diff --git a/packages/pkg-list-host.txt b/packages/pkg-list-host.txt
index ae4a7483..7dbfa3a8 100644
--- a/packages/pkg-list-host.txt
+++ b/packages/pkg-list-host.txt
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ bsddialog
 codex
 
 # Python / tooling
-# python312 is our application Python. FreeBSD's pkg repos default to
-# Python 3.11, so system deps (git, libinput, etc.) pull python311
-# autonomously. Both versions coexist; python312 owns the python3 symlink.
+# python3 is 3.11 (FreeBSD's PYTHON_DEFAULT — see layered-soul TOOLCHAIN.md).
+# python312 stays installed and available as python3.12 for apps needing newer.
+python311
 python312
 just
 uv
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ postgresql18-client
 dnsmasq
 
 # Media / fonts
+# ffmpeg: hermes runtime (media + voice-transcription skill). py311-pillow:
+# hermes core Pillow dep — venvs use --system-site-packages, so the prebuilt
+# system pkg satisfies it without compiling Pillow.
+ffmpeg
+py311-pillow
 dejavu
 
 # Wayland display stack (desktop installs)