diff --git a/src/app/features/room/message/styles.css.ts b/src/app/features/room/message/styles.css.ts
index 8063264c..1c21e670 100644
--- a/src/app/features/room/message/styles.css.ts
+++ b/src/app/features/room/message/styles.css.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,11 @@ export const MessageOptionsBase = style([
   DefaultReset,
   {
     position: 'absolute',
-    top: toRem(-30),
-    right: 0,
+    // Hug the message's top-right corner with a small overlap instead of the old
+    // -30px overhang that detached the rail from the row and clipped at the
+    // timeline top. (First iteration — exact offset is easy to nudge.)
+    top: toRem(-14),
+    right: config.space.S200,
     zIndex: 1,
   },
 ]);
@@ -18,6 +21,11 @@ export const MessageOptionsBar = style([
   DefaultReset,
   {
     padding: config.space.S100,
+    // Dawn: a flat hairline strip rather than the stock raised Menu card —
+    // 1px hairline, tighter radius, a soft shadow instead of the heavy E-shadow.
+    border: `${config.borderWidth.B300} solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08)`,
+    borderRadius: config.radii.R300,
+    boxShadow: '0 4px 14px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4)',
   },
 ]);