diff --git a/src/lib/api/coves/types.ts b/src/lib/api/coves/types.ts
index 8eb9afe3..6559d656 100644
--- a/src/lib/api/coves/types.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api/coves/types.ts
@@ -423,6 +423,7 @@ export interface VideoEmbed {
 export interface RecordEmbed {
   $type:
     | 'social.coves.embed.post'
+    | 'social.coves.embed.post#view'
     | 'social.coves.embed.record'
     | 'social.coves.embed.record#view'
   post: StrongRef
diff --git a/src/lib/app/util.svelte.test.ts b/src/lib/app/util.svelte.test.ts
index 405d7b93..32ddd33b 100644
--- a/src/lib/app/util.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/app/util.svelte.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import type { AuthorView, CommunityRef } from '$lib/api/coves/types'
 import type { DID, Handle } from '$lib/types/atproto'
 import {
   canParseUrl,
-  communityHandleFromSlug,
   communityLink,
   communitySlug,
   escapeHtml,
@@ -93,73 +92,32 @@ describe('communitySlug', () => {
 })
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// communityHandleFromSlug()
+// communitySlug() — slug stability
+//
+// A slug goes to the API verbatim, so slugifying an already-slugified handle
+// must be a no-op. There is no inverse function: reconstructing the handle by
+// re-adding "c-" is what used to 404 every bridged community, whose stored
+// handle never had the prefix to begin with.
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-describe('communityHandleFromSlug', () => {
-  it('prepends c- to a plain slug', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('gaming.coves.social')).toBe(
-      'c-gaming.coves.social',
-    )
-  })
-
-  it('does not double-prefix a slug that already starts with c-', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('c-gaming.coves.social')).toBe(
-      'c-gaming.coves.social',
-    )
-  })
-
-  it('prepends c- to a slug without dots', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('gaming')).toBe('c-gaming')
+describe('communitySlug stability', () => {
+  it('is idempotent for a prefixed handle', () => {
+    const handle = 'c-gaming.coves.social'
+    expect(communitySlug(communitySlug(handle))).toBe(communitySlug(handle))
   })
 
-  it('handles an empty string by prepending c-', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('')).toBe('c-')
+  it('leaves a bridged handle untouched through repeated slugging', () => {
+    const bridged = 'selfhosted.lemmy-world.tdpl.io'
+    expect(communitySlug(bridged)).toBe(bridged)
+    expect(communitySlug(communitySlug(bridged))).toBe(bridged)
   })
 
   it('passes a did:plc DID through unchanged', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('did:plc:abc123xyz')).toBe(
-      'did:plc:abc123xyz',
-    )
+    expect(communitySlug('did:plc:abc123xyz')).toBe('did:plc:abc123xyz')
   })
 
   it('passes a did:web DID through unchanged', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('did:web:coves.social')).toBe(
-      'did:web:coves.social',
-    )
-  })
-
-  it('still prefixes a handle-shaped slug that merely contains "did"', () => {
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug('did.coves.social')).toBe(
-      'c-did.coves.social',
-    )
-  })
-})
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// communitySlug / communityHandleFromSlug round-trip
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-describe('communitySlug <-> communityHandleFromSlug round-trip', () => {
-  it('round-trip: communityHandleFromSlug(communitySlug(handle)) === handle for c- prefixed handle', () => {
-    const handle = 'c-gaming.coves.social'
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug(communitySlug(handle))).toBe(handle)
-  })
-
-  it('round-trip: communitySlug(communityHandleFromSlug(slug)) === slug for plain slug', () => {
-    const slug = 'gaming.coves.social'
-    expect(communitySlug(communityHandleFromSlug(slug))).toBe(slug)
-  })
-
-  it('round-trip preserves identity for handle without c- prefix', () => {
-    const handle = 'tech.coves.social'
-    // communitySlug('tech.coves.social') -> 'tech.coves.social' (no c- to strip)
-    // communityHandleFromSlug('tech.coves.social') -> 'c-tech.coves.social'
-    // This is NOT a round-trip identity for non-c- handles, which is expected
-    // since the canonical handle form uses c- prefix
-    expect(communityHandleFromSlug(communitySlug(handle))).toBe(
-      'c-tech.coves.social',
-    )
+    expect(communitySlug('did:web:coves.social')).toBe('did:web:coves.social')
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/src/lib/app/util.svelte.ts b/src/lib/app/util.svelte.ts
index c939060f..67c8f2f7 100644
--- a/src/lib/app/util.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/app/util.svelte.ts
@@ -42,32 +42,25 @@ export const fullCommunityName = (name: string, actorId: string): string => {
 }
 
 /**
- * Strips the "c-" prefix from a community handle to produce a URL-friendly slug.
+ * Strips the "c-" prefix from a community handle to produce its canonical form.
  *
- * Coves community handles use a "c-" prefix convention (e.g. "c-mycommunity")
- * to distinguish community actors from user actors in the ATProto namespace.
- * Route params and URLs use the bare slug without the prefix.
+ * Communities provisioned on a Coves instance use a "c-" prefix convention
+ * (e.g. "c-mycommunity.coves.social") to distinguish community actors from
+ * user actors in the ATProto namespace. Communities bridged in from other
+ * platforms keep their source handle and carry no prefix, so this strips the
+ * prefix only when it is actually there.
+ *
+ * The prefix is internal plumbing: route params, URLs, and any handle shown to
+ * a user all use the bare form. There is deliberately no inverse — a slug is
+ * sent to the API as-is, because the bare form is ambiguous (both
+ * "gardening.coves.social" and a bridged "linux.lemmy-ml.tdpl.io" are
+ * prefix-free) and only the AppView knows which stored handle it maps to. It
+ * resolves either form.
  */
 export function communitySlug(handle: string): string {
   return handle.startsWith('c-') ? handle.slice(2) : handle
 }
 
-/**
- * Prepends the "c-" prefix to a URL slug to reconstruct the community handle.
- *
- * Coves community handles use a "c-" prefix convention (e.g. "c-mycommunity")
- * to distinguish community actors from user actors in the ATProto namespace.
- * This reverses {@link communitySlug} for API calls that expect the full handle.
- *
- * DIDs (e.g. "did:plc:abc123") are passed through unchanged: the route param
- * matcher accepts URL-encoded DIDs as well as handles, and a DID already
- * identifies the community actor without any handle prefix.
- */
-export function communityHandleFromSlug(slug: string): string {
-  if (slug.startsWith('did:')) return slug
-  return slug.startsWith('c-') ? slug : `c-${slug}`
-}
-
 export const placeholders = {
   get: (type: 'url' | 'post' | 'body' | 'comment') => {
     switch (type) {
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityLink.svelte b/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityLink.svelte
index 9464c234..5dae6844 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityLink.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityLink.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import type { CommunityRef, CommunityView } from '$lib/api/coves/types'
   import { settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
+  import { communitySlug } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
   import Avatar from '$lib/ui/generic/Avatar.svelte'
   import type { HTMLAnchorAttributes } from 'svelte/elements'
   import { communityDisplayName, communityIdentifier } from './helpers'
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@
           class="text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-500 font-normal
           instance-text shrink {instanceClass || ''}"
         >
-          @{community.handle}
+          !{communitySlug(community.handle)}
         </span>
       {/if}
     </span>
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityTitle.svelte b/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityTitle.svelte
index 1e23d7ec..c56249ec 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityTitle.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/feature/community/CommunityTitle.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     CommunityView,
     CommunityViewDetailed,
   } from '$lib/api/coves/types'
+  import { communitySlug } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
   import Avatar from '$lib/ui/generic/Avatar.svelte'
 
   interface Props {
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@
     <h1 class="font-bold text-xl">{community.displayName ?? community.name}</h1>
     {#if community.handle}
       <span class="dark:text-zinc-400 text-slate-600 text-sm">
-        !{community.handle}
+        !{communitySlug(community.handle)}
       </span>
     {/if}
   </div>
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.test.ts b/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e9cc0e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import type { CommunityRef, CommunityView } from '$lib/api/coves/types'
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  communityDisplayName,
+  communityHandleOrName,
+  communityIdentifier,
+} from './helpers'
+
+type CommunityOverrides = Partial<Omit<CommunityView, 'handle'>> & {
+  handle?: string
+}
+
+function makeCommunity(overrides: CommunityOverrides = {}): CommunityView {
+  return {
+    did: 'did:plc:community123',
+    name: 'science',
+    handle: 'c-science.coves.social',
+    ...overrides,
+  } as CommunityView
+}
+
+describe('communityIdentifier', () => {
+  it('strips the c- prefix from the handle', () => {
+    expect(communityIdentifier(makeCommunity())).toBe('science.coves.social')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the did when the handle is missing', () => {
+    expect(communityIdentifier(makeCommunity({ handle: undefined }))).toBe(
+      'did:plc:community123',
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the did for the unresolved-handle sentinel', () => {
+    expect(
+      communityIdentifier(makeCommunity({ handle: 'handle.invalid' })),
+    ).toBe('did:plc:community123')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('communityHandleOrName', () => {
+  it('strips the c- prefix so display copy shows the canonical handle', () => {
+    expect(communityHandleOrName(makeCommunity())).toBe('science.coves.social')
+  })
+
+  it('passes through a handle without the c- prefix unchanged', () => {
+    expect(
+      communityHandleOrName(
+        makeCommunity({ handle: 'linux.lemmy-ml.tdpl.io' }),
+      ),
+    ).toBe('linux.lemmy-ml.tdpl.io')
+  })
+
+  it('only strips a c- at the very beginning', () => {
+    expect(
+      communityHandleOrName(
+        makeCommunity({ handle: 'myc-thing.coves.social' }),
+      ),
+    ).toBe('myc-thing.coves.social')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the name when the handle is missing', () => {
+    expect(communityHandleOrName(makeCommunity({ handle: undefined }))).toBe(
+      'science',
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the name for the unresolved-handle sentinel', () => {
+    expect(
+      communityHandleOrName(makeCommunity({ handle: 'handle.invalid' })),
+    ).toBe('science')
+  })
+
+  it('never returns a did', () => {
+    const ref: CommunityRef = {
+      did: 'did:plc:community123',
+      name: 'science',
+    } as CommunityRef
+    expect(communityHandleOrName(ref)).toBe('science')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('communityDisplayName', () => {
+  it('prefers displayName over name', () => {
+    expect(
+      communityDisplayName(makeCommunity({ displayName: 'Science' })),
+    ).toBe('Science')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to name when displayName is absent', () => {
+    expect(communityDisplayName(makeCommunity())).toBe('science')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.ts b/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.ts
index 3f56ab68..5aa02468 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/lib/feature/community/helpers.ts
@@ -35,11 +35,16 @@ export function communityIdentifier(
  * Returns a human-readable identifier for display copy (e.g. `!handle` text,
  * list detail lines). Prefers `handle` over `name` and never degrades to a
  * DID — for URLs use {@link communityIdentifier} instead.
+ *
+ * The `c-` prefix is an internal namespacing convention, so the handle is
+ * shown in its canonical form (`science.coves.social`, not
+ * `c-science.coves.social`).
  */
 export function communityHandleOrName(
   community: CommunityView | CommunityRef,
 ): string {
-  return usableHandle(community) ?? community.name
+  const handle = usableHandle(community)
+  return handle ? communitySlug(handle) : community.name
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/post/PostMeta.svelte b/src/lib/feature/post/PostMeta.svelte
index 47691785..8993704e 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/post/PostMeta.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/feature/post/PostMeta.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import Markdown from '$lib/app/markdown/Markdown.svelte'
   import { type View, settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
+  import { communitySlug } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
   import Avatar from '$lib/ui/generic/Avatar.svelte'
   import { publishedToDate } from '$lib/ui/util/date'
   import { Badge, Material, modal, Popover } from 'mono-svelte'
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@
                 <span class="font-medium text-base">{community.name}</span>
                 {#if community.handle}
                   <span class="text-xs text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-400">
-                    @{community.handle}
+                    !{communitySlug(community.handle)}
                   </span>
                 {/if}
               </div>
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/post/form/PostForm.svelte b/src/lib/feature/post/form/PostForm.svelte
index e92017d1..38808521 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/post/form/PostForm.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/feature/post/form/PostForm.svelte
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   import { errorMessage } from '$lib/app/error'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import MarkdownEditor from '$lib/app/markdown/MarkdownEditor.svelte'
-  import { placeholders } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
+  import { communitySlug, placeholders } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
   import FreeTextInput from '$lib/ui/form/FreeTextInput.svelte'
   import ImageInputModal from '$lib/ui/form/ImageInputModal.svelte'
   import ObjectAutocomplete from '$lib/ui/form/ObjectAutocomplete.svelte'
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@
         <div class="flex flex-col gap-0">
           <span class="text-sm">{form.community.name}</span>
           <span class="text-[10px] leading-3">
-            {form.community.handle ?? form.community.did}
+            {form.community.handle
+              ? communitySlug(form.community.handle)
+              : form.community.did}
           </span>
         </div>
       </Button>
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.test.ts b/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.test.ts
index 11a38507..5f73b557 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.test.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,17 @@ const recordEmbed: RecordEmbed = {
   },
 }
 
+// The appview rewrites social.coves.embed.post to its #view form on the wire
+// whenever it attaches resolved Bluesky data (blob_transform.go).
+const postViewEmbed: RecordEmbed = {
+  $type: 'social.coves.embed.post#view',
+  post: {
+    uri: 'at://did:plc:abc/app.bsky.feed.post/1' as AtUri,
+    cid: 'bafyreig2' as CID,
+  },
+  resolved: { unavailable: false },
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // mediaType()
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -85,6 +96,10 @@ describe('mediaType', () => {
     expect(mediaType(recordEmbed)).toBe('embed')
   })
 
+  it('returns "embed" for post#view embed', () => {
+    expect(mediaType(postViewEmbed)).toBe('embed')
+  })
+
   it('returns "image" for external embed with image URI', () => {
     const embed: ExternalEmbed = {
       $type: 'social.coves.embed.external#view',
@@ -228,6 +243,10 @@ describe('bestImageURL', () => {
     expect(bestImageURL(recordEmbed)).toBe('')
   })
 
+  it('returns empty string for post#view embed', () => {
+    expect(bestImageURL(postViewEmbed)).toBe('')
+  })
+
   it('returns empty string for image embed with empty images (type-cast edge case)', () => {
     const emptyImages = {
       $type: 'social.coves.embed.images#view' as const,
@@ -360,6 +379,10 @@ describe('extractEmbedUrl', () => {
   it('returns undefined for record embed', () => {
     expect(extractEmbedUrl(recordEmbed)).toBeUndefined()
   })
+
+  it('returns undefined for post#view embed', () => {
+    expect(extractEmbedUrl(postViewEmbed)).toBeUndefined()
+  })
 })
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -392,6 +415,10 @@ describe('extractEmbedThumbnail', () => {
   it('returns undefined for record embed', () => {
     expect(extractEmbedThumbnail(recordEmbed)).toBeUndefined()
   })
+
+  it('returns undefined for post#view embed', () => {
+    expect(extractEmbedThumbnail(postViewEmbed)).toBeUndefined()
+  })
 })
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -440,6 +467,10 @@ describe('extractEmbedAlt', () => {
   it('returns undefined for record embed', () => {
     expect(extractEmbedAlt(recordEmbed)).toBeUndefined()
   })
+
+  it('returns undefined for post#view embed', () => {
+    expect(extractEmbedAlt(postViewEmbed)).toBeUndefined()
+  })
 })
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.ts b/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.ts
index 8db57aed..704446b3 100644
--- a/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/lib/feature/post/helpers.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export const bestImageURL = (
       return ''
     }
     case 'social.coves.embed.post':
+    case 'social.coves.embed.post#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record#view':
       return ''
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ export function mediaType(embed?: PostEmbed): MediaType {
       return 'none'
     }
     case 'social.coves.embed.post':
+    case 'social.coves.embed.post#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record#view':
       return 'embed'
@@ -233,6 +235,7 @@ export function extractEmbedUrl(embed?: PostEmbed): string | undefined {
     case 'social.coves.embed.video#view':
       return embed.video
     case 'social.coves.embed.post':
+    case 'social.coves.embed.post#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record#view':
       return undefined
@@ -261,6 +264,7 @@ export function extractEmbedThumbnail(embed?: PostEmbed): string | undefined {
     case 'social.coves.embed.video#view':
       return embed.thumbnail
     case 'social.coves.embed.post':
+    case 'social.coves.embed.post#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record#view':
       return undefined
@@ -285,6 +289,7 @@ export function extractEmbedTitle(embed?: PostEmbed): string | undefined {
     case 'social.coves.embed.video':
     case 'social.coves.embed.video#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.post':
+    case 'social.coves.embed.post#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record#view':
       return undefined
@@ -310,6 +315,7 @@ export function extractEmbedAlt(embed?: PostEmbed): string | undefined {
     case 'social.coves.embed.external':
     case 'social.coves.embed.external#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.post':
+    case 'social.coves.embed.post#view':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record':
     case 'social.coves.embed.record#view':
       return undefined
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/form/ObjectAutocomplete.svelte b/src/lib/ui/form/ObjectAutocomplete.svelte
index a04a7aa2..d223a48a 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/form/ObjectAutocomplete.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/form/ObjectAutocomplete.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { coves } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
   import type { CommunityView } from '$lib/api/coves/types'
+  import { communitySlug } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
   import { MenuButton, Search, toast } from 'mono-svelte'
   import { Icon, XCircle } from 'svelte-hero-icons/dist'
   import { fly } from 'svelte/transition'
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@
         <div class="flex flex-col text-left">
           <span>{item.displayName ?? item.name}</span>
           <span class="text-xs opacity-80">
-            {item.handle ?? item.did}
+            {item.handle ? communitySlug(item.handle) : item.did}
           </span>
         </div>
       </MenuButton>
diff --git a/src/routes/api/proxy/[...path]/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/proxy/[...path]/+server.ts
index 05f6e524..420ad669 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/proxy/[...path]/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/proxy/[...path]/+server.ts
@@ -213,6 +213,12 @@ async function handler({
     const responseHeaders = new Headers(response.headers)
     // 'content-encoding' - Let SvelteKit handle compression to avoid double-encoding
     responseHeaders.delete('content-encoding')
+    // 'content-length' - fetch transparently decompresses the upstream body, so
+    // the upstream length describes the *compressed* bytes and no longer matches
+    // what we forward. Leaving it set truncates every compressed response to its
+    // gzipped length, which surfaces as a JSON parse error rather than a short
+    // read. The body is a stream; the server sets the framing itself.
+    responseHeaders.delete('content-length')
 
     return new Response(response.body, {
       status: response.status,
diff --git a/src/routes/api/proxy/response-framing.test.ts b/src/routes/api/proxy/response-framing.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..748b974a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/api/proxy/response-framing.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+vi.mock('$env/dynamic/private', () => ({ env: {} }))
+vi.mock('$env/dynamic/public', () => ({
+  env: { PUBLIC_INSTANCE_URL: 'https://coves.social' },
+}))
+
+const { GET } = await import('./[...path]/+server')
+
+/**
+ * These exercise the REAL exported handler rather than a test-local copy, so a
+ * defect in the response path cannot pass by being duplicated into the test.
+ *
+ * `fetch` transparently decompresses a gzipped upstream response but leaves the
+ * received `content-encoding` and `content-length` headers in place. Those now
+ * describe the compressed bytes while `response.body` carries the decompressed
+ * ones, so forwarding either header corrupts the response — `content-length`
+ * truncates the body to its gzipped size, which reaches the client as a JSON
+ * parse failure with a 200 status.
+ */
+
+const UPSTREAM_JSON = JSON.stringify({
+  did: 'did:plc:tqa2ago3uxir2kdn44zdslxs',
+  handle: 'linux.lemmy-ml.tdpl.io',
+  name: 'linux',
+  description: 'x'.repeat(1200),
+})
+
+function createEvent(upstream: Response) {
+  return {
+    params: { path: 'xrpc/social.coves.community.get' },
+    request: new Request(
+      'http://localhost/api/proxy/xrpc/social.coves.community.get?community=linux.lemmy-ml.tdpl.io',
+      { method: 'GET', headers: { origin: 'http://localhost' } },
+    ),
+    url: new URL(
+      'http://localhost/api/proxy/xrpc/social.coves.community.get?community=linux.lemmy-ml.tdpl.io',
+    ),
+    locals: { auth: { authenticated: false } },
+    fetch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(upstream),
+  } as unknown as Parameters<typeof GET>[0]
+}
+
+/**
+ * Mimics what `fetch` hands back for a gzipped upstream response: a fully
+ * decompressed body alongside the compressed-size headers.
+ */
+function decompressedUpstream(): Response {
+  return new Response(UPSTREAM_JSON, {
+    status: 200,
+    headers: {
+      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+      'Content-Encoding': 'gzip',
+      // Deliberately shorter than the body, as a real gzipped length would be.
+      'Content-Length': String(Math.floor(UPSTREAM_JSON.length / 2)),
+    },
+  })
+}
+
+describe('proxy response framing', () => {
+  it('forwards a decompressed body without the compressed content-length', async () => {
+    const response = await GET(createEvent(decompressedUpstream()))
+
+    expect(response.headers.get('content-length')).toBeNull()
+    expect(response.headers.get('content-encoding')).toBeNull()
+
+    const body = await response.text()
+    expect(body).toBe(UPSTREAM_JSON)
+    // The symptom the truncation produced: a 200 whose body is unparseable.
+    expect(() => JSON.parse(body)).not.toThrow()
+  })
+
+  it('preserves the upstream status and content-type', async () => {
+    const response = await GET(createEvent(decompressedUpstream()))
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200)
+    expect(response.headers.get('content-type')).toBe('application/json')
+  })
+
+  it('does not truncate an uncompressed response either', async () => {
+    const upstream = new Response(UPSTREAM_JSON, {
+      status: 200,
+      headers: {
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        'Content-Length': String(UPSTREAM_JSON.length),
+      },
+    })
+
+    const response = await GET(createEvent(upstream))
+    expect(await response.text()).toBe(UPSTREAM_JSON)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/+page.ts b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/+page.ts
index 2ec49c97..3c75fc56 100644
--- a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/+page.ts
+++ b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/+page.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { XrpcError } from '$lib/api/coves/xrpc'
 import { settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
 import { error } from '@sveltejs/kit'
 import { mapSort } from '$lib/app/sort'
-import { communityHandleFromSlug } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
 import type { Handle } from '$lib/types/atproto'
 import CommunityCard from '$lib/feature/community/CommunityCard.svelte'
 import { feed } from '$lib/feature/feeds/feed.svelte'
@@ -15,7 +14,9 @@ export async function load({ params, fetch, url, route }) {
   const sort = url.searchParams.get('sort') ?? settings.defaultSort.sort
   const timeframe = url.searchParams.get('timeframe') ?? undefined
 
-  const communityHandle = communityHandleFromSlug(params.handle) as Handle
+  // Sent verbatim: the AppView resolves a DID, a bare handle, or a "c-"
+  // prefixed handle, so the slug needs no rewriting here.
+  const communityHandle = params.handle as Handle
   const mapped = mapSort(sort, timeframe)
 
   let feedData
diff --git a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/+page.ts b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/+page.ts
index efc8686a..efc4240f 100644
--- a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/+page.ts
+++ b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/+page.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
 import type { Handle } from '$lib/types/atproto'
 import { settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
 import { mapSort } from '$lib/app/sort'
-import { communityHandleFromSlug, ReactiveState } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
+import { ReactiveState } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
 import CommunityCard from '$lib/feature/community/CommunityCard.svelte'
 import {
   type Feed,
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ function findInFeed(
 }
 
 export async function load({ params, url, fetch, route }) {
-  const communityHandle = communityHandleFromSlug(params.handle)
+  const communityHandle = params.handle
   const commentSort =
     url.searchParams.get('sort') ?? settings?.defaultSort?.comments ?? 'hot'
   const { sort } = mapSort(commentSort)
diff --git a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/+page.ts b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/+page.ts
index c4a4e9b0..e6f64089 100644
--- a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/+page.ts
+++ b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/+page.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { XrpcError } from '$lib/api/coves/xrpc'
 import type { Handle } from '$lib/types/atproto'
 import { settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
 import { mapSort } from '$lib/app/sort'
-import { communityHandleFromSlug, ReactiveState } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
+import { ReactiveState } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
 import { MAX_INLINE_DEPTH } from '$lib/feature/comment/comments.svelte'
 import CommunityCard from '$lib/feature/community/CommunityCard.svelte'
 import { feed } from '$lib/feature/feeds/feed.svelte'
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { buildPostAtUri } from '$lib/feature/post/helpers'
 const SUBTREE_DEPTH = MAX_INLINE_DEPTH + 1
 
 export async function load({ params, url, fetch, route }) {
-  const communityHandle = communityHandleFromSlug(params.handle)
+  const communityHandle = params.handle
   const commentSort =
     url.searchParams.get('sort') ?? settings?.defaultSort?.comments ?? 'hot'
   const { sort } = mapSort(commentSort)
diff --git a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/page.test.ts b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/page.test.ts
index b6ab2004..f4e72447 100644
--- a/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/page.test.ts
+++ b/src/routes/c/[handle=handle]/post/[rkey]/comment/[crkey]/page.test.ts
@@ -312,8 +312,10 @@ describe('comment permalink loader', () => {
     await load(makeArgs())
 
     expect(mockCovesMethods.getCommunity).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    // The route param goes to the AppView verbatim — no "c-" is fabricated,
+    // which would 404 any community whose stored handle lacks the prefix.
     expect(mockCovesMethods.getCommunity).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
-      community: 'c-testcommunity',
+      community: 'testcommunity',
     })
     expect(mockCovesMethods.getPost).toHaveBeenCalledWith(POST_URI)
   })