diff --git a/src/lib/components/ThreadScrubber.svelte b/src/lib/components/ThreadScrubber.svelte
index daed377..a4c7645 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/ThreadScrubber.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/ThreadScrubber.svelte
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
-  import type { Post } from "$lib/mock";
+  type PostLike = { createdAt: number };
 
   type Props = {
-    posts: Post[];
+    posts: PostLike[];
     postEls: (HTMLElement | null)[];
     topOffset: number;
   };
@@ -52,15 +52,15 @@
       : "",
   );
 
-  function formatShortDate(iso: string) {
-    return new Date(iso).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
+  function formatShortDate(ts: number) {
+    return new Date(ts * 1000).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
       month: "short",
       day: "numeric",
     });
   }
 
-  function formatDate(iso: string) {
-    return new Date(iso).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
+  function formatDate(ts: number) {
+    return new Date(ts * 1000).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
       month: "short",
       day: "numeric",
       year: "numeric",
diff --git a/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts b/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfdd188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/thread.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import { SimplePool } from "@nostr/tools";
+import { loadNostrUser, type NostrUser } from "@nostr/gadgets/metadata";
+import { RELAY_URL } from "$lib/config";
+import { threads as mockThreads } from "$lib/mock";
+
+const isNostrId = (id: string) => /^[0-9a-f]{64}$/.test(id);
+
+export type PostData = {
+  id: string;
+  pubkey: string;
+  createdAt: number;
+  content: string;
+};
+
+type ThreadDetail = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  op: PostData;
+  replies: PostData[];
+};
+
+let detail = $state<ThreadDetail | null>(null);
+let profiles = $state<Record<string, NostrUser>>({});
+
+export const threadDetailStore = {
+  get detail() { return detail; },
+  get profiles() { return profiles; },
+};
+
+async function loadProfile(pubkey: string) {
+  if (profiles[pubkey]) return;
+  const user = await loadNostrUser(pubkey);
+  profiles[pubkey] = user;
+}
+
+function loadMockThread(id: string) {
+  const t = mockThreads.find((t) => t.id === id);
+  if (!t) return;
+  const toUnix = (iso: string) => Math.floor(new Date(iso).getTime() / 1000);
+  detail = {
+    id: t.id,
+    title: t.title,
+    op: { id: t.op.id, pubkey: t.op.author.pubkey, createdAt: toUnix(t.op.createdAt), content: t.op.content },
+    replies: (t.op.replies ?? []).map((r) => ({
+      id: r.id, pubkey: r.author.pubkey, createdAt: toUnix(r.createdAt), content: r.content,
+    })),
+  };
+  const allAuthors = [t.op.author, ...(t.op.replies ?? []).map((r) => r.author)];
+  for (const a of allAuthors) {
+    profiles[a.pubkey] = {
+      pubkey: a.pubkey, npub: a.pubkey, shortName: a.name, image: a.picture,
+      metadata: { name: a.name, picture: a.picture },
+      lastUpdated: 0,
+    } as NostrUser;
+  }
+}
+
+export async function loadThread(id: string) {
+  detail = null;
+  profiles = {};
+
+  if (!isNostrId(id)) { await Promise.resolve(); loadMockThread(id); return; }
+
+  const pool = new SimplePool();
+  try {
+    const [threadEvents, replyEvents] = await Promise.all([
+      pool.querySync([RELAY_URL], { kinds: [11], ids: [id] }),
+      pool.querySync([RELAY_URL], { kinds: [1111], "#E": [id] }),
+    ]);
+
+    const event = threadEvents[0];
+    if (!event) return;
+
+    const replies = replyEvents.sort((a, b) => a.created_at - b.created_at);
+
+    detail = {
+      id: event.id,
+      title: event.tags.find((t) => t[0] === "title")?.[1] ?? "(untitled)",
+      op: {
+        id: event.id,
+        pubkey: event.pubkey,
+        createdAt: event.created_at,
+        content: event.content,
+      },
+      replies: replies.map((r) => ({
+        id: r.id,
+        pubkey: r.pubkey,
+        createdAt: r.created_at,
+        content: r.content,
+      })),
+    };
+
+    [event.pubkey, ...replies.map((r) => r.pubkey)].forEach(loadProfile);
+  } finally {
+    pool.close([RELAY_URL]);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/thread/[id]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/thread/[id]/+page.svelte
index 6633597..849da12 100644
--- a/src/routes/thread/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/thread/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -1,35 +1,53 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
-  import { threads } from "$lib/mock";
-  import Tag from "$lib/components/Tag.svelte";
+  import { page } from "$app/state";
+  import { threadDetailStore, loadThread, type PostData } from "$lib/thread.svelte";
   import Reactions from "$lib/components/Reactions.svelte";
   import ThreadScrubber from "$lib/components/ThreadScrubber.svelte";
-  import { page } from "$app/state";
+  import type { NostrUser } from "@nostr/gadgets/metadata";
 
-  const thread = $derived(threads.find((t) => t.id === page.params.id));
+  type Author = { pubkey: string; name: string; picture?: string };
+
+  function resolveAuthor(pubkey: string, profiles: Record<string, NostrUser>): Author {
+    const user = profiles[pubkey];
+    return {
+      pubkey,
+      name: user?.shortName ?? pubkey.slice(0, 8),
+      picture: user?.metadata.picture,
+    };
+  }
+
+  function formatDate(ts: number) {
+    return new Date(ts * 1000).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
+      year: "numeric",
+      month: "short",
+      day: "numeric",
+    });
+  }
 
   let opEl = $state<HTMLElement | null>(null);
   let replyEls = $state<(HTMLElement | null)[]>([]);
-
-  // Gradient: visible only once the user has scrolled
   let isScrolled = $state(false);
-
-  // Scrubber: top offset = OP's natural distance from main's top border
   let opTopOffset = $state(0);
 
-  const allPosts = $derived(
-    thread ? [thread.op, ...(thread.op.replies ?? [])] : [],
-  );
+  const detail = $derived(threadDetailStore.detail);
+  const profiles = $derived(threadDetailStore.profiles);
 
+  const allPosts = $derived(
+    detail ? [detail.op, ...detail.replies] : []
+  );
   const postEls = $derived([opEl, ...replyEls]);
 
+  // Reload when navigating between threads
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (page.params.id) loadThread(page.params.id);
+  });
+
   onMount(() => {
     const main = document.querySelector("main");
     if (!main) return;
     main.classList.add("no-scrollbar");
-    const onScroll = () => {
-      isScrolled = main.scrollTop > 0;
-    };
+    const onScroll = () => { isScrolled = main.scrollTop > 0; };
     main.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll, { passive: true });
     return () => {
       main.classList.remove("no-scrollbar");
@@ -37,7 +55,6 @@
     };
   });
 
-  // Measure OP's natural distance from main's border top (once after DOM is ready)
   $effect(() => {
     if (!opEl) return;
     const main = document.querySelector("main");
@@ -45,138 +62,75 @@
     opTopOffset =
       opEl.getBoundingClientRect().top - main.getBoundingClientRect().top;
   });
-
-  function formatDate(iso: string) {
-    return new Date(iso).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
-      year: "numeric",
-      month: "short",
-      day: "numeric",
-    });
-  }
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
-  <title>{thread?.title ?? "Thread"}</title>
+  <title>{detail?.title ?? "Thread"}</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
-{#if thread}
-  <div class="flex gap-6 items-start">
-    <!-- Content column -->
+{#snippet avatar(author: Author)}
+  {#if author.picture}
+    <img src={author.picture} alt="" class="w-12 h-12 rounded-full object-cover" />
+  {:else}
+    <span class="w-12 h-12 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-gray-200 text-lg font-semibold text-gray-500">
+      {author.name[0].toUpperCase()}
+    </span>
+  {/if}
+{/snippet}
+
+{#snippet post(p: PostData, bindEl: (el: HTMLElement | null) => void)}
+  {@const author = resolveAuthor(p.pubkey, profiles)}
+  <div use:bindEl class="flex gap-6 items-start">
+    <div class="flex-shrink-0">
+      {@render avatar(author)}
+    </div>
     <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
-      <!-- Sticky title: -top-6 anchors to the border edge (past the py-6 padding gap) -->
-      <!-- -mt-6 -mx-10 pull the bg flush to main's edges so nothing bleeds through above/sides -->
-      <div
-        class="sticky -top-6 bg-white z-10 pb-4 -mx-10 px-10 pt-6 -mt-6 relative"
-      >
-        <h1 class="text-[1.65rem] text-brand leading-7">{thread.title}</h1>
-        <!-- Gradient: only visible once scrolling starts -->
+      <div class="flex items-baseline justify-between mb-2">
+        <span class="font-medium text-gray-600">{author.name}</span>
+        <span class="text-sm text-gray-400 ml-4 flex-shrink-0">{formatDate(p.createdAt)}</span>
+      </div>
+      <div class="prose leading-5 max-w-none text-gray-700">
+        {#each p.content.split("\n\n") as para}
+          <p>{para}</p>
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+      <div class="flex items-center justify-between mt-3">
+        <Reactions reactions={[]} zaps={0} />
+        <div class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-gray-400 flex-shrink-0">
+          <button class="hover:text-brand transition-colors">Quote</button>
+          <button class="hover:text-brand transition-colors">React</button>
+          <button class="hover:text-amber-500 transition-colors">⚡ Zap</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+{/snippet}
+
+{#if detail}
+  <div class="flex gap-6 items-start">
+    <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+      <div class="sticky -top-6 bg-white z-10 pb-4 -mx-10 px-10 pt-6 -mt-6 relative">
+        <h1 class="text-[1.65rem] text-brand leading-7">{detail.title}</h1>
         <div
           class="absolute left-0 right-0 h-8 pointer-events-none transition-opacity duration-200"
-          style="top: 100%; opacity: {isScrolled
-            ? 1
-            : 0}; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, white, transparent);"
+          style="top: 100%; opacity: {isScrolled ? 1 : 0}; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, white, transparent);"
         ></div>
       </div>
 
-      <!-- Tags: not sticky, scroll away -->
-      <div class="flex gap-2 pt-3 pb-6">
-        {#each thread.tags as tag}
-          <Tag label={tag.label} />
-        {/each}
+      <div class="pt-6 pb-6 border-b border-gray-100" bind:this={opEl}>
+        {@render post(detail.op, () => {})}
       </div>
 
-      <!-- OP post -->
-      <div bind:this={opEl} class="pb-6 border-b border-gray-100">
-        <div class="flex gap-6 items-start">
-          <div class="flex-shrink-0">
-            <img
-              src={thread.op.author.picture}
-              alt={thread.op.author.name}
-              class="w-12 h-12 rounded-full"
-            />
-          </div>
-          <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
-            <div class="flex items-baseline justify-between mb-2">
-              <span class="font-medium text-gray-600"
-                >{thread.op.author.name}</span
-              >
-              <span class="text-sm text-gray-400 ml-4 flex-shrink-0"
-                >{formatDate(thread.op.createdAt)}</span
-              >
-            </div>
-            <div class="prose leading-5 max-w-none text-gray-700">
-              {#each thread.op.content.split("\n\n") as para}
-                <p>{para}</p>
-              {/each}
-            </div>
-            <div class="flex items-center justify-between mt-3">
-              <Reactions
-                reactions={thread.op.reactions}
-                zaps={thread.op.zaps}
-              />
-              <div
-                class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-gray-400 flex-shrink-0"
-              >
-                <button class="hover:text-brand transition-colors">Quote</button
-                >
-                <button class="hover:text-brand transition-colors">React</button
-                >
-                <button class="hover:text-amber-500 transition-colors"
-                  >⚡ Zap</button
-                >
-              </div>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-
-      <!-- Replies -->
-      {#if thread.op.replies && thread.op.replies.length > 0}
+      {#if detail.replies.length > 0}
         <div class="divide-y divide-gray-100">
-          {#each thread.op.replies as reply, i}
-            <div bind:this={replyEls[i]} class="py-6">
-              <div class="flex gap-6 items-start">
-                <div class="flex-shrink-0">
-                  <img
-                    src={reply.author.picture}
-                    alt={reply.author.name}
-                    class="w-12 h-12 rounded-full"
-                  />
-                </div>
-                <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
-                  <div class="flex items-baseline justify-between mb-2">
-                    <span class="font-medium text-gray-600"
-                      >{reply.author.name}</span
-                    >
-                    <span class="text-sm text-gray-400 ml-4 flex-shrink-0"
-                      >{formatDate(reply.createdAt)}</span
-                    >
-                  </div>
-                  <p class="text-gray-700 leading-5">{reply.content}</p>
-                  <div class="flex items-center justify-between mt-3">
-                    <Reactions reactions={reply.reactions} zaps={reply.zaps} />
-                    <div
-                      class="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm text-gray-400 flex-shrink-0"
-                    >
-                      <button class="hover:text-brand transition-colors"
-                        >Quote</button
-                      >
-                      <button class="hover:text-brand transition-colors"
-                        >React</button
-                      >
-                      <button class="hover:text-amber-500 transition-colors"
-                        >⚡ Zap</button
-                      >
-                    </div>
-                  </div>
-                </div>
-              </div>
+          {#each detail.replies as reply, i}
+            <div class="py-6" bind:this={replyEls[i]}>
+              {@render post(reply, () => {})}
             </div>
           {/each}
         </div>
       {/if}
 
-      <!-- Reply box -->
       <div class="mt-8 border-t border-gray-200 pt-6">
         <textarea
           rows="4"
@@ -184,18 +138,15 @@
           class="w-full rounded border border-gray-200 px-3 py-2 focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-brand"
         ></textarea>
         <div class="mt-2 flex justify-end">
-          <button
-            class="rounded bg-brand px-6 py-1.5 font-medium text-white hover:bg-brand-hover"
-          >
+          <button class="rounded bg-brand px-6 py-1.5 font-medium text-white hover:bg-brand-hover">
             Reply
           </button>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
 
-    <!-- Timeline scrubber -->
     <ThreadScrubber posts={allPosts} {postEls} topOffset={opTopOffset} />
   </div>
 {:else}
-  <div class="px-6 py-6 text-gray-500">Thread not found.</div>
+  <div class="py-12 text-center text-gray-400">Loading…</div>
 {/if}