diff --git a/komrade/backend/komrades.py b/komrade/backend/komrades.py
index 4b9bbd7..d8c5c1f 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/komrades.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/komrades.py
@@ -269,8 +269,8 @@ class KomradeX(Caller):
         self.log('Got resp_msg_d back from operator:',resp_msg_d)
 
         # check msgs?
-        if 'res_check_msgs' in resp_msg_d:
-            self.do_check_msgs(resp_msg_d['res_check_msgs'])
+        if 'inbox' in resp_msg_d:
+            self.do_check_msgs(resp_msg_d['inbox'])
             resp_msg_d['res_refresh'] = self.refresh(check_msgs=False) # already done in previous line
 
         self.log('-->',resp_msg_d)
@@ -439,31 +439,53 @@ class KomradeX(Caller):
         )
 
 
+    @property
+    def inbox_db(self):
+        if not hasattr(self,'_inbox_db'):
+            self._inbox_db=self.get_inbox_crypt(
+                prefix='/inbox/'
+            )
+        return self._inbox_db
+    @property
+    def inbox_unread_db(self):
+        if not hasattr(self,'_inbox_unread_db'):
+            self._inbox_unread_db=self.get_inbox_crypt(
+                prefix='/inbox/unread/',
+            )
+        return self._inbox_unread_db
+    @property
+    def inbox_read_db(self):
+        if not hasattr(self,'_inbox_read_db'):
+            self._inbox_read_db=self.get_inbox_crypt(
+                prefix='/inbox/read/',
+            )
+        return self._inbox_read_db
 
 
-    def check_msgs(self,inbox=None):
+
+    def download_inbox(self,uri=None):
         if not self.pubkey and self.privkey:
             return {'success':False,'status':'Need to be logged in'}
         
         # checking my own mail I presume?
-        if not inbox:
-            inbox=self.pubkey.data_b64
+        uri=self.uri if not uri else uri
 
         # send info op needs
         msg = {
             'secret_login':self.secret_login,
             'name':self.name,
             'pubkey':self.uri,
-            'inbox':inbox
+            'inbox':uri
         }
         self.log('sending msg to op:',msg)
 
         # Ring operator
         res = self.ring_ring(
             msg,
-            route='check_msgs'
+            route='get_inbox'
         )
         self.log('got back response:',res)
+        stop
 
         return self.do_check_msgs(res)
 
@@ -490,7 +512,7 @@ class KomradeX(Caller):
     def refresh(self,check_msgs=True):
         # refresh inbox
         if check_msgs:
-            self.check_msgs()
+            self.download_inbox()
 
         # status?
         inbox_status = self.get_inbox_ids()
diff --git a/komrade/backend/operators.py b/komrade/backend/operators.py
index 55c6e11..dfa36a4 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/operators.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/operators.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class Operator(Keymaker):
         'register_new_user',
         'login',
         'deliver_msg',
-        'check_msgs',
+        'get_inbox',
         'download_msgs',
         'introduce_komrades',
         'post',
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class Operator(Keymaker):
 
 
     ## inboxes?
-    def inbox_crypt(self,
+    def get_inbox_crypt(self,
             crypt=None,
             uri=None,
             prefix='/inbox/',
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ class Operator(Keymaker):
         
         if not encryptor_func or not decryptor_func:
             if not privkey_b: privkey_b=self.privkey.data
-            if not pubkey_b: pubkey_b=self.pubkey.data
+            if not pubkey_b: pubkey_b=self.op.pubkey.data
 
             smsg=SMessage(
                 privkey_b,
diff --git a/komrade/backend/the_operator.py b/komrade/backend/the_operator.py
index ad8686c..d40a9a1 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/the_operator.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/the_operator.py
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ class TheOperator(Operator):
             return {
                 'success': True,
                 'status':f'Welcome back, Komrade @{name.decode()}.',
-                'res_check_msgs':self.check_msgs(msg_obj,do_login=False)
+                'inbox':self.get_inbox(msg_obj,do_login=False)
             }
         else:
             return {
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ class TheOperator(Operator):
         self.log(f'put {msg_from_op} (or {msg_from_op_b_encr}) in {post_id}')
 
         # get inbox
-        inbox_crypt = self.inbox_crypt(pubkey_b=deliver_to_b)
+        inbox_crypt = self.get_inbox_crypt(pubkey_b=deliver_to_b)
         self.log('inbox_crypt',inbox_crypt)
         self.log('inbox_crypt.values',inbox_crypt.values)
         res_inbox = inbox_crypt.prepend(post_id)
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ class TheOperator(Operator):
         self.log('->',res)
         return res
 
-    def check_msgs(self,
+    def get_inbox(self,
             msg_to_op,
             required_fields = [
                 'secret_login',
@@ -554,30 +554,16 @@ class TheOperator(Operator):
                 return login_res
             
         # ok, then find the inbox?
-        inbox=msg_to_op.data.get('inbox')
-        if not inbox:
-            inbox=msg_to_op.data.get('pubkey')
-        if not inbox: 
-            res = {'success':False, 'status':'No inbox specified'}
-            self.log('!!',res)
-            return res
-        
-        self.log(f'using {inbox} ({b64enc(inbox)}) to get inbox')
-        
-        
-        inbox_encr = self.crypt_keys.get(
-            b64enc(inbox),
-            prefix='/inbox/'
+        inbox=self.get_inbox_crypt(
+            pubkey_b=b64dec(msg_to_op.from_pubkey)
         )
-        self.log('got back inbox encr',inbox_encr)
-
-        # fine: here, try this on for size
+        
         res = {
             'status':'Succeeded in getting inbox.',
             'success':True,
-            'data_encr':inbox_encr
+            'inbox':inbox.values if inbox else None
         }
-        self.log(f'returning from Op.check_msgs --> {res}')
+        self.log(f'returning from Op.get_inbox --> {res}')
         return res
     
     def download_msgs(self,