diff --git a/public/api/users/index.ts b/public/api/users/index.ts
index 1036eba..c71188e 100644
--- a/public/api/users/index.ts
+++ b/public/api/users/index.ts
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ const DEFAULT_USER_PERMISSIONS: string[] = [
 	'topics.read',
 	'topics.chat.write',
 	'topics.chat.read',
-	'topics.threads.write',
-	'topics.threads.read',
+	'topics.posts.create',
+	'topics.posts.write',
+	'topics.posts.read',
 	'users.read'
 ];
 
diff --git a/public/base.css b/public/base.css
index 9027f95..ca32254 100644
--- a/public/base.css
+++ b/public/base.css
@@ -254,9 +254,9 @@ body[data-perms*="topics.write"] [data-requires-permission="topics.write"],
 body[data-perms*="topics.chat.create"] [data-requires-permission="topics.chat.create"],
 body[data-perms*="topics.chat.read"] [data-requires-permission="topics.chat.read"],
 body[data-perms*="topics.chat.write"] [data-requires-permission="topics.chat.write"],
-body[data-perms*="topics.threads.create"] [data-requires-permission="topics.threads.create"],
-body[data-perms*="topics.threads.read"] [data-requires-permission="topics.threads.read"],
-body[data-perms*="topics.threads.write"] [data-requires-permission="topics.threads.write"],
+body[data-perms*="topics.posts.create"] [data-requires-permission="topics.posts.create"],
+body[data-perms*="topics.posts.read"] [data-requires-permission="topics.posts.read"],
+body[data-perms*="topics.posts.write"] [data-requires-permission="topics.posts.write"],
 body[data-perms*="users.read"] [data-requires-permission="users.read"],
 body[data-perms*="users.write"] [data-requires-permission="users.write"],
 body[data-perms*="files.write.own"] [data-requires-permission="files.write.own"] {
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index c23fce2..a9a38a4 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -13,6 +13,19 @@
 
 		<script src="./js/audioplayer.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
 		<script src="./js/datetimeutils.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+
+		<script src="./js/embeds/audio.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/gif.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/image.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/link.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/mp4.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/spotify.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/tidal.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/vimeo.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+		<script src="./js/embeds/youtube.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+
+		<script src="./js/htmlify.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
+
 		<script src="./js/locationchange.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
 		<script src="./js/notifications.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
 		<script src="./js/totp.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
@@ -29,6 +42,40 @@
 		</main>
 	</body>
 	<script>
+	/* globals - sue me */
+	const USERS = {
+		_evict_timeouts: {},
+		_update_timeouts: {},
+		get: async (id, force) => {
+			if ( force || !USERS[ id ] ) {
+				USERS[ id ] = (await (await api.fetch(`/api/users/${id}`)).json());
+			}
+
+			if ( !USERS._update_timeouts[ id ] ) {
+				USERS._update_timeouts[ id ] = setInterval( () => {
+					USERS.get( id, true );
+				}, 1 * 60_000 );
+			}
+
+			if ( !force ) {
+				if ( USERS._evict_timeouts[ id ] ) {
+					clearTimeout( USERS._evict_timeouts[ id ] );
+				}
+
+				USERS._evict_timeouts[id] = setTimeout( () => {
+					if ( USERS._update_timeouts[ id ] ) {
+						clearTimeout( USERS._update_timeouts[ id ] );
+						delete USERS._update_timeouts[ id ];
+					}
+
+					delete USERS[ id ];
+				}, 10 * 60_000 );
+			}
+
+			return USERS[ id ];
+		}
+	};
+
 	const HASH_EXTRACTOR = /^\#\/topic\/(?<topic_id>[A-Za-z\-]+)\/?(?<view>\w+)/gm;
 
 	function extract_url_hash_info() {
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/audio.js b/public/js/embeds/audio.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7548f7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/audio.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+function embed_audio(link_info) {
+	if (typeof link_info.extension !== "string") {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	const mime_types = get_mime_types(link_info.extension);
+	const is_audio = mime_types[0]?.indexOf("audio") === 0;
+
+	if (!is_audio) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `
+	<div class="audio-container" tabindex="-1">
+		<audio controls>
+			<source src="${link_info.url}" type="${mime_types[0].indexOf("audio/mpeg") === 0 ? "audio/mpeg" : mime_types[0]}">
+			Your browser does not support the audio element.
+		</audio>
+		<div class="enhanced-audio-player-container">
+			<div class="audio-player-display-container">
+				<canvas class="audio-player-display"></canvas>
+			</div>
+			<div class="audio-controls-container">
+				<div class="progress-container">
+					<div class="time-container"><span class="current">00:00</span></div>
+					<div class="slider-container">
+						<input type="range" name="progress" title="" min="0" max="1000" step="1" value="0" />
+						<label class="time-container" for="progress"><span class="current">00:00</span></label>
+					</div>
+					<div class="time-container"><span class="duration">00:00</span></div>
+				</div>
+				<div class="buttons-container">
+					<div class="audio-control blank">
+						<a href="${link_info.url}" download>
+							<div class="icon download"></div>
+						</a>
+					</div>
+					<div class="audio-control skip-back"><div class="icon skip-back"></div></div>
+					<div class="audio-control play-pause-toggle"><div class="icon play"></div><div class="icon pause"></div></div>
+					<div class="audio-control skip-forward"><div class="icon skip-forward"></div></div>
+					<div class="audio-control volume">
+						<input type="range" name="volume" title="Volume" min="0" max="100" step="1" value="" />
+					</div>
+				</div>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	</div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/gif.js b/public/js/embeds/gif.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4e7b5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/gif.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+function embed_gif(link_info) {
+	if (typeof link_info.extension !== "string") {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	const is_gif = get_mime_types(link_info.extension).includes("image/gif");
+
+	if (!is_gif) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `<div class="embed-container image gif"><img src="${link_info.url}" alt="A gif from ${link_info.domain}" /></div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/image.js b/public/js/embeds/image.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa73439
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/image.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+function embed_image(link_info) {
+	if (typeof link_info.extension !== "string") {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	const is_image = get_mime_types(link_info.extension).shift()?.indexOf("image") === 0;
+
+	if (!is_image) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `<div class="embed-container image"><img src="${link_info.url}" alt="An image from ${link_info.domain}" /></div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/link.js b/public/js/embeds/link.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..087d389
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/link.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+function embed_link(link_info) {
+	return `<a href="${link_info.url}">${link_info.url}</a>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/mp4.js b/public/js/embeds/mp4.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e888045
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/mp4.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+function embed_mp4(link_info) {
+	if (typeof link_info.extension !== "string") {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	const is_mp4 = get_mime_types(link_info.extension).includes("video/mp4");
+
+	if (!is_mp4) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `<div class="embed-container image gif letterbox"><video autoplay="true" muted="true" loop="true" playsinline="true"><source src="${link_info.url}" type="video/mp4"><a href="${link_info.url}">${link_info.url}</a></video></div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/spotify.js b/public/js/embeds/spotify.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a965b02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/spotify.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+const SPOTIFY_EXTRACTOR =
+	/^\/(?<item_type>(?:album|artist|episode|playlist|tracks?))\/?(?<item_id>[a-zA-Z0-9]{22})/gi;
+
+function embed_spotify(link_info) {
+	const is_spotify_link = ["spotify.com"].includes(link_info.domain?.toLowerCase());
+
+	if (!is_spotify_link) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	SPOTIFY_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
+
+	const {
+		groups: { item_type, item_id },
+	} = SPOTIFY_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.path ?? "") ?? { groups: {} };
+
+	if (!item_id) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `
+	<div class="embed-container iframe ${!item_type || item_type.toLowerCase().indexOf("track") === 0 ? "short" : "square"} spotify rounded">
+		<div class="embed-actions-container">
+			<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
+			<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
+		</div>
+		<iframe
+		src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/${item_type ?? "track"}/${item_id}"
+		allowfullscreen
+		allow="clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"
+		loading="lazy"></iframe>
+	</div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/tidal.js b/public/js/embeds/tidal.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28dcda3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/tidal.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+const TIDAL_EXTRACTOR =
+	/^\/(?:(?<action>.*?)\/)?(?<item_type>(?:album|artist|episode|playlist|tracks?))\/(?<item_id>[0-9]+)/gi;
+
+function embed_tidal(link_info) {
+	const is_tidal_link = ["tidal.com", "tidalhi.fi"].includes(link_info.domain?.toLowerCase());
+
+	if (!is_tidal_link) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	TIDAL_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
+
+	const {
+		groups: { action, item_type, item_id },
+	} = TIDAL_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.path ?? "") ?? { groups: {} };
+
+	if (!(item_type && item_id)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `
+	<div class="embed-container iframe ${item_type.toLowerCase().indexOf("track") === 0 ? "short" : "square"} tidal">
+		<div class="embed-actions-container">
+			<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
+			<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
+		</div>
+		<iframe
+		src="https://embed.tidal.com/${item_type.at(-1) === "s" ? item_type : `${item_type}s`}/${item_id}"
+		allow="encrypted-media"
+		sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-forms allow-popups"
+		title="TIDAL Embed Player"
+		loading="lazy"
+		></iframe>
+	</div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/vimeo.js b/public/js/embeds/vimeo.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..353b0a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/vimeo.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+const VIMEO_ID_EXTRACTOR =
+	/(?<video_domain>vimeo\.com)(?:\/(?<action>video|embed|watch|shorts|v))?.*(?:(?:\/|v=)(?<video_id>[A-Za-z0-9._%-]*))\S*/gi;
+
+function embed_vimeo(link_info) {
+	const is_vimeo_link = ["vimeo.com"].includes(link_info.domain?.toLowerCase());
+
+	if (!is_vimeo_link) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	VIMEO_ID_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
+
+	const {
+		groups: { video_domain, action, video_id },
+	} = VIMEO_ID_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.url) ?? { groups: {} };
+
+	if (!video_id) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `
+	<div class="embed-container iframe letterbox vimeo">
+		<div class="embed-actions-container">
+			<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
+			<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
+		</div>
+		<iframe
+		src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/${video_id}"
+		frameborder="0"
+		allow="fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share"
+		referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"
+		title="Star Trek: Legacy"
+		loading="lazy"></iframe>
+	</div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/embeds/youtube.js b/public/js/embeds/youtube.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1269d6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/embeds/youtube.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+const YOUTUBE_ID_EXTRACTOR =
+	/(?<video_domain>youtu(?:be\.com|\.be|be\.googleapis\.com))(?:\/(?<action>video|embed|watch|shorts|v))?.*(?:(?:\/|v=)(?<video_id>[A-Za-z0-9._%-]*))\S*/gi;
+
+function embed_youtube(link_info) {
+	const is_youtube_link = ["youtube.com", "youtu.be", "youtube.googleapis.com"].includes(
+		link_info.domain?.toLowerCase(),
+	);
+
+	if (!is_youtube_link) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	YOUTUBE_ID_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
+
+	const {
+		groups: { video_domain, action, video_id },
+	} = YOUTUBE_ID_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.url) ?? { groups: {} };
+
+	if (!video_id) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	return `
+	<div class="embed-container iframe ${action === "shorts" ? "vertical" : "letterbox"} youtube">
+		<div class="embed-actions-container">
+			<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
+			<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
+		</div>
+		<iframe
+		src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/${video_id}"
+		title="YouTube video player"
+		allow="clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share;"
+		referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"
+	 	allowfullscreen
+		loading="lazy"
+		></iframe>
+	</div>`;
+}
diff --git a/public/js/htmlify.js b/public/js/htmlify.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c42b713
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/js/htmlify.js
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// wow https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3891641/regex-test-only-works-every-other-time
+// watch out for places we need to set `lastIndex` ... :frown:
+
+const EMBEDS = [
+	embed_tidal,
+	embed_spotify,
+	embed_youtube,
+	embed_vimeo,
+	embed_audio,
+	embed_gif,
+	embed_mp4,
+	embed_image,
+	embed_link,
+];
+
+const URL_MATCHING_REGEX =
+	/(?:(?<protocol>[a-zA-Z]+):)?(?:\/\/)?(?:(?<auth>(?<username>\S.+)\:(?<password>.+))\@)?(?<host>(?:(?<hostname>[-a-zA-Z0-9\.]+)\.)?(?<domain>(?:[-a-zA-Z0-9]+?\.(?<tld>[-a-zA-Z0-9]{2,64}))|localhost)(?:\:(?<port>[0-9]{1,6}))?)\b(?<path>[-a-zA-Z0-9@:%_{}\[\]<>\(\)\+.~&\/="]*?(?<extension>\.[^\.?/#"\n<>]+)?)(?:\?(?<query>[a-zA-Z0-9!$%&<>()*+,-\.\/\:\;\=\?\@_~"]+))?(?:#(?<hash>[a-zA-Z0-9!$&'()*+,-\.\/\:\;\=\?\@_~"]*?))?(?:$|\s)/gim;
+
+function htmlify(content) {
+	let html_content = (content ?? "").replace(/\n/g, "<br/>");
+	let match;
+
+	URL_MATCHING_REGEX.lastIndex = 0;
+	while ((match = URL_MATCHING_REGEX.exec(content)) !== null) {
+		const url = match[0];
+
+		const {
+			groups: { protocol, host, hostname, domain, tld, path, extension, query, hash },
+		} = match;
+
+		const link_info = {
+			url,
+			protocol,
+			host,
+			hostname,
+			domain,
+			tld,
+			path,
+			extension,
+			query,
+			hash,
+		};
+
+		for (const embed of EMBEDS) {
+			const result = embed(link_info);
+
+			if (typeof result === "string") {
+				html_content = html_content.replace(url, result);
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return html_content;
+}
diff --git a/public/tabs/chat/chat.js b/public/tabs/chat/chat.js
index 17c9966..eb6e343 100644
--- a/public/tabs/chat/chat.js
+++ b/public/tabs/chat/chat.js
@@ -1,263 +1,10 @@
-// wow https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3891641/regex-test-only-works-every-other-time
-// watch out for places we need to set `lastIndex` ... :frown:
-
-const URL_MATCHING_REGEX =
-	/(?:(?<protocol>[a-zA-Z]+):)?(?:\/\/)?(?:(?<auth>(?<username>\S.+)\:(?<password>.+))\@)?(?<host>(?:(?<hostname>[-a-zA-Z0-9\.]+)\.)?(?<domain>(?:[-a-zA-Z0-9]+?\.(?<tld>[-a-zA-Z0-9]{2,64}))|localhost)(?:\:(?<port>[0-9]{1,6}))?)\b(?<path>[-a-zA-Z0-9@:%_{}\[\]<>\(\)\+.~&\/="]*?(?<extension>\.[^\.?/#"\n<>]+)?)(?:\?(?<query>[a-zA-Z0-9!$%&<>()*+,-\.\/\:\;\=\?\@_~"]+))?(?:#(?<hash>[a-zA-Z0-9!$&'()*+,-\.\/\:\;\=\?\@_~"]*?))?(?:$|\s)/gim;
-
-const VIDEO_ID_EXTRACTOR =
-	/(?<video_domain>vimeo\.com|youtu(?:be\.com|\.be|be\.googleapis\.com))(?:\/(?<action>video|embed|watch|shorts|v))?.*(?:(?:\/|v=)(?<video_id>[A-Za-z0-9._%-]*))\S*/gi;
-const SPOTIFY_EXTRACTOR =
-	/^\/(?<item_type>(?:album|artist|episode|playlist|tracks?))\/?(?<item_id>[a-zA-Z0-9]{22})/gi;
-const TIDAL_EXTRACTOR =
-	/^\/(?:(?<action>.*?)\/)?(?<item_type>(?:album|artist|episode|playlist|tracks?))\/(?<item_id>[0-9]+)/gi;
-
-const URL_MATCH_HANDLERS = [
-	// Tidal
-	(link_info) => {
-		const is_tidal_link = ["tidal.com", "tidalhi.fi"].includes(link_info.domain?.toLowerCase());
-
-		if (!is_tidal_link) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		TIDAL_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
-
-		const {
-			groups: { action, item_type, item_id },
-		} = TIDAL_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.path ?? "") ?? { groups: {} };
-
-		if (!(item_type && item_id)) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		return `
-		<div class="embed-container iframe ${item_type.toLowerCase().indexOf("track") === 0 ? "short" : "square"} tidal">
-			<div class="embed-actions-container">
-				<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
-				<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
-			</div>
-			<iframe
-			src="https://embed.tidal.com/${item_type.at(-1) === "s" ? item_type : `${item_type}s`}/${item_id}"
-			allow="encrypted-media"
-			sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-forms allow-popups"
-			title="TIDAL Embed Player"
-			loading="lazy"
-			></iframe>
-		</div>`;
-	},
-
-	// Spotify
-	(link_info) => {
-		const is_spotify_link = ["spotify.com"].includes(link_info.domain?.toLowerCase());
-
-		if (!is_spotify_link) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		SPOTIFY_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
-
-		const {
-			groups: { item_type, item_id },
-		} = SPOTIFY_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.path ?? "") ?? { groups: {} };
-
-		if (!item_id) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		return `
-		<div class="embed-container iframe ${!item_type || item_type.toLowerCase().indexOf("track") === 0 ? "short" : "square"} spotify rounded">
-			<div class="embed-actions-container">
-				<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
-				<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
-			</div>
-			<iframe
-			src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/${item_type ?? "track"}/${item_id}"
-			allowfullscreen
-			allow="clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"
-			loading="lazy"></iframe>
-		</div>`;
-	},
-
-	// YouTube
-	(link_info) => {
-		const is_youtube_link = ["youtube.com", "youtu.be", "youtube.googleapis.com"].includes(
-			link_info.domain?.toLowerCase(),
-		);
-
-		if (!is_youtube_link) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		VIDEO_ID_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
-
-		const {
-			groups: { video_domain, action, video_id },
-		} = VIDEO_ID_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.url) ?? { groups: {} };
-
-		if (!video_id) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		return `
-		<div class="embed-container iframe ${action === "shorts" ? "vertical" : "letterbox"} youtube">
-			<div class="embed-actions-container">
-				<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
-				<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
-			</div>
-			<iframe
-			src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/${video_id}"
-			title="YouTube video player"
-			allow="clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share;"
-			referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"
-		 	allowfullscreen
-			loading="lazy"
-			></iframe>
-		</div>`;
-	},
-
-	// Vimeo
-	(link_info) => {
-		const is_vimeo_link = ["vimeo.com"].includes(link_info.domain?.toLowerCase());
-
-		if (!is_vimeo_link) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		VIDEO_ID_EXTRACTOR.lastIndex = 0;
-
-		const {
-			groups: { video_domain, action, video_id },
-		} = VIDEO_ID_EXTRACTOR.exec(link_info.url) ?? { groups: {} };
-
-		if (!video_id) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		return `
-		<div class="embed-container iframe letterbox vimeo">
-			<div class="embed-actions-container">
-				<button class="icon plus" onclick="console.log(\"close\");"/>
-				<button class="icon pause" onclick="console.log(\"stop\");"/>
-			</div>
-			<iframe
-			src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/${video_id}"
-			frameborder="0"
-			allow="fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share"
-			referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"
-			title="Star Trek: Legacy"
-			loading="lazy"></iframe>
-		</div>`;
-	},
-
-	// linkify generic url
-	(link_info) => {
-		// TODO: punycoding if something has unicode?
-		// const punycode = get_punycode();
-		// const punycoded_url = punycode.encode(match[0]);
-
-		if (typeof link_info.extension === "string") {
-			const mime_types = get_mime_types(link_info.extension);
-
-			if (mime_types.length) {
-				if (mime_types.includes("image/gif")) {
-					return `<div class="embed-container image gif"><img src="${link_info.url}" alt="A gif from ${link_info.domain}" /></div>`;
-				}
-
-				if (mime_types.includes("video/mp4")) {
-					return `<div class="embed-container image gif letterbox"><video autoplay="true" muted="true" loop="true" playsinline="true"><source src="${link_info.url}" type="video/mp4"><a href="${link_info.url}">${link_info.url}</a></video></div>`;
-				}
-
-				if (mime_types[0].indexOf("image") === 0) {
-					return `<div class="embed-container image"><img src="${link_info.url}" alt="An image from ${link_info.domain}" /></div>`;
-				}
-
-				if (mime_types[0].indexOf("audio") === 0) {
-					return `
-					<div class="audio-container" tabindex="-1">
-						<audio controls>
-							<source src="${link_info.url}" type="${mime_types[0].indexOf("audio/mpeg") === 0 ? "audio/mpeg" : mime_types[0]}">
-							Your browser does not support the audio element.
-						</audio>
-						<div class="enhanced-audio-player-container">
-							<div class="audio-player-display-container">
-								<canvas class="audio-player-display"></canvas>
-							</div>
-							<div class="audio-controls-container">
-								<div class="progress-container">
-									<div class="time-container"><span class="current">00:00</span></div>
-									<div class="slider-container">
-										<input type="range" name="progress" title="" min="0" max="1000" step="1" value="0" />
-										<label class="time-container" for="progress"><span class="current">00:00</span></label>
-									</div>
-									<div class="time-container"><span class="duration">00:00</span></div>
-								</div>
-								<div class="buttons-container">
-									<div class="audio-control blank">
-										<a href="${link_info.url}" download>
-											<div class="icon download"></div>
-										</a>
-									</div>
-									<div class="audio-control skip-back"><div class="icon skip-back"></div></div>
-									<div class="audio-control play-pause-toggle"><div class="icon play"></div><div class="icon pause"></div></div>
-									<div class="audio-control skip-forward"><div class="icon skip-forward"></div></div>
-									<div class="audio-control volume">
-										<input type="range" name="volume" title="Volume" min="0" max="100" step="1" value="" />
-									</div>
-								</div>
-							</div>
-						</div>
-					</div>`;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		return `<a href="${link_info.url}">${link_info.url}</a>`;
-	},
-];
-
-function message_text_to_html(input) {
-	let html_message = (input ?? "").replace(/\n/g, "<br/>");
-	let match;
-
-	URL_MATCHING_REGEX.lastIndex = 0;
-	while ((match = URL_MATCHING_REGEX.exec(input)) !== null) {
-		const url = match[0];
-
-		const {
-			groups: { protocol, host, hostname, domain, tld, path, extension, query, hash },
-		} = match;
-
-		for (const handler of URL_MATCH_HANDLERS) {
-			const result = handler({
-				url,
-				protocol,
-				host,
-				hostname,
-				domain,
-				tld,
-				path,
-				extension,
-				query,
-				hash,
-			});
-
-			if (typeof result === "string") {
-				html_message = html_message.replace(url, result);
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return html_message;
-}
-
 const time_tick_tock_timeout = 60 * 1000; // 1 minute
 let last_event_datetime_value = 0;
 let time_tick_tock_class = "time-tock";
 
 let last_creator_id = null;
 let user_tick_tock_class = "user-tock";
-function render_text_event(topic_chat_content, event, creator, existing_element) {
+function render_chat_message(topic_chat_content, event, creator, existing_element) {
 	const event_datetime = datetime_to_local(event.timestamps.created);
 
 	if (event_datetime.value - last_event_datetime_value > time_tick_tock_timeout) {
@@ -299,7 +46,7 @@ function render_text_event(topic_chat_content, event, creator, existing_element)
 			<span class="short">${event_datetime.short}</span>
 		</div>
 	</div>
-	<div class="message-content-container">${message_text_to_html(event.data.content)}</div>
+	<div class="message-content-container">${htmlify(event.data.content)}</div>
 </div>`;
 
 	if (existing_element) {
@@ -311,8 +58,7 @@ function render_text_event(topic_chat_content, event, creator, existing_element)
 	}
 }
 
-const users = {};
-async function append_topic_events(events) {
+async function append_chat_events(events) {
 	const topic_chat_content = document.getElementById("topic-chat-content");
 	let last_message_id = topic_chat_content.dataset.last_message_id ?? "";
 	for (const event of events) {
@@ -328,16 +74,14 @@ async function append_topic_events(events) {
 			topic_chat_content.dataset.last_message_id = last_message_id;
 		}
 
-		users[event.creator_id] =
-			users[event.creator_id] ??
-			(await (await api.fetch(`/api/users/${event.creator_id}`)).json());
+		const creator = await USERS.get(event.creator_id);
 
 		const existing_element =
 			document.getElementById(`chat-${event.id.substring(0, 49)}`) ??
 			(event.meta?.temp_id
 				? document.getElementById(`chat-${event.meta.temp_id}`)
 				: undefined);
-		render_text_event(topic_chat_content, event, users[event.creator_id], existing_element);
+		render_chat_message(topic_chat_content, event, creator, existing_element);
 	}
 
 	topic_chat_content.scrollTop = topic_chat_content.scrollHeight;
@@ -347,7 +91,7 @@ async function append_topic_events(events) {
 // similar for when we change topics, this is the most basic
 // first pass outline
 let topic_polling_request_abort_controller = null;
-async function poll_for_new_events() {
+async function poll_for_new_chat_events() {
 	const topic_chat_content = document.getElementById("topic-chat-content");
 	const topic_id = document.body.dataset.topic;
 	const last_message_id = topic_chat_content.dataset.last_message_id;
@@ -366,8 +110,8 @@ async function poll_for_new_events() {
 	})
 		.then(async (new_events_response) => {
 			const new_events = ((await new_events_response.json()) ?? []).reverse();
-			await append_topic_events(new_events.toReversed());
-			poll_for_new_events(topic_id);
+			await append_chat_events(new_events.toReversed());
+			poll_for_new_chat_events(topic_id);
 		})
 		.catch((error) => {
 			// TODO: poll again? back off?
@@ -375,7 +119,7 @@ async function poll_for_new_events() {
 		});
 }
 
-async function load_active_topic() {
+async function load_active_topic_for_chat() {
 	const topic_id = document.body.dataset.topic;
 	if (!topic_id) return;
 
@@ -420,8 +164,8 @@ async function load_active_topic() {
 
 	const events = (await events_response.json()).reverse();
 
-	await append_topic_events(events);
-	poll_for_new_events();
+	await append_chat_events(events);
+	poll_for_new_chat_events();
 }
-document.addEventListener("topic_changed", load_active_topic);
-document.addEventListener("user_logged_in", load_active_topic);
+document.addEventListener("topic_changed", load_active_topic_for_chat);
+document.addEventListener("user_logged_in", load_active_topic_for_chat);