/* ═══════════════════════════════════════════
   PROJECTS CAROUSEL
   ═══════════════════════════════════════════ */

        .projects {
            position: relative;
            z-index: 2;
            background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(10, 10, 12, 0.85) 0%, rgba(14, 15, 17, 0.85) 100%);
            padding: clamp(4rem, 8vw, 6rem) 0;
            border-top: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
            overflow: hidden;
        }

        .projects__bg-glow {
            position: absolute;
            top: 50%;
            left: 50%;
            width: 150%;
            height: 150%;
            background: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, rgba(180, 155, 100, 0.03), rgba(201, 210, 218, 0.015), transparent 70%);
            transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
            pointer-events: none;
            z-index: 0;
            animation: projectsGlowPulse 8s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
        }

        @keyframes projectsGlowPulse {
            0% { opacity: 0.8; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(0.95); }
            100% { opacity: 1; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(1.05); }
        }

        .projects__flare {
            position: absolute;
            border-radius: 50%;
            pointer-events: none;
            z-index: 0;
            opacity: 0.5;
            animation: floatFlare 15s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
        }

        .projects__flare--1 {
            width: 400px;
            height: 400px;
            background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(180, 155, 100, 0.06) 0%, transparent 60%);
            top: -100px;
            right: -100px;
            animation-delay: -2s;
        }

        .projects__flare--2 {
            width: 500px;
            height: 500px;
            background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.04) 0%, transparent 60%);
            bottom: -150px;
            left: -150px;
            animation-delay: -5s;
        }

        @keyframes floatFlare {
            0% { transform: translate(0, 0) scale(1); }
            50% { transform: translate(-30px, 40px) scale(1.1); }
            100% { transform: translate(20px, -20px) scale(0.9); }
        }

        .projects__bg-grid {
            position: absolute;
            inset: -200px 0;
            background-size: 80px 80px;
            background-image:
                linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02) 1px, transparent 1px),
                linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02) 1px, transparent 1px);
            mask-image: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, black 15%, transparent 80%);
            -webkit-mask-image: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, black 15%, transparent 80%);
            pointer-events: none;
            z-index: 1;
            will-change: transform;
        }

        .projects__header {
            position: relative;
            z-index: 2;
            max-width: var(--container);
            margin: 0 auto;
            padding: 0 clamp(1.25rem, 4vw, 3rem);
            margin-bottom: clamp(3rem, 6vw, 5rem);
        }

        .projects__header-inner {
            display: flex;
            justify-content: space-between;
            align-items: flex-end;
            gap: 2rem;
            flex-wrap: wrap;
        }

        .projects__badge {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.6rem;
            padding: 0.4rem 1rem;
            border-radius: 100px;
            border: 1px solid rgba(201, 210, 218, 0.12);
            background: rgba(201, 210, 218, 0.04);
            font-size: 0.7rem;
            font-weight: 600;
            letter-spacing: 0.15em;
            text-transform: uppercase;
            color: var(--accent);
            margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
            background: rgba(201, 210, 218, 0.08);
        }

        .projects__badge-dot {
            width: 6px;
            height: 6px;
            border-radius: 50%;
            background: #4ade80;
            box-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(74, 222, 128, 0.5);
            animation: dotPulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;
        }

        .projects__title {
            font-family: var(--font-heading);
            font-size: clamp(2rem, 5vw, 3.8rem);
            font-weight: 700;
            line-height: 1.05;
            letter-spacing: -0.04em;
            max-width: 600px;
        }

        .projects__title-accent {
            background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--accent) 0%, var(--accent-light) 100%);
            -webkit-background-clip: text;
            -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
            background-clip: text;
        }

        .projects__desc {
            font-size: clamp(0.88rem, 1.1vw, 1rem);
            line-height: 1.8;
            color: var(--text-muted);
            max-width: 380px;
        }