diff --git a/about/signup.gmi b/about/signup.gmi
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d49c08f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/about/signup.gmi
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+```
+,-. ,-. ,-,-. . ,-. .    ,-. ,-. |- ,-. ,-. ,-| . ,-. |     ,-. |  ,-. . . ,-|
+| | |-' | | | | | | | ,. |-' `-. |  |   ,-| | | | | | |  ,. |   |  | | | | | |
+`-| `-' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' `' `-' `-' `' '   `-^ `-' ' `-' `' `' `-' `' `-' `-' `-'
+ ,|
+ `'
+```
+
+## join:
+
+to get an account, email admin AT estradiol.cloud with:
+
+* desired username
+* a public git repo where your content can be hosted
+* a statement of interest---something that indicates you're a real person and intend to use the service in good faith.
diff --git a/about/tech.gmi b/about/tech.gmi
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28cf26b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/about/tech.gmi
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+```
+,-. ,-. ,-,-. . ,-. .    ,-. ,-. |- ,-. ,-. ,-| . ,-. |     ,-. |  ,-. . . ,-|
+| | |-' | | | | | | | ,. |-' `-. |  |   ,-| | | | | | |  ,. |   |  | | | | | |
+`-| `-' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' `' `-' `-' `' '   `-^ `-' ' `-' `' `' `-' `' `-' `-' `-'
+ ,|
+ `'
+```
+
+the "server" that runs this is actually---at any given moment---one or more containers in a kubernetes cluster. the content is pulled dynamically from the users' individual git repositories on startup / every 60 seconds, the server doesn't store it beyond the lifetime of the container (modulo emptyDir implementation details).
+
+---
+
+the content for the gemini DocBase is maintained at (contributions considered):
+=> https://code.estradiol.cloud/tamsin/gemini.estradiol.cloud code.estradiol.cloud/tamsin/gemini.estradiol.cloud
+
+container image and kubernetes configurations are at:
+=> https://code.estradiol.cloud/tamsin/molly-brown-docker code.estradiol.cloud/tamsin/molly-brown-docker
+=> https://gitlab.com/no_reply/sublingual/-/tree/trunk/estradiol.cloud/molly-brown [GitLab]: kubernetes config (flux-cd)
diff --git a/index.gmi b/index.gmi
index 4ec8dda..3341832 100644
--- a/index.gmi
+++ b/index.gmi
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@
 
 > the regrown limb can be monstrous, duplicated, potent. We have all been injured, profoundly.
 
-## users
+this server is open to dolls and similar entities.
+
+=> about/signup.gmi signup [for the dolls]
+=> about/tech.gmi meta/tech
+=> https://ko-fi.com/estradiolcloud ko-fi tips
+
+### users
 
 => ~tamsin ~tamsin