+
+>>> afaict, encode is fine there -- the relevant methods in python2 are
+>>> `unicode.encode` which gives a `str`, and `str.decode` which usually gives
+>>> a `unicode`. (i'd happily ditch python2 and port all plugins to python3,
+>>> where this is all easier, but my [[todo/vCard rendering]] still uses an
+>>> ancient module.) --[[chrysn]]
+
+>>>> You were right about this, `encode` is appropriate to go from `unicode`
+>>>> to `str` under Python 2. However, Python 3 is still broken.
+>>>>
+>>>> My `ready/more-proxy-utf8-fail` branch, based on yours,
+>>>> [[fixes the `rst` test when run under Python 3|bugs/rst_plugin_hangs_when_used_with_Python_3]]
+>>>> and hopefully also fixes this one. Please check that it still
+>>>> fixes your test-case too.
+>>>>
+>>>> Joey, I think this is [[ready for merge|users/smcv/ready]] even if it
+>>>> doesn't fix chrysn's bug - it does fix Python 3 support
+>>>> in general. --[[smcv]]
+
+>>>>> [[merged|done]] --[[smcv]]