diff --git a/include/ircd/db/database/env/writable_file.h b/include/ircd/db/database/env/writable_file.h
index 501e70d06..802fa6378 100644
--- a/include/ircd/db/database/env/writable_file.h
+++ b/include/ircd/db/database/env/writable_file.h
@@ -71,10 +71,20 @@ struct ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct final
 	bool aligned(const size_t &) const;
 	bool aligned(const void *const &) const;
 	bool aligned(const const_buffer &) const;
+
 	size_t align(const size_t &) const;
 	size_t remain(const size_t &) const;
+	size_t blocks(const size_t &) const;
 
-	void write(const const_buffer &, const uint64_t &offset);
+	size_t buffer_remain() const;
+	size_t buffer_consumed() const;
+
+	const_buffer _write__aligned(const const_buffer &, const uint64_t &offset);
+	const_buffer _write_aligned(const const_buffer &, const uint64_t &offset);
+	const_buffer write_aligned(const const_buffer &);
+	const_buffer write_unaligned_off(const const_buffer &);
+	const_buffer write_unaligned_buf(const const_buffer &);
+	const_buffer write(const const_buffer &);
 
 	uint64_t GetFileSize() noexcept override;
 	Status PositionedAppend(const Slice& data, uint64_t offset) noexcept override;
diff --git a/ircd/db.cc b/ircd/db.cc
index 39f1c3609..dcb208e0e 100644
--- a/ircd/db.cc
+++ b/ircd/db.cc
@@ -4718,6 +4718,7 @@ rocksdb::Status
 ircd::db::database::env::writable_file::Append(const Slice &s)
 noexcept try
 {
+	assert(!opts.direct);
 	const ctx::uninterruptible::nothrow ui;
 	const std::lock_guard<decltype(mutex)> lock{mutex};
 
@@ -4779,6 +4780,7 @@ ircd::db::database::env::writable_file::PositionedAppend(const Slice &s,
                                                          uint64_t offset)
 noexcept try
 {
+	assert(!opts.direct);
 	const ctx::uninterruptible::nothrow ui;
 	const std::lock_guard<decltype(mutex)> lock{mutex};
 
@@ -5327,55 +5329,20 @@ noexcept try
 	};
 	#endif
 
-	const_buffer input
+	const auto logical_check
 	{
-		data(s), size(s)
+		logical_offset
 	};
 
-	if(!aligned(logical_offset))
+	const_buffer buf
 	{
-		const size_t base(align(logical_offset));
-		const size_t rem(remain(logical_offset));
-		const size_t used(logical_offset % alignment);
-		const size_t cons(std::min(rem, size(input)));
-		const const_buffer underflow
-		{
-			data(input), cons
-		};
-
-		copy(buffer + used, underflow);
-		write(buffer, base);
-		logical_offset += cons;
-		input = const_buffer
-		{
-			data(input) + cons, size(input) - cons
-		};
-	}
-
-	if(empty(input))
-		return Status::OK();
-
-	const const_buffer output
-	{
-		data(input), align(size(input))
+		slice(s)
 	};
 
-	const const_buffer overflow
-	{
-		data(input) + size(output), size(input) - size(output)
-	};
-
-	write(output, logical_offset);
-	logical_offset += size(output);
-
-	if(!empty(overflow))
-	{
-		zero(buffer);
-		copy(buffer, overflow);
-		write(buffer, logical_offset);
-		logical_offset += size(overflow);
-	}
+	while(!empty(buf))
+		buf = write(buf);
 
+	assert(logical_check + size(slice(s)) == logical_offset);
 	return Status::OK();
 }
 catch(const fs::error &e)
@@ -5409,36 +5376,6 @@ catch(const std::exception &e)
 	return error_to_status{e};
 }
 
-void
-ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::write(const const_buffer &buf,
-                                                     const uint64_t &offset)
-{
-	#ifdef RB_DEBUG_DB_ENV
-	log::debug
-	{
-		log, "'%s': wfile:%p DIRECT fd:%d write:%p%s bytes:%zu%s offset:%zu%s (logical:%zu)",
-		d.name,
-		this,
-		int(fd),
-		data(buf),
-		aligned(data(buf))? "" : "#AC",
-		size(buf),
-		aligned(size(buf))? "" : "#AC",
-		offset,
-		aligned(offset)? "" : "#AC",
-		logical_offset
-	};
-	#endif
-
-	assert(aligned(buf));
-	assert(aligned(offset));
-
-	fs::write_opts wopts;
-	wopts.priority = this->prio;
-	wopts.offset = offset;
-	fs::write(fd, buf, wopts);
-}
-
 rocksdb::Status
 ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::PositionedAppend(const Slice &s,
                                                                 uint64_t offset)
@@ -5505,13 +5442,392 @@ catch(const std::exception &e)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/// (Internal) Append buffer. This function is the internal entry interface
+/// for appending a buffer of any size and alignment to the file. It is
+/// internal because it does no locking or error handling back to rocksdb,
+/// because it's expected to be called from some virtual override which does
+/// those things. This function will branch off as required to other internal
+/// write_* functions to properly align and rebuffer the supplied buffer
+/// eventually culminating in an aligned append to the file.
+///
+/// Calling this function will always result in some write to the file; even
+/// if temporary buffering is used to achieve alignment; even if the entire
+/// supplied buffer is hopelessly unaligned: the supplied data will be written
+/// out some way or another during this call. This means there is no
+/// requirement to care about flushing the temporary this->buffer after this
+/// call is made. Note that the temporary this->buffer has no reason to be
+/// touched by anything other than this function stack.
+///
+/// !!! NOTE !!!
+/// There is a requirement to truncate the file after this call is made before
+/// closing the file. If a crash occurs after a write() which was padded out
+/// to the block alignment: the file size will reflect the padding when it is
+/// opened at next startup; RocksDB will not detect its terminator character
+/// sequence and consider this file corrupt.
+/// !!!
+///
+/// - any offset
+/// - any data
+/// - any size
+ircd::const_buffer
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::write(const const_buffer &buf_)
+{
+	const_buffer buf
+	{
+		// If the file's offset is aligned and the buffer's data is aligned
+		// we take an easy branch which writes everything and copies any
+		// unaligned overflow to the temporary this->buffer. Nothing is
+		// returned into buf from this branch so there's nothing else done
+		// as this function will return when empty(buf) is checked below.
+		aligned(logical_offset) && aligned(data(buf_))?
+			write_aligned(buf_):
+
+		// If the file's offset isn't aligned we have to bring it up to
+		// alignment first by using data from the front of buf_. All the
+		// remaining data will be returned to here, which may make a mess
+		// of buf's alignment and size but this frame will deal with that.
+		!aligned(logical_offset)?
+			write_unaligned_off(buf_):
+
+		// The file's offset is aligned but buf is not aligned. We'll deal
+		// with that in this frame.
+			buf_
+	};
+
+	assert(aligned(logical_offset) || empty(buf));
+
+	// buf can be empty here if it was entirely dealt with by the above
+	// branches and there's nothing else to do here.
+	if(empty(buf))
+		return buf;
+
+	// Branch on whether the buffer's address is aligned. If so, considering
+	// the logical_offset is aligned here we are then finished.
+	if(aligned(data(buf)))
+		return write_aligned(buf);
+
+	// Deal with an unaligned buffer by bringing it up to alignment. This
+	// will end up returning an aligned buffer, but may unalign the
+	// logical_offset by doing so. This write() call must be looped until
+	// it empties the buffer. It will be loopy if everything comes very
+	// unaligned out of rocksdb.
+	return write_unaligned_buf(buf);
+}
+
+/// Called when the logical_offset aligned but the supplied buffer's address
+/// is not aligned. The supplied buffer's size can be unaligned here. This
+/// function will fill up the temporary this->buffer with the front of buf
+/// until an aligned address is achieved.
+///
+/// The rest of the buffer which starts at an aligned address is returned and
+/// not written. It is not written since this function may leave the
+/// logical_offset at an unaligned address.
+///
+/// * aligned offset
+/// * unaligned data
+/// - any size
+ircd::const_buffer
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::write_unaligned_buf(const const_buffer &buf)
+{
+	assert(aligned(logical_offset));
+	assert(!aligned(data(buf)));
+	assert(!aligned(buf));
+
+	// Window on the data between the given buffer's pointer and the next
+	// alignment boundary.
+	const const_buffer under_buf
+	{
+		data(buf), std::min(remain(uintptr_t(data(buf))), size(buf))
+	};
+
+	// Window on the data from the alignment boundary to the end of the
+	// given buffer.
+	const const_buffer remaining_buf
+	{
+		buf + size(under_buf)
+	};
+
+	assert(size(under_buf) <= size(buf));
+	assert(size(under_buf) + size(remaining_buf) == size(buf));
+	assert(data(buf) + size(under_buf) == data(remaining_buf));
+	assert(aligned(data(remaining_buf)) || empty(remaining_buf));
+
+	// We have to use the temporary buffer to deal with the unaligned
+	// leading part of the buffer. Since logical_offset is aligned this
+	// buffer isn't being used right now. We copy as much as possible
+	// to fill out a complete block, both the unaligned and aligned inputs
+	// and zero padding if both are not sufficient.
+	mutable_buffer dst(this->buffer);
+	consume(dst, copy(dst, under_buf));
+	consume(dst, copy(dst, remaining_buf));
+	consume(dst, zero(dst));
+	assert(empty(dst));
+
+	// Flush the temporary buffer.
+	_write__aligned(this->buffer, logical_offset);
+
+	// The logical_offset is only advanced by the underflow amount, even if
+	// we padded the temporary buffer with some remaing_buf data. The caller
+	// is lead to believe they must deal with remaining_buf in its entirety
+	// starting at the logical_offset.
+	logical_offset += size(under_buf);
+
+	return remaining_buf;
+}
+
+/// Called when the logical_offset is not aligned, indicating that something
+/// was left in the temporary this->buffer which must be completed out to
+/// alignment by consuming the front of the argument buf. This function appends
+/// the front of buf to this->buffer and flushes this->buffer.
+///
+/// logical_offset is incremented, either to the next block alignment or less
+/// if size(buf) can't get it there.
+///
+/// The rest of buf which isn't used to fill out this->buffer is returned and
+/// not written. It is not written since the returned data(buf) might not
+/// be aligned. In fact, this function does not care about the alignment of buf
+/// at all.
+///
+/// * unaligned offset
+/// - any data
+/// - any size
+ircd::const_buffer
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::write_unaligned_off(const const_buffer &buf)
+{
+	assert(!aligned(logical_offset));
+
+	// Window on the amount of buf we can take to fill up remaining space in
+	// the temporary this->buffer
+	const const_buffer src
+	{
+		data(buf), std::min(size(buf), buffer_remain())
+	};
+
+	// Window on the remaining space in the temporary this->buffer.
+	const mutable_buffer dst
+	{
+		this->buffer + buffer_consumed()
+	};
+
+	// Window on the remaining space in dst after src is copied to dst, if any.
+	const mutable_buffer pad
+	{
+		dst + size(src)
+	};
+
+	assert(size(dst) - size(pad) == size(src));
+	assert(size(src) + size(pad) == buffer_remain());
+	assert(size(src) + size(pad) + buffer_consumed() == alignment);
+	assert(size(src) + buffer_consumed() != alignment || empty(pad));
+
+	copy(dst, src);
+	zero(pad);
+
+	// Backtrack the logical_offset to the aligned offset where this->buffer's
+	// data starts.
+	const auto aligned_offset
+	{
+		align(logical_offset)
+	};
+
+	// Write the whole temporary this->buffer at the aligned offset.
+	_write__aligned(this->buffer, aligned_offset);
+
+	// Only increment the logical_offset to indicate the appending of
+	// what this function added to the temporary this->buffer.
+	logical_offset += size(src);
+
+	// The logical_offset should either be aligned now after using buf's
+	// data to eliminate the temporary this->buffer, or buf's data wasn't
+	// enough and we'll have to call this function again later with more.
+	assert(aligned(logical_offset) || size(buf) < alignment);
+
+	// Return the rest of buf which we didn't use to fill out this->buf
+	// Caller will have to deal figuring out how to align the next write.
+	return const_buffer
+	{
+		buf + size(src)
+	};
+}
+
+/// Write function callable when the current logical_offset and the supplied
+/// buffer's pointer are both aligned, but the size of the buffer need not
+/// be aligned. This function thus assumes that the temporary this->buffer
+/// is empty; it will write as much of the input buffer as aligned. The
+/// unaligned overflow will be copied to the front of the temporary
+/// this->buffer which will be padded to alignment and flushed and the
+/// logical_offset will indicate an increment of the size of the input buffer.
+///
+/// * aligned offset
+/// * aligned data
+/// - any size
+ircd::const_buffer
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::write_aligned(const const_buffer &buf)
+{
+	assert(aligned(data(buf)));
+	assert(aligned(logical_offset));
+
+	// This portion at the end of buf did not fill out to the alignment.
+	const const_buffer overflow
+	{
+		_write_aligned(buf, logical_offset)
+	};
+
+	// The aligned portion was written so the offset is incremented here.
+	logical_offset += size(buf) - size(overflow);
+
+	assert(aligned(logical_offset));
+	assert(size(overflow) < alignment);
+	assert(aligned(data(overflow)) || empty(overflow));
+	assert(align(size(buf)) + size(overflow) == size(buf));
+	assert(blocks(size(buf)) * alignment + size(overflow) == size(buf));
+
+	if(!empty(overflow))
+	{
+		// The overflow is copied to the temporary this->buffer, padded out with
+		// zero and then flushed. The logical offset will be incremented by the
+		// size of that overflow and will no longer be an aligned value,
+		// indicating there is something in the temporary this->buffer.
+		mutable_buffer dst(this->buffer);
+		consume(dst, copy(dst, overflow));
+		consume(dst, zero(dst));
+		assert(empty(dst));
+
+		_write__aligned(this->buffer, logical_offset);
+		logical_offset += size(overflow);
+		assert(!aligned(logical_offset));
+	}
+
+	// Nothing is ever returned and required by the caller here because the
+	// input is aligned to its address and offset and any unaligned size was
+	// dealt with using the temporary this->buffer.
+	return {};
+}
+
+/// Lower level write to an aligned offset. The pointer of the buffer and the
+/// offset both have to be aligned to alignment. The size of the buffer does
+/// not have to be aligned to alignment. The unaligned portion of the input
+/// buffer (the last partial block), if any, will be returned to the caller.
+///
+/// No modifications to the logical_offset or the temporary this->buffer take
+/// place here so the caller must manipulate those accordingly.
+///
+/// * aligned data
+/// * aligned offset
+/// - any size
+ircd::const_buffer
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::_write_aligned(const const_buffer &buf,
+                                                              const uint64_t &offset)
+{
+	assert(aligned(data(buf)));
+	assert(aligned(offset));
+
+	// This portion will be written
+	const const_buffer aligned_buf
+	{
+		data(buf), blocks(size(buf)) * alignment
+	};
+
+	// This trailing portion will be returned to caller
+	const const_buffer ret
+	{
+		data(buf) + size(aligned_buf), size(buf) - size(aligned_buf)
+	};
+
+	assert(!empty(aligned_buf) || size(buf) < alignment);
+	assert(size(aligned_buf) + size(ret) == size(buf));
+	assert(size(ret) < alignment);
+
+	// aligned_buf will be empty if buf itself is smaller than the alignment.
+	if(empty(aligned_buf))
+	{
+		assert(size(ret) == size(buf));
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	_write__aligned(aligned_buf, offset);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/// Lowest level write of a fully aligned buffer to an aligned offset. The
+/// pointer of the buffer, the size of the buffer, and the offset ALL have
+/// to be aligned to alignment for this function. This function is the only
+/// in the stack which actually writes to the filesystem.
+///
+/// No modifications to the logical_offset take place here so the caller must
+/// increment that accordingly. The return value is a const_buffer to conform
+/// with the rest of the stack but it is unconditionally empty here because
+/// there is no possible overflowing.
+///
+/// * aligned offset
+/// * aligned data
+/// * aligned size
+ircd::const_buffer
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::_write__aligned(const const_buffer &buf,
+                                                               const uint64_t &offset)
+{
+	#ifdef RB_DEBUG_DB_ENV
+	log::debug
+	{
+		log, "'%s': wfile:%p DIRECT fd:%d write:%p%s bytes:%zu%s offset:%zu%s (logical:%zu)",
+		d.name,
+		this,
+		int(fd),
+		data(buf),
+		aligned(data(buf))? "" : "#AC",
+		size(buf),
+		aligned(size(buf))? "" : "#AC",
+		offset,
+		aligned(offset)? "" : "#AC",
+		logical_offset
+	};
+	#endif
+
+	assert(aligned(buf));
+	assert(aligned(offset));
+
+	fs::write_opts wopts;
+	wopts.priority = this->prio;
+	wopts.offset = offset;
+	fs::write(fd, buf, wopts);
+
+	// Nothing is ever returned to the caller here because the input buffer
+	// and the offset must be fully aligned at this stage.
+	return {};
+}
+
+size_t
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::buffer_consumed()
+const
+{
+	return likely(alignment != 0)?
+		logical_offset % alignment:
+		0UL;
+}
+
+size_t
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::buffer_remain()
+const
+{
+	return remain(logical_offset);
+}
+
+size_t
+ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::blocks(const size_t &value)
+const
+{
+	return likely(alignment != 0)?
+		value / alignment:
+		0UL;
+}
+
 size_t
 ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::remain(const size_t &value)
 const
 {
 	return likely(alignment != 0)?
 		alignment - (value - align(value)):
-		0;
+		0UL;
 }
 
 size_t
@@ -5527,7 +5843,7 @@ bool
 ircd::db::database::env::writable_file_direct::aligned(const const_buffer &buf)
 const
 {
-	return aligned(data(buf)) && aligned(size(buf));
+	return buffer::aligned(buf, alignment);
 }
 
 bool