Index: src/views/partials/post-card.ejs
===================================================================
--- src/views/partials/post-card.ejs	(revision f79a471bf696cf519bf12755043ead300dd36476)
+++ src/views/partials/post-card.ejs	(revision a64d7051ecc17fc913a8a15fca76be421fbfd720)
@@ -138,5 +138,8 @@
     margin-right: calc(-1 * clamp(1.25rem, 4vw, 2rem));
     width: calc(100% + 2 * clamp(1.25rem, 4vw, 2rem)) !important;
-    background: var(--paper-2);
+    /* Accent-gradient placeholder shown while the cover loads (the image fades in over it). */
+    background-image: linear-gradient(135deg,
+        color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent, #888) 22%, var(--paper-2)) 0%,
+        color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent, #888) 6%, var(--paper-2)) 100%);
   }
   .post-list-cover img {
@@ -144,5 +147,7 @@
     object-fit: cover;
     display: block;
-  }
+    transition: opacity .4s ease;
+  }
+  .post-list-cover img.is-loading { opacity: 0; }
 
   /* Re-apply rounded corners on slightly larger phones */