diff --git a/chat/services/__init__.py b/chat/services/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/chat/services/kickoff.py b/chat/services/kickoff.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..591b09c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chat/services/kickoff.py
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+"""Kickoff prose parser.
+
+Service-layer function that converts a bot's authored kickoff prose into a
+structured ``KickoffParse`` for the kickoff confirm-and-edit step (T13 will
+wire this into the UI flow).
+
+The classifier prompt includes only the bot context that's load-bearing for
+parsing the opening scene: name, persona, the authored
+``initial_relationship_to_you`` blurb, the ``you`` entity name, and the
+kickoff prose itself. Other identity fields (traits, backstory, ...) are
+intentionally left out — they would be noise for this extraction.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+
+from chat.llm.classify import classify
+from chat.llm.client import LLMClient
+
+
+class ActivityShape(BaseModel):
+    """Per-entity activity at scene start.
+
+    Maps onto Requirements §6.5: ``current_action.{verb,interruptible,
+    required_attention,expected_duration}`` plus posture, attention, holding.
+    ``action_required_attention`` is left as a free-form string ("low" /
+    "medium" / "high" expected) rather than a Literal so the classifier has
+    room to vary phrasing in v1.
+    """
+
+    posture: str
+    action_verb: str
+    action_interruptible: bool
+    action_required_attention: str  # low | medium | high
+    action_expected_duration: str
+    attention: str = ""
+    holding: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
+
+
+class KickoffParse(BaseModel):
+    """Structured opening-scene state extracted from kickoff prose.
+
+    ``container_properties`` is loose ``dict``: the classifier may emit
+    ``moving`` / ``public`` / ``audible_range`` keys, but downstream
+    consumers (T13's confirm form) handle missing keys gracefully.
+    ``initial_time_iso`` is stored as text — not validated as a datetime
+    here; ``chat_state.time`` stores it as a plain string.
+    """
+
+    container_name: str
+    container_type: str
+    container_properties: dict
+    you_activity: ActivityShape
+    bot_activity: ActivityShape
+    initial_time_iso: str
+    edge_seed_summary: str
+    edge_seed_knowledge_facts: list[str]
+
+
+_SYSTEM_PROMPT = (
+    "You are extracting structured scene state from a roleplay kickoff "
+    "scene description. The user provides bot context and a prose "
+    "description of the opening scene; you output JSON conforming to the "
+    "schema. Be concrete: pick a single container, single activity per "
+    "entity, and a sensible initial in-fiction time. Anything not stated "
+    "explicitly should be inferred reasonably from the prose."
+)
+
+
+def _build_user_prompt(
+    *,
+    bot_name: str,
+    bot_persona: str,
+    initial_relationship_to_you: str,
+    kickoff_prose: str,
+    you_name: str,
+) -> str:
+    return (
+        f"BOT NAME: {bot_name}\n"
+        f"BOT PERSONA: {bot_persona}\n"
+        f"INITIAL RELATIONSHIP TO {you_name}: {initial_relationship_to_you}\n"
+        f"YOU NAME: {you_name}\n"
+        f"KICKOFF PROSE:\n{kickoff_prose}"
+    )
+
+
+async def parse_kickoff(
+    client: LLMClient,
+    *,
+    model: str,
+    bot_name: str,
+    bot_persona: str,
+    initial_relationship_to_you: str,
+    kickoff_prose: str,
+    you_name: str,
+    timeout_s: float = 10.0,
+) -> KickoffParse:
+    """Parse authored kickoff prose into a structured ``KickoffParse``.
+
+    Internally calls :func:`chat.llm.classify.classify` with a labeled
+    user prompt. Raises ``RuntimeError`` if the classifier fails twice in
+    a row — no default is supplied at this layer, since the caller (T13's
+    confirm form) is responsible for showing an error and letting the
+    user edit.
+    """
+    user_prompt = _build_user_prompt(
+        bot_name=bot_name,
+        bot_persona=bot_persona,
+        initial_relationship_to_you=initial_relationship_to_you,
+        kickoff_prose=kickoff_prose,
+        you_name=you_name,
+    )
+    return await classify(
+        client,
+        model=model,
+        system=_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
+        user=user_prompt,
+        schema=KickoffParse,
+        timeout_s=timeout_s,
+    )
diff --git a/tests/test_kickoff.py b/tests/test_kickoff.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3dfc14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_kickoff.py
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import json
+import pytest
+
+from chat.llm.mock import MockLLMClient
+from chat.services.kickoff import (
+    ActivityShape,
+    KickoffParse,
+    parse_kickoff,
+)
+
+
+def _full_kickoff_json() -> str:
+    return json.dumps(
+        {
+            "container_name": "office bullpen, late evening",
+            "container_type": "office",
+            "container_properties": {
+                "moving": False,
+                "public": False,
+                "audible_range": "room",
+            },
+            "you_activity": {
+                "posture": "sitting at your desk",
+                "action_verb": "finishing emails",
+                "action_interruptible": True,
+                "action_required_attention": "low",
+                "action_expected_duration": "15m",
+                "attention": "the screen",
+                "holding": ["coffee mug"],
+            },
+            "bot_activity": {
+                "posture": "sitting at her desk",
+                "action_verb": "pretending to work",
+                "action_interruptible": True,
+                "action_required_attention": "low",
+                "action_expected_duration": "indefinite",
+                "attention": "you, in glances",
+                "holding": [],
+            },
+            "initial_time_iso": "2026-04-26T19:42:00",
+            "edge_seed_summary": "coworkers; aware of each other; no shared history beyond the office",
+            "edge_seed_knowledge_facts": [
+                "they work on the same floor",
+                "it is unusual to be the only two left",
+            ],
+        }
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_parse_kickoff_happy_path_populates_fields():
+    mock = MockLLMClient(canned=[_full_kickoff_json()])
+    result = await parse_kickoff(
+        mock,
+        model="m",
+        bot_name="BotA",
+        bot_persona="reserved colleague who quietly notices things",
+        initial_relationship_to_you="coworker, slight crush, never voiced",
+        kickoff_prose=(
+            "you stay late at the office; only you and BotA are there; "
+            "she's at her desk pretending to work"
+        ),
+        you_name="You",
+    )
+    assert isinstance(result, KickoffParse)
+    assert result.container_name == "office bullpen, late evening"
+    assert result.container_type == "office"
+    assert isinstance(result.you_activity, ActivityShape)
+    assert result.you_activity.posture == "sitting at your desk"
+    assert result.bot_activity.action_verb == "pretending to work"
+    assert result.edge_seed_summary.startswith("coworkers")
+    assert "they work on the same floor" in result.edge_seed_knowledge_facts
+    assert result.initial_time_iso == "2026-04-26T19:42:00"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_parse_kickoff_applies_activity_defaults_for_missing_fields():
+    minimal_payload = {
+        "container_name": "kitchen",
+        "container_type": "kitchen",
+        "container_properties": {},
+        "you_activity": {
+            "posture": "standing",
+            "action_verb": "boiling water",
+            "action_interruptible": True,
+            "action_required_attention": "low",
+            "action_expected_duration": "5m",
+        },
+        "bot_activity": {
+            "posture": "leaning on the counter",
+            "action_verb": "scrolling phone",
+            "action_interruptible": True,
+            "action_required_attention": "low",
+            "action_expected_duration": "10m",
+        },
+        "initial_time_iso": "2026-04-26T08:00:00",
+        "edge_seed_summary": "roommates",
+        "edge_seed_knowledge_facts": [],
+    }
+    mock = MockLLMClient(canned=[json.dumps(minimal_payload)])
+    result = await parse_kickoff(
+        mock,
+        model="m",
+        bot_name="BotA",
+        bot_persona="laid-back roommate",
+        initial_relationship_to_you="roommates of two years",
+        kickoff_prose="morning in the kitchen; you're making tea while BotA scrolls her phone",
+        you_name="You",
+    )
+    assert result.you_activity.attention == ""
+    assert result.you_activity.holding == []
+    assert result.bot_activity.attention == ""
+    assert result.bot_activity.holding == []
+    # mutating one default must not leak into the other (default_factory check)
+    result.you_activity.holding.append("kettle")
+    assert result.bot_activity.holding == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_parse_kickoff_raises_when_classifier_fails_twice():
+    mock = MockLLMClient(canned=["nope", "still nope"])
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        await parse_kickoff(
+            mock,
+            model="m",
+            bot_name="BotA",
+            bot_persona="x",
+            initial_relationship_to_you="y",
+            kickoff_prose="z",
+            you_name="You",
+        )