diff --git a/src/act.comm.c b/src/act.comm.c
index 376a67c..6e470ed 100644
--- a/src/act.comm.c
+++ b/src/act.comm.c
@@ -110,38 +110,374 @@ static void to_second_person_self(const char *in, char *out, size_t outlen) {
   }
 }
 
+static void trim_whitespace(char *s) {
+  char *start = s;
+  while (*start && isspace((unsigned char)*start))
+    start++;
+
+  if (start != s)
+    memmove(s, start, strlen(start) + 1);
+
+  size_t len = strlen(s);
+  while (len > 0 && isspace((unsigned char)s[len - 1]))
+    s[--len] = '\0';
+}
+
 ACMD(do_say)
 {
-  skip_spaces(&argument);
+  char *p = argument;
+  char bracket_raw[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH] = "";
+  char paren_raw[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH] = "";
+  char speech[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
+  struct targeted_phrase bracket_phrase;
+  struct targeted_phrase paren_phrase;
+  bool has_bracket = FALSE;
+  bool has_paren = FALSE;
 
-  if (!*argument)
+  skip_spaces(&p);
+
+  if (*p == '[') {
+    const char *close = strchr(p, ']');
+    if (!close) {
+      send_to_char(ch, "You need a closing ']'.\r\n");
+      return;
+    }
+    size_t len = (size_t)(close - p - 1);
+    if (len >= sizeof(bracket_raw))
+      len = sizeof(bracket_raw) - 1;
+    strncpy(bracket_raw, p + 1, len);
+    bracket_raw[len] = '\0';
+    trim_whitespace(bracket_raw);
+    p = (char *)close + 1;
+  }
+
+  skip_spaces(&p);
+
+  if (*p == '(') {
+    const char *close = strchr(p, ')');
+    if (!close) {
+      send_to_char(ch, "You need a closing ')'.\r\n");
+      return;
+    }
+    size_t len = (size_t)(close - p - 1);
+    if (len >= sizeof(paren_raw))
+      len = sizeof(paren_raw) - 1;
+    strncpy(paren_raw, p + 1, len);
+    paren_raw[len] = '\0';
+    trim_whitespace(paren_raw);
+    p = (char *)close + 1;
+  }
+
+  skip_spaces(&p);
+
+  if (!*p) {
     send_to_char(ch, "Yes, but WHAT do you want to say?\r\n");
-  else {
-    char buf[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH + 14], *msg;
-    struct char_data *vict;
- 
-    if (CONFIG_SPECIAL_IN_COMM && legal_communication(argument))
-      parse_at(argument);
+    return;
+  }
 
-    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "$n\tn says, '%s'", argument);
-    msg = act(buf, FALSE, ch, 0, 0, TO_ROOM | DG_NO_TRIG);
+  strlcpy(speech, p, sizeof(speech));
 
-    for (vict = world[IN_ROOM(ch)].people; vict; vict = vict->next_in_room)
-      if (vict != ch && GET_POS(vict) > POS_SLEEPING)
-        add_history(vict, msg, HIST_SAY);
+  if (CONFIG_SPECIAL_IN_COMM && legal_communication(speech))
+    parse_at(speech);
 
-    if (!IS_NPC(ch) && PRF_FLAGGED(ch, PRF_NOREPEAT))
-      send_to_char(ch, "%s", CONFIG_OK);
-    else {
-      sprintf(buf, "You say, '%s'", argument);
-      msg = act(buf, FALSE, ch, 0, 0, TO_CHAR | DG_NO_TRIG);
-      add_history(ch, msg, HIST_SAY);
+  if (*bracket_raw) {
+    if (!build_targeted_phrase(ch, bracket_raw, FALSE, &bracket_phrase))
+      return;
+    has_bracket = TRUE;
+  }
+  if (*paren_raw) {
+    if (!build_targeted_phrase(ch, paren_raw, FALSE, &paren_phrase))
+      return;
+    has_paren = TRUE;
+  }
+
+  bool suppress_self = (!IS_NPC(ch) && PRF_FLAGGED(ch, PRF_NOREPEAT));
+  bool use_say = (has_bracket || has_paren);
+
+  for (struct char_data *vict = world[IN_ROOM(ch)].people; vict; vict = vict->next_in_room) {
+    bool self = (vict == ch);
+
+    if (self && suppress_self)
+      continue;
+    if (!self && GET_POS(vict) <= POS_SLEEPING)
+      continue;
+
+    char prefix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char suffix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char first_line[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+    char speaker[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
+
+    if (has_bracket)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &bracket_phrase, FALSE, vict, prefix, sizeof(prefix));
+    if (has_paren)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &paren_phrase, FALSE, vict, suffix, sizeof(suffix));
+
+    if (self)
+      strlcpy(speaker, "You", sizeof(speaker));
+    else
+      strlcpy(speaker, PERS(ch, vict), sizeof(speaker));
+
+    first_line[0] = '\0';
+    strlcpy(first_line, "", sizeof(first_line));
+    if (*prefix) {
+      char capped[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+      strlcpy(capped, prefix, sizeof(capped));
+      CAP(capped);
+      strlcpy(first_line, capped, sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, speaker, sizeof(first_line));
+    } else {
+      strlcpy(first_line, speaker, sizeof(first_line));
+    }
+
+    strlcat(first_line, (self && use_say) ? " say" : " says", sizeof(first_line));
+
+    if (*suffix) {
+      strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, suffix, sizeof(first_line));
+    }
+
+    strlcat(first_line, ":", sizeof(first_line));
+    send_to_char(vict, "%s\r\n   \"%s\"\r\n", first_line, speech);
+
+    if (!self || !suppress_self) {
+      char hist_buf[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+      snprintf(hist_buf, sizeof(hist_buf), "%s\r\n   \"%s\"", first_line, speech);
+      add_history(vict, hist_buf, HIST_SAY);
     }
   }
 
-  /* Trigger check. */
-  speech_mtrigger(ch, argument);
-  speech_wtrigger(ch, argument);
+  if (suppress_self)
+    send_to_char(ch, "%s", CONFIG_OK);
+
+  speech_mtrigger(ch, speech);
+  speech_wtrigger(ch, speech);
+}
+
+ACMD(do_talk)
+{
+  struct obj_data *furniture = SITTING(ch);
+  int allowed_positions = 0;
+  char *p = argument;
+  char bracket_raw[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH] = "";
+  char paren_raw[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH] = "";
+  struct targeted_phrase bracket_phrase;
+  struct targeted_phrase paren_phrase;
+  bool has_bracket = FALSE, has_paren = FALSE;
+
+  if (!furniture || GET_OBJ_TYPE(furniture) != ITEM_FURNITURE) {
+    send_to_char(ch, "You need to be seated at a piece of furniture to talk there.\r\n");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (GET_POS(ch) != POS_SITTING) {
+    send_to_char(ch, "You need to be sitting first.\r\n");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  allowed_positions = GET_OBJ_VAL(furniture, VAL_FURN_POSITIONS);
+  if (allowed_positions > 0 && !(allowed_positions & (1 << 1))) {
+    send_to_char(ch, "That furniture doesn't have any seats.\r\n");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  skip_spaces(&p);
+  if (*p == '[') {
+    const char *close = strchr(p, ']');
+    if (!close) {
+      send_to_char(ch, "You need a closing ']'.\r\n");
+      return;
+    }
+    size_t len = (size_t)(close - p - 1);
+    if (len >= sizeof(bracket_raw))
+      len = sizeof(bracket_raw) - 1;
+    strncpy(bracket_raw, p + 1, len);
+    bracket_raw[len] = '\0';
+    trim_whitespace(bracket_raw);
+    p = (char *)close + 1;
+  }
+
+  skip_spaces(&p);
+
+  if (*p == '(') {
+    const char *close = strchr(p, ')');
+    if (!close) {
+      send_to_char(ch, "You need a closing ')'.\r\n");
+      return;
+    }
+    size_t len = (size_t)(close - p - 1);
+    if (len >= sizeof(paren_raw))
+      len = sizeof(paren_raw) - 1;
+    strncpy(paren_raw, p + 1, len);
+    paren_raw[len] = '\0';
+    trim_whitespace(paren_raw);
+    p = (char *)close + 1;
+  }
+
+  skip_spaces(&p);
+
+  if (!*p) {
+    send_to_char(ch, "Talk what?\r\n");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  char speech[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
+  strlcpy(speech, p, sizeof(speech));
+
+  if (CONFIG_SPECIAL_IN_COMM && legal_communication(speech))
+    parse_at(speech);
+
+  if (*bracket_raw) {
+    if (!build_targeted_phrase(ch, bracket_raw, FALSE, &bracket_phrase))
+      return;
+    has_bracket = TRUE;
+  }
+  if (*paren_raw) {
+    if (!build_targeted_phrase(ch, paren_raw, FALSE, &paren_phrase))
+      return;
+    has_paren = TRUE;
+  }
+
+  const char *furn_name = (furniture->short_description && *furniture->short_description)
+                        ? furniture->short_description : "the furniture";
+
+  bool suppress_self = (!IS_NPC(ch) && PRF_FLAGGED(ch, PRF_NOREPEAT));
+  bool delivered = FALSE;
+
+  for (struct char_data *tch = OBJ_SAT_IN_BY(furniture); tch; tch = NEXT_SITTING(tch)) {
+    if (tch == ch)
+      continue;
+    if (SITTING(tch) != furniture)
+      continue;
+    if (GET_POS(tch) != POS_SITTING)
+      continue;
+    if (GET_POS(tch) <= POS_SLEEPING)
+      continue;
+
+    char prefix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char suffix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char first_line[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+    const char *speaker = PERS(ch, tch);
+
+    if (has_bracket)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &bracket_phrase, FALSE, tch, prefix, sizeof(prefix));
+    if (has_paren)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &paren_phrase, FALSE, tch, suffix, sizeof(suffix));
+
+    first_line[0] = '\0';
+    if (*prefix) {
+      char capped[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+      strlcpy(capped, prefix, sizeof(capped));
+      CAP(capped);
+      strlcpy(first_line, capped, sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, speaker, sizeof(first_line));
+    } else {
+      strlcpy(first_line, speaker, sizeof(first_line));
+    }
+
+    strlcat(first_line, " says", sizeof(first_line));
+    strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+    if (*suffix) {
+      strlcat(first_line, suffix, sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+    }
+    char locbuf[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
+    snprintf(locbuf, sizeof(locbuf), "at %s,", furn_name);
+    strlcat(first_line, locbuf, sizeof(first_line));
+
+    send_to_char(tch, "%s\r\n   \"%s\"\r\n", first_line, speech);
+
+    char hist_buf[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+    snprintf(hist_buf, sizeof(hist_buf), "%s\r\n   \"%s\"", first_line, speech);
+    add_history(tch, hist_buf, HIST_SAY);
+    delivered = TRUE;
+  }
+
+  if (!delivered)
+    send_to_char(ch, "No one else seated there hears you.\r\n");
+
+  if (suppress_self)
+    send_to_char(ch, "%s", CONFIG_OK);
+  else {
+    char prefix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char suffix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char first_line[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+
+    if (has_bracket)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &bracket_phrase, FALSE, ch, prefix, sizeof(prefix));
+    if (has_paren)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &paren_phrase, FALSE, ch, suffix, sizeof(suffix));
+
+    if (*prefix) {
+      char capped[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+      strlcpy(capped, prefix, sizeof(capped));
+      CAP(capped);
+      strlcpy(first_line, capped, sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, ", you", sizeof(first_line));
+    } else
+      strlcpy(first_line, "you", sizeof(first_line));
+
+    strlcat(first_line, " say", sizeof(first_line));
+    strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+    if (*suffix) {
+      strlcat(first_line, suffix, sizeof(first_line));
+      strlcat(first_line, ", ", sizeof(first_line));
+    }
+    char locbuf[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
+    snprintf(locbuf, sizeof(locbuf), "at %s,", furn_name);
+    strlcat(first_line, locbuf, sizeof(first_line));
+
+    send_to_char(ch, "%s\r\n   \"%s\"\r\n", first_line, speech);
+    char hist_buf[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+    snprintf(hist_buf, sizeof(hist_buf), "%s\r\n   \"%s\"", first_line, speech);
+    add_history(ch, hist_buf, HIST_SAY);
+  }
+
+  /* Notify others in the room (not seated at this furniture) with an action cue. */
+  for (struct char_data *onlooker = world[IN_ROOM(ch)].people; onlooker; onlooker = onlooker->next_in_room) {
+    if (onlooker == ch)
+      continue;
+    if (GET_POS(onlooker) <= POS_SLEEPING)
+      continue;
+    if (SITTING(onlooker) == furniture && GET_POS(onlooker) == POS_SITTING)
+      continue; /* already heard the speech */
+
+    char prefix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char suffix[MAX_STRING_LENGTH] = "";
+    char line[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+    const char *speaker = PERS(ch, onlooker);
+
+    if (has_bracket)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &bracket_phrase, FALSE, onlooker, prefix, sizeof(prefix));
+    if (has_paren)
+      render_targeted_phrase(ch, &paren_phrase, FALSE, onlooker, suffix, sizeof(suffix));
+
+    line[0] = '\0';
+    if (*prefix) {
+      char capped[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+      strlcpy(capped, prefix, sizeof(capped));
+      CAP(capped);
+      strlcpy(line, capped, sizeof(line));
+      strlcat(line, ", ", sizeof(line));
+      strlcat(line, speaker, sizeof(line));
+    } else
+      strlcpy(line, speaker, sizeof(line));
+
+    strlcat(line, " says something at ", sizeof(line));
+    strlcat(line, furn_name, sizeof(line));
+
+    if (*suffix) {
+      strlcat(line, ", ", sizeof(line));
+      strlcat(line, suffix, sizeof(line));
+    }
+    strlcat(line, ".", sizeof(line));
+
+    send_to_char(onlooker, "%s\r\n", line);
+  }
+
+  speech_mtrigger(ch, speech);
+  speech_wtrigger(ch, speech);
 }
 
 ACMD(do_ooc)
diff --git a/src/act.h b/src/act.h
index 04c7ac3..c800b71 100644
--- a/src/act.h
+++ b/src/act.h
@@ -20,6 +20,23 @@
 
 #include "utils.h" /* for the ACMD macro */
 
+#ifndef MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS
+#define MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS 16
+#endif
+
+struct emote_token {
+  char op;
+  char name[MAX_NAME_LENGTH];
+  struct char_data *tch;
+  struct obj_data *tobj;
+};
+
+struct targeted_phrase {
+  char template[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+  int token_count;
+  struct emote_token tokens[MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS];
+};
+
 /*****************************************************************************
  * Begin Functions and defines for act.comm.c
  ****************************************************************************/
@@ -44,6 +61,9 @@ ACMD(do_page);
 ACMD(do_reply);
 ACMD(do_tell);
 ACMD(do_write);
+ACMD(do_talk);
+bool build_targeted_phrase(struct char_data *ch, const char *input, bool allow_actor_at, struct targeted_phrase *phrase);
+void render_targeted_phrase(struct char_data *actor, const struct targeted_phrase *phrase, bool actor_possessive_for_at, struct char_data *viewer, char *out, size_t outsz);
 /*****************************************************************************
  * Begin Functions and defines for act.informative.c
  ****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/act.wizard.c b/src/act.wizard.c
index ea41640..a1f4446 100644
--- a/src/act.wizard.c
+++ b/src/act.wizard.c
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ static int purge_room(room_rnum room)
 /* ===================== Emote engine ===================== */
 
 /* Operators:
- * 
+ *
  *   ~ (name)                   / target sees "you"
  *   ! him/her/them             / target sees "you"
  *   % (name)'s                 / target sees "your"
@@ -601,10 +601,6 @@ static int purge_room(room_rnum room)
  *   @ moves actor name (or actor's possessive for pemote) to that position
  */
 
-#ifndef MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS
-#define MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS 16
-#endif
-
 /* --- Pronoun & string helpers --- */
 static const char *pron_obj(struct char_data *tch) { /* him/her/them */
   switch (GET_SEX(tch)) { case SEX_MALE: return "him"; case SEX_FEMALE: return "her"; default: return "them"; }
@@ -676,6 +672,15 @@ static void replace_all_tokens(char *hay, size_t haysz, const char *needle, cons
   strlcpy(hay, work, haysz);
 }
 
+static bool is_token_operator(char c) {
+  switch (c) {
+    case '~': case '!': case '%': case '^': case '#':
+    case '&': case '=': case '+': case '@':
+      return TRUE;
+  }
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
 /* Capitalize the first alphabetic character of every sentence (start and after .?!).
    Skips any number of spaces and common closers (quotes/brackets) between sentences. */
 static void capitalize_sentences(char *s) {
@@ -762,16 +767,8 @@ static bool resolve_reference(struct char_data *actor,
   return false;
 }
 
-/* --- Token model --- */
-struct emote_tok {
-  char op;                                /* one of ~ ! % ^ # & = + or '@' */
-  char name[MAX_NAME_LENGTH];             /* raw token text (empty for '@') */
-  struct char_data *tch;                  /* resolved character (if any) */
-  struct obj_data  *tobj;                 /* resolved object (if any) */
-};
-
 /* Build replacement text for a token as seen by 'viewer'. */
-static void build_replacement(const struct emote_tok *tok,
+static void build_replacement(const struct emote_token *tok,
                               struct char_data *actor,
                               struct char_data *viewer,
                               bool actor_possessive_for_at,
@@ -867,6 +864,130 @@ static void build_replacement(const struct emote_tok *tok,
   strlcpy(out, "something", outsz);
 }
 
+bool build_targeted_phrase(struct char_data *ch, const char *input, bool allow_actor_at, struct targeted_phrase *phrase) {
+  struct emote_token tokens[MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS];
+  int tokc = 0;
+  char out[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+  char working[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+  const char *p;
+
+  if (!phrase)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  phrase->template[0] = '\0';
+  phrase->token_count = 0;
+
+  if (!input || !*input)
+    return TRUE;
+
+  strlcpy(working, input, sizeof(working));
+  out[0] = '\0';
+  p = working;
+
+  while (*p) {
+    if (is_token_operator(*p)) {
+      char op = *p++;
+      char name[MAX_NAME_LENGTH];
+      int ni = 0;
+
+      if (op == '@' && !allow_actor_at) {
+        send_to_char(ch, "You can't use '@' in that phrase.\r\n");
+        return FALSE;
+      }
+
+      if (op != '@') {
+        const char *q = p;
+
+        while (*q && isdigit((unsigned char)*q) && ni < (int)sizeof(name) - 1)
+          name[ni++] = *q++;
+
+        if (ni > 0 && *q == '.' && ni < (int)sizeof(name) - 1)
+          name[ni++] = *q++;
+
+        while (*q && (isalnum((unsigned char)*q) || *q == '_') && ni < (int)sizeof(name) - 1)
+          name[ni++] = *q++;
+
+        name[ni] = '\0';
+        p = q;
+      } else {
+        name[0] = '\0';
+      }
+
+      if (tokc >= MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS) {
+        send_to_char(ch, "That's too many references for one phrase.\r\n");
+        return FALSE;
+      }
+
+      tokens[tokc].op = op;
+      tokens[tokc].name[0] = '\0';
+      tokens[tokc].tch = NULL;
+      tokens[tokc].tobj = NULL;
+
+      if (op != '@') {
+        if (!*name) {
+          send_to_char(ch, "You need to specify who or what you're referencing.\r\n");
+          return FALSE;
+        }
+        strlcpy(tokens[tokc].name, name, sizeof(tokens[tokc].name));
+        if (!resolve_reference(ch, name, &tokens[tokc].tch, &tokens[tokc].tobj)) {
+          send_to_char(ch, "You can't find one of the references here.\r\n");
+          return FALSE;
+        }
+      }
+
+      char ph[16];
+      snprintf(ph, sizeof(ph), "$T%d", tokc + 1);
+      strlcat(out, ph, sizeof(out));
+      tokc++;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    char buf[2] = { *p++, '\0' };
+    strlcat(out, buf, sizeof(out));
+  }
+
+  strlcpy(phrase->template, out, sizeof(phrase->template));
+  phrase->token_count = tokc;
+  for (int i = 0; i < tokc; i++)
+    phrase->tokens[i] = tokens[i];
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+void render_targeted_phrase(struct char_data *actor,
+                            const struct targeted_phrase *phrase,
+                            bool actor_possessive_for_at,
+                            struct char_data *viewer,
+                            char *out,
+                            size_t outsz)
+{
+  char msg[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
+
+  if (!out || !phrase) {
+    if (out && outsz > 0)
+      *out = '\0';
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!phrase->template[0]) {
+    if (outsz > 0)
+      *out = '\0';
+    return;
+  }
+
+  strlcpy(msg, phrase->template, sizeof(msg));
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < phrase->token_count; i++) {
+    char token[16], repl[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
+    snprintf(token, sizeof(token), "$T%d", i + 1);
+    build_replacement(&phrase->tokens[i], actor, viewer, actor_possessive_for_at, repl, sizeof(repl));
+    replace_all_tokens(msg, sizeof(msg), token, repl);
+  }
+
+  collapse_spaces(msg);
+  strlcpy(out, msg, outsz);
+}
+
 static bool hidden_emote_can_view(struct char_data *actor,
                                   struct char_data *viewer,
                                   int stealth_total) {
@@ -894,7 +1015,7 @@ void perform_emote(struct char_data *ch, char *argument, bool possessive, bool h
   int at_count = 0;
   int stealth_total = 0;
 
-  struct emote_tok toks[MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS];
+  struct emote_token toks[MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS];
   int tokc = 0;
 
   skip_spaces(&argument);
@@ -993,6 +1114,12 @@ void perform_emote(struct char_data *ch, char *argument, bool possessive, bool h
     collapse_spaces(with_placeholders);
   }
 
+  struct targeted_phrase phrase;
+  strlcpy(phrase.template, with_placeholders, sizeof(phrase.template));
+  phrase.token_count = tokc;
+  for (int i = 0; i < tokc && i < MAX_EMOTE_TOKENS; i++)
+    phrase.tokens[i] = toks[i];
+
   /* Deliver personalized message to everyone in the room (including actor) */
   for (struct descriptor_data *d = descriptor_list; d; d = d->next) {
     if (STATE(d) != CON_PLAYING || !d->character) continue;
@@ -1001,17 +1128,7 @@ void perform_emote(struct char_data *ch, char *argument, bool possessive, bool h
       continue;
 
     char msg[MAX_STRING_LENGTH];
-    strlcpy(msg, with_placeholders, sizeof(msg));
-
-    bool actor_poss_for_at = possessive;
-
-    /* Replace each $Tn with viewer-specific text */
-    for (int i = 0; i < tokc; i++) {
-      char token[16], repl[MAX_INPUT_LENGTH];
-      snprintf(token, sizeof(token), "$T%d", i + 1);
-      build_replacement(&toks[i], ch, d->character, actor_poss_for_at, repl, sizeof(repl));
-      replace_all_tokens(msg, sizeof(msg), token, repl);
-    }
+    render_targeted_phrase(ch, &phrase, possessive, d->character, msg, sizeof(msg));
 
     /* Final per-viewer cleanup: spaces + multi-sentence capitalization */
     collapse_spaces(msg);
diff --git a/src/interpreter.c b/src/interpreter.c
index ff01474..c1e245c 100644
--- a/src/interpreter.c
+++ b/src/interpreter.c
@@ -293,6 +293,7 @@ cpp_extern const struct command_info cmd_info[] = {
   { "switch"   , "switch"  , POS_DEAD    , do_switch   , LVL_GOD, 0 },
 
   { "tell"     , "t"       , POS_DEAD    , do_tell     , LVL_IMMORT, 0 },
+  { "talk"     , "talk"    , POS_SITTING , do_talk     , 0, 0 },
   { "take"     , "ta"      , POS_RESTING , do_get      , 0, 0 },
   { "taste"    , "tas"     , POS_RESTING , do_eat      , 0, SCMD_TASTE },
   { "teleport" , "tele"    , POS_DEAD    , do_teleport , LVL_BUILDER, 0 },