diff --git a/src/bindings/portable-client.ts b/src/bindings/portable-client.ts
index 1f9ac00..7ba014b 100644
--- a/src/bindings/portable-client.ts
+++ b/src/bindings/portable-client.ts
@@ -76,13 +76,10 @@ export function generatePortableClientBindings(
       const operations = query.operations.map(
         (key) => plan.definition.operations.find((operation) => operation.key === key)!,
       );
-      const live = (selections: readonly QuerySelection[]): boolean =>
-        selections.some((selection) => !!selection.liveSelectionId || live(selection.selection));
       if (
         operations.some(
           (operation) => operation.execution.kind !== "snapshot" || !operation.execution.targets.includes("server"),
-        ) ||
-        live(query.query.checked.selection)
+        )
       ) {
         unavailable.push({ key: query.id, reason: "QUERY_NOT_SNAPSHOT_PROJECTION" });
         continue;
diff --git a/src/bindings/react.ts b/src/bindings/react.ts
index 237caa8..5034cd6 100644
--- a/src/bindings/react.ts
+++ b/src/bindings/react.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import type { BindingSchema } from "./index.js";
 import type { ValueType } from "../capability-model/types.js";
-import { queryPresentation } from "../query/presentation.js";
 
 /** Browser projection of the SAME checked RPC types, not a second props schema. */
 export function generateReactBindings(
@@ -131,25 +130,9 @@ export function generateReactBindings(
     return type(value);
   };
   const queries = pkg.checkedQueries ?? [];
-  const presentedType = (
-    value: ValueType,
-    fields: ReturnType<typeof queryPresentation>,
-    path: string[] = [],
-  ): string => {
-    const field = fields.find((field) => JSON.stringify(field.path) === JSON.stringify(path));
-    if (field)
-      return `${field.conditions.length ? "(" : ""}${field.setOperationId ? "WritableQueryField" : "QueryField"}<${type(field.valueType)}>${field.conditions.length ? " | null)" : ""}`;
-    if (value.kind === "optional") return `(${presentedType(value.value, fields, path)} | null)`;
-    if (value.kind === "list") return `Array<${presentedType(value.value, fields, [...path, "*"])}>`;
-    if (value.kind === "record")
-      return `{${Object.entries(value.fields)
-        .map(([key, child]) => `${q(key)}: ${presentedType(child, fields, [...path, key])}`)
-        .join(";")}}`;
-    return queryType(value);
-  };
   const queryCode =
     `export type QueryVariables = {${queries.map((query) => `${q(query.declaration.displayName)}: ${queryType(query.variables)}`).join(";")}};\n` +
-    `export type QueryResults = {${queries.map((query) => `${q(query.declaration.displayName)}: ${presentedType(query.output, queryPresentation(query, schema.interfaces))}`).join(";")}};\n` +
+    `export type QueryResults = {${queries.map((query) => `${q(query.declaration.displayName)}: ${queryType(query.output)}`).join(";")}};\n` +
     `export const queries: {${queries.map((query) => `${q(query.declaration.displayName)}: QueryDescriptor<QueryVariables[${q(query.declaration.displayName)}], QueryResults[${q(query.declaration.displayName)}], ${q(query.declaration.root.kind)}>`).join(";")}} = ${JSON.stringify(
       Object.fromEntries(
         queries.map((query) => [
@@ -160,7 +143,6 @@ export function generateReactBindings(
             root: query.declaration.root,
             variables: query.variables,
             output: query.output,
-            liveFields: queryPresentation(query, schema.interfaces),
             watch: query.declaration.watch,
           },
         ]),
diff --git a/src/capability-model/controllers.ts b/src/capability-model/controllers.ts
index 6fbc942..b06acd9 100644
--- a/src/capability-model/controllers.ts
+++ b/src/capability-model/controllers.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export function validateControllers(
         objects = selected(root?.selection, "objects"),
         entries = selected(objects?.selection, "entries"),
         node = selected(entries?.selection, "node"),
-        qx = selected(node?.selection, "_qx"),
+        qx = selected(node?.selection, "_camino"),
         ref = selected(qx?.selection, "ref");
       const all = objects?.arguments.all;
       if (
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export function validateControllers(
       )
         fail(
           `${path}.registry`,
-          "Controller registry requires a native/portable workspace query over its subject, no variables, and root.objects(all: 1..64).entries.node._qx.ref without aliases or conditional selections",
+          "Controller registry requires a native/portable workspace query over its subject, no variables, and root.objects(all: 1..64).entries.node._camino.ref without aliases or conditional selections",
         );
     }
     const iface = interfaces.find((i) => i.revisionId === controller.subject && !i.template);
diff --git a/src/query/compile.ts b/src/query/compile.ts
index 4fd4ee9..e1d4be7 100644
--- a/src/query/compile.ts
+++ b/src/query/compile.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,16 @@ export async function compileQuery(
     definitions.push(...document.definitions);
   }
   const document: DocumentNode = { kind: "Document" as DocumentNode["kind"], definitions };
+  visit(document, {
+    Directive(node) {
+      if (node.name.value === "live")
+        fail(
+          "QUERY_RETIRED_DIRECTIVE",
+          "@live is retired. Observations watch ordinary query values; use checked operations for mutations.",
+          node,
+        );
+    },
+  });
   const generated = querySchema(declaration, interfaces, document);
   const operations = definitions.filter((entry) => entry.kind === "OperationDefinition");
   if (
@@ -201,16 +211,7 @@ export async function compileQuery(
       Field(node) {
         const parent = info.getParentType();
         const contract = parent && generated.byName.get(parent.name);
-        if (node.directives?.some((directive) => directive.name.value === "live")) {
-          const member = contract?.members.find((entry) => entry.displayName === node.name.value);
-          if (!member || member.kind !== "value" || member.queryRead?.execution !== "native")
-            fail(
-              "QUERY_LIVE_UNSUPPORTED",
-              "@live requires a direct native-queryable value field, not RPC enrichment or a synthetic result",
-              node,
-            );
-        }
-        if (!contract || node.name.value === "_qx") return;
+        if (!contract || node.name.value === "_camino") return;
         mark(contract.revisionId, node.name.value, "select", node);
         const member = contract.members.find((entry) => entry.displayName === node.name.value)!;
         if (member.kind !== "relationship" || (member.cardinality !== "many" && member.cardinality !== "many-unique"))
@@ -425,13 +426,6 @@ export async function compileQuery(
         {
           name: node.name.value,
           key: node.alias?.value ?? node.name.value,
-          ...(node.directives?.some((directive) => directive.name.value === "live")
-            ? {
-                liveSelectionId: createHash("sha256")
-                  .update(JSON.stringify([node.loc?.source.name, node.loc?.start, contract?.revisionId, member?.id]))
-                  .digest("hex"),
-              }
-            : {}),
           ...(member && contract ? { interfaceRevisionId: contract.revisionId, memberId: member.id } : {}),
           ...(member?.kind === "relationship" ? { targetInterfaceRevisionId: generated.target(member) } : {}),
           conditions: [...inherited, ...conditions(node.directives)],
@@ -447,18 +441,6 @@ export async function compileQuery(
   const normalized = print(document),
     schema = printSchema(generated.schema);
   const selections = selection(operations[0]!.selectionSet, generated.schema.getQueryType()!);
-  const checkPresentation = (entries: QuerySelection[]) => {
-    for (const key of new Set(entries.map((entry) => entry.key))) {
-      const siblings = entries.filter((entry) => entry.key === key);
-      if (siblings.some((entry) => entry.liveSelectionId) && siblings.some((entry) => !entry.liveSelectionId))
-        throw new QueryCompileError(
-          "QUERY_LIVE_CONFLICT",
-          `${key} mixes live and plain selections; use separate aliases`,
-        );
-      checkPresentation(siblings.flatMap((entry) => entry.selection));
-    }
-  };
-  checkPresentation(selections);
   const definitionDigest = createHash("sha256")
     .update(
       canonicalJson({
diff --git a/src/query/presentation.ts b/src/query/presentation.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 2e9ddb5..0000000
--- a/src/query/presentation.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
-import type { InterfaceRevision, ValueType } from "../capability-model/types.js";
-import type { CheckedQuery, QuerySelection } from "./types.js";
-
-/** Browser presentation is separate from the portable query value contract. */
-export function queryPresentation(query: CheckedQuery, interfaces: readonly InterfaceRevision[]) {
-  const result: {
-    path: string[];
-    selectionId: string;
-    interfaceRevisionId: string;
-    getOperationId: string;
-    setOperationId?: string;
-    watchOperationId?: string;
-    inputKind: "value" | "fields";
-    valueType: ValueType;
-    conditions: (QuerySelection["conditions"][number] & { defaultValue?: boolean })[];
-  }[] = [];
-  const visit = (type: ValueType, selections: QuerySelection[], path: string[]) => {
-    if (type.kind === "optional") return visit(type.value, selections, path);
-    if (type.kind === "list") return visit(type.value, selections, [...path, "*"]);
-    if (type.kind !== "record") return;
-    for (const [name, field] of Object.entries(type.fields)) {
-      const matches = selections.filter((entry) => entry.key === name);
-      if (matches.some((entry) => entry.liveSelectionId) && matches.some((entry) => !entry.liveSelectionId))
-        throw new Error(`QUERY_LIVE_CONFLICT: ${[...path, name].join(".")} mixes live and plain selections`);
-      for (const entry of matches) {
-        if (entry.liveSelectionId) {
-          const iface = interfaces.find((iface) => iface.revisionId === entry.interfaceRevisionId)!;
-          const member = iface.members.find((member) => member.id === entry.memberId)!;
-          if (member.kind !== "value") throw new Error("QUERY_LIVE_UNSUPPORTED");
-          const get = member.operations.find((op) => op.displayName === "get")!;
-          const set = member.operations.find((op) => op.displayName === "set");
-          result.push({
-            path: [...path, name],
-            selectionId: entry.liveSelectionId,
-            interfaceRevisionId: iface.revisionId,
-            getOperationId: get.id,
-            setOperationId: set?.id,
-            watchOperationId: member.operations.find((op) => op.displayName === "watch-start")?.id,
-            inputKind: set?.inputType.kind === "record" ? "fields" : "value",
-            valueType: get.outputType,
-            conditions: entry.conditions.map((condition) => {
-              const fallback =
-                condition.value.kind === "variable" ? query.variableDefaults[condition.value.name] : undefined;
-              return {
-                ...condition,
-                ...(fallback?.kind === "literal" && typeof fallback.value === "boolean"
-                  ? { defaultValue: fallback.value }
-                  : {}),
-              };
-            }),
-          });
-        } else visit(field, entry.selection, [...path, name]);
-      }
-    }
-  };
-  visit(query.output, query.selection, []);
-  return result;
-}
diff --git a/src/query/relational-compile.ts b/src/query/relational-compile.ts
index c574ad1..db1fb6a 100644
--- a/src/query/relational-compile.ts
+++ b/src/query/relational-compile.ts
@@ -94,7 +94,8 @@ export function relationalCompiler(
       if (!prefix(base, path)) return false;
       // Object identity does not determine which incoming membership carried it.
       return (
-        last === "entry" || !(path[base.length] === "_qx" && ["entry", "mapKey"].includes(path[base.length + 1] ?? ""))
+        last === "entry" ||
+        !(path[base.length] === "_camino" && ["entry", "mapKey"].includes(path[base.length + 1] ?? ""))
       );
     });
     if (!ok)
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ export function relationalCompiler(
     available?: Availability,
   ): QueryExpression => {
     requireAvailable(names, available, node);
-    const meta = names.at(-2) === "_qx";
+    const meta = names.at(-2) === "_camino";
     let fieldIndex = names.length - 1;
     if (!meta) {
       let cursor = root;
@@ -334,10 +335,10 @@ export function relationalCompiler(
           children.push({ kind: "not", child: { kind: "and", children: children.splice(before) } });
         } else if (current.kind === "pair" && (name === "source" || name === "target"))
           visit(current[name], field.value, [...base, name]);
-        else if (name === "_qx") {
+        else if (name === "_camino") {
           for (const meta of pairs(field.value)) {
             if (meta.name.value !== "relations") {
-              const expr = expression(row, [...base, "_qx", meta.name.value], ["predicate"], meta, available);
+              const expr = expression(row, [...base, "_camino", meta.name.value], ["predicate"], meta, available);
               children.push(
                 ...(comparisons(meta.value, (operator, value) => ({
                   kind: "compare",
@@ -531,7 +532,7 @@ export function relationalCompiler(
                         expression: { ...k.expression, path: [{ kind: "source" as const }, ...k.expression.path] },
                       })),
                       {
-                        path: ["target", "_qx", "entry"],
+                        path: ["target", "_camino", "entry"],
                         expression: {
                           path: [{ kind: "target" as const }],
                           leaf: { kind: "entry" as const },
diff --git a/src/query/relational-schema.ts b/src/query/relational-schema.ts
index ccdff64..04612ba 100644
--- a/src/query/relational-schema.ts
+++ b/src/query/relational-schema.ts
@@ -205,7 +205,9 @@ export function relationalSchema(env: RelationalSchemaEnvironment, document?: Do
           metadata[name] = { type: !operator && nullable ? t : new GraphQLNonNull(t) };
         }
         if (Object.keys(metadata).length)
-          result._qx = { type: new GraphQLNonNull(out("ColumnsMeta", row, () => metadata, `${operator}:${nullable}`)) };
+          result._camino = {
+            type: new GraphQLNonNull(out("ColumnsMeta", row, () => metadata, `${operator}:${nullable}`)),
+          };
         // A type may have no matching scalar at this node; a private schema sentinel
         // keeps it valid while compiler validation forbids selecting that sentinel.
         if (!Object.keys(result).length) result._unavailable = { type: GraphQLBoolean };
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ export function relationalSchema(env: RelationalSchemaEnvironment, document?: Do
         else if (queryKeyType(field.type)) result[name] = { type: GraphQLBoolean };
       }
       const meta = Object.fromEntries([...leafFields(row)].map(([name]) => [name, { type: GraphQLBoolean }]));
-      if (Object.keys(meta).length) result._qx = { type: inp("KeyMeta", row, () => meta) };
+      if (Object.keys(meta).length) result._camino = { type: inp("KeyMeta", row, () => meta) };
       return result;
     });
   const comparisons = (
@@ -266,7 +268,7 @@ export function relationalSchema(env: RelationalSchemaEnvironment, document?: Do
           if (!operator || operator === "countPresent")
             meta[name] = { type: ordering ? env.direction : compare(operator ? aggregateType(operator, type) : type) };
         if (Object.keys(meta).length)
-          result._qx = { type: inp("ExpressionMeta", row, () => meta, `${operator}:${ordering}`) };
+          result._camino = { type: inp("ExpressionMeta", row, () => meta, `${operator}:${ordering}`) };
         if (!Object.keys(result).length) result._unavailable = { type: GraphQLBoolean };
         return result;
       },
@@ -306,7 +308,7 @@ export function relationalSchema(env: RelationalSchemaEnvironment, document?: Do
         if (field.kind === "leaf" && !comparableValue(field.type)) continue;
         result[name] = { type: field.kind === "row" ? where(field.row) : compare(field.type) };
       }
-      result._qx = {
+      result._camino = {
         type: inp("WhereMeta", row, () => {
           const meta: GraphQLInputFieldConfigMap = {};
           for (const [name, type] of leafFields(row)) meta[name] = { type: compare(type) };
@@ -397,7 +399,7 @@ export function relationalSchema(env: RelationalSchemaEnvironment, document?: Do
   const discoverObject = (row: QueryRow, set: SelectionSetNode) => {
     for (const node of selections(set))
       if (node.selectionSet) {
-        if (node.name.value === "_qx") {
+        if (node.name.value === "_camino") {
           for (const meta of selections(node.selectionSet))
             if (meta.name.value === "relations" && meta.selectionSet)
               for (const edge of selections(meta.selectionSet)) {
diff --git a/src/query/schema.ts b/src/query/schema.ts
index 45403f5..63a0cc5 100644
--- a/src/query/schema.ts
+++ b/src/query/schema.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ import {
   GraphQLList,
   GraphQLNonNull,
   GraphQLSchema,
-  GraphQLDirective,
-  DirectiveLocation,
   specifiedDirectives,
   type GraphQLOutputType,
   type GraphQLInputType,
@@ -198,7 +196,7 @@ export function querySchema(
             ...(helpers ? { relations: { type: new GraphQLNonNull(helpers) } } : {}),
           },
         });
-        const fields: GraphQLFieldConfigMap<unknown, unknown> = { _qx: { type: new GraphQLNonNull(metadata) } };
+        const fields: GraphQLFieldConfigMap<unknown, unknown> = { _camino: { type: new GraphQLNonNull(metadata) } };
         for (const member of contract(id).members) {
           if (member.kind === "operation" || member.kind === "module" || !member.queryRead) continue;
           if (!/^[_A-Za-z][_0-9A-Za-z]*$/.test(member.displayName) || member.displayName.startsWith("_"))
@@ -258,7 +256,7 @@ export function querySchema(
     return result;
   };
   const schema = new GraphQLSchema({
-    directives: [...specifiedDirectives, new GraphQLDirective({ name: "live", locations: [DirectiveLocation.FIELD] })],
+    directives: specifiedDirectives,
     query: new GraphQLObjectType({
       name: "QxQuery",
       fields: { root: { type: new GraphQLNonNull(object(root.interface)) } },
diff --git a/src/query/types.ts b/src/query/types.ts
index 4c6eff3..bffbe61 100644
--- a/src/query/types.ts
+++ b/src/query/types.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ export type QueryArgument =
   | { kind: "list"; values: QueryArgument[] }
   | { kind: "object"; fields: Record<string, QueryArgument> };
 export interface QuerySelection {
-  liveSelectionId?: string;
   name: string;
   key: string;
   interfaceRevisionId?: InterfaceRevisionId;
diff --git a/test/controller-registry.test.ts b/test/controller-registry.test.ts
index a22ea98..177b0af 100644
--- a/test/controller-registry.test.ts
+++ b/test/controller-registry.test.ts
@@ -34,16 +34,16 @@ test("controller discovery requires complete bounded accepted-state membership",
   const check = async (document: string) =>
     parseControllerCatalog(metadata, [iface], [await compileQuery(declaration, [iface], async () => document)]);
   assert.equal(
-    (await check("query Enabled {root {objects(all:64,where:{enabled:{eq:true}}) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}"))
+    (await check("query Enabled {root {objects(all:64,where:{enabled:{eq:true}}) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}"))
       .length,
     1,
   );
   for (const document of [
-    "query Enabled {root {objects(first:64) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}",
-    "query Enabled {root {objects(all:65) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}",
-    "query Enabled {root {devices:objects(all:64) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}",
+    "query Enabled {root {objects(first:64) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}",
+    "query Enabled {root {objects(all:65) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}",
+    "query Enabled {root {devices:objects(all:64) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}",
     "query Enabled {root {objects(all:64) {entries {node {enabled}}}}}",
-    "query Enabled($enabled:Boolean!) {root {objects(all:64,where:{enabled:{eq:$enabled}}) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}",
+    "query Enabled($enabled:Boolean!) {root {objects(all:64,where:{enabled:{eq:$enabled}}) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}",
   ])
     await assert.rejects(check(document), /registry|Controller/);
   assert.throws(() => parseControllerCatalog(metadata, [iface], []), /registry/);
diff --git a/test/emit-managed.ts b/test/emit-managed.ts
index 59c39a7..cbb255f 100644
--- a/test/emit-managed.ts
+++ b/test/emit-managed.ts
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ package Owner id "package:owner" revision "package:owner@1" {
           async (name) =>
             ({
               "inputs.graphql":
-                "query Inputs($label: String!) { root { objects(all: 100, where: {label: {eq: $label}}) { entries { key node { _qx {ref} label } } } } }",
+                "query Inputs($label: String!) { root { objects(all: 100, where: {label: {eq: $label}}) { entries { key node { _camino {ref} label } } } } }",
               "view.graphql":
-                "query View { root { availableObjects(all: 100) { entries { key node { _qx {ref} label } } } } }",
-              "editor.graphql": "query Editor { root { _qx {ref} label body notes } }",
+                "query View { root { availableObjects(all: 100) { entries { key node { _camino {ref} label } } } } }",
+              "editor.graphql": "query Editor { root { _camino {ref} label body notes } }",
               "editor-view.graphql": "query EditorView { root { label body notes } }",
             })[name]!,
         ),
diff --git a/test/execution-world.test.ts b/test/execution-world.test.ts
index af3704e..963d99f 100644
--- a/test/execution-world.test.ts
+++ b/test/execution-world.test.ts
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ test("a count-only local query still requires complete relationship admission",
     const workspace = await loadReaderWorkspace((name, text) => {
       if (name === "queries/replica-inputs.graphql") return source;
       if (name === "queries/reader-screen.graphql")
-        return "query ReaderScreen { root { _qx { relations { highlights { aggregate { count } } } } } }";
+        return "query ReaderScreen { root { _camino { relations { highlights { aggregate { count } } } } } }";
       return text;
     });
     assert.throws(() => compileExecutionPlan(workspace), /REPLICA_TRAVERSAL_MISSING|REPLICA_RELATION_INCOMPLETE/);
diff --git a/test/fixtures/controller-device/enabled.graphql b/test/fixtures/controller-device/enabled.graphql
index 64b56c9..5911764 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/controller-device/enabled.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/controller-device/enabled.graphql
@@ -1 +1 @@
-query Enabled {root {objects(all:64, where:{enabled:{eq:true}}) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}
+query Enabled {root {objects(all:64, where:{enabled:{eq:true}}) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-inputs.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-inputs.graphql
index b69323d..d506888 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-inputs.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-inputs.graphql
@@ -1 +1 @@
-query HighlightEditorInputs { root { _qx {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } }
+query HighlightEditorInputs { root { _camino {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-view.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-view.graphql
index 97a1cc4..f205319 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-view.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/editor-view.graphql
@@ -1 +1 @@
-query HighlightEditorView { root { _qx {ref} color @live range {sourceRevision start end} } }
+query HighlightEditorView { root { _camino {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-list.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-list.graphql
index 13e0094..3fb23b7 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-list.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-list.graphql
@@ -1 +1 @@
-query HighlightList($color: String!) { root { availableObjects(all: 200, where: {color: {eq: $color}}, orderBy: {range: {start: ASC}}) { entries { key node { _qx {ref} color @live range {sourceRevision start end} } } } } }
+query HighlightList($color: String!) { root { availableObjects(all: 200, where: {color: {eq: $color}}, orderBy: {range: {start: ASC}}) { entries { key node { _camino {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } } } } }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-scope.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-scope.graphql
index eb35067..db46a43 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-scope.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-scope.graphql
@@ -1 +1 @@
-query HighlightScope($color: String!) { root { objects(all: 200, where: {color: {eq: $color}}) { entries { key node { _qx {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } } } } }
+query HighlightScope($color: String!) { root { objects(all: 200, where: {color: {eq: $color}}) { entries { key node { _camino {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } } } } }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-window.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-window.graphql
index b19d729..3fc3d1c 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-window.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/highlight-window.graphql
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 query HighlightWindow($color: String!) {
   root {
     objects(first: 2, where: {color: {eq: $color}}, orderBy: {range: {start: ASC}}) {
-      entries { key node { _qx {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } }
+      entries { key node { _camino {ref} color range {sourceRevision start end} } }
       pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor }
     }
   }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/reader-screen.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/reader-screen.graphql
index 1f50d8c..3ed97d2 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/reader-screen.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/reader-screen.graphql
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ query ReaderScreen($color: String!) {
       entries {
         key
         node {
-          _qx { ref }
+          _camino { ref }
           range { sourceRevision start end }
-          color @live
+          color
           excerpt
           comments(all: 200) {
-            entries { key node { _qx { ref } content @live { text tags } } }
+            entries { key node { _camino { ref } content { text tags } } }
           }
         }
       }
     }
-    _qx { relations { highlights { aggregate { count } } } }
+    _camino { relations { highlights { aggregate { count } } } }
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/replica-inputs.graphql b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/replica-inputs.graphql
index b69387b..7c8dde8 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/replica-inputs.graphql
+++ b/test/fixtures/local-first-reader/queries/replica-inputs.graphql
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ query ReplicaInputs {
       entries {
         key
         node {
-          _qx { ref }
+          _camino { ref }
           range { sourceRevision start end }
           color
           excerpt
           comments(all: 200) {
-            entries { key node { _qx { ref } content { text tags } } }
+            entries { key node { _camino { ref } content { text tags } } }
           }
         }
       }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/query-aggregation.ts b/test/fixtures/query-aggregation.ts
index 10c30e9..b107ebd 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/query-aggregation.ts
+++ b/test/fixtures/query-aggregation.ts
@@ -67,5 +67,5 @@ export const compileAggregation = (body: string, variables = "") =>
   compileQuery(
     declaration,
     interfaces,
-    async () => `query Report${variables} { root { _qx { relations { tasks { ${body} } } } } }`,
+    async () => `query Report${variables} { root { _camino { relations { tasks { ${body} } } } } }`,
   );
diff --git a/test/fixtures/query-workspace.ts b/test/fixtures/query-workspace.ts
index d2d7071..9999d65 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/query-workspace.ts
+++ b/test/fixtures/query-workspace.ts
@@ -76,22 +76,19 @@ export async function queryWorkspaceFixture(options: { live?: boolean } = {}) {
   const pkg: PackageRevision = pkgResult.resource.revision;
   const allInterfaces = [...interfaces.values(), ...(pkgResult.resource.specializations ?? [])];
   const documents: Record<string, string> = {
-    "extent.graphql": `query Extent($text: String! = "") {root {objects(first: 30, where: {title: {containsInsensitive: $text}}, orderBy: [{rank: ASC}]) {entries {node {_qx {ref} title rank}}}}}`,
-    "upcoming.graphql": `query Upcoming($first: Int!, $after: Cursor) {root {items(first: $first, after: $after, where: {done: {eq: false}}, orderBy: [{rank: ASC}]) {entries {key cursor node {_qx {ref} ...TaskRow}} pageInfo {hasNextPage endCursor}}}}`,
+    "extent.graphql": `query Extent($text: String! = "") {root {objects(first: 30, where: {title: {containsInsensitive: $text}}, orderBy: [{rank: ASC}]) {entries {node {_camino {ref} title rank}}}}}`,
+    "upcoming.graphql": `query Upcoming($first: Int!, $after: Cursor) {root {items(first: $first, after: $after, where: {done: {eq: false}}, orderBy: [{rank: ASC}]) {entries {key cursor node {_camino {ref} ...TaskRow}} pageInfo {hasNextPage endCursor}}}}`,
     "row.graphql": `fragment TaskRow on TaskFacts {title rank done assignee {name}}`,
-    "enriched.graphql": `query Enriched {root {items(first: 3) {entries {key node {_qx {ref} title score}}}}}`,
-    "ranked.graphql": `query Ranked {root {items(first: 3, where: {score: {gt: 0}}, orderBy: [{score: DESC}]) {entries {key node {_qx {ref} title}}}}}`,
-    "totals.graphql": `query Totals {root {_qx {relations {items {aggregate {count sum {rank}} groups(by: {done: true}, first: 10) {entries {group {done} aggregate {count sum {rank}}}}}}}}}`,
-    "score-totals.graphql": `query ScoreTotals {root {_qx {relations {items {aggregate {count sum {score}}}}}}}`,
+    "enriched.graphql": `query Enriched {root {items(first: 3) {entries {key node {_camino {ref} title score}}}}}`,
+    "ranked.graphql": `query Ranked {root {items(first: 3, where: {score: {gt: 0}}, orderBy: [{score: DESC}]) {entries {key node {_camino {ref} title}}}}}`,
+    "totals.graphql": `query Totals {root {_camino {relations {items {aggregate {count sum {rank}} groups(by: {done: true}, first: 10) {entries {group {done} aggregate {count sum {rank}}}}}}}}}`,
+    "score-totals.graphql": `query ScoreTotals {root {_camino {relations {items {aggregate {count sum {score}}}}}}}`,
   };
   pkg.checkedQueries = await Promise.all(
     pkg.queries!.map((query) =>
       compileQuery(query, allInterfaces, async (name) =>
         options.live
-          ? documents[name]!.replace(/\btitle\b/g, "title @live").replace(
-              "title @live rank done",
-              "title @live rank @live done @live",
-            )
+          ? documents[name]!.replace(/\btitle\b/g, "title").replace("title rank done", "title rank done")
           : documents[name]!,
       ),
     ),
diff --git a/test/forwarding.test.ts b/test/forwarding.test.ts
index 487d955..5674429 100644
--- a/test/forwarding.test.ts
+++ b/test/forwarding.test.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ test("bind chains forward native reads, writes and watches without changing stor
     await compileQuery(
       revision.queries![0]!,
       [...interfaces.values()],
-      async () => `query Rows {root {objects(first: 10) {entries {node {title @live}}}}}`,
+      async () => `query Rows {root {objects(first: 10) {entries {node {title}}}}}`,
     ),
   ];
   result.workspace.packageImports.push(revision);
diff --git a/test/portable-bindings.test.ts b/test/portable-bindings.test.ts
index 1f8b458..9e11724 100644
--- a/test/portable-bindings.test.ts
+++ b/test/portable-bindings.test.ts
@@ -107,15 +107,10 @@ test("server projection descriptors are distinct from canonical inputs and have
   assert.match(projections, /ConfirmedColor/);
   assert.match(projections, /satisfies ServerProjection/);
   assert.match(source.slice(source.indexOf("export const results")), /ConfirmedColor/);
-  const live = compileExecutionPlan(
-    await loadReaderWorkspace((name, text) =>
+  await assert.rejects(
+    loadReaderWorkspace((name, text) =>
       name === "queries/confirmed-color.graphql" ? text.replace("color", "color @live") : text,
     ),
+    /@live is retired/,
   );
-  const rejected = generatePortableClientBindings(live, { target: "browser" });
-  assert.doesNotMatch(
-    rejected.slice(rejected.indexOf("export const serverProjections"), rejected.indexOf("export const results")),
-    /ConfirmedColor/,
-  );
-  assert.match(rejected, /QUERY_NOT_SNAPSHOT_PROJECTION/);
 });
diff --git a/test/query-aggregation.test.ts b/test/query-aggregation.test.ts
index 91bb7b7..5a563d8 100644
--- a/test/query-aggregation.test.ts
+++ b/test/query-aggregation.test.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ test("aggregate output uses exact count and sum types and nullable reductions",
 
 test("explicit expansion and identity distinct retain checked grouped operands", async () => {
   const checked = await compile(`expand { tags {
-    distinct(by: {source: {_qx: {ref: true}}, target: {color: true}}) {
+    distinct(by: {source: {_camino: {ref: true}}, target: {color: true}}) {
       groups(by: {target: {color: true}}, first: 50,
         having: {sum: {source: {estimatedHours: {gt: 0}}}},
         orderBy: [{sum: {source: {estimatedHours: DESC}}}]) {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ test("distinct and grouping reject fields not determined by their selected keys"
 
 test("relationship existence predicates compile to typed plans", async () => {
   const checked = await compile(
-    `filter(where: {_qx: {relations: {tags: {some: {color: {in: ["red","blue"]}}}}}}) {aggregate {count}}`,
+    `filter(where: {_camino: {relations: {tags: {some: {color: {in: ["red","blue"]}}}}}}) {aggregate {count}}`,
   );
   const plan = findPlan(checked.selection)!;
   assert.equal(plan.stages[1]!.operation.kind, "filter");
@@ -88,19 +88,19 @@ test("RPC continuation rejection is local to the affected membership boundary",
   );
   const checked = await compileAggregationDocument(`query Report($after: Cursor) {root {
     tasks(first: 2, after: $after) {entries {node {cost}}}
-    _qx {relations {tasks {aggregate {sum {score}}}}}
+    _camino {relations {tasks {aggregate {sum {score}}}}}
   }}`);
   assert.equal(findPlan(checked.selection)!.terminals[0]!.residual, true);
 });
 
 test("typed reference operands and scalar membership tests reject unbounded literal lists", async () => {
   const checked = await compile(
-    `filter(where: {_qx: {ref: {in: $tasks}}}) {aggregate {count}}`,
+    `filter(where: {_camino: {ref: {in: $tasks}}}) {aggregate {count}}`,
     "($tasks: [QxRef_Task!]!)",
   );
   assert.match(JSON.stringify(checked.variables), /object-ref/);
   await assert.rejects(
-    compile(`filter(where: {_qx: {ref: {eq: "obj:made-up"}}}) {aggregate {count}}`),
+    compile(`filter(where: {_camino: {ref: {eq: "obj:made-up"}}}) {aggregate {count}}`),
     /typed variables/,
   );
   await assert.rejects(
diff --git a/test/query-compiler.test.ts b/test/query-compiler.test.ts
index 0170666..cbdc52d 100644
--- a/test/query-compiler.test.ts
+++ b/test/query-compiler.test.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { compileCapabilityResourceSource } from "../src/capability-language/inde
 import { compileQuery } from "../src/query/compile.js";
 import { QueryCompileError } from "../src/query/types.js";
 import { checkQueryTemplate } from "../src/query/templates.js";
-import { queryPresentation } from "../src/query/presentation.js";
 import { querySelectionToWire } from "../src/query/proto.js";
 import type { InterfaceRevision } from "../src/capability-model/types.js";
 
@@ -149,9 +148,9 @@ test("workspace roots expose a bounded interface extent, not a root object or wr
     async () => `query Upcoming {
     root {
       objects(first: 3, where: {done: {eq: false}}, orderBy: {title: ASC}) {
-        entries {key node {_qx {ref} title @live}} pageInfo {hasNextPage endCursor}
+        entries {key node {_camino {ref} title}} pageInfo {hasNextPage endCursor}
       }
-      _qx {relations {objects {aggregate {count sum {due}}}}}
+      _camino {relations {objects {aggregate {count sum {due}}}}}
     }
   }`,
   );
@@ -159,7 +158,7 @@ test("workspace roots expose a bounded interface extent, not a root object or wr
   assert.ok(!checked.effects.some((effect) => effect.memberId.includes("workspace-objects")));
   assert.ok(JSON.stringify(checked.selection).includes("qx-internal-workspace-objects"));
   await assert.rejects(
-    compileQuery(declaration, [facts], async () => `query Upcoming {root {_qx {ref}}}`),
+    compileQuery(declaration, [facts], async () => `query Upcoming {root {_camino {ref}}}`),
     /QUERY_VALIDATION/,
   );
   await assert.rejects(
@@ -169,51 +168,34 @@ test("workspace roots expose a bounded interface extent, not a root object or wr
 });
 const document = `query Upcoming($first: Int!, $before: Int64!) {
  root { items(first: $first, where: {done: {eq: false}, due: {lt: $before}}, orderBy: [{due: ASC}]) {
- entries { key node { _qx { ref } ...Row } } pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor }
+ entries { key node { _camino { ref } ...Row } } pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor }
  } }
 }`;
 const compile = (query = document, row = "fragment Row on TaskFacts { title due }", clauses = "") =>
   compileQuery(fixture(clauses), [collection, facts], async (name) => (name.endsWith("row.graphql") ? row : query));
 
-test("live selections preserve aliases, nullable values, fragment conditions and wire identity", async () => {
+test("ordinary selections preserve aliases, fragment conditions and wire identity", async () => {
   const checked = await compile(
     `query Upcoming($show: Boolean!) {root {items(first: 3) {entries {node {plain: title ...Row @include(if: $show)}}}}}`,
-    `fragment Row on TaskFacts {label: title @live due @live}`,
+    `fragment Row on TaskFacts {label: title due}`,
   );
-  const fields = queryPresentation(checked, [collection, facts]);
+  const node = checked.selection[0]!.selection[0]!.selection[0]!.selection[0]!;
   assert.deepEqual(
-    fields.map((f) => f.path),
-    [
-      ["root", "items", "entries", "*", "node", "label"],
-      ["root", "items", "entries", "*", "node", "due"],
-    ],
+    node.selection.map((s) => s.key),
+    ["plain", "label", "due"],
   );
-  assert.equal(fields[0]!.getOperationId, "title:get");
-  assert.equal(fields[0]!.setOperationId, undefined);
-  assert.equal(fields[1]!.valueType.kind, "optional");
-  assert.equal(fields[0]!.conditions.length, 1);
-  assert.ok(JSON.stringify(checked.selection.map(querySelectionToWire)).includes(fields[0]!.selectionId));
-  const defaults = await compile(
-    `query Upcoming($show: Boolean! = true) {root {items(first: 3) {entries {node {...Row @include(if: $show)}}}}}`,
-    "fragment Row on TaskFacts {title @live}",
-  );
-  assert.equal(queryPresentation(defaults, [collection, facts])[0]!.conditions[0]!.defaultValue, true);
+  assert.equal(node.selection[1]!.conditions.length, 1);
+  assert.ok(JSON.stringify(checked.selection.map(querySelectionToWire)).includes("label"));
 });
-
-test("live selections reject RPC getters, synthetic selections and conflicting presentations", async () => {
-  for (const [selected, code] of [
-    ["score @live", "QUERY_LIVE_UNSUPPORTED"],
-    ["_qx @live {ref}", "QUERY_LIVE_UNSUPPORTED"],
-    ["title @live title", "QUERY_LIVE_CONFLICT"],
-    ["title @live(unchecked: true)", "QUERY_VALIDATION"],
-  ])
+test("retired live syntax fails with migration guidance", async () => {
+  for (const selected of ["score @live", "_camino @live {ref}", "title @live title", "title @live(unchecked: true)"])
     await assert.rejects(
       compile(
         `query Upcoming {root {items(first: 3) {entries {node {...Row}}}}}`,
         `fragment Row on TaskFacts {${selected}}`,
         'allow TaskFacts.score select "bounded";',
       ),
-      (error: unknown) => error instanceof QueryCompileError && error.code === code,
+      (error: unknown) => error instanceof QueryCompileError && error.code === "QUERY_RETIRED_DIRECTIVE",
     );
 });
 
diff --git a/test/query-workspace.test.ts b/test/query-workspace.test.ts
index 0c17d5a..f04df42 100644
--- a/test/query-workspace.test.ts
+++ b/test/query-workspace.test.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ test("reference-only workspace queries hash every eligible conformance, includin
   const checked = await compileQuery(
     query,
     workspace.interfaceImports,
-    async () => `query ${query.operation} {root {objects(first: 10) {entries {node {_qx {ref}}}}}}`,
+    async () => `query ${query.operation} {root {objects(first: 10) {entries {node {_camino {ref}}}}}}`,
   );
   pkg.checkedQueries = pkg.checkedQueries!.map((q) => (q.declaration.id === query.id ? checked : q));
   const linked = linkQueries(workspace).find((q) => q.id.endsWith(":upcoming"))!;
diff --git a/test/react-fields.test.ts b/test/react-fields.test.ts
index ba39d02..767f733 100644
--- a/test/react-fields.test.ts
+++ b/test/react-fields.test.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ test("React bindings preserve read-only, writable and nested reference contracts
     await compileQuery(
       pkg.resource.revision.queries![0]!,
       [iface.resource.revision],
-      async () => "query Editor {root {title @live summary @live plain: title}}",
+      async () => "query Editor {root {title summary plain: title}}",
     ),
   ];
   const schema = {
@@ -79,16 +79,10 @@ test("React bindings preserve read-only, writable and nested reference contracts
 import {reactInterfaces} from "./react-props.gen.js";
 import type {ReactResults, QueryResults} from "./react-props.gen.js";
 declare const query: QueryResults["Editor"];
-useLiveField(query.root.title).set("new");
-useLiveField(detachField(query.root.title)).set("new");
-// @ts-expect-error detachment preserves readonly access
-useLiveField(detachField(query.root.summary)).set("no");
-// @ts-expect-error query handles do not expose transport metadata
-query.root.title.capability;
-// @ts-expect-error live query fields retain exact setter types
-useLiveField(query.root.title).set(123);
-// @ts-expect-error readonly query fields do not acquire a setter
-useLiveField(query.root.summary).set("no");
+const queryTitle: string = query.root.title;
+const querySummary: string = query.root.summary;
+// @ts-expect-error query values are not field mutation handles
+query.root.title.set("new");
 const plain: string = query.root.plain;
 async function lookup() {
   const view = await tryConform("object", reactInterfaces.Fields);