diff --git a/lyra/clock.py b/lyra/clock.py
index 4da25c5..9a2d5b8 100644
--- a/lyra/clock.py
+++ b/lyra/clock.py
@@ -9,20 +9,33 @@ a long silence *means* to her is left to her own reflection, not prescribed here
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
+
+from lyra import config
 
 
 def now() -> datetime:
     return datetime.now(timezone.utc)
 
 
+def _local_tz() -> ZoneInfo | timezone:
+    """Brian's configured local zone (falls back to UTC if it can't be loaded)."""
+    try:
+        return ZoneInfo(config.load().timezone)
+    except Exception:
+        return timezone.utc
+
+
 def _parse(iso: str) -> datetime:
     dt = datetime.fromisoformat(iso)
     return dt if dt.tzinfo else dt.replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc)
 
 
 def stamp(dt: datetime | None = None) -> str:
-    """Wall-clock stamp, e.g. 'Wednesday, 17 Jun 2026, 01:50 UTC'."""
-    return (dt or now()).strftime("%A, %d %b %Y, %H:%M UTC")
+    """Wall-clock stamp in Brian's local timezone, e.g.
+    'Friday, 27 Jun 2026, 01:50 EDT'. Times are stored UTC; this is what she *reads*,
+    so 'what time is it' answers in his time, not UTC."""
+    return (dt or now()).astimezone(_local_tz()).strftime("%A, %d %b %Y, %H:%M %Z")
 
 
 def gap_seconds(since_iso: str | None, ref: datetime | None = None) -> float | None: