diff --git a/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs
index f273562c..15eb43e4 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs
@@ -170,12 +170,12 @@ impl Crypto {
 
         // load caches if they are valid for this node id
         let mut db = table_store.open("crypto_caches", 1).await?;
-        let caches_valid = match db.load(0, b"cache_validity_key")? {
+        let caches_valid = match db.load(0, b"cache_validity_key").await? {
             Some(v) => v == cache_validity_key,
             None => false,
         };
         if caches_valid {
-            if let Some(b) = db.load(0, b"dh_cache")? {
+            if let Some(b) = db.load(0, b"dh_cache").await? {
                 let mut inner = self.inner.lock();
                 bytes_to_cache(&b, &mut inner.dh_cache);
             }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/intf/native/table_store.rs b/veilid-core/src/intf/native/table_store.rs
index c4ba94fe..a2868cce 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/intf/native/table_store.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/intf/native/table_store.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use keyvaluedb_sqlite::*;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 struct TableStoreInner {
-    opened: BTreeMap<String, Weak<Mutex<TableDBUnlockedInner>>>,
+    opened: BTreeMap<String, Weak<TableDBUnlockedInner>>,
 }
 
 /// Veilid Table Storage
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/intf/table_db.rs b/veilid-core/src/intf/table_db.rs
index fb9d3396..0070b537 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/intf/table_db.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/intf/table_db.rs
@@ -127,16 +127,11 @@ impl TableDB {
             for<'t> CheckBytes<rkyv::validation::validators::DefaultValidator<'t>>,
         <T as RkyvArchive>::Archived: RkyvDeserialize<T, VeilidSharedDeserializeMap>,
     {
-        let db = self.unlocked_inner.database.clone();
-        let out = db.get(col, key).await.wrap_err("failed to get key")?;
-        let b = match out {
-            Some(v) => v,
-            None => {
-                return Ok(None);
-            }
+        let out = match self.load(col, key).await? {
+            Some(v) => from_rkyv(v)?,
+            None => None,
         };
-        let obj = from_rkyv(b)?;
-        Ok(Some(obj))
+        Ok(out)
     }
 
     /// Read an serde-json key from a column in the TableDB immediately
@@ -144,32 +139,47 @@ impl TableDB {
     where
         T: for<'de> serde::Deserialize<'de>,
     {
-        let db = self.unlocked_inner.database.clone();
-        let out = db.get(col, key).await.wrap_err("failed to get key")?;
-        let b = match out {
-            Some(v) => v,
-            None => {
-                return Ok(None);
-            }
+        let out = match self.load(col, key).await? {
+            Some(v) => serde_json::from_slice(&v)?,
+            None => None,
         };
-        let obj = serde_json::from_slice(&b)?;
-        Ok(Some(obj))
+        Ok(out)
     }
 
     /// Delete key with from a column in the TableDB
-    xxx fix me
-    pub async fn delete(&self, col: u32, key: &[u8]) -> EyreResult<bool> {
+    pub async fn delete(&self, col: u32, key: &[u8]) -> EyreResult<Option<Vec<u8>>> {
         let db = self.unlocked_inner.database.clone();
-        let found = db.get(col, key).await.wrap_err("failed to get key")?;
-        match found {
-            None => Ok(false),
-            Some(_) => {
-                let mut dbt = db.transaction();
-                dbt.delete(col, key);
-                db.write(dbt).await.wrap_err("failed to delete key")?;
-                Ok(true)
-            }
-        }
+        let old_value = db.delete(col, key).await.wrap_err("failed to delete key")?;
+        Ok(old_value)
+    }
+
+    /// Delete rkyv key with from a column in the TableDB
+    pub async fn delete_rkyv<T>(&self, col: u32, key: &[u8]) -> EyreResult<Option<T>>
+    where
+        T: RkyvArchive,
+        <T as RkyvArchive>::Archived:
+            for<'t> CheckBytes<rkyv::validation::validators::DefaultValidator<'t>>,
+        <T as RkyvArchive>::Archived: RkyvDeserialize<T, VeilidSharedDeserializeMap>,
+    {
+        let db = self.unlocked_inner.database.clone();
+        let old_value = match db.delete(col, key).await.wrap_err("failed to delete key")? {
+            Some(v) => from_rkyv(v)?,
+            None => None,
+        };
+        Ok(old_value)
+    }
+
+    /// Delete serde-json key with from a column in the TableDB
+    pub async fn delete_json<T>(&self, col: u32, key: &[u8]) -> EyreResult<Option<T>>
+    where
+        T: for<'de> serde::Deserialize<'de>,
+    {
+        let db = self.unlocked_inner.database.clone();
+        let old_value = match db.delete(col, key).await.wrap_err("failed to delete key")? {
+            Some(v) => serde_json::from_slice(&v)?,
+            None => None,
+        };
+        Ok(old_value)
     }
 }
 
@@ -217,7 +227,7 @@ impl TableDBTransaction {
                 .take()
                 .ok_or_else(|| eyre!("transaction already completed"))?
         };
-        let db = self.db.unlocked_inner.lock().database.clone();
+        let db = self.db.unlocked_inner.database.clone();
         db.write(dbt)
             .await
             .wrap_err("commit failed, transaction lost")
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
index f8457d3e..8bd93aeb 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
@@ -339,11 +339,11 @@ impl RoutingTable {
         // Deserialize bucket map and all entries from the table store
         let tstore = self.unlocked_inner.network_manager().table_store();
         let tdb = tstore.open("routing_table", 1).await?;
-        let Some(serialized_bucket_map): Option<BTreeMap<CryptoKind, Vec<Vec<u8>>>> = tdb.load_rkyv(0, b"serialized_bucket_map")? else {
+        let Some(serialized_bucket_map): Option<BTreeMap<CryptoKind, Vec<Vec<u8>>>> = tdb.load_rkyv(0, b"serialized_bucket_map").await? else {
             log_rtab!(debug "no bucket map in saved routing table");
             return Ok(());
         };
-        let Some(all_entry_bytes): Option<Vec<Vec<u8>>> = tdb.load_rkyv(0, b"all_entry_bytes")? else {
+        let Some(all_entry_bytes): Option<Vec<Vec<u8>>> = tdb.load_rkyv(0, b"all_entry_bytes").await? else {
             log_rtab!(debug "no all_entry_bytes in saved routing table");
             return Ok(());
         };
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/route_spec_store/route_spec_store_content.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/route_spec_store/route_spec_store_content.rs
index 4b5b06ec..c5b1d404 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/route_spec_store/route_spec_store_content.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/route_spec_store/route_spec_store_content.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ impl RouteSpecStoreContent {
         let table_store = routing_table.network_manager().table_store();
         let rsstdb = table_store.open("RouteSpecStore", 1).await?;
         let mut content: RouteSpecStoreContent =
-            rsstdb.load_rkyv(0, b"content")?.unwrap_or_default();
+            rsstdb.load_rkyv(0, b"content").await?.unwrap_or_default();
 
         // Look up all route hop noderefs since we can't serialize those
         let mut dead_ids = Vec::new();
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/get_value.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/get_value.rs
index 7130e674..f41dd578 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/get_value.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/get_value.rs
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ impl StorageManager {
     /// Handle a recieved 'Get Value' query
     pub async fn inbound_get_value(&self, key: TypedKey, subkey: ValueSubkey, want_descriptor: bool) -> Result<NetworkResult<SubkeyResult>, VeilidAPIError> {
         let mut inner = self.lock().await?;
-        let res = match inner.handle_get_remote_value(key, subkey, want_descriptor) {            
+        let res = match inner.handle_get_remote_value(key, subkey, want_descriptor).await {            
             Ok(res) => res,
             Err(VeilidAPIError::Internal { message }) => {
                 apibail_internal!(message);
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs
index 191fce92..9e9810d4 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/mod.rs
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ impl StorageManager {
         };
 
         // See if the requested subkey is our local record store
-        let last_subkey_result = inner.handle_get_local_value(key, subkey, true)?;
+        let last_subkey_result = inner.handle_get_local_value(key, subkey, true).await?;
 
         // Return the existing value if we have one unless we are forcing a refresh
         if !force_refresh {
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ impl StorageManager {
         };
 
         // See if the subkey we are modifying has a last known local value
-        let last_subkey_result = inner.handle_get_local_value(key, subkey, true)?;
+        let last_subkey_result = inner.handle_get_local_value(key, subkey, true).await?;
 
         // Get the descriptor and schema for the key
         let Some(descriptor) = last_subkey_result.descriptor else {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs
index d23eb14d..25e62725 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@ where
             .await?;
 
         // Pull record index from table into a vector to ensure we sort them
-        let record_table_keys = record_table.get_keys(0)?;
+        let record_table_keys = record_table.get_keys(0).await?;
         let mut record_index_saved: Vec<(RecordTableKey, Record<D>)> =
             Vec::with_capacity(record_table_keys.len());
         for rtk in record_table_keys {
-            if let Some(vr) = record_table.load_rkyv::<Record<D>>(0, &rtk)? {
+            if let Some(vr) = record_table.load_rkyv::<Record<D>>(0, &rtk).await? {
                 let rik = RecordTableKey::try_from(rtk.as_ref())?;
                 record_index_saved.push((rik, vr));
             }
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ where
     //     self.with_record(key, |record| record.descriptor().clone())
     // }
 
-    pub fn get_subkey(
+    pub async fn get_subkey(
         &mut self,
         key: TypedKey,
         subkey: ValueSubkey,
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ where
         // If not in cache, try to pull from table store
         if let Some(record_data) = subkey_table
             .load_rkyv::<RecordData>(0, &stk.bytes())
+            .await
             .map_err(VeilidAPIError::internal)?
         {
             let out = record_data.signed_value_data().clone();
@@ -458,6 +459,7 @@ where
             // If not in cache, try to pull from table store
             if let Some(record_data) = subkey_table
                 .load_rkyv::<RecordData>(0, &stk_bytes)
+                .await
                 .map_err(VeilidAPIError::internal)?
             {
                 prior_record_data_size = record_data.total_size();
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs
index 22afcc8a..911109f7 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/set_value.rs
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ impl StorageManager {
         let mut inner = self.lock().await?;
 
         // See if the subkey we are modifying has a last known local value
-        let last_subkey_result = inner.handle_get_local_value(key, subkey, true)?;
+        let last_subkey_result = inner.handle_get_local_value(key, subkey, true).await?;
 
         // Make sure this value would actually be newer
         if let Some(last_value) = &last_subkey_result.value {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/storage_manager_inner.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/storage_manager_inner.rs
index 58f0e46c..068b3075 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/storage_manager_inner.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/storage_manager_inner.rs
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ impl StorageManagerInner {
 
     async fn load_metadata(&mut self) -> EyreResult<()> {
         if let Some(metadata_db) = &self.metadata_db {
-            self.offline_subkey_writes = metadata_db.load_rkyv(0, b"offline_subkey_writes")?.unwrap_or_default();
+            self.offline_subkey_writes = metadata_db.load_rkyv(0, b"offline_subkey_writes").await?.unwrap_or_default();
         }
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ impl StorageManagerInner {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub fn handle_get_local_value(
+    pub async fn handle_get_local_value(
         &mut self,
         key: TypedKey,
         subkey: ValueSubkey,
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ impl StorageManagerInner {
         let Some(local_record_store) = self.local_record_store.as_mut() else {
             apibail_not_initialized!();
         };
-        if let Some(subkey_result) = local_record_store.get_subkey(key, subkey, want_descriptor)? {
+        if let Some(subkey_result) = local_record_store.get_subkey(key, subkey, want_descriptor).await? {
             return Ok(subkey_result);
         }
 
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ impl StorageManagerInner {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub fn handle_get_remote_value(
+    pub async fn handle_get_remote_value(
         &mut self,
         key: TypedKey,
         subkey: ValueSubkey,
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ impl StorageManagerInner {
         let Some(remote_record_store) = self.remote_record_store.as_mut() else {
             apibail_not_initialized!();
         };
-        if let Some(subkey_result) = remote_record_store.get_subkey(key, subkey, want_descriptor)? {
+        if let Some(subkey_result) = remote_record_store.get_subkey(key, subkey, want_descriptor).await? {
             return Ok(subkey_result);
         }
 
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_table_store.rs b/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_table_store.rs
index d7af7094..1a487bc0 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_table_store.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_table_store.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub async fn test_store_delete_load(ts: TableStore) {
     );
 
     assert_eq!(
-        db.load(0, b"foo").unwrap(),
+        db.load(0, b"foo").await.unwrap(),
         None,
         "should not load missing key"
     );
@@ -67,11 +67,14 @@ pub async fn test_store_delete_load(ts: TableStore) {
         "should store new key"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        db.load(0, b"foo").unwrap(),
+        db.load(0, b"foo").await.unwrap(),
         None,
         "should not load missing key"
     );
-    assert_eq!(db.load(1, b"foo").unwrap(), Some(b"1234567890".to_vec()));
+    assert_eq!(
+        db.load(1, b"foo").await.unwrap(),
+        Some(b"1234567890".to_vec())
+    );
 
     assert!(
         db.store(1, b"bar", b"FNORD").await.is_ok(),
@@ -96,16 +99,22 @@ pub async fn test_store_delete_load(ts: TableStore) {
         "should store new key"
     );
 
-    assert_eq!(db.load(1, b"bar").unwrap(), Some(b"FNORD".to_vec()));
+    assert_eq!(db.load(1, b"bar").await.unwrap(), Some(b"FNORD".to_vec()));
     assert_eq!(
-        db.load(0, b"bar").unwrap(),
+        db.load(0, b"bar").await.unwrap(),
         Some(b"ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ".to_vec())
     );
-    assert_eq!(db.load(2, b"bar").unwrap(), Some(b"QWERTYUIOP".to_vec()));
-    assert_eq!(db.load(2, b"baz").unwrap(), Some(b"QWERTY".to_vec()));
+    assert_eq!(
+        db.load(2, b"bar").await.unwrap(),
+        Some(b"QWERTYUIOP".to_vec())
+    );
+    assert_eq!(db.load(2, b"baz").await.unwrap(), Some(b"QWERTY".to_vec()));
 
-    assert_eq!(db.delete(1, b"bar").await.unwrap(), true);
-    assert_eq!(db.delete(1, b"bar").await.unwrap(), false);
+    assert_eq!(
+        db.delete(1, b"bar").await.unwrap(),
+        Some(b"QWERTYUIOP".to_vec())
+    );
+    assert_eq!(db.delete(1, b"bar").await.unwrap(), None);
     assert!(
         db.delete(4, b"bar").await.is_err(),
         "can't delete from column that doesn't exist"
@@ -114,17 +123,20 @@ pub async fn test_store_delete_load(ts: TableStore) {
     drop(db);
     let db = ts.open("test", 3).await.expect("should have opened");
 
-    assert_eq!(db.load(1, b"bar").unwrap(), None);
+    assert_eq!(db.load(1, b"bar").await.unwrap(), None);
     assert_eq!(
-        db.load(0, b"bar").unwrap(),
+        db.load(0, b"bar").await.unwrap(),
         Some(b"ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ".to_vec())
     );
-    assert_eq!(db.load(2, b"bar").unwrap(), Some(b"QWERTYUIOP".to_vec()));
-    assert_eq!(db.load(2, b"baz").unwrap(), Some(b"QWERTY".to_vec()));
+    assert_eq!(
+        db.load(2, b"bar").await.unwrap(),
+        Some(b"QWERTYUIOP".to_vec())
+    );
+    assert_eq!(db.load(2, b"baz").await.unwrap(), Some(b"QWERTY".to_vec()));
 }
 
-pub async fn test_frozen(vcrypto: CryptoSystemVersion, ts: TableStore) {
-    trace!("test_frozen");
+pub async fn test_rkyv(vcrypto: CryptoSystemVersion, ts: TableStore) {
+    trace!("test_rkyv");
 
     let _ = ts.delete("test");
     let db = ts.open("test", 3).await.expect("should have opened");
@@ -132,9 +144,17 @@ pub async fn test_frozen(vcrypto: CryptoSystemVersion, ts: TableStore) {
 
     assert!(db.store_rkyv(0, b"asdf", &keypair).await.is_ok());
 
-    assert_eq!(db.load_rkyv::<KeyPair>(0, b"qwer").unwrap(), None);
+    assert_eq!(db.load_rkyv::<KeyPair>(0, b"qwer").await.unwrap(), None);
 
-    let d = match db.load_rkyv::<KeyPair>(0, b"asdf") {
+    let d = match db.load_rkyv::<KeyPair>(0, b"asdf").await {
+        Ok(x) => x,
+        Err(e) => {
+            panic!("couldn't decode: {}", e);
+        }
+    };
+    assert_eq!(d, Some(keypair), "keys should be equal");
+
+    let d = match db.delete_rkyv::<KeyPair>(0, b"asdf").await {
         Ok(x) => x,
         Err(e) => {
             panic!("couldn't decode: {}", e);
@@ -148,7 +168,45 @@ pub async fn test_frozen(vcrypto: CryptoSystemVersion, ts: TableStore) {
     );
 
     assert!(
-        db.load_rkyv::<TypedKey>(1, b"foo").is_err(),
+        db.load_rkyv::<TypedKey>(1, b"foo").await.is_err(),
+        "should fail to unfreeze"
+    );
+}
+
+pub async fn test_json(vcrypto: CryptoSystemVersion, ts: TableStore) {
+    trace!("test_json");
+
+    let _ = ts.delete("test");
+    let db = ts.open("test", 3).await.expect("should have opened");
+    let keypair = vcrypto.generate_keypair();
+
+    assert!(db.store_json(0, b"asdf", &keypair).await.is_ok());
+
+    assert_eq!(db.load_json::<KeyPair>(0, b"qwer").await.unwrap(), None);
+
+    let d = match db.load_json::<KeyPair>(0, b"asdf").await {
+        Ok(x) => x,
+        Err(e) => {
+            panic!("couldn't decode: {}", e);
+        }
+    };
+    assert_eq!(d, Some(keypair), "keys should be equal");
+
+    let d = match db.delete_json::<KeyPair>(0, b"asdf").await {
+        Ok(x) => x,
+        Err(e) => {
+            panic!("couldn't decode: {}", e);
+        }
+    };
+    assert_eq!(d, Some(keypair), "keys should be equal");
+
+    assert!(
+        db.store(1, b"foo", b"1234567890").await.is_ok(),
+        "should store new key"
+    );
+
+    assert!(
+        db.load_json::<TypedKey>(1, b"foo").await.is_err(),
         "should fail to unfreeze"
     );
 }
@@ -162,7 +220,8 @@ pub async fn test_all() {
         let vcrypto = crypto.get(ck).unwrap();
         test_delete_open_delete(ts.clone()).await;
         test_store_delete_load(ts.clone()).await;
-        test_frozen(vcrypto, ts.clone()).await;
+        test_rkyv(vcrypto.clone(), ts.clone()).await;
+        test_json(vcrypto, ts.clone()).await;
         let _ = ts.delete("test").await;
     }
 
diff --git a/veilid-flutter/rust/src/dart_ffi.rs b/veilid-flutter/rust/src/dart_ffi.rs
index d5ebd305..ed1cf5b8 100644
--- a/veilid-flutter/rust/src/dart_ffi.rs
+++ b/veilid-flutter/rust/src/dart_ffi.rs
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn table_db_get_keys(id: u32, col: u32) -> *mut c_char {
     let table_dbs = TABLE_DBS.lock();
     let Some(table_db) = table_dbs.get(&id) else {
         return std::ptr::null_mut();
-    };
+    }; xxx continue here and run all tests
     let Ok(keys) = table_db.clone().get_keys(col) else {
         return std::ptr::null_mut();
     };