diff --git a/bin/pupctl/src/main.rs b/bin/pupctl/src/main.rs
index 8f62802..85761d9 100644
--- a/bin/pupctl/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/pupctl/src/main.rs
@@ -1,59 +1,73 @@
 #![feature(iterator_try_collect)]
 use puppy::{
     actor::Actor,
-    data::{Bite, Profile},
+    auth::Verifier,
+    config::Config,
+    data::{schema, Bite, Profile},
     post::Author,
-    store::util::IterExt as _,
+    store::{util::IterExt as _, Store},
     Context,
 };
 
 fn main() -> puppy::Result<()> {
     // puppy::store::Store::nuke(".state")?;
-    puppy::context(|cx| {
-        let db = cx.store();
-        println!("creating actors");
-        let riley = get_or_create_actor(&cx, "riley")?;
-        let linen = get_or_create_actor(&cx, "linen")?;
-        if true {
-            println!("creating posts");
-            puppy::post::create_post(&cx, riley.key, "@linen <3")?;
-            puppy::post::create_post(&cx, linen.key, "@riley <3")?;
-        }
+    let config = Config {
+        ap_domain: "test.piss-on.me".to_string(),
+        wf_domain: "test.piss-on.me".to_string(),
+        state_dir: ".state".to_string(),
+        port: 1312,
+    };
+    let verifier = Verifier::load(&config);
+    let db = Store::open(&config.state_dir, schema())?;
+    let cx = Context::new(config, db.clone(), verifier);
+    println!("creating actors");
+    let riley = get_or_create_actor(&cx, "riley")?;
+    let linen = get_or_create_actor(&cx, "linen")?;
+    if true {
+        println!("creating posts");
+        puppy::post::create_post(&cx, riley.key, "@linen <3")?;
+        puppy::post::create_post(&cx, linen.key, "@riley <3")?;
+    }
 
-        if true {
-            println!("making riley follow linen");
-            if !riley.follows(&cx, &linen)? {
+    if true {
+        println!("making riley follow linen");
+
+        cx.run(|tx| {
+            if !riley.follows(&tx, &linen)? {
                 println!("follow relation does not exist yet");
                 if let Some(req) = linen
-                    .pending_requests(&cx)
+                    .pending_requests(&tx)
                     .find_ok(|r| r.origin == riley.key)?
                 {
                     println!("accepting the pending follow request");
-                    linen.do_accept_request(&cx, req)?;
+                    linen.do_accept_request(&cx, req)
                 } else {
                     println!("no pending follow request; creating");
-                    riley.do_follow_request(&cx, &linen)?;
+                    riley.do_follow_request(&cx, &linen).map(|_| ())
                 }
             } else {
                 println!("riley already follows linen");
+                Ok(())
             }
-        }
+        })?;
+    }
 
-        println!("\nPosts on the instance:");
-        for post in puppy::post::fetch_timeline(&db, .., None)?.posts() {
-            let Author { ref handle, .. } = post.author;
-            let content = post.content.content.as_ref().unwrap();
-            println!("- {:?} by {handle}:\n{content}", post.id)
-        }
+    println!("\nPosts on the instance:");
+    for post in puppy::post::fetch_timeline(&db, .., None)?.posts() {
+        let Author { ref handle, .. } = post.author;
+        let content = post.content.content.as_ref().unwrap();
+        println!("- {:?} by {handle}:\n{content}", post.id)
+    }
 
+    cx.run(|tx| {
         println!("\nLinen's followers:");
-        for id in linen.followers(&cx).try_collect::<Vec<_>>()? {
+        for id in linen.followers(&tx).try_collect::<Vec<_>>()? {
             let Profile { account_name, .. } = db.get_mixin(id)?.unwrap();
             println!("- @{account_name} ({id})");
         }
 
         println!("\nRiley's following:");
-        for id in riley.following(&cx).try_collect::<Vec<_>>()? {
+        for id in riley.following(&tx).try_collect::<Vec<_>>()? {
             let Profile { account_name, .. } = db.get_mixin(id)?.unwrap();
             println!("- @{account_name} ({id})");
         }
@@ -61,7 +75,7 @@ fn main() -> puppy::Result<()> {
         if false {
             println!("Biting riley");
             linen.do_bite(&cx, &riley)?;
-            for Bite { id, biter, .. } in riley.bites_suffered(&cx).try_collect::<Vec<_>>()? {
+            for Bite { id, biter, .. } in riley.bites_suffered(&tx).try_collect::<Vec<_>>()? {
                 let Profile { account_name, .. } = db.get_mixin(biter)?.unwrap();
                 println!("riley was bitten by @{account_name} at {}", id.timestamp());
             }
@@ -70,8 +84,8 @@ fn main() -> puppy::Result<()> {
     })
 }
 
-fn get_or_create_actor(cx: &Context<'_>, username: &str) -> puppy::Result<Actor> {
-    let user = Actor::by_username(cx, username)?;
+fn get_or_create_actor(cx: &Context, username: &str) -> puppy::Result<Actor> {
+    let user = cx.run(|tx| Actor::by_username(tx, username))?;
     match user {
         Some(key) => {
             println!("found '{username}' ({key:?})");
diff --git a/bin/server/src/api.rs b/bin/server/src/api.rs
index c2219bb..8359192 100644
--- a/bin/server/src/api.rs
+++ b/bin/server/src/api.rs
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ pub mod ap {
         config::Config,
         data::{Id, PrivateKey, PublicKey},
         fetch::{signatures::Private, SigningKey},
-        get_local_ap_object, Key,
+        get_local_ap_object, Context, Key,
     };
     use serde_json::{to_string, Value};
     use crate::{respond, Response};
 
     /// Proxy a request through the instance.
-    pub async fn proxy(params: &[(&str, &str)]) -> Response {
+    pub async fn proxy(cx: &Context, params: &[(&str, &str)]) -> Response {
         // Extract our query parameters.
         let Some(user) = params.iter().find_map(|(k, v)| (*k == "user").then_some(v)) else {
             return respond(400, Some("Expected `user` query param"), []);
@@ -27,15 +27,16 @@ pub mod ap {
         };
 
         // Look up the actor's key in the store (which is accessible through the puppy context).
-        let signing_key = puppy::context::<_, puppy::Error>(|cx| try {
-            let actor = Actor::by_username(&cx, user)?.unwrap();
+        let Ok(signing_key) = cx.run(|tx| {
+            let actor = Actor::by_username(&tx, user)?.unwrap();
             let (PrivateKey { key_pem, .. }, PublicKey { key_id, .. }) =
-                cx.store().get_mixin_many(actor.key)?;
-            let Id(owner) = cx.store().get_alias(actor.key)?.unwrap();
+                tx.get_mixin_many(actor.key)?;
+            let Id(owner) = tx.get_alias(actor.key)?.unwrap();
             let inner = Private::decode_pem(&key_pem);
-            SigningKey { id: key_id, owner, inner }
-        })
-        .unwrap();
+            Ok(SigningKey { id: key_id, owner, inner })
+        }) else {
+            panic!("failed to get signing key");
+        };
 
         eprintln!("proxy: params: {params:?}");
         // Proxy the request through our fetcher.
@@ -47,16 +48,16 @@ pub mod ap {
     }
 
     /// Handle POSTs to actor inboxes. Requires request signature.
-    pub fn inbox(actor_id: &str, sig: Signer, body: Value, cfg: Config) -> Response {
+    pub fn inbox(cx: &Context, actor_id: &str, sig: Signer, body: Value) -> Response {
         todo!()
     }
 
     /// Serve an ActivityPub object as json-ld.
-    pub fn serve_object(object_ulid: &str) -> Response {
+    pub fn serve_object(cx: &Context, object_ulid: &str) -> Response {
         let Ok(parsed) = object_ulid.parse::<Key>() else {
             return respond(400, Some("improperly formatted id"), []);
         };
-        let result = puppy::context(|cx| get_local_ap_object(&cx, parsed));
+        let result = cx.run(|tx| get_local_ap_object(&tx, parsed));
         let Ok(object) = result else {
             return respond(404, <Option<String>>::None, []);
         };
@@ -67,8 +68,8 @@ pub mod ap {
     const AP_CONTENT_TYPE: (&str, &str) = ("content-type", "application/activity+json");
 
     /// Serve the special actor used for signing requests.
-    pub fn serve_verifier_actor(cfg: Config) -> Response {
-        let body = Verifier::load(&cfg).to_json_ld();
+    pub fn serve_verifier_actor(cx: &Context) -> Response {
+        let body = cx.verifier().to_json_ld();
         let encoded = serde_json::to_vec(&body).unwrap();
         respond(200, Some(encoded), [AP_CONTENT_TYPE])
     }
@@ -77,26 +78,31 @@ pub mod ap {
 pub mod wf {
     //! WebFinger endpoints and related stuff.
 
-    use puppy::{config::Config, data::Username, Error};
+    use puppy::{data::Username, Context, Error};
     use serde_json::json;
 
     use crate::{respond, Response};
 
     const WF_CONTENT_TYPE: (&str, &str) = ("content-type", "application/jrd+json");
 
-    pub fn resolve(query: &[(&str, &str)], cfg: Config) -> Response {
+    pub fn resolve(cx: &Context, query: &[(&str, &str)]) -> Response {
         match query.iter().find_map(get_handle) {
             // Serve JRDs for local actors.
-            Some(handle) if cfg.wf_domain == handle.instance => {
-                let id = puppy::context::<_, Error>(|cx| try {
+            Some(handle) if cx.config().wf_domain == handle.instance => {
+                let id = {
                     let user = cx
                         .store()
-                        .lookup(Username(handle.username.to_string()))?
+                        .lookup(Username(handle.username.to_string()))
+                        .unwrap()
                         .unwrap();
-                    let id = cx.store().get_alias::<puppy::data::Id>(user)?.unwrap().0;
+                    let id = cx
+                        .store()
+                        .get_alias::<puppy::data::Id>(user)
+                        .unwrap()
+                        .unwrap()
+                        .0;
                     id
-                })
-                .unwrap();
+                };
                 let jrd = json!({
                   "subject": format!("acct:{}@{}", handle.username, handle.instance),
                   "links": [
diff --git a/bin/server/src/main.rs b/bin/server/src/main.rs
index 02cf2e5..3d213b1 100644
--- a/bin/server/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/server/src/main.rs
@@ -3,16 +3,15 @@
 use std::convert::Infallible;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
 
-use http::request::Parts;
 use http_body_util::{BodyExt as _, Full};
 use hyper::body::Bytes;
 use hyper::server::conn::http1;
 use hyper::service::service_fn;
 use hyper_util::rt::TokioIo;
-use puppy::auth::{SigError, Signer};
-use puppy::{auth::verify_signature, config::Config};
-use puppy::fetch::signatures::Signature;
-use serde_json::{from_slice, json, Value};
+use puppy::auth::{self, SigError, Signer, Verifier};
+use puppy::store::Store;
+use puppy::{auth::verify_signature, config::Config, Context};
+use serde_json::{from_slice, Value};
 use tokio::net::TcpListener;
 
 #[tokio::main]
@@ -20,13 +19,17 @@ async fn main() {
     let config = Config {
         ap_domain: "test.piss-on.me".to_string(),
         wf_domain: "test.piss-on.me".to_string(),
+        state_dir: "state".to_string(),
         port: 1312,
     };
-    start(&config).await.unwrap();
+    let store = Store::open(&config.state_dir, puppy::data::schema()).unwrap();
+    let verifier = Verifier::load(&config);
+    let context = Context::new(config, store, verifier);
+    start(context).await.unwrap();
 }
 
-pub async fn start(cfg: &Config) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>> {
-    let addr = SocketAddr::from(([127, 0, 0, 1], cfg.port));
+pub async fn start(context: Context) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>> {
+    let addr = SocketAddr::from(([127, 0, 0, 1], context.config().port));
     let listener = TcpListener::bind(addr).await?;
 
     // We start a loop to continuously accept incoming connections
@@ -37,13 +40,13 @@ pub async fn start(cfg: &Config) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send
         // `hyper::rt` IO traits.
         let io = TokioIo::new(stream);
 
-        let cfg = cfg.clone();
+        let context = context.clone();
         // Spawn a tokio task to serve multiple connections concurrently
         tokio::task::spawn(async move {
             // Finally, we bind the incoming connection to our `hello` service
             if let Err(err) = http1::Builder::new()
                 // `service_fn` converts our function in a `Service`
-                .serve_connection(io, service_fn(|req| handle(req, cfg.clone())))
+                .serve_connection(io, service_fn(|req| handle(req, context.clone())))
                 .await
             {
                 eprintln!("Error serving connection: {:?}", err);
@@ -55,45 +58,6 @@ pub async fn start(cfg: &Config) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send
 type Request = hyper::Request<hyper::body::Incoming>;
 type Response<T = Full<Bytes>> = hyper::Response<T>;
 
-/// The request handler.
-async fn handle(req: Request, cfg: Config) -> Result<Response, Infallible> {
-    // We need to fetch the entire body of the request for signature validation, because that involves making
-    // a digest of the request body in some cases.
-    let request = {
-        let (req, body) = req.into_parts();
-        let Ok(body) = body.collect().await.map(|b| b.to_bytes()) else {
-            return Ok(error::invalid_body("Could not get request body"));
-        };
-        http::Request::from_parts(req, body)
-    };
-    // Simplified representation of a request, so we can pattern match on it more easily in the dispatchers.
-    let req = make_req(&request);
-    eprintln!("{request:?}: open");
-    // We'll use the path to pick where specifically to send the request.
-    // Check request signature at the door. Even if it isn't needed for a particular endpoint, failing fast
-    // with a clear error message will save anyone trying to get *their* signatures implementation a major
-    // headache.
-    let res = match verify_signature(&request, &cfg).await {
-        // If the request was signed and the signature was accepted, they can access the protected endpoints.
-        Ok(Some(sig)) => dispatch_signed(req, sig, cfg).await,
-        // Unsigned requests can see a smaller subset of endpoints, most notably the verification actor.
-        Ok(None) => dispatch_public(req, cfg).await,
-        // If a signature was provided *but it turned out to be unverifiable*, show them the error message.
-        Err(err) => error::bad_signature(match err {
-            SigError::VerificationFailed { error } => format!("Verification failed: {error}"),
-            SigError::ParseSignature { error } => format!("Failed to parse signature: {error}"),
-            SigError::FailedToFetchKey { keyid } => format!("Failed to fetch {keyid}"),
-        }),
-    };
-    eprintln!(
-        "{} {}: done (status: {})",
-        request.method(),
-        request.uri(),
-        res.status()
-    );
-    Ok(res)
-}
-
 // A parsed HTTP request for easy handling.
 struct Req<'a> {
     method: &'a Method,
@@ -109,7 +73,7 @@ impl Req<'_> {
     }
 }
 
-fn make_req<'x>(r: &'x http::Request<Bytes>) -> Req<'x> {
+fn simplify<'x>(r: &'x http::Request<Bytes>) -> Req<'x> {
     let path: Vec<&str> = r
         .uri()
         .path()
@@ -136,37 +100,69 @@ use hyper::Method;
 const POST: &Method = &Method::POST;
 const GET: &Method = &Method::GET;
 
+/// The request handler.
+async fn handle(req: Request, cx: Context) -> Result<Response, Infallible> {
+    // We need to fetch the entire body of the request for signature validation, because that involves making
+    // a digest of the request body in some cases.
+    let request = {
+        let (req, body) = req.into_parts();
+        let Ok(body) = body.collect().await.map(|b| b.to_bytes()) else {
+            return Ok(error::invalid_body("Could not get request body"));
+        };
+        http::Request::from_parts(req, body)
+    };
+    // Simplified representation of a request, so we can pattern match on it more easily in the dispatchers.
+    let req = simplify(&request);
+    // We'll use the path to pick where specifically to send the request.
+    // Check request signature at the door. Even if it isn't needed for a particular endpoint, failing fast
+    // with a clear error message will save anyone trying to get *their* signatures implementation a major
+    // headache.
+    let res = match verify_signature(&cx, &request).await {
+        // If the request was signed and the signature was accepted, they can access the protected endpoints.
+        Ok(Some(sig)) => dispatch_signed(cx, req, sig).await,
+        // Unsigned requests can see a smaller subset of endpoints, most notably the verification actor.
+        Ok(None) => dispatch_public(cx, req).await,
+        // If a signature was provided *but it turned out to be unverifiable*, show them the error message.
+        Err(err) => error::bad_signature(match err {
+            SigError::VerificationFailed { error } => format!("Verification failed: {error}"),
+            SigError::ParseSignature { error } => format!("Failed to parse signature: {error}"),
+            SigError::FailedToFetchKey { keyid } => format!("Failed to fetch {keyid}"),
+        }),
+    };
+    Ok(res)
+}
+
 /// Handle a signed and verified request.
 ///
 /// This function is where all requests to a protected endpoint have to go through. If the request
 /// was signed but does not target a protected endpoint, this function will fall back to the
 /// [`dispatch_public`] handler.
-async fn dispatch_signed(req: Req<'_>, sig: Signer, cfg: Config) -> Response {
+async fn dispatch_signed(cx: Context, req: Req<'_>, sig: Signer) -> Response {
     eprintln!("Dispatching signed request");
     match (req.method, req.path()) {
         // Viewing ActivityPub objects requires a signed request, i.e. "authorized fetch".
         // The one exception for this is `/s/request-verifier`, which is where the request
         // verification actor lives.
-        (GET, ["o", ulid]) => api::ap::serve_object(ulid),
+        (GET, ["o", ulid]) => api::ap::serve_object(&cx, ulid),
         // POSTs to an actor's inbox need to be signed to prevent impersonation.
         (POST, ["o", ulid, "inbox"]) => with_json(&req.body, |json| {
             // We only handle the intermediate parsing of the json, full resolution of the
             // activity object will happen inside the inbox handler itself.
-            api::ap::inbox(ulid, sig, json, cfg)
+            api::ap::inbox(&cx, ulid, sig, json)
         }),
         // Try the resources for which no signature is required as well.
-        _ => dispatch_public(req, cfg).await,
+        _ => dispatch_public(cx, req).await,
     }
 }
 
 /// Dispatch `req` to an unprotected endpoint. If the requested path does not exist, the
 /// function will return a 404 response.
-async fn dispatch_public(req: Req<'_>, cfg: Config) -> Response {
+async fn dispatch_public(cx: Context, req: Req<'_>) -> Response {
     eprintln!("Dispatching public request");
     match (req.method, req.path()) {
-        (GET, ["proxy"]) => api::ap::proxy(&req.params).await,
-        (GET, [".well-known", "webfinger"]) => api::wf::resolve(&req.params, cfg),
-        (GET, ["s", "request-verifier"]) => api::ap::serve_verifier_actor(cfg),
+        (GET, ["proxy"]) => api::ap::proxy(&cx, &req.params).await,
+        (GET, [".well-known", "webfinger"]) => api::wf::resolve(&cx, &req.params),
+        (GET, auth::VERIFIER_MOUNT) => api::ap::serve_verifier_actor(&cx),
         (m, p) => {
             eprintln!("404: {m} {p:?}");
             error::not_found()
diff --git a/lib/fetch/src/signatures.rs b/lib/fetch/src/signatures.rs
index 17d4782..ca8a2e1 100644
--- a/lib/fetch/src/signatures.rs
+++ b/lib/fetch/src/signatures.rs
@@ -99,22 +99,12 @@ pub struct Private(rsa::RsaPrivateKey);
 impl Private {
     /// Generate a new keypair.
     pub fn gen() -> (Private, Public) {
-        println!("[!] gen");
         let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
         let bits = 512;
         let private = RsaPrivateKey::new(&mut rng, bits).unwrap();
         let public = private.to_public_key();
         (Private(private), Public(public))
     }
-    pub fn tee(path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> (Private, Public) {
-        println!("[!] tee");
-        let (a, b) = Private::gen();
-        println!("[!] keygen complete");
-        a.0.write_pkcs8_pem_file(path, LineEnding::default())
-            .unwrap();
-        println!("[!] write finished");
-        (a, b)
-    }
     /// Get the public counterpart to this key.
     pub fn get_public(&self) -> Public {
         Public(self.0.to_public_key())
@@ -312,7 +302,8 @@ fn sign_rsa_sha256(signing_string: &str, key: &Private) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Strin
     Ok(buf)
 }
 
-/// Default for when
+/// Maximum time difference between the creation time of the signature and the current time before the
+/// signature will be rejected. This is a measure to increase the difficulty of a replay attack.
 const EXPIRY_WINDOW: TimeDelta = TimeDelta::minutes(5);
 
 /// Configuration for the behavior of the signing and verification routines.
diff --git a/lib/puppy/src/context.rs b/lib/puppy/src/context.rs
index 3fcff8d..0a52594 100644
--- a/lib/puppy/src/context.rs
+++ b/lib/puppy/src/context.rs
@@ -1,75 +1,55 @@
-use std::sync::OnceLock;
-
 use store::{Key, Store, Transaction};
 
-use crate::{auth, config::Config, data::schema, Error, Result};
+use crate::{auth::Verifier, config::Config, Result};
 
 /// The context of a running ActivityPuppy.
 ///
 /// This type provides access to the data store and configuration.
-pub struct Context<'c> {
-    pub(crate) config: &'c Config,
-    pub(crate) db: Store,
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Context {
+    verifier: Option<Verifier>,
+    config: Config,
+    store: Store,
 }
 
-impl Context<'_> {
+impl Context {
+    pub fn new(config: Config, store: Store, verifier: Verifier) -> Context {
+        Context {
+            verifier: Some(verifier),
+            config,
+            store,
+        }
+    }
     /// Do a data store [transaction][store::Transaction].
     pub fn run<T>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&Transaction<'_>) -> Result<T>) -> Result<T> {
-        self.db.run(f)
+        self.store.run(f)
     }
     /// Access the store directly.
     pub fn store(&self) -> &Store {
-        &self.db
+        &self.store
     }
     /// Access the configuration.
     pub fn config(&self) -> &Config {
-        self.config
+        &self.config
     }
     /// Create an ActivityPub object ID from a key.
     pub fn mk_url(&self, key: Key) -> String {
         format!("https://{}/o/{key}", self.config.ap_domain)
     }
     /// Get the verification actor.
-    pub fn verifier(&self) -> &auth::Verifier {
-        todo!()
+    pub fn verifier(&self) -> &Verifier {
+        self.verifier.as_ref().unwrap()
     }
 }
 
-/// The store, which we initialize only once this way.
-///
-/// This makes it so we don't have to thread everything down everywhere, we can just access the context
-/// when we need it.
-static STORE: OnceLock<Store> = OnceLock::new();
-
-/// Load the puppy [`Context`] from anywhere!
-///
-/// This gives you access to the data store and the configuration, without having to thread it through every place.
-// WARNING: don't use this within this crate. there's a clippy lint.
-pub fn context<T, E>(f: impl FnOnce(Context<'_>) -> Result<T, E>) -> Result<T, E>
-where
-    E: From<Error>,
-{
-    let cfg = Config {
-        ap_domain: String::from("test.piss-on.me"),
-        wf_domain: String::from("test.piss-on.me"),
-        port: 1312,
-    };
-    let db = STORE
-        .get_or_try_init(|| Store::open(".state", schema()))
-        .map_err(Error::Store)?
-        .clone();
-    f(Context { db, config: &cfg })
-}
-
-#[cfg(test)]
-use store::types::Schema;
-
 /// Load a context for running tests in.
 #[cfg(test)]
 pub fn test_context<T>(
     config: Config,
-    schema: Schema,
-    test: impl FnOnce(Context<'_>) -> Result<T>,
+    schema: store::types::Schema,
+    test: impl FnOnce(Context) -> Result<T>,
 ) -> Result<T> {
-    Store::test(schema, |db| test(Context { config: &config, db }))
+    Store::test(schema, |store| {
+        test(Context { config, store, verifier: None })
+    })
 }
diff --git a/lib/puppy/src/interact.rs b/lib/puppy/src/interact.rs
index 576bf56..133bafd 100644
--- a/lib/puppy/src/interact.rs
+++ b/lib/puppy/src/interact.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Interactions between actors.
 
-use store::{util::IterExt as _, Key, StoreError};
+use store::{util::IterExt as _, Key, StoreError, Transaction};
 
 use crate::{
     actor::Actor,
@@ -29,15 +29,13 @@ impl Actor {
     /// Makes `biter` bite `victim` and inserts the records into the database.
     pub fn do_bite(&self, cx: &Context, victim: &Actor) -> Result<Bite> {
         let bite = self.bite(victim);
-        cx.run(|tx| {
-            tx.create(bite)?;
-            Ok(bite)
-        })
+        cx.run(|tx| try { tx.create(bite) })?;
+        Ok(bite)
     }
     /// Creates a follow request from `self` to `target`.
     pub fn do_follow_request(&self, cx: &Context, target: &Actor) -> Result<FollowRequest> {
+        let req = self.follow_request(target);
         cx.run(|tx| {
-            let req = self.follow_request(target);
             tx.create(req)?;
             tx.add_mixin(req.id, Status::Pending)?;
             Ok(req)
@@ -72,49 +70,48 @@ impl Actor {
             self.key == req.target,
             "only the target of a follow request may accept it"
         };
-        cx.run(|tx| try {
-            tx.update(req.id, |_| Status::Rejected)?;
-        })
+        cx.run(|tx| try { tx.update(req.id, |_| Status::Rejected) })?;
+        Ok(())
     }
     /// Get all pending follow request for `self`.
     pub fn pending_requests<'c>(
         &self,
-        cx: &'c Context,
+        tx: &'c Transaction<'c>,
     ) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<FollowRequest>> + 'c {
-        cx.store()
-            .incoming::<FollowRequest>(self.key)
+        tx.incoming::<FollowRequest>(self.key)
             .map_err(Error::Store)
-            .filter_bind_results(|req| Ok(if req.is_pending(cx)? { Some(req) } else { None }))
+            .filter_bind_results(|req| Ok(if req.is_pending(tx)? { Some(req) } else { None }))
     }
     /// Get all nodes `self` is following.
-    pub fn following<'c>(&self, cx: &'c Context) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<Key>> + 'c {
-        cx.store()
-            .outgoing::<Follows>(self.key)
+    pub fn following<'c>(&self, tx: &'c Transaction<'c>) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<Key>> + 'c {
+        tx.outgoing::<Follows>(self.key)
             .map_err(Error::Store)
             .map_ok(|a| a.followed)
     }
     /// Get all followers of `self`.
-    pub fn followers<'c>(&self, cx: &'c Context) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<Key>> + 'c {
-        cx.store()
-            .incoming::<Follows>(self.key)
+    pub fn followers<'c>(&self, tx: &'c Transaction<'c>) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<Key>> + 'c {
+        tx.incoming::<Follows>(self.key)
             .map_err(Error::Store)
             .map_ok(|a| a.follower)
     }
     /// List all specific times `self` was bitten.
-    pub fn bites_suffered<'c>(&self, cx: &'c Context) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<Bite>> + 'c {
-        cx.store().incoming::<Bite>(self.key).map_err(Error::Store)
+    pub fn bites_suffered<'c>(
+        &self,
+        tx: &'c Transaction<'c>,
+    ) -> impl Iterator<Item = Result<Bite>> + 'c {
+        tx.incoming::<Bite>(self.key).map_err(Error::Store)
     }
     /// Check whether `self` follows `other`.
-    pub fn follows(&self, cx: &Context, other: &Actor) -> Result<bool> {
-        try { cx.db.exists::<Follows>(self.key, other.key)? }
+    pub fn follows(&self, tx: &Transaction<'_>, other: &Actor) -> Result<bool> {
+        try { tx.exists::<Follows>(self.key, other.key)? }
     }
 }
 
 impl FollowRequest {
     /// Determine if this follow request is pending.
-    pub fn is_pending(&self, cx: &Context) -> Result<bool> {
+    pub fn is_pending(&self, tx: &Transaction<'_>) -> Result<bool> {
         // The status is stored as a mixin, so we need to get it.
-        let Some(st) = cx.db.get_mixin::<Status>(self.id)? else {
+        let Some(st) = tx.get_mixin::<Status>(self.id)? else {
             // If we don't have a status for a follow request, something is borked.
             return Err(StoreError::Missing.into());
         };
@@ -122,7 +119,7 @@ impl FollowRequest {
         // relation already exists.
         debug_assert! {
             !(st == Status::Pending)
-                || cx.db.exists::<Follows>(self.origin, self.target).map(|x| !x)?,
+                || tx.exists::<Follows>(self.origin, self.target).map(|x| !x)?,
             "fr.is_pending -> !(fr.origin follows fr.target)"
         };
         Ok(st == Status::Pending)
@@ -150,28 +147,31 @@ mod tests {
         Config {
             ap_domain: String::from("unit-test.puppy.gay"),
             wf_domain: String::from("unit-test.puppy.gay"),
+            state_dir: todo!(), // TODO: make this a temp dir
+            port: 0,
         }
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn create_fr() -> Result<()> {
-        test_context(test_config(), schema(), |cx| try {
-            let db = cx.store();
+        test_context(test_config(), schema(), |cx| {
             let (alice, bob) = make_test_actors(&cx)?;
             alice.do_follow_request(&cx, &bob)?;
             assert!(
-                db.exists::<FollowRequest>(alice.key, bob.key)?,
+                cx.store().exists::<FollowRequest>(alice.key, bob.key)?,
                 "(alice -> bob) ∈ follow-requested"
             );
             assert!(
-                !db.exists::<Follows>(alice.key, bob.key)?,
+                !cx.store().exists::<Follows>(alice.key, bob.key)?,
                 "(alice -> bob) ∉ follows"
             );
-            let pending_for_bob = bob
-                .pending_requests(&cx)
-                .map_ok(|fr| fr.origin)
-                .try_collect::<Vec<_>>()?;
+            let pending_for_bob = cx.run(|tx| {
+                bob.pending_requests(&tx)
+                    .map_ok(|fr| fr.origin)
+                    .try_collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            })?;
             assert_eq!(pending_for_bob, vec![alice.key], "bob.pending = {{alice}}");
+            Ok(())
         })
     }
 
@@ -192,16 +192,17 @@ mod tests {
                 "(bob -> alice) ∉ follows"
             );
 
-            let pending_for_bob: Vec<_> = bob.pending_requests(&cx).try_collect()?;
-            assert!(pending_for_bob.is_empty(), "bob.pending = ∅");
+            cx.run(|tx| try {
+                let pending_for_bob: Vec<_> = bob.pending_requests(&tx).try_collect()?;
+                assert!(pending_for_bob.is_empty(), "bob.pending = ∅");
 
-            let followers_of_bob: Vec<_> = bob.followers(&cx).try_collect()?;
-            assert_eq!(
-                followers_of_bob,
-                vec![alice.key],
-                "bob.followers = {{alice}}"
-            );
-            Ok(())
+                let followers_of_bob: Vec<_> = bob.followers(&tx).try_collect()?;
+                assert_eq!(
+                    followers_of_bob,
+                    vec![alice.key],
+                    "bob.followers = {{alice}}"
+                );
+            })
         })
     }
 
@@ -212,19 +213,21 @@ mod tests {
             let req = alice.do_follow_request(&cx, &bob)?;
             bob.do_accept_request(&cx, req)?;
 
-            let followers_of_bob: Vec<_> = bob.followers(&cx).try_collect()?;
-            assert_eq!(
-                followers_of_bob,
-                vec![alice.key],
-                "bob.followers = {{alice}}"
-            );
+            cx.run(|tx| try {
+                let followers_of_bob: Vec<_> = bob.followers(&tx).try_collect()?;
+                assert_eq!(
+                    followers_of_bob,
+                    vec![alice.key],
+                    "bob.followers = {{alice}}"
+                );
 
-            let following_of_alice: Vec<_> = alice.following(&cx).try_collect()?;
-            assert_eq!(
-                following_of_alice,
-                vec![bob.key],
-                "alice.following = {{bob}}"
-            );
+                let following_of_alice: Vec<_> = alice.following(&tx).try_collect()?;
+                assert_eq!(
+                    following_of_alice,
+                    vec![bob.key],
+                    "alice.following = {{bob}}"
+                );
+            })?
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/puppy/src/lib.rs b/lib/puppy/src/lib.rs
index 5d7f15b..f615348 100644
--- a/lib/puppy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/puppy/src/lib.rs
@@ -12,12 +12,13 @@
 // but that would make every type signature ever 100x more complicated, so we're not doing it.
 #![deny(clippy::disallowed_methods, clippy::disallowed_types)]
 
-pub use context::{context, Context};
+pub use context::Context;
 #[cfg(test)]
 pub use context::test_context;
 
 use data::{ActivityKind, Channel, Content, Create, Id, Object, ObjectKind, Profile, PublicKey};
 
+use store::Transaction;
 pub use store::{self, Key, StoreError};
 pub use fetch;
 
@@ -30,21 +31,21 @@ mod interact;
 /// Retrieve an ActivityPub object from the database.
 ///
 /// Fails with `Error::Missing` if the required properties are not present.
-pub fn get_local_ap_object(cx: &Context<'_>, key: Key) -> Result<fetch::Object> {
-    let Some(obj) = cx.db.get_mixin::<Object>(key)? else {
+pub fn get_local_ap_object(tx: &Transaction<'_>, key: Key) -> Result<fetch::Object> {
+    let Some(obj) = tx.get_mixin::<Object>(key)? else {
         // We need this data in order to determine the object type. If the passed key does not
         // have this data, it must not be an ActivityPub object.
         return Err(Error::MissingData { node: key, prop: "Object" });
     };
     match obj.kind {
         ObjectKind::Actor => {
-            let Some(Profile { account_name, display_name, .. }) = cx.db.get_mixin(key)? else {
+            let Some(Profile { account_name, display_name, .. }) = tx.get_mixin(key)? else {
                 return Err(Error::MissingData { node: key, prop: "Profile" });
             };
-            let Some(Channel { inbox }) = cx.db.get_mixin(key)? else {
+            let Some(Channel { inbox }) = tx.get_mixin(key)? else {
                 return Err(Error::MissingData { node: key, prop: "Channel" });
             };
-            let Some(PublicKey { key_id, key_pem }) = cx.db.get_mixin(key)? else {
+            let Some(PublicKey { key_id, key_pem }) = tx.get_mixin(key)? else {
                 return Err(Error::MissingData { node: key, prop: "PublicKey" });
             };
             Ok(fetch::Object::Actor(fetch::Actor {
@@ -60,19 +61,19 @@ pub fn get_local_ap_object(cx: &Context<'_>, key: Key) -> Result<fetch::Object>
             }))
         }
         ObjectKind::Activity(ActivityKind::Create) => {
-            let Some(Create { object, actor, .. }) = cx.db.get_arrow(key)? else {
+            let Some(Create { object, actor, .. }) = tx.get_arrow(key)? else {
                 panic!("expected a `Create`");
             };
-            let Id(actor) = cx.db.get_alias(actor)?.unwrap();
+            let Id(actor) = tx.get_alias(actor)?.unwrap();
             Ok(fetch::Object::Activity(fetch::Activity {
                 id: obj.id.0.into(),
                 actor: actor.into(),
-                object: Box::new(get_local_ap_object(cx, object)?),
+                object: Box::new(get_local_ap_object(tx, object)?),
                 kind: String::from("Create"),
             }))
         }
         ObjectKind::Notelike(kind) => {
-            let Some(Content { content, warning, .. }) = cx.db.get_mixin(key)? else {
+            let Some(Content { content, warning, .. }) = tx.get_mixin(key)? else {
                 panic!()
             };
             Ok(fetch::Object::Object {
@@ -105,9 +106,8 @@ pub mod actor {
 
     impl Actor {
         /// Get a local actor from the store by their username.
-        pub fn by_username(cx: &Context, username: impl ToString) -> Result<Option<Actor>> {
-            let maybe_key = cx
-                .store()
+        pub fn by_username(tx: &Transaction<'_>, username: impl ToString) -> Result<Option<Actor>> {
+            let maybe_key = tx
                 .lookup(Username(username.to_string()))
                 .map_err(Error::Store)?;
             // For now, we only have local actors.
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ pub mod actor {
         cx.run(|tx| {
             let username: Username = username.to_string().into();
             // Federation stuff
-            mixin_ap_actor(tx, key, &cx.config.ap_domain, true)?;
-            mixin_priv_key(tx, key, &cx.config.ap_domain)?;
+            mixin_ap_actor(tx, key, &cx.config().ap_domain, true)?;
+            mixin_priv_key(tx, key, &cx.config().ap_domain)?;
             // Social properties
             tx.add_alias(key, username.clone())?;
             tx.add_mixin(key, Profile {
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ pub mod config {
     pub struct Config {
         pub ap_domain: String,
         pub wf_domain: String,
+        pub state_dir: String,
         pub port: u16,
     }
 }
@@ -203,8 +204,10 @@ pub mod auth {
     use fetch::signatures::{Private, Public, Signature};
     use serde_json::{json, Value};
 
-    use crate::config::Config;
+    use crate::{config::Config, Context};
 
+    /// Checks request signatures.
+    #[derive(Clone)]
     pub struct Verifier {
         actor_id: String,
         key_id: String,
@@ -212,13 +215,20 @@ pub mod auth {
         public: Public,
     }
 
+    const VERIFIER_PATH: &str = "/s/request-verifier";
+    /// The path at which the request verification actor will present itself.
+    pub const VERIFIER_MOUNT: &[&str] = &["s", "request-verifier"];
+
     impl Verifier {
-        pub async fn get_public_key(&self, uri: &str) -> Result<fetch::Key, String> {
+        /// Send a request to get the public key from an ID. This request will be signed with the
+        /// verifier actor's public key.
+        async fn fetch_public_key(&self, uri: &str) -> Result<fetch::Key<Public>, String> {
             let json = fetch::resolve(&self.signing_key(), uri).await.unwrap();
-            Ok(fetch::Key::from_json(dbg!(json)).unwrap())
+            Ok(fetch::Key::from_json(dbg!(json)).unwrap().upgrade())
         }
 
-        pub fn signing_key(&self) -> fetch::SigningKey {
+        /// Get the key that the verification actor signs requests with.
+        fn signing_key(&self) -> fetch::SigningKey {
             fetch::Key {
                 id: self.key_id.clone(),
                 owner: self.actor_id.clone(),
@@ -226,6 +236,7 @@ pub mod auth {
             }
         }
 
+        /// Get the JSON-LD representation of the verifier actor.
         pub fn to_json_ld(&self) -> Value {
             json!({
                 "@context": [
@@ -243,14 +254,15 @@ pub mod auth {
             })
         }
 
+        /// Load the actor's verifier actor.
         pub fn load(cfg: &Config) -> Verifier {
             println!("[*] loading private key");
-            let domain = &cfg.ap_domain;
-            let private = Private::load(".state/fetcher.pem");
+            let Config { ap_domain, state_dir, .. } = cfg;
+            let private = Private::load(format!("{state_dir}/fetcher.pem"));
             println!("* done loading private key");
             Verifier {
-                actor_id: format!("https://{domain}/s/request-verifier"),
-                key_id: format!("https://{domain}/s/request-verifier#sig-key"),
+                actor_id: format!("https://{ap_domain}{VERIFIER_PATH}"),
+                key_id: format!("https://{ap_domain}{VERIFIER_PATH}#sig-key"),
                 public: private.get_public(),
                 private,
             }
@@ -269,21 +281,22 @@ pub mod auth {
         VerificationFailed { error: String },
     }
 
+    // TODO: make it so we don't have to know what an "http request" is in this crate.
     /// Check the signature for a request.
     pub async fn verify_signature(
+        cx: &Context,
         req: &fetch::http::Request<impl AsRef<[u8]> + std::fmt::Debug>,
-        cfg: &Config,
     ) -> Result<Option<Signer>, SigError> {
         println!(">>> starting signature verification for {req:#?}");
 
-        if req.uri().path() == "/s/request-verifier" {
-            // Allow access to the request verifier actor without checking the signature.
+        if req.uri().path() == VERIFIER_PATH {
+            // HACK: Allow access to the request verifier actor without checking the signature.
             return Ok(None);
         }
         println!(">>> not going for the verifier!");
 
         if req.headers().get("signature").is_none() {
-            // Request is not signed!
+            // Request is not signed.
             return Ok(None);
         };
         println!(">>> has signature");
@@ -299,8 +312,8 @@ pub mod auth {
         println!(">>> signature is syntatically valid");
 
         // Fetch the public key using the verifier private key.
-        let verifier = Verifier::load(cfg);
-        let Ok(public_key) = verifier.get_public_key(sig.key_id()).await else {
+        let verifier = cx.verifier();
+        let Ok(public_key) = verifier.fetch_public_key(sig.key_id()).await else {
             return Err(SigError::FailedToFetchKey {
                 keyid: sig.key_id().to_string(),
             });
@@ -308,14 +321,12 @@ pub mod auth {
         println!(">>> public key fetched");
 
         // Verify the signature header on the request.
-        let public_key = public_key.upgrade();
-        println!(">>> upgraded");
         if let Err(error) = public_key.verify(&sig) {
             println!(">>> rejected");
             Err(SigError::VerificationFailed { error })
         } else {
             println!(">>> request verified");
-            Ok(Some(Signer { ap_id: public_key.owner.into() }))
+            Ok(Some(Signer { ap_id: public_key.owner }))
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/puppy/src/post.rs b/lib/puppy/src/post.rs
index b932d5e..006a827 100644
--- a/lib/puppy/src/post.rs
+++ b/lib/puppy/src/post.rs
@@ -17,53 +17,6 @@ pub struct Post {
     pub key: Key,
 }
 
-impl Post {
-    pub async fn federate(&self, cx: &Context<'_>) -> crate::Result<()> {
-        use fetch::{Activity, Object};
-        let post @ Object::Object { .. } = crate::get_local_ap_object(cx, self.key)? else {
-            todo!()
-        };
-        let author = cx
-            .db
-            .incoming::<AuthorOf>(self.key)
-            .map_ok(|a| a.author)
-            .next()
-            .unwrap()?;
-        let author_id = cx.db.get_alias::<data::Id>(author)?.unwrap();
-        let activity = Activity {
-            id: post.id().clone().into(),
-            object: Box::new(post),
-            kind: String::from("Create"),
-            actor: author_id.0.clone().into(),
-        };
-        let (private, public) = cx.db.get_mixin_many::<(PrivateKey, PublicKey)>(author)?;
-        let key = fetch::SigningKey {
-            id: public.key_id,
-            owner: author_id.0,
-            inner: Private::decode_pem(&private.key_pem),
-        };
-        // Insert the activity in the database.
-        cx.run(|tx| try {
-            let activity_key = Key::gen();
-            let id: data::Id = cx.mk_url(activity_key).into();
-            tx.add_mixin(activity_key, data::Object {
-                id: id.clone(),
-                kind: ObjectKind::Activity(data::ActivityKind::Create),
-                local: true,
-            })?;
-            tx.create(data::Create {
-                id: activity_key,
-                actor: author,
-                object: self.key,
-            })?;
-            tx.add_alias(activity_key, id)?;
-        })?;
-        // Send the requests.
-        fetch::deliver(&key, activity, "https://crimew.gay/users/ezri/inbox").await;
-        Ok(())
-    }
-}
-
 impl From<&str> for Content {
     fn from(value: &str) -> Self {
         value.to_string().into()
@@ -180,7 +133,7 @@ pub fn create_post(cx: &Context, author: Key, content: impl Into<Content>) -> cr
         // Local stuff
         mixin_post(tx, key, author, content)?;
         // Federation stuff
-        let id = Id(format!("https://{}/o/{key}", cx.config.ap_domain));
+        let id = Id(cx.mk_url(key));
         tx.add_alias(key, id.clone())?;
         tx.add_mixin(key, Object {
             kind: ObjectKind::Notelike("Note".to_string()),
diff --git a/lib/store/src/arrow.rs b/lib/store/src/arrow.rs
index d067472..96bf90e 100644
--- a/lib/store/src/arrow.rs
+++ b/lib/store/src/arrow.rs
@@ -217,6 +217,18 @@ impl Transaction<'_> {
     {
         op::between::<A>(self, a, b).map_ok(A::from)
     }
+    /// Construct the arrow from its identifier.
+    pub fn get_arrow<A>(&self, key: Key) -> Result<Option<A>>
+    where
+        A: Arrow<Kind = Multi>,
+    {
+        let arrow = self
+            .open(crate::types::MULTIEDGE_HEADERS)
+            .get(key)?
+            .map(|v| Key::split(v.as_ref()))
+            .map(|(origin, target)| A::from(Multi { origin, target, identity: key }));
+        Ok(arrow)
+    }
 }
 
 impl Batch {
diff --git a/lib/store/src/mixin.rs b/lib/store/src/mixin.rs
index 98c1f46..542e94d 100644
--- a/lib/store/src/mixin.rs
+++ b/lib/store/src/mixin.rs
@@ -128,6 +128,13 @@ impl Transaction<'_> {
     {
         op::join_on(self, iter.into_iter().map_ok(f))
     }
+    /// Get multiple mixins associated with the same key.
+    pub fn get_mixin_many<T>(&self, key: Key) -> Result<T>
+    where
+        T: GetMany,
+    {
+        T::get(self, key)
+    }
 }
 
 impl Batch {