diff --git a/operator-and-conversation/go/seats/operatorchannel/contract.go b/operator-and-conversation/go/seats/operatorchannel/contract.go
index 8fb2a22..3e36498 100644
--- a/operator-and-conversation/go/seats/operatorchannel/contract.go
+++ b/operator-and-conversation/go/seats/operatorchannel/contract.go
@@ -427,10 +427,33 @@ type TellAnswer = map[string]any
 
 // AsksInput is what asks takes.
 type AsksInput struct {
+	// the most bytes of the asks in the answer; said when it cuts the answer short
+	Bound int64 `json:"bound,omitempty"`
+	// one ask, by its key (<asker>.<id>); none for the open asks
+	Key string `json:"key,omitempty"`
+	// only the asks opened at or after this time, RFC 3339
+	Since string `json:"since,omitempty"`
+	// open (open and held), ended or all; none is open when no key or since is given, else all
+	State string `json:"state,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// AsksAnswerAsksItem is a type of the contract.
+type AsksAnswerAsksItem struct {
+	// <asker>.<id>
+	Key string `json:"key"`
+	// how the ask stands: open, held, or how it ended (answered, expired, cancelled)
+	State string `json:"state"`
 }
 
 // AsksAnswer is what asks answers.
-type AsksAnswer = map[string]any
+type AsksAnswer struct {
+	// each ask the router holds, as its state asks holds it
+	Asks []AsksAnswerAsksItem `json:"asks"`
+	// what the bound cut, and how to ask for more; empty when nothing was cut
+	Cut string `json:"cut,omitempty"`
+	// how many asks the arguments matched
+	Matched int64 `json:"matched,omitempty"`
+}
 
 // AskAccept is the body of ask.
 type AskAccept = Ask
diff --git a/operator-and-conversation/seats/operator-channel/seat.json b/operator-and-conversation/seats/operator-channel/seat.json
index 3f33532..2043c1d 100644
--- a/operator-and-conversation/seats/operator-channel/seat.json
+++ b/operator-and-conversation/seats/operator-channel/seat.json
@@ -116,15 +116,65 @@
     },
     {
       "name": "asks",
-      "description": "The asks the router holds: open first, then the last month's, each with how it ended.",
+      "description": "The asks the router holds: open first, then the last month's, each with how it ended. With no argument only the open asks, within its default bound; key for one ask, state, since and bound narrow or widen it, and the answer says what it cut.",
       "input": {
         "type": "object",
-        "properties": {},
-        "description": "no arguments"
+        "properties": {
+          "key": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "one ask, by its key (<asker>.<id>); none for the open asks"
+          },
+          "state": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "open (open and held), ended or all; none is open when no key or since is given, else all"
+          },
+          "since": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "only the asks opened at or after this time, RFC 3339"
+          },
+          "bound": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "description": "the most bytes of the asks in the answer; said when it cuts the answer short"
+          }
+        }
       },
       "answer": {
         "type": "object",
-        "description": "the asks"
+        "description": "the asks, open first",
+        "properties": {
+          "asks": {
+            "type": "array",
+            "description": "each ask the router holds, as its state asks holds it",
+            "items": {
+              "type": "object",
+              "properties": {
+                "key": {
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "description": "<asker>.<id>"
+                },
+                "state": {
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "description": "how the ask stands: open, held, or how it ended (answered, expired, cancelled)"
+                }
+              },
+              "required": [
+                "key",
+                "state"
+              ]
+            }
+          },
+          "cut": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "what the bound cut, and how to ask for more; empty when nothing was cut"
+          },
+          "matched": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "description": "how many asks the arguments matched"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "asks"
+        ]
       }
     }
   ],
diff --git a/operator-and-conversation/ts/seats/operatorchannel/src/index.ts b/operator-and-conversation/ts/seats/operatorchannel/src/index.ts
index 1331987..ea709f8 100644
--- a/operator-and-conversation/ts/seats/operatorchannel/src/index.ts
+++ b/operator-and-conversation/ts/seats/operatorchannel/src/index.ts
@@ -364,10 +364,32 @@ export type TellAnswer = Record<string, unknown>;
 
 /** is what asks takes. */
 export interface AsksInput {
+  /** the most bytes of the asks in the answer; said when it cuts the answer short */
+  "bound"?: number;
+  /** one ask, by its key (<asker>.<id>); none for the open asks */
+  "key"?: string;
+  /** only the asks opened at or after this time, RFC 3339 */
+  "since"?: string;
+  /** open (open and held), ended or all; none is open when no key or since is given, else all */
+  "state"?: string;
+}
+
+export interface AsksAnswerAsksItem {
+  /** <asker>.<id> */
+  "key": string;
+  /** how the ask stands: open, held, or how it ended (answered, expired, cancelled) */
+  "state": string;
 }
 
 /** is what asks answers. */
-export type AsksAnswer = Record<string, unknown>;
+export interface AsksAnswer {
+  /** each ask the router holds, as its state asks holds it */
+  "asks": AsksAnswerAsksItem[];
+  /** what the bound cut, and how to ask for more; empty when nothing was cut */
+  "cut"?: string;
+  /** how many asks the arguments matched */
+  "matched"?: number;
+}
 
 /** is the body of ask. */
 export type AskAccept = Ask;