diff --git a/crates/core/src/fof.rs b/crates/core/src/fof.rs
index f806b75..1aa6151 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/fof.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/fof.rs
@@ -2,14 +2,16 @@
 //! comments. See `docs/fof-spec/layer-2-mode2-fof-comments.md` for the
 //! wire shape and threat model.
 //!
-//! This module owns the author-side **publish path**:
-//!  - Generate the post's CEK + per-V_x signing keypairs.
-//!  - Seal one wrap slot per unique V_x in the author's keyring.
-//!  - Pad with dummy slots + dummy pub_x entries (bucketed per Layer 3).
-//!  - Shuffle real + dummy together so positions don't leak ordering.
+//! This module owns:
+//!  - **Author publish path** ([`build_fof_comment_gating`]): seal wrap
+//!    slots, generate per-V_x signing keypairs, bucket-pad, shuffle.
+//!  - **Reader/commenter unlock path** ([`find_unlock_for_post`],
+//!    [`build_fof_comment`]): trial-decrypt slots with any held V_x;
+//!    if a slot opens, derive priv_x + comments-CEK, encrypt the
+//!    comment body, sign with priv_x, attach pub_x_index.
 //!
-//! The reader/commenter unwrap path and CDN verification path live in
-//! sibling modules (added in subsequent slices).
+//! The CDN four-check verification path and revocation handling live
+//! in sibling modules (added in subsequent slices).
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use ed25519_dalek::SigningKey;
@@ -140,6 +142,205 @@ pub struct FoFCommentGatingBuilt {
     pub slot_binder_nonce: [u8; 32],
 }
 
+// --- Reader / commenter side ---
+
+/// FoF Layer 2: a persona's successful unlock of a gated post.
+/// Carries everything the persona needs to read encrypted comments AND
+/// author new ones.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct PostUnlock {
+    /// Which persona unlocked the post (the V_x that matched belongs to
+    /// this persona's keyring — owned `V_me` or received).
+    pub persona_id: NodeId,
+    /// Index into `pub_post_set` / `wrap_slots` of the slot that
+    /// unlocked. Comments author by this persona will set
+    /// `InlineComment.pub_x_index` to this.
+    pub slot_index: u32,
+    /// Per-post shared CEK (unwrapped from the slot's read part).
+    pub cek: [u8; 32],
+    /// Ed25519 signing seed for the per-V_x keypair admitted to this
+    /// post (unwrapped from the slot's sign part). Used to sign
+    /// `group_sig` on FoF comments.
+    pub priv_x_seed: [u8; 32],
+}
+
+/// Trial-decrypt the post's `fof_gating.wrap_slots` against every
+/// persona on this device. Returns the first successful unlock found,
+/// or `None` if no held V_x matches.
+///
+/// Iteration order: personas as listed by storage; within each persona,
+/// own current `V_me` first, then received V_x's. Slots are scanned in
+/// order; the 2B prefilter lets us skip non-matching slots in O(1) per.
+pub fn find_unlock_for_post(
+    storage: &Storage,
+    post: &crate::types::Post,
+) -> Result<Option<PostUnlock>> {
+    let Some(gating) = post.fof_gating.as_ref() else { return Ok(None); };
+    let personas = storage.list_posting_identities()?;
+    for persona in &personas {
+        // Build this persona's V_x ring: own current + every received.
+        let mut keys: Vec<[u8; 32]> = Vec::new();
+        if let Some((_, own_key)) = storage.current_own_vouch_key(&persona.node_id)? {
+            keys.push(own_key);
+        }
+        for (_owner, _epoch, key) in storage.list_received_vouch_keys(&persona.node_id)? {
+            keys.push(key);
+        }
+        for v_x in &keys {
+            let prefilter = crate::crypto::wrap_slot_prefilter_tag(v_x, &gating.slot_binder_nonce);
+            for (idx, slot) in gating.wrap_slots.iter().enumerate() {
+                if slot.prefilter_tag != prefilter {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if let Some(opened) = crate::crypto::open_wrap_slot(
+                    v_x,
+                    &gating.slot_binder_nonce,
+                    &slot.read_ciphertext,
+                    &slot.sign_ciphertext,
+                ) {
+                    return Ok(Some(PostUnlock {
+                        persona_id: persona.node_id,
+                        slot_index: idx as u32,
+                        cek: opened.cek,
+                        priv_x_seed: opened.priv_x_seed,
+                    }));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(None)
+}
+
+/// FoF Layer 2: inner plaintext encrypted under CEK_comments. Wrapped
+/// inside [`crate::types::InlineComment::encrypted_payload`].
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
+pub struct FoFCommentPayload {
+    /// User-visible comment body.
+    pub body: String,
+    /// Optional reply parent.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub parent_comment_id: Option<[u8; 32]>,
+    /// HMAC(V_x, post_id || comment_hash)[:16B] — author-side
+    /// attribution to a specific voucher-chain. Computed by the
+    /// commenter; not yet enforced in this commit.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub vouch_mac: Option<[u8; 16]>,
+}
+
+/// Build a Mode 2 / Mode 1 FoF comment on a parent post. The post must
+/// have `fof_gating = Some`; the caller must already hold a successful
+/// `PostUnlock` for it (typically from [`find_unlock_for_post`]).
+///
+/// Produces an `InlineComment` with empty `content` (the body lives
+/// encrypted in `encrypted_payload`) + `pub_x_index` + `group_sig` +
+/// `encrypted_payload`. The conventional `signature` field carries the
+/// commenter's identity-key signature over the existing payload (so
+/// non-FoF nodes can still verify identity without unwrapping the slot).
+pub fn build_fof_comment(
+    parent_post_id: &[u8; 32],
+    unlock: &PostUnlock,
+    slot_binder_nonce: &[u8; 32],
+    commenter_id: &NodeId,
+    commenter_secret: &[u8; 32],
+    body: &str,
+    parent_comment_id: Option<[u8; 32]>,
+    now_ms: u64,
+) -> Result<crate::types::InlineComment> {
+    use ed25519_dalek::{Signer, SigningKey};
+
+    // Encrypt the comment body under CEK_comments derived from the
+    // post's CEK + slot_binder_nonce.
+    let cek_comments = crate::crypto::derive_cek_comments(&unlock.cek, slot_binder_nonce);
+    let payload = FoFCommentPayload {
+        body: body.to_string(),
+        parent_comment_id,
+        vouch_mac: None,
+    };
+    let plaintext = serde_json::to_vec(&payload)
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("serialize fof comment payload: {}", e))?;
+    let encrypted = crate::crypto::encrypt_bytes_with_cek(&plaintext, &cek_comments)?;
+
+    // Sign (encrypted || post_id || pub_x_index_le) with priv_x.
+    let priv_x_signer = SigningKey::from_bytes(&unlock.priv_x_seed);
+    let mut to_sign = Vec::with_capacity(encrypted.len() + 32 + 4);
+    to_sign.extend_from_slice(&encrypted);
+    to_sign.extend_from_slice(parent_post_id);
+    to_sign.extend_from_slice(&unlock.slot_index.to_le_bytes());
+    let group_sig = priv_x_signer.sign(&to_sign).to_bytes().to_vec();
+
+    // Conventional InlineComment.signature: commenter's identity-key
+    // signature over the existing comment_signature tuple. We use empty
+    // content here (the body lives in encrypted_payload). Existing
+    // non-FoF receivers can still verify the identity sig and tombstone
+    // logic continues to work.
+    let identity_signature = crate::crypto::sign_comment(
+        commenter_secret,
+        commenter_id,
+        parent_post_id,
+        "",
+        now_ms,
+        None,
+    );
+
+    Ok(crate::types::InlineComment {
+        author: *commenter_id,
+        post_id: *parent_post_id,
+        content: String::new(),
+        timestamp_ms: now_ms,
+        signature: identity_signature,
+        deleted_at: None,
+        ref_post_id: None,
+        pub_x_index: Some(unlock.slot_index),
+        group_sig: Some(group_sig),
+        encrypted_payload: Some(encrypted),
+    })
+}
+
+/// Verify the `group_sig` on an incoming FoF comment against the post's
+/// `pub_post_set`. Used by the CDN four-check accept rule (next slice).
+/// Returns `true` iff the comment carries a valid Ed25519 signature
+/// under `pub_post_set[pub_x_index]` over
+/// (encrypted_payload || post_id || pub_x_index_le).
+pub fn verify_fof_group_sig(
+    comment: &crate::types::InlineComment,
+    gating: &FoFCommentGating,
+) -> bool {
+    use ed25519_dalek::{Signature, Verifier, VerifyingKey};
+    let Some(pub_x_index) = comment.pub_x_index else { return false; };
+    let Some(group_sig) = comment.group_sig.as_ref() else { return false; };
+    let Some(encrypted_payload) = comment.encrypted_payload.as_ref() else { return false; };
+    let idx = pub_x_index as usize;
+    if idx >= gating.pub_post_set.len() { return false; }
+    if group_sig.len() != 64 { return false; }
+    let pub_x = &gating.pub_post_set[idx];
+    let Ok(verifying_key) = VerifyingKey::from_bytes(pub_x) else { return false; };
+    let sig_bytes: [u8; 64] = match group_sig.as_slice().try_into() {
+        Ok(b) => b, Err(_) => return false,
+    };
+    let sig = Signature::from_bytes(&sig_bytes);
+    let mut to_verify = Vec::with_capacity(encrypted_payload.len() + 32 + 4);
+    to_verify.extend_from_slice(encrypted_payload);
+    to_verify.extend_from_slice(&comment.post_id);
+    to_verify.extend_from_slice(&pub_x_index.to_le_bytes());
+    verifying_key.verify(&to_verify, &sig).is_ok()
+}
+
+/// Decrypt the `encrypted_payload` of an FoF comment back to its
+/// plaintext body / vouch_mac / parent_comment_id, using the CEK
+/// recovered via [`find_unlock_for_post`].
+pub fn decrypt_fof_comment_payload(
+    comment: &crate::types::InlineComment,
+    cek: &[u8; 32],
+    slot_binder_nonce: &[u8; 32],
+) -> Result<FoFCommentPayload> {
+    let encrypted = comment.encrypted_payload.as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("comment has no encrypted_payload"))?;
+    let cek_comments = crate::crypto::derive_cek_comments(cek, slot_binder_nonce);
+    let plaintext = crate::crypto::decrypt_bytes_with_cek(encrypted, &cek_comments)?;
+    serde_json::from_slice(&plaintext)
+        .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("deserialize fof comment payload: {}", e))
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -282,4 +483,104 @@ mod tests {
         rand::rng().fill_bytes(&mut seed);
         let _ = ed25519_seed_to_x25519_private(&seed);
     }
+
+    /// End-to-end FoF comment roundtrip:
+    ///   1. Alice authors a Mode 2 FoF post (her keyring: own V_me + Bob's V_x).
+    ///   2. A "receiver device" (Bob's) holds Bob's V_x. It finds the unlock.
+    ///   3. Bob authors a comment on Alice's post.
+    ///   4. The comment's group_sig verifies against the post's pub_post_set.
+    ///   5. Alice (using her cached cek) decrypts Bob's comment plaintext.
+    #[test]
+    fn fof_comment_authoring_roundtrip() {
+        use crate::types::PostingIdentity;
+        use ed25519_dalek::SigningKey;
+
+        // Alice's device: has her V_me and Bob's V_x (received from Bob).
+        let alice_storage = temp_storage();
+        let (alice_id, alice_seed) = make_persona(1);
+        alice_storage.upsert_posting_identity(&PostingIdentity {
+            node_id: alice_id, secret_seed: alice_seed,
+            display_name: "Alice".into(), created_at: 1000,
+        }).unwrap();
+        let mut v_me_alice = [0u8; 32];
+        rand::rng().fill_bytes(&mut v_me_alice);
+        alice_storage.insert_own_vouch_key(&alice_id, 1, &v_me_alice, 1000).unwrap();
+
+        let (bob_id, _) = make_persona(2);
+        let mut v_x_bob = [0u8; 32];
+        rand::rng().fill_bytes(&mut v_x_bob);
+        alice_storage.insert_received_vouch_key(&alice_id, &bob_id, 1, &v_x_bob, 2000, None).unwrap();
+
+        // Alice publishes the gating block.
+        let built = build_fof_comment_gating(&alice_storage, &alice_id).unwrap().expect("built");
+        let parent_post_id = [0xCC; 32];
+
+        // Bob's device: has his V_me (which is v_x_bob since he handed it out).
+        let bob_storage = temp_storage();
+        let (bob_id_, bob_seed) = make_persona(2);
+        assert_eq!(bob_id, bob_id_);
+        bob_storage.upsert_posting_identity(&PostingIdentity {
+            node_id: bob_id, secret_seed: bob_seed,
+            display_name: "Bob".into(), created_at: 1500,
+        }).unwrap();
+        bob_storage.insert_own_vouch_key(&bob_id, 1, &v_x_bob, 1500).unwrap();
+
+        // Wrap Alice's published gating into a Post struct as it would
+        // appear on the wire.
+        let post = crate::types::Post {
+            author: alice_id,
+            content: "alice's public post".into(),
+            attachments: vec![],
+            timestamp_ms: 3000,
+            fof_gating: Some(built.gating.clone()),
+        };
+
+        // Bob's device unlocks the post via his V_me (= v_x_bob).
+        let unlock = find_unlock_for_post(&bob_storage, &post).unwrap()
+            .expect("Bob's persona must unlock the post");
+        assert_eq!(unlock.persona_id, bob_id);
+        assert_eq!(unlock.cek, built.cek, "Bob recovers Alice's CEK");
+
+        // Bob authors a comment.
+        let comment = build_fof_comment(
+            &parent_post_id,
+            &unlock,
+            &built.slot_binder_nonce,
+            &bob_id,
+            &bob_seed,
+            "great post alice",
+            None,
+            4000,
+        ).unwrap();
+        assert!(comment.content.is_empty(), "FoF comment body is encrypted, not in content");
+        assert!(comment.pub_x_index.is_some());
+        assert!(comment.group_sig.is_some());
+        assert!(comment.encrypted_payload.is_some());
+
+        // CDN-level verification: group_sig validates against pub_post_set.
+        assert!(verify_fof_group_sig(&comment, &built.gating),
+            "valid FoF comment must pass CDN four-check (group_sig leg)");
+
+        // Tamper detection: flip a byte in encrypted_payload and re-verify.
+        let mut tampered = comment.clone();
+        let mut payload = tampered.encrypted_payload.clone().unwrap();
+        payload[0] ^= 0x01;
+        tampered.encrypted_payload = Some(payload);
+        assert!(!verify_fof_group_sig(&tampered, &built.gating),
+            "tampered encrypted_payload must invalidate group_sig");
+
+        // Tamper detection: claim a different pub_x_index.
+        let mut wrong_idx = comment.clone();
+        let bad_idx = (comment.pub_x_index.unwrap() + 1) % (built.gating.pub_post_set.len() as u32);
+        wrong_idx.pub_x_index = Some(bad_idx);
+        assert!(!verify_fof_group_sig(&wrong_idx, &built.gating),
+            "wrong pub_x_index must invalidate group_sig");
+
+        // Alice (using her cached CEK) decrypts Bob's comment payload.
+        let plaintext = decrypt_fof_comment_payload(&comment, &built.cek, &built.slot_binder_nonce)
+            .expect("Alice decrypts FoF comment");
+        assert_eq!(plaintext.body, "great post alice");
+
+        let _signing_key = SigningKey::from_bytes(&unlock.priv_x_seed); // exercise the import
+    }
 }