diff --git a/hermes_cli/models_reasoning_caps.py b/hermes_cli/models_reasoning_caps.py
index ac26c6b3e9..5d7738d622 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/models_reasoning_caps.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/models_reasoning_caps.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ Caps = dict[str, Optional[dict[str, Any]]]
 
 def _origin():
     from hermes_cli import models
-
     return models
 
 
@@ -56,14 +55,8 @@ def parse_openrouter_reasoning_capabilities(item: Any) -> Optional[dict[str, Any
     raw_efforts = reasoning.get("supported_efforts")
     efforts: Optional[list[str]] = None
     if isinstance(raw_efforts, list):
-        efforts = list(dict.fromkeys(
-            str(effort).strip().lower() for effort in raw_efforts if str(effort).strip()
-        ))
-    return {
-        "supports_reasoning": True,
-        "supported_efforts": efforts,
-        "mandatory": reasoning.get("mandatory") is True,
-    }
+        efforts = list(dict.fromkeys(str(e).strip().lower() for e in raw_efforts if str(e).strip()))
+    return {"supports_reasoning": True, "supported_efforts": efforts, "mandatory": reasoning.get("mandatory") is True}
 
 
 # ── Disk mirror ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -83,7 +76,6 @@ def _reasoning_caps_disk_path() -> Path:
 
 def _read_reasoning_caps_disk() -> dict[str, Any]:
     from hermes_cli.models import _read_json_cache
-
     return _read_json_cache(_reasoning_caps_disk_path()) or {}
 
 
@@ -103,7 +95,6 @@ def _load_reasoning_caps_disk(url: str) -> tuple[Optional[Caps], float]:
 def _save_reasoning_caps_disk(url: str, caps: Caps) -> None:
     """Merge *url*'s catalog into the shared disk mirror, atomically."""
     from hermes_cli.models import _write_json_cache
-
     try:
         data = _origin()._read_reasoning_caps_disk()
         data[url] = {"ts": time.time(), "caps": caps}
@@ -154,9 +145,8 @@ def _fetch_reasoning_caps_catalog(url: str, timeout: float) -> Optional[Caps]:
     """Fetch one OpenRouter-shaped ``/v1/models`` catalog → per-model caps; None when unreachable or
     empty so callers remember the failure. Sends a User-Agent: the Portal 403s anonymous reads."""
     m = _origin()
-    headers = {"Accept": "application/json", "User-Agent": m._HERMES_USER_AGENT}
     try:
-        req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers=headers)
+        req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"Accept": "application/json", "User-Agent": m._HERMES_USER_AGENT})
         with m._urlopen_model_catalog_request(req, timeout=timeout) as resp:
             payload = json.loads(resp.read().decode())
     except Exception:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/nous_account.py b/hermes_cli/nous_account.py
index 1131cb17d1..c3a0b92974 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/nous_account.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/nous_account.py
@@ -523,9 +523,7 @@ def _tool_access_from_value(value: Any) -> Optional[NousToolAccessInfo]:
 
 def _coerced_dataclass(cls, value: Any):
     """Build ``cls`` from a payload dict (field names = payload keys), coercing by declared type."""
-    if not isinstance(value, dict):
-        return None
-    return cls(**{f.name: _COERCERS[f.type](value.get(f.name)) for f in fields(cls)})
+    return cls(**{f.name: _COERCERS[f.type](value.get(f.name)) for f in fields(cls)}) if isinstance(value, dict) else None
 
 
 def _subscription_from_payload(value: Any) -> Optional[NousPortalSubscriptionInfo]:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/nous_billing.py b/hermes_cli/nous_billing.py
index 354b1f1700..3e383bb3a5 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/nous_billing.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/nous_billing.py
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ from typing import Any, Optional
 
 DEFAULT_PORTAL_BASE_URL = "https://portal.nousresearch.com"
 
-# Tight so a hung portal doesn't freeze the TUI (charge/poll calls are quick).
-DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 15.0
+DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 15.0  # tight so a hung portal doesn't freeze the TUI (charge/poll calls are quick)
 
 
 # --- Typed errors ---
@@ -101,8 +100,7 @@ class BillingUpgradeCapExceeded(BillingTransient):
 def resolve_portal_base_url(state: Optional[dict[str, Any]] = None) -> str:
     """Resolve the portal base URL with login-time precedence: env, stored state, default."""
     env = os.getenv("HERMES_PORTAL_BASE_URL") or os.getenv("NOUS_PORTAL_BASE_URL")
-    stored = state.get("portal_base_url") if state else None
-    for candidate in (env, stored):
+    for candidate in (env, state.get("portal_base_url") if state else None):
         if isinstance(candidate, str) and candidate.strip():
             return candidate.strip().rstrip("/")
     return DEFAULT_PORTAL_BASE_URL
diff --git a/hermes_cli/pairing.py b/hermes_cli/pairing.py
index 5eef104cab..47b3298220 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/pairing.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/pairing.py
@@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ def _cmd_approve(store, platform: str, code: str):
     else:
         result = store.approve_code(platform, code.upper())
     if result:
-        uid = result["user_id"]
-        name = result.get("user_name") or ""
+        uid, name = result["user_id"], result.get("user_name") or ""
         display = f"{name} ({uid})" if name else uid
         print(f"\n  Approved! User {display} on {platform} can now use the bot~")
         print("  They'll be recognized automatically on their next message.\n")
diff --git a/hermes_cli/process_identity.py b/hermes_cli/process_identity.py
index a8bb8d6336..c4bdafb426 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/process_identity.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/process_identity.py
@@ -89,9 +89,7 @@ def spawn_env(purpose: str, *, project_root: Optional[Path] = None) -> dict[str,
 
 def parse_spawn_tag(raw: object) -> Optional[SpawnTag]:
     """Parse a ``HERMES_SPAWN`` value; ``None`` for anything malformed."""
-    if not isinstance(raw, str):
-        return None
-    parts = raw.split(":")
+    parts = raw.split(":") if isinstance(raw, str) else []
     if len(parts) != 5 or parts[0] != _TAG_VERSION:
         return None
     _, install, purpose, pid_s, create_s = parts