → SSO tests actually ran → not a failure."""
     assert not run_recipe_ci.sso_dep_unverified(
         ["keycloak"], deps_ready=True, requires_deps_skipped=0
     )
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_meta.py b/tests/unit/test_meta.py
index ea363c3..32573c9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_meta.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_meta.py
@@ -73,13 +73,12 @@ def test_registry_field_set_matches_dataclass():
     import dataclasses
 
     assert [f.name for f in dataclasses.fields(RecipeMeta)] == [k.name for k in KEYS]
-    # the 14 final keys + the 3 P2-deprecated ones, no more
-    assert len([k for k in KEYS if not k.deprecated]) == 14
-    assert sorted(k.name for k in KEYS if k.deprecated) == [
-        "CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY",
-        "OIDC_AT_INSTALL",
-        "SKIP_GENERIC",
-    ]
+    # the 14 final keys, no more (the 3 P2-deleted legacy keys are gone from the registry,
+    # so any recipe_meta still setting them hard-fails the typo gate)
+    assert len(KEYS) == 14
+    assert not [k for k in KEYS if k.deprecated]
+    for gone in ("CHAOS_BASE_DEPLOY", "OIDC_AT_INSTALL", "SKIP_GENERIC"):
+        assert gone not in {k.name for k in KEYS}
 
 
 # ---- validation hard errors (locked decision: fail fast at load) -------------------------------