diff --git a/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomPicker.vue b/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomPicker.vue
index d412b6c..e1ac0bf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomPicker.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomPicker.vue
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@
   <v-card>
     <v-card-title>Pick a fandom</v-card-title>
     <v-card-text>
+      <!-- A2/A3 (2026-06-07): autofocus so the operator types immediately, and
+           picking a fandom (keyboard: type → arrow → Enter, or a click) confirms
+           in one step — selecting IS the decision in this dialog. -->
       <v-autocomplete
         v-model="selectedId"
         :items="store.fandomCache"
         :item-title="(f) => f.name"
         :item-value="(f) => f.id"
         label="Fandom" clearable density="compact"
+        autofocus
+        @update:model-value="onSelect"
       />
       <v-divider class="my-3" />
       <p class="text-caption mb-2">Or create a new fandom:</p>
@@ -50,6 +55,12 @@ function onConfirm() {
   const f = store.fandomCache.find(x => x.id === selectedId.value)
   if (f) emit('confirm', f)
 }
+// Picking a fandom (keyboard Enter or click) confirms immediately. Ignore the
+// clear action (null) so clearing the field doesn't fire a confirm.
+function onSelect(id) {
+  if (id == null) return
+  onConfirm()
+}
 // Create the character with no fandom. Emits null so the caller knows this
 // was a deliberate "unassigned", not a cancel.
 function onNoFandom() {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomSetDialog.vue b/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomSetDialog.vue
index 07f38da..d60a362 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomSetDialog.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/modal/FandomSetDialog.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
           :items="store.fandomCache"
           :item-title="(f) => f.name" :item-value="(f) => f.id"
           label="Fandom" clearable density="compact"
+          autofocus
           :hint="selectedId == null
             ? 'No fandom — the character will be unassigned.' : ''"
           persistent-hint
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/modal/ImageViewer.vue b/frontend/src/components/modal/ImageViewer.vue
index d052bbd..89aff9e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/modal/ImageViewer.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/modal/ImageViewer.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,25 @@
         <v-icon>mdi-close</v-icon>
       </button>
 
+      <!-- C8: keyboard cheatsheet. '?' toggles; the corner hint advertises it. -->
+      <button
+        class="fc-viewer__help-hint" aria-label="Keyboard shortcuts (press ?)"
+        @click="showHelp = !showHelp"
+      >?</button>
+      <div v-if="showHelp" class="fc-viewer__help" @click.self="showHelp = false">
+        <div class="fc-viewer__help-card" role="dialog" aria-label="Keyboard shortcuts">
+          <h3>Keyboard shortcuts</h3>
+          <dl>
+            <div><dt>← / →</dt><dd>Previous / next image</dd></div>
+            <div><dt>T or /</dt><dd>Jump to the tag input</dd></div>
+            <div><dt>↑ / ↓</dt><dd>Move through tag suggestions</dd></div>
+            <div><dt>Enter / Tab</dt><dd>Accept the highlighted tag</dd></div>
+            <div><dt>Esc</dt><dd>Close a dialog, then the viewer</dd></div>
+            <div><dt>?</dt><dd>Toggle this help</dd></div>
+          </dl>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
       <v-chip
         v-if="integrityBadge"
         :color="integrityBadge.color"
@@ -63,7 +82,7 @@
 <script setup>
 import { computed, onMounted, onUnmounted, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useModalStore } from '../../stores/modal.js'
-import { arrowNavAllowed } from '../../utils/textEntry.js'
+import { arrowNavAllowed, isTextEntry } from '../../utils/textEntry.js'
 import ImageCanvas from './ImageCanvas.vue'
 import VideoCanvas from './VideoCanvas.vue'
 import TagPanel from './TagPanel.vue'
@@ -74,6 +93,7 @@ const emit = defineEmits(['close'])
 
 const modal = useModalStore()
 const rootEl = ref(null)
+const showHelp = ref(false)
 
 const isVideo = computed(() =>
   modal.current?.mime && modal.current.mime.startsWith('video/')
@@ -96,6 +116,12 @@ let prevBodyOverflow = null
 // that. Filtered via isTextEntry so tag/comment inputs still get their
 // own keystrokes.
 function onKeyDown(ev) {
+  if (ev.key === 'Escape' && showHelp.value) {
+    // Close the cheatsheet first; a second Esc closes the modal.
+    ev.preventDefault()
+    showHelp.value = false
+    return
+  }
   if (ev.key === 'Escape') {
     // Escape closes the modal even from inside a text input — the universal
     // "get me out of here" expectation; the autofocused tag field would
@@ -123,6 +149,14 @@ function onKeyDown(ev) {
     if (!arrowNavAllowed(ev.target)) return
     ev.preventDefault()
     modal.goNext()
+  } else if ((ev.key === '/' || ev.key === 't') && !isTextEntry(ev.target)) {
+    // C9 (2026-06-07): jump focus to the tag input from anywhere in the modal.
+    const input = document.querySelector('.fc-tag-autocomplete input')
+    if (input) { ev.preventDefault(); input.focus() }
+  } else if (ev.key === '?' && !isTextEntry(ev.target)) {
+    // C8: toggle the keyboard cheatsheet.
+    ev.preventDefault()
+    showHelp.value = !showHelp.value
   }
 }
 
@@ -178,6 +212,43 @@ function nextFrame() {
 }
 .fc-viewer__nav:disabled { opacity: 0.3; cursor: not-allowed; }
 .fc-viewer__close { top: 16px; right: 16px; transform: none; }
+.fc-viewer__help-hint {
+  position: absolute; top: 16px; right: 64px; z-index: 2;
+  width: 32px; height: 32px; border-radius: 50%;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08);
+  color: rgb(var(--v-theme-on-surface));
+  font-weight: 700; cursor: pointer; opacity: 0.6;
+}
+.fc-viewer__help-hint:hover { opacity: 1; }
+.fc-viewer__help {
+  position: absolute; inset: 0; z-index: 4;
+  display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+}
+.fc-viewer__help-card {
+  background: rgb(var(--v-theme-surface));
+  border: 1px solid rgb(var(--v-theme-surface-light));
+  border-radius: 10px; padding: 20px 24px; min-width: 320px;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+}
+.fc-viewer__help-card h3 {
+  font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif;
+  font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px;
+  color: rgb(var(--v-theme-on-surface));
+}
+.fc-viewer__help-card dl { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 8px; }
+.fc-viewer__help-card dl > div {
+  display: flex; gap: 16px; align-items: baseline;
+}
+.fc-viewer__help-card dt {
+  flex: 0 0 96px; text-align: right;
+  font-family: 'JetBrains Mono', monospace; font-size: 12px;
+  color: rgb(var(--v-theme-accent));
+}
+.fc-viewer__help-card dd {
+  flex: 1; font-size: 14px;
+  color: rgb(var(--v-theme-on-surface));
+}
 .fc-viewer__integrity {
   position: absolute; top: 72px; right: 16px; z-index: 3;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/modal/TagAutocomplete.vue b/frontend/src/components/modal/TagAutocomplete.vue
index 4e671f3..efc8768 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/modal/TagAutocomplete.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/modal/TagAutocomplete.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
       @keydown.down.prevent="moveHighlight(1)"
       @keydown.up.prevent="moveHighlight(-1)"
       @keydown.enter.prevent="onEnter"
+      @keydown.tab="onTab"
       @keydown.esc="$emit('cancel')"
     />
     <v-list
@@ -187,6 +188,16 @@ function onEnter () {
   }
 }
 
+// B5 (2026-06-07): when the suggestion list is open, Tab accepts the
+// highlighted row (standard autocomplete convention) instead of leaving the
+// field. With the list closed it falls through to normal focus traversal.
+function onTab (e) {
+  if (hits.value.length || allowCreate.value) {
+    e.preventDefault()
+    onEnter()
+  }
+}
+
 function reset () { query.value = ''; hits.value = []; highlight.value = 0 }
 </script>