fix(inventory): avoid fresh Nous tier checks in picker payloads

tests/hermes_cli/test_inventory.py

@@ -141,6 +141,18 @@ def _list_auth_returning(rows: list[dict]):
     )
 
 
+def _nous_row(model: str = "openai/gpt-5.5") -> dict:
+    return {
+        "slug": "nous",
+        "name": "Nous",
+        "models": [model],
+        "total_models": 1,
+        "is_current": True,
+        "is_user_defined": False,
+        "source": "built-in",
+    }
+
+
 def test_build_models_payload_returns_expected_shape():
     rows = [
         {"slug": "openrouter", "name": "OpenRouter", "models": ["m1"],
@@ -173,6 +185,80 @@ def test_build_models_payload_does_not_call_provider_model_ids():
     mock_pm.assert_not_called()
 
 
+def test_build_models_payload_uses_cached_nous_tier_by_default():
+    """Picker payloads should not force fresh Nous account checks.
+
+    Desktop/status picker opens are request/response UI paths. They can hit
+    the short free-tier cache; explicit model/auth flows can still opt into a
+    fresh account check when needed.
+    """
+    ctx = _empty_ctx(provider="nous", model="openai/gpt-5.5")
+    rows = [_nous_row()]
+    with patch(
+        "hermes_cli.model_switch.list_authenticated_providers",
+        return_value=rows,
+    ) as mock_list:
+        build_models_payload(ctx)
+
+    mock_list.assert_called_once()
+    assert mock_list.call_args.kwargs["force_fresh_nous_tier"] is False
+
+
+def test_build_models_payload_can_force_fresh_nous_tier():
+    ctx = _empty_ctx(provider="nous", model="openai/gpt-5.5")
+    rows = [_nous_row()]
+    with patch(
+        "hermes_cli.model_switch.list_authenticated_providers",
+        return_value=rows,
+    ) as mock_list:
+        build_models_payload(ctx, force_fresh_nous_tier=True)
+
+    mock_list.assert_called_once()
+    assert mock_list.call_args.kwargs["force_fresh_nous_tier"] is True
+
+
+def test_pricing_uses_cached_nous_tier_by_default():
+    rows = [_nous_row()]
+    ctx = _empty_ctx(provider="nous", model="openai/gpt-5.5")
+    with (
+        _list_auth_returning(rows),
+        patch(
+            "hermes_cli.models.get_pricing_for_provider",
+            return_value={
+                "openai/gpt-5.5": {
+                    "prompt": "0.000001",
+                    "completion": "0.000002",
+                },
+            },
+        ),
+        patch("hermes_cli.models.check_nous_free_tier", return_value=False) as mock_free,
+    ):
+        build_models_payload(ctx, pricing=True)
+
+    mock_free.assert_called_once_with(force_fresh=False)
+
+
+def test_pricing_can_force_fresh_nous_tier():
+    rows = [_nous_row()]
+    ctx = _empty_ctx(provider="nous", model="openai/gpt-5.5")
+    with (
+        _list_auth_returning(rows),
+        patch(
+            "hermes_cli.models.get_pricing_for_provider",
+            return_value={
+                "openai/gpt-5.5": {
+                    "prompt": "0.000001",
+                    "completion": "0.000002",
+                },
+            },
+        ),
+        patch("hermes_cli.models.check_nous_free_tier", return_value=False) as mock_free,
+    ):
+        build_models_payload(ctx, pricing=True, force_fresh_nous_tier=True)
+
+    mock_free.assert_called_once_with(force_fresh=True)
+
+
 def test_include_unconfigured_appends_canonical_skeletons():
     """include_unconfigured=True adds CANONICAL_PROVIDERS rows that
     list_authenticated_providers didn't emit. Skeleton rows have empty