diff --git a/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/conversational.rs b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/conversational.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17fc600
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/conversational.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//! LLM-driven conversational onboarding step (replaces rigid FSM after Intro/AskLanguage).
+//! Constructor Pattern: one responsibility — one LLM call, one structured response.
+
+use serde_json::{json, Value};
+
+use crate::{
+    error::BuddyError,
+    extractor::LlmExtractor,
+    retrieval::RetrievalContext,
+    state::OnboardState,
+    strings::Lang,
+    transition::StepOutput,
+};
+
+const PROMPT_TEMPLATE: &str = concat!(
+    "You are KeiBuddy, a personal-assistant chatbot doing first-meeting onboarding.\n",
+    "Be a warm, natural conversationalist. Reply in the user's language ({lang}).\n",
+    "Don't act like a survey form — extract info from natural conversation.\n\n",
+    "USER PROFILE (so far — fields with values are KNOWN, don't re-ask):\n{persona}\n\n",
+    "RECENT CONVERSATION (latest first; \"u:\" user, \"b:\" you):\n{history}\n\n",
+    "RELATED KNOWLEDGE (relevant atoms from user's graph):\n{atoms}\n\n",
+    "USER JUST SAID:\n\"{text}\"\n\n",
+    "YOUR JOB: Update persona fields you newly learned. Decide what to ask next.\n\n",
+    "Output ONLY this JSON object, no prose, no markdown fences:\n",
+    "{{\"slot_updates\":{{\"name\":\"<str>\",\"tone\":\"<str>\",\"interests\":[],",
+    "\"hobbies\":[],\"schedule\":{{}},\"language\":\"<str>\"}},",
+    "\"response_text\":\"<reply in {lang}, ≤300 chars>\",",
+    "\"done\":false,\"focus\":\"name|tone|interests|hobbies|topics|schedule|free|done\"}}"
+);
+
+/// Drive one turn of free-form onboarding with a single LLM call.
+pub async fn conversational_step<E: LlmExtractor + ?Sized>(
+    state: &OnboardState,
+    persona: &Value,
+    context: &RetrievalContext,
+    user_text: &str,
+    extractor: &E,
+    lang: Lang,
+) -> Result<StepOutput, BuddyError> {
+    let prompt = build_prompt(persona, context, user_text, lang);
+    let raw = extractor.extract(&prompt, "").await?;
+    match parse_llm_response(&raw, state) {
+        Some(out) => Ok(out),
+        None => Ok(fallback_output(state, lang)),
+    }
+}
+
+fn build_prompt(persona: &Value, ctx: &RetrievalContext, text: &str, lang: Lang) -> String {
+    let lc = lang.code();
+    let ps = serde_json::to_string_pretty(persona).unwrap_or_default();
+    let hs = if ctx.history.is_empty() { "(no prior messages)".into() } else { ctx.history.join("\n") };
+    let atoms = if ctx.atoms.is_empty() { "(none)".into() } else { ctx.atoms.join("\n") };
+    PROMPT_TEMPLATE
+        .replace("{lang}", lc)
+        .replace("{persona}", &ps)
+        .replace("{history}", &hs)
+        .replace("{atoms}", &atoms)
+        .replace("{text}", text)
+}
+
+fn parse_llm_response(raw: &Value, current: &OnboardState) -> Option<StepOutput> {
+    let obj = raw.as_object()?;
+    let response_text = obj.get("response_text")?.as_str()?.to_owned();
+    if response_text.is_empty() { return None; }
+    let done = obj.get("done").and_then(|v| v.as_bool()).unwrap_or(false);
+    let focus = obj.get("focus").and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or("free");
+    let slot_updates = obj.get("slot_updates").cloned().unwrap_or_else(|| json!({}));
+    let next_state = if done { OnboardState::Ready } else { focus_to_state(focus, current) };
+    Some(StepOutput { next_state, response_text, persona_patch: slot_updates })
+}
+
+fn focus_to_state(focus: &str, current: &OnboardState) -> OnboardState {
+    match focus {
+        "name"     => OnboardState::AskName,
+        "tone"     => OnboardState::AskTone,
+        "interests"=> OnboardState::AskInterests,
+        "hobbies"  => OnboardState::AskHobbies,
+        "topics"   => OnboardState::TopicSpecifics,
+        "schedule" => OnboardState::AskSchedule,
+        "done"     => OnboardState::Ready,
+        _          => current.clone(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn fallback_output(state: &OnboardState, lang: Lang) -> StepOutput {
+    let text = match lang {
+        Lang::Ru => "Хм, дай-ка подумаю — можешь перефразировать?",
+        Lang::En => "Hmm, let me think — could you rephrase?",
+    };
+    StepOutput { next_state: state.clone(), response_text: text.to_owned(), persona_patch: json!({}) }
+}
+
+// ── Tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::extractor::MockExtractor;
+    use serde_json::json;
+
+    fn empty_ctx() -> RetrievalContext {
+        RetrievalContext { history: vec![], atoms: vec![] }
+    }
+
+    fn rt() -> tokio::runtime::Runtime {
+        tokio::runtime::Runtime::new().unwrap()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_well_formed_llm_response() {
+        rt().block_on(async {
+            let mock = MockExtractor::new(json!({
+                "slot_updates": { "name": "Alice" },
+                "response_text": "Nice to meet you! What are your interests?",
+                "done": false,
+                "focus": "interests"
+            }));
+            let out = conversational_step(
+                &OnboardState::AskName, &json!({}), &empty_ctx(),
+                "I'm Alice", &mock, Lang::En,
+            ).await.unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(out.next_state, OnboardState::AskInterests);
+            assert!(!out.response_text.is_empty());
+            assert_eq!(out.persona_patch["name"].as_str(), Some("Alice"));
+        });
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn done_true_transitions_to_ready() {
+        rt().block_on(async {
+            let mock = MockExtractor::new(json!({
+                "slot_updates": {},
+                "response_text": "All set!",
+                "done": true,
+                "focus": "done"
+            }));
+            let out = conversational_step(
+                &OnboardState::AskSchedule, &json!({}), &empty_ctx(),
+                "mornings at 9", &mock, Lang::En,
+            ).await.unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(out.next_state, OnboardState::Ready);
+        });
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn invalid_json_falls_back_gracefully() {
+        rt().block_on(async {
+            let mock = MockExtractor::new(json!("not a json object at all"));
+            let out = conversational_step(
+                &OnboardState::AskInterests, &json!({}), &empty_ctx(),
+                "hello", &mock, Lang::En,
+            ).await.unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(out.next_state, OnboardState::AskInterests);
+            assert!(!out.response_text.is_empty());
+        });
+    }
+}
diff --git a/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/lib.rs b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/lib.rs
index 73de424..e583aab 100644
--- a/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/lib.rs
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ pub(crate) mod command_exec;
 pub mod commands;
 pub mod contacts;
 pub mod contacts_sync;
+pub mod conversational;
 pub mod error;
 pub mod extractor;
 pub mod machine;
 pub(crate) mod machine_helpers;
 pub(crate) mod machine_lang;
 pub mod persona_merge;
+pub mod retrieval;
 pub mod schema;
 pub mod state;
 pub mod store;
diff --git a/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/retrieval.rs b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/retrieval.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ce7cde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/retrieval.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//! Retrieval context builder — history from ChatLog + atoms from Topics.
+//! Constructor Pattern: one responsibility — gather context for conversational_step.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use tracing::warn;
+
+use crate::{chat_log::ChatLog, topics::Topics};
+
+/// Pre-assembled context for `conversational_step`.
+pub struct RetrievalContext {
+    /// Last N messages formatted as "u: ..." / "b: ..." (latest first).
+    pub history: Vec<String>,
+    /// Top-K kei-sage Units formatted as "[topic] title: content[..200]".
+    pub atoms: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+/// Gather conversation history and relevant atoms for the current turn.
+///
+/// All errors are swallowed and logged at `warn` — the caller must always
+/// receive a usable (possibly empty) context.
+pub async fn retrieve_context(
+    chat_log: &Arc<ChatLog>,
+    topics: &Arc<Topics>,
+    chat_id: i64,
+    query: &str,
+    history_n: usize,
+    atoms_k: i64,
+) -> RetrievalContext {
+    let history = fetch_history(chat_log, chat_id, query, history_n).await;
+    let atoms = fetch_atoms(topics, query, atoms_k).await;
+    RetrievalContext { history, atoms }
+}
+
+async fn fetch_history(
+    chat_log: &Arc<ChatLog>,
+    chat_id: i64,
+    query: &str,
+    n: usize,
+) -> Vec<String> {
+    let limit = n.max(1) as i64;
+    match chat_log.search(query, Some(chat_id), limit).await {
+        Ok(msgs) => msgs
+            .iter()
+            .map(|m| {
+                let prefix = if m.role == "user" { "u" } else { "b" };
+                format!("{prefix}: {}", m.content)
+            })
+            .collect(),
+        Err(e) => {
+            warn!(chat_id, error = %e, "retrieve_context: history fetch failed");
+            vec![]
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+async fn fetch_atoms(topics: &Arc<Topics>, query: &str, k: i64) -> Vec<String> {
+    match topics.search(query, k).await {
+        Ok(units) => units
+            .iter()
+            .map(|u| {
+                let snippet: String = u.content.chars().take(200).collect();
+                format!("[{}] {}: {}", u.unit_type, u.title, snippet)
+            })
+            .collect(),
+        Err(e) => {
+            warn!(error = %e, "retrieve_context: atom search failed");
+            vec![]
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// ── Tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn retrieve_returns_empty_on_empty_stores() {
+        let log = Arc::new(ChatLog::from_memory().unwrap());
+        let topics = Arc::new(Topics::from_memory().unwrap());
+        let ctx = retrieve_context(&log, &topics, 42, "anything", 10, 5).await;
+        assert!(ctx.history.is_empty(), "expected empty history");
+        assert!(ctx.atoms.is_empty(), "expected empty atoms");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn retrieve_finds_seeded_data() {
+        let log = Arc::new(ChatLog::from_memory().unwrap());
+        let topics = Arc::new(Topics::from_memory().unwrap());
+        // Seed chat log
+        log.log_user(99, "rust programming").await.unwrap();
+        log.log_bot(99, "great choice").await.unwrap();
+        // Seed topics
+        topics.add_topic(99, "rust", "Rust language", "rust systems programming").await.unwrap();
+        let ctx = retrieve_context(&log, &topics, 99, "rust", 10, 5).await;
+        assert!(!ctx.history.is_empty(), "expected history entries after seeding");
+        assert!(!ctx.atoms.is_empty(), "expected atom entries after seeding");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/serve.rs b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/serve.rs
index a159661..ada2839 100644
--- a/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/serve.rs
+++ b/_primitives/_rust/kei-buddy/src/serve.rs
@@ -15,13 +15,16 @@ use crate::{
     chat_log::ChatLog,
     commands::{execute_command, parse_command, CommandStores},
     contacts::Contacts,
+    conversational::conversational_step,
     error::BuddyError,
     extractor::LlmExtractor,
     machine::handle_step,
     persona_merge::deep_merge,
+    retrieval::retrieve_context,
     serve_telegram::send_message,
     state::OnboardState,
     store::{BuddyStore, SqliteBuddyStore},
+    strings::Lang,
     topic_classify::classify_and_store_topic,
     topics::Topics,
     voice::VoiceHandler,
@@ -87,10 +90,14 @@ impl<E: LlmExtractor + Send + Sync + 'static> WebhookContext for BuddyContext<E>
     async fn on_event(&self, event: WebhookEvent) {
         match event {
             WebhookEvent::Text { chat_id, text, .. } => {
-                self.handle_text(chat_id, text).await;
+                let me = self.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move { me.handle_text(chat_id, text).await });
             }
             WebhookEvent::Voice { chat_id, file_id, mime_type, .. } => {
-                self.handle_voice(chat_id, file_id, mime_type).await;
+                let me = self.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move {
+                    me.handle_voice(chat_id, file_id, mime_type).await
+                });
             }
             other => {
                 warn!(event = ?other, "ignoring unhandled webhook event");
@@ -162,7 +169,13 @@ impl<E: LlmExtractor + Send + Sync + 'static> BuddyContext<E> {
         let state = self.store.load_state(chat_id).await?.unwrap_or(OnboardState::Intro);
         let was_ready = state == OnboardState::Ready;
         let persona = self.store.load_persona(chat_id).await?.unwrap_or_else(|| json!({}));
-        let output = handle_step(&state, text, &persona, self.extractor.as_ref()).await?;
+        let output = if matches!(state, OnboardState::Intro | OnboardState::AskLanguage) {
+            handle_step(&state, text, &persona, self.extractor.as_ref()).await?
+        } else {
+            let lang = Lang::from_persona(&persona);
+            let ctx = retrieve_context(&self.chat_log, &self.topics, chat_id, text, 10, 5).await;
+            conversational_step(&state, &persona, &ctx, text, self.extractor.as_ref(), lang).await?
+        };
         self.store.save_state(chat_id, &output.next_state).await?;
         self.apply_persona_patch(chat_id, output.persona_patch).await?;
         if was_ready || output.next_state == OnboardState::Ready {