diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/autocomplete-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/autocomplete-field.tsx
index 32d63935..c5927054 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/autocomplete-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/autocomplete-field.tsx
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ import {
 } from "../../ui/autocomplete/index";
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
 import { FieldDescription } from "../../ui/field/field-description";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldLabel } from "../../ui/field/field-label";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type AutocompleteFieldProps = Omit<AutocompleteProps<string>, "children" | "items"> & {
   /** Supporting text shown below the input. */
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-field.tsx
index a18ed706..05c35ade 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-field.tsx
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ import {
   type CheckboxFieldControlProps,
 } from "../../ui/field/checkbox-field-control";
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldItem } from "../../ui/field/field-item";
 import { FieldItemContent } from "../../ui/field/field-item-content";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type CheckboxFieldProps = Omit<
   CheckboxFieldControlProps,
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-group-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-group-field.tsx
index 3f3dc8ca..59026dd1 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-group-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/checkbox-group-field.tsx
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ import type * as React from "react";
 import { CheckboxGroup, type CheckboxGroupProps } from "../../ui/checkbox-group/index";
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
 import { FieldDescription } from "../../ui/field/field-description";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldOptionMagnitudeProvider } from "../../ui/field/field-option-magnitude-provider";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
 import { Fieldset, FieldsetLegend } from "../../ui/fieldset/index";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type CheckboxGroupFieldProps = Omit<CheckboxGroupProps, "children" | "density" | "name"> & {
   /** Checkbox option rows, usually `CheckboxGroupFieldOption`. */
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/combobox-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/combobox-field.tsx
index 993137d9..a6772a52 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/combobox-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/combobox-field.tsx
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ import {
 } from "../../ui/combobox/index";
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
 import { FieldDescription } from "../../ui/field/field-description";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldLabel } from "../../ui/field/field-label";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type ComboboxFieldProps = Omit<ComboboxProps<string>, "children" | "items"> & {
   /** Supporting text shown below the input. */
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/field-helper-text.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/field-helper-text.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e61721d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/field-helper-text.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import type * as React from "react";
+
+import { FieldDescription } from "../../ui/field/field-description";
+import { FieldError } from "../../ui/field/field-error";
+import type { InputMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
+
+/**
+ * The error-or-hint line beneath a field: shows the `FieldError` when there is an error, otherwise
+ * the `FieldDescription` hint. A components-tier composition of the two ui parts (each a single
+ * element); shared by the ready-made field types so the error-XOR-hint rule lives in one place.
+ */
+export function FieldHelperText({
+  magnitude,
+  hint,
+  error,
+}: {
+  magnitude: InputMagnitude;
+  hint?: React.ReactNode;
+  error?: React.ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <>
+      <FieldError magnitude={magnitude} match={error != null}>
+        {error}
+      </FieldError>
+      {error == null && hint != null ? (
+        <FieldDescription magnitude={magnitude}>{hint}</FieldDescription>
+      ) : null}
+    </>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/input-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/input-field.tsx
index 2f85b7fd..6d351cea 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/input-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/input-field.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import type * as React from "react";
 
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldLabelGroup } from "../../ui/field/field-label-group";
 import { InputFieldBox } from "../../ui/field/input-field-box";
 import { InputFieldContent } from "../../ui/field/input-field-content";
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ import { InputFieldIconSlot } from "../../ui/field/input-field-icon-slot";
 import { InputFieldRoot } from "../../ui/field/input-field-root";
 import type { InputMagnitude, InputTone } from "../../ui/field/variants";
 import type { InputProps } from "../../ui/input/index";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type { InputMagnitude, InputTone } from "../../ui/field/variants";
 
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/radio-group-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/radio-group-field.tsx
index 9b3595e4..9db7c9f2 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/radio-group-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/radio-group-field.tsx
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
 import { FieldDescription } from "../../ui/field/field-description";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldOptionMagnitudeProvider } from "../../ui/field/field-option-magnitude-provider";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
 import { Fieldset, FieldsetLegend } from "../../ui/fieldset/index";
 import { RadioGroup, type RadioGroupProps } from "../../ui/radio/index";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type RadioGroupFieldProps<Value = string> = Omit<
   RadioGroupProps<Value>,
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/select-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/select-field.tsx
index b3e8f1be..e91cbc40 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/select-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/select-field.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
 import { FieldDescription } from "../../ui/field/field-description";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
 import {
   Select,
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   SelectTrigger,
   SelectValue,
 } from "../../ui/select/index";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type SelectFieldOption = {
   label: React.ReactNode;
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/switch-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/switch-field.tsx
index b9c5dc8e..ae8ff498 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/switch-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/switch-field.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldItem } from "../../ui/field/field-item";
 import { FieldItemContent } from "../../ui/field/field-item-content";
 import type { FieldMagnitude } from "../../ui/field/variants";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 import {
   SwitchFieldControl,
   type SwitchFieldControlMagnitude,
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/components/field/text-area-field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/components/field/text-area-field.tsx
index 3110e3a1..c07c2068 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/components/field/text-area-field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/components/field/text-area-field.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { Field } from "../../ui/field/field";
-import { FieldHelperText } from "../../ui/field/field-helper-text";
 import { FieldLabelGroup } from "../../ui/field/field-label-group";
+import { InputFieldContent } from "../../ui/field/input-field-content";
 import { TextAreaFieldBox } from "../../ui/field/text-area-field-box";
 import {
   TextAreaFieldControl,
   type TextAreaFieldControlProps,
 } from "../../ui/field/text-area-field-control";
 import type { InputMagnitude, InputTone } from "../../ui/field/variants";
+import { FieldHelperText } from "./field-helper-text";
 
 export type TextAreaFieldProps = Omit<TextAreaFieldControlProps, "magnitude" | "surface"> & {
   /** Magnitude scale. `md` | `lg` | `xl`. */
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export function TextAreaField({
         description={description}
         orientation="vertical"
       />
-      <div className="flex w-full flex-col gap-1.5">
+      <InputFieldContent orientation="vertical">
         <TextAreaFieldBox tone={tone}>
           <TextAreaFieldControl
             required={required}
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ export function TextAreaField({
           />
         </TextAreaFieldBox>
         <FieldHelperText magnitude={magnitude} hint={hint} error={error} />
-      </div>
+      </InputFieldContent>
     </Field>
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-helper-text.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-helper-text.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index fc12b674..00000000
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-helper-text.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-import type * as React from "react";
-
-import { FieldDescription } from "./field-description";
-import { FieldError } from "./field-error";
-import type { InputMagnitude } from "./variants";
-
-export function FieldHelperText({
-  magnitude,
-  hint,
-  error,
-}: {
-  magnitude: InputMagnitude;
-  hint?: React.ReactNode;
-  error?: React.ReactNode;
-}) {
-  return (
-    <>
-      <FieldError magnitude={magnitude} match={error != null}>
-        {error}
-      </FieldError>
-      {error == null && hint != null ? (
-        <FieldDescription magnitude={magnitude}>{hint}</FieldDescription>
-      ) : null}
-    </>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-item-content.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-item-content.tsx
index 731d2ffb..e83cb9b0 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-item-content.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-item-content.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { FieldDescription } from "./field-description";
 import { FieldLabel } from "./field-label";
-import type { InputMagnitude } from "./variants";
+import { fieldItemContentVariants, type InputMagnitude } from "./variants";
 
 export function FieldItemContent({
   children,
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function FieldItemContent({
   magnitude: InputMagnitude;
 }) {
   return (
-    <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-1">
+    <div className={fieldItemContentVariants()}>
       <FieldLabel magnitude={magnitude}>{children}</FieldLabel>
       {description != null ? (
         <FieldDescription magnitude={magnitude}>{description}</FieldDescription>
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-group.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-group.tsx
index de7f17bc..4d1167a6 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-group.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-group.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { FieldDescription } from "./field-description";
 import { FieldLabel } from "./field-label";
-import { type InputMagnitude, labelGroupVariants } from "./variants";
+import { type InputMagnitude, fieldLabelGroupVariants } from "./variants";
 
 export function FieldLabelGroup({
   magnitude,
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export function FieldLabelGroup({
   required?: boolean;
   label?: React.ReactNode;
   description?: React.ReactNode;
-  orientation: NonNullable<VariantProps<typeof labelGroupVariants>["orientation"]>;
+  orientation: NonNullable<VariantProps<typeof fieldLabelGroupVariants>["orientation"]>;
 }) {
   if (label == null && description == null) {
     return null;
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export function FieldLabelGroup({
 
   const inset = orientation === "horizontal" && description == null;
   return (
-    <div className={labelGroupVariants({ orientation })}>
+    <div className={fieldLabelGroupVariants({ orientation })}>
       {label != null ? (
         <FieldLabel magnitude={magnitude} required={required} inset={inset}>
           {label}
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-required-marker.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-required-marker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c344585
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label-required-marker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import type * as React from "react";
+
+import { fieldLabelRequiredMarkerVariants } from "./variants";
+
+export type FieldLabelRequiredMarkerProps = Omit<
+  React.ComponentPropsWithoutRef<"span">,
+  "className" | "style"
+>;
+
+/**
+ * The required marker slot shown after a `FieldLabel`'s text. Decorative (the control's `required`
+ * attribute carries the semantics), so it is `aria-hidden`. Bakes no glyph: pass the marker (e.g.
+ * an asterisk) as `children`.
+ */
+export function FieldLabelRequiredMarker({ children, ...props }: FieldLabelRequiredMarkerProps) {
+  return (
+    <span aria-hidden className={fieldLabelRequiredMarkerVariants()} {...props}>
+      {children}
+    </span>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label.tsx
index d36d52f6..08380b49 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field-label.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Field as BaseField } from "@base-ui/react/field";
 import type * as React from "react";
 
+import { FieldLabelRequiredMarker } from "./field-label-required-marker";
 import { fieldLabelVariants, type InputMagnitude } from "./variants";
 
 export type FieldLabelProps = {
@@ -10,16 +11,12 @@ export type FieldLabelProps = {
   inset?: boolean;
 };
 
-/** The label row: the label text and the required `*` asterisk in danger. */
+/** The label row: the label text, plus a `FieldLabelRequiredMarker` when `required`. */
 export function FieldLabel({ children, magnitude, required, inset }: FieldLabelProps) {
   return (
     <BaseField.Label className={fieldLabelVariants({ magnitude, inset })}>
       {children}
-      {required ? (
-        <span aria-hidden className="text-danger-primary">
-          *
-        </span>
-      ) : null}
+      {required ? <FieldLabelRequiredMarker>*</FieldLabelRequiredMarker> : null}
     </BaseField.Label>
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.stories.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.stories.tsx
index df3f8b8e..c97df0b1 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.stories.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.stories.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 import type { Meta, StoryObj } from "@storybook/react-vite";
 import { expect } from "storybook/test";
 
-import { Field, FieldDescription, FieldError, FieldLabel, InputFieldControl } from "./index";
+import {
+  Field,
+  FieldDescription,
+  FieldError,
+  FieldLabel,
+  FieldLabelRequiredMarker,
+  InputFieldControl,
+} from "./index";
 
 // UI-tier story: composes the ATOMIC field parts. `Field` (Base UI `Field.Root`) is the
 // labeling/validation shell; `FieldLabel` names the control, `InputFieldControl` is the
@@ -11,7 +18,13 @@ import { Field, FieldDescription, FieldError, FieldLabel, InputFieldControl } fr
 const meta = {
   title: "UI/Field",
   component: Field,
-  subcomponents: { FieldLabel, InputFieldControl, FieldDescription, FieldError },
+  subcomponents: {
+    FieldLabel,
+    FieldLabelRequiredMarker,
+    InputFieldControl,
+    FieldDescription,
+    FieldError,
+  },
   decorators: [
     (Story) => (
       <div className="w-80">
@@ -24,7 +37,10 @@ const meta = {
 export default meta;
 type Story = StoryObj<typeof meta>;
 
-/** A labeled input with helper text, assembled from the atomic parts. */
+/**
+ * A labeled input with helper text, assembled from the atomic parts. `FieldLabel required` appends
+ * the `FieldLabelRequiredMarker` slot, passing the asterisk glyph in as its child.
+ */
 export const Default: Story = {
   render: () => (
     <Field name="displayName">
@@ -42,6 +58,22 @@ export const Default: Story = {
   },
 };
 
+/**
+ * The required marker is a bare slot that bakes no glyph: the consumer passes the marker (here, the
+ * conventional asterisk) as `children`.
+ */
+export const RequiredMarker: Story = {
+  render: () => (
+    <Field name="displayName">
+      <FieldLabel magnitude="md">
+        Display name
+        <FieldLabelRequiredMarker>*</FieldLabelRequiredMarker>
+      </FieldLabel>
+      <InputFieldControl magnitude="md" required placeholder="Ada Lovelace" />
+    </Field>
+  ),
+};
+
 /** An invalid field: the control exposes `aria-invalid` and announces the `FieldError` text. */
 export const Invalid: Story = {
   render: () => (
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.tsx
index dce17351..63ddb366 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/field.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { Field as BaseField } from "@base-ui/react/field";
 
+import { fieldVariants } from "./variants";
+
 export type FieldProps = Omit<BaseField.Root.Props, "className" | "style">;
 
 /**
@@ -7,5 +9,5 @@ export type FieldProps = Omit<BaseField.Root.Props, "className" | "style">;
  * `TextAreaFieldControl`, `FieldDescription`, and `FieldError`.
  */
 export function Field(props: FieldProps) {
-  return <BaseField.Root className="flex flex-col gap-1.5" {...props} />;
+  return <BaseField.Root className={fieldVariants()} {...props} />;
 }
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/index.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/index.tsx
index 1e45016b..03e5feb4 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/index.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ export { FieldDescription, type FieldDescriptionProps } from "./field-descriptio
 export { FieldError, type FieldErrorProps } from "./field-error";
 export { FieldItem, type FieldItemProps } from "./field-item";
 export { FieldLabel, type FieldLabelProps } from "./field-label";
+export {
+  FieldLabelRequiredMarker,
+  type FieldLabelRequiredMarkerProps,
+} from "./field-label-required-marker";
 export { InputFieldBox, type InputFieldBoxProps } from "./input-field-box";
 export { InputFieldContent, type InputFieldContentProps } from "./input-field-content";
 export { InputFieldControl, type InputFieldControlProps } from "./input-field-control";
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/input-field-icon-slot.tsx b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/input-field-icon-slot.tsx
index daa453f4..6f3d5ed7 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/input-field-icon-slot.tsx
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/input-field-icon-slot.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import type * as React from "react";
 
-import { iconSlotClass } from "./variants";
+import { inputFieldIconSlotVariants } from "./variants";
 
 export type InputFieldIconSlotProps = Omit<React.ComponentProps<"span">, "className" | "style">;
 
 /** A 16px decorative slot rendered at the inline start/end of the `InputField` control. */
 export function InputFieldIconSlot(props: InputFieldIconSlotProps) {
-  return <span aria-hidden className={iconSlotClass} {...props} />;
+  return <span aria-hidden className={inputFieldIconSlotVariants()} {...props} />;
 }
diff --git a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/variants.ts b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/variants.ts
index 7be65f89..f62ecf23 100644
--- a/packages/propel/src/ui/field/variants.ts
+++ b/packages/propel/src/ui/field/variants.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import { cva, cx, type VariantProps } from "class-variance-authority";
 
+import { nodeSlotClass } from "../../internal/node-slot";
+
 export type { InputMagnitude } from "../input/variants";
 
+export const fieldVariants = cva("flex flex-col gap-1.5");
+
 export const fieldLabelVariants = cva(
   cx("inline-flex items-center gap-0.5", "font-medium text-primary"),
   {
@@ -28,7 +32,14 @@ type FieldLabelVariantProps = VariantProps<typeof fieldLabelVariants>;
 
 export type FieldMagnitude = NonNullable<FieldLabelVariantProps["magnitude"]>;
 
-const fieldHelperTextVariants = cva("", {
+// The required `*` marker rendered after the label text. Decorative (the control's
+// `required` carries the semantics), tinted danger per the Figma spec.
+export const fieldLabelRequiredMarkerVariants = cva("text-danger-primary");
+
+// The label + description column for a single choice option (checkbox/radio/switch row).
+export const fieldItemContentVariants = cva("flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-1");
+
+export const fieldDescriptionVariants = cva("text-tertiary", {
   variants: {
     magnitude: {
       md: "text-12",
@@ -38,41 +49,15 @@ const fieldHelperTextVariants = cva("", {
   },
 });
 
-type FieldHelperTextVariantProps = VariantProps<typeof fieldHelperTextVariants>;
-
-type FieldHelperTextVariantsProps = {
-  magnitude: NonNullable<FieldHelperTextVariantProps["magnitude"]>;
-};
-
-export const fieldDescriptionVariants = ({ magnitude }: FieldHelperTextVariantsProps) =>
-  cx("text-tertiary", fieldHelperTextVariants({ magnitude }));
-
-export const fieldErrorVariants = ({ magnitude }: FieldHelperTextVariantsProps) =>
-  cx("text-danger-primary", fieldHelperTextVariants({ magnitude }));
-
-export const fieldBoxVariants = cva(
-  cx(
-    "flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 bg-layer-2 transition-[color,background-color,border-color,box-shadow]",
-    "border-sm",
-    "has-[:disabled]:cursor-not-allowed has-[:disabled]:border-subtle has-[:disabled]:bg-layer-2 has-[:disabled]:ring-0 has-[:disabled]:hover:border-subtle",
-  ),
-  {
-    variants: {
-      tone: {
-        neutral: cx(
-          "border-subtle hover:border-subtle-1 hover:bg-layer-2-hover",
-          "focus-within:border-accent-strong focus-within:bg-layer-2 focus-within:ring-2 focus-within:ring-accent-strong/20",
-          "focus-within:hover:border-accent-strong focus-within:hover:bg-layer-2",
-        ),
-        danger: "border-danger-strong",
-      },
+export const fieldErrorVariants = cva("text-danger-primary", {
+  variants: {
+    magnitude: {
+      md: "text-12",
+      lg: "text-13",
+      xl: "text-13",
     },
   },
-);
-
-type FieldBoxVariantProps = VariantProps<typeof fieldBoxVariants>;
-
-export type InputTone = NonNullable<FieldBoxVariantProps["tone"]>;
+});
 
 export const inputFieldRootVariants = cva("flex gap-2", {
   variants: {
@@ -92,38 +77,61 @@ export const inputFieldContentVariants = cva("flex flex-col", {
   },
 });
 
-const inputFieldBoxFrameVariants = cva("rounded-md px-3", {
-  variants: {
-    magnitude: {
-      md: "py-1.5",
-      lg: "py-2",
-      xl: "py-3",
+export const inputFieldBoxVariants = cva(
+  cx(
+    "flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 bg-layer-2 transition-[color,background-color,border-color,box-shadow]",
+    "border-sm",
+    "has-[:disabled]:cursor-not-allowed has-[:disabled]:border-subtle has-[:disabled]:bg-layer-2 has-[:disabled]:ring-0 has-[:disabled]:hover:border-subtle",
+    "rounded-md px-3",
+  ),
+  {
+    variants: {
+      tone: {
+        neutral: cx(
+          "border-subtle hover:border-subtle-1 hover:bg-layer-2-hover",
+          "focus-within:border-accent-strong focus-within:bg-layer-2 focus-within:ring-2 focus-within:ring-accent-strong/20",
+          "focus-within:hover:border-accent-strong focus-within:hover:bg-layer-2",
+        ),
+        danger: "border-danger-strong",
+      },
+      magnitude: {
+        md: "py-1.5",
+        lg: "py-2",
+        xl: "py-3",
+      },
     },
   },
-});
-
-type InputFieldBoxFrameVariantProps = VariantProps<typeof inputFieldBoxFrameVariants>;
-
-type InputFieldBoxVariantsProps = {
-  magnitude: NonNullable<InputFieldBoxFrameVariantProps["magnitude"]>;
-  tone: InputTone;
-};
-
-export const inputFieldBoxVariants = ({ magnitude, tone }: InputFieldBoxVariantsProps) =>
-  cx(fieldBoxVariants({ tone }), inputFieldBoxFrameVariants({ magnitude }));
+);
 
-const textAreaFieldBoxFrameVariants = cva("items-stretch rounded-lg py-2");
+type InputFieldBoxVariantProps = VariantProps<typeof inputFieldBoxVariants>;
 
-type TextAreaFieldBoxVariantsProps = {
-  tone: InputTone;
-};
+export type InputTone = NonNullable<InputFieldBoxVariantProps["tone"]>;
 
-export const textAreaFieldBoxVariants = ({ tone }: TextAreaFieldBoxVariantsProps) =>
-  cx(fieldBoxVariants({ tone }), textAreaFieldBoxFrameVariants());
+export const textAreaFieldBoxVariants = cva(
+  cx(
+    "flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 bg-layer-2 transition-[color,background-color,border-color,box-shadow]",
+    "border-sm",
+    "has-[:disabled]:cursor-not-allowed has-[:disabled]:border-subtle has-[:disabled]:bg-layer-2 has-[:disabled]:ring-0 has-[:disabled]:hover:border-subtle",
+    "items-stretch rounded-lg py-2",
+  ),
+  {
+    variants: {
+      tone: {
+        neutral: cx(
+          "border-subtle hover:border-subtle-1 hover:bg-layer-2-hover",
+          "focus-within:border-accent-strong focus-within:bg-layer-2 focus-within:ring-2 focus-within:ring-accent-strong/20",
+          "focus-within:hover:border-accent-strong focus-within:hover:bg-layer-2",
+        ),
+        danger: "border-danger-strong",
+      },
+    },
+  },
+);
 
-export const iconSlotClass = cx(
-  "flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center text-icon-secondary",
-  "[&_svg]:size-4",
+// The decorative 16px node at the control's inline start/end. Sizes its single child
+// to `--node-size` (via the shared node-slot class) and tints it.
+export const inputFieldIconSlotVariants = cva(
+  cx(nodeSlotClass, "text-icon-secondary [--node-size:1rem]"),
 );
 
 export const fieldItemVariants = cva(
@@ -134,7 +142,7 @@ export const fieldItemVariants = cva(
   ),
 );
 
-export const labelGroupVariants = cva("flex flex-col gap-1", {
+export const fieldLabelGroupVariants = cva("flex flex-col gap-1", {
   variants: {
     orientation: {
       vertical: "w-full",