diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/CommentController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/CommentController.cs
index 2bcb35d3..1b251917 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/CommentController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/CommentController.cs
@@ -13,11 +13,17 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
     [Route("LITTLEBIGPLANETPS3_XML/")]
     [Produces("text/xml")]
     public class CommentController : ControllerBase {
+        private readonly Database database;
+        public CommentController(Database database) {
+            this.database = database;
+        }
+
         [HttpGet("userComments/{username}")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> GetComments(string username) {
-            // the following is downright retarded, but its 12:48am and i do not give a shit
-            //                                                      ↓ ok...      ↓ why does this need to be wrapped                  ↓ again???? whyyyy
-            List<Comment> comments = (await new Database().Comments.ToListAsync()).Where(c => c.TargetUsername == username).ToList(); 
+            List<Comment> comments = await database.Comments
+                .Include(c => c.Target)
+                .Where(c => c.Target.Username == username)
+                .ToListAsync();
 
             string outputXml = comments.Aggregate(string.Empty, (current, comment) => current + comment.Serialize());
             return this.Ok(LbpSerializer.StringElement("comments", outputXml));
@@ -31,7 +37,6 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
             XmlSerializer serializer = new(typeof(Comment));
             Comment comment = (Comment)serializer.Deserialize(new StringReader(bodyString));
 
-            await using Database database = new();
             User poster = await database.UserFromRequest(Request);
 
             if(poster == null) return this.StatusCode(403, "");
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/LoginController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/LoginController.cs
index 5b137aa4..5f0dd357 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/LoginController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/LoginController.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
     [Route("LITTLEBIGPLANETPS3_XML/login")]
     [Produces("text/xml")]
     public class LoginController : ControllerBase {
+        private readonly Database database;
+
+        public LoginController(Database database) {
+            this.database = database;
+        }
+        
         [HttpPost]
         public async Task<IActionResult> Login() {
             if(!this.Request.Query.TryGetValue("titleID", out StringValues _))
@@ -27,8 +33,6 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
                 return this.BadRequest();
             }
 
-            await using Database database = new();
-
             Token? token = await database.AuthenticateUser(loginData);
 
             if(token == null) return this.StatusCode(403, "");
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/MessageController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/MessageController.cs
index c6a4089c..1a6ac5c7 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/MessageController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/MessageController.cs
@@ -8,9 +8,14 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
     [Route("LITTLEBIGPLANETPS3_XML/")]
     [Produces("text/plain")]
     public class MessageController : ControllerBase {
+        private readonly Database database;
+        public MessageController(Database database) {
+            this.database = database;
+        }
+
         [HttpGet("eula")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> Eula() {
-            User user = await new Database().UserFromRequest(Request);
+            User user = await this.database.UserFromRequest(Request);
             return user == null ? this.StatusCode(403, "") : this.Ok($"You are logged in as user {user.Username} (id {user.UserId})");
         }
 
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/PublishController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/PublishController.cs
index 77d92c21..dd1fae0b 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/PublishController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/PublishController.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
     [Route("LITTLEBIGPLANETPS3_XML/")]
     [Produces("text/xml")]
     public class PublishController : ControllerBase {
+        private readonly Database database;
+        
+        public PublishController(Database database) {
+            this.database = database;
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Endpoint the game uses to verify that the level is compatible (?)
         /// </summary>
@@ -27,8 +33,6 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
         /// </summary>
         [HttpPost("publish")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> Publish() {
-            await using Database database = new();
-
             User user = await database.UserFromRequest(Request);
             if(user == null) return this.StatusCode(403, "");
             
@@ -52,8 +56,6 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
 
         [HttpPost("unpublish/{id:int}")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> Unpublish(int id) {
-            await using Database database = new();
-
             Slot slot = await database.Slots.FirstOrDefaultAsync(s => s.SlotId == id);
 
             database.Locations.Remove(slot.Location);
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/SlotsController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/SlotsController.cs
index ba095e09..3f2735d9 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/SlotsController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/SlotsController.cs
@@ -10,23 +10,39 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
     [Route("LITTLEBIGPLANETPS3_XML/")]
     [Produces("text/xml")]
     public class SlotsController : ControllerBase {
+        private readonly Database database;
+        public SlotsController(Database database) {
+            this.database = database;
+        }
+
         [HttpGet("slots/by")]
         public IActionResult SlotsBy() {
-            string response = Enumerable.Aggregate(new Database().Slots, string.Empty, (current, slot) => current + slot.Serialize());
+            string response = Enumerable.Aggregate(
+                database.Slots
+                    .Include(s => s.Creator)
+                    .Include(s => s.Location)
+                , string.Empty, (current, slot) => current + slot.Serialize());
 
             return this.Ok(LbpSerializer.TaggedStringElement("slots", response, "total", 1));
         }
 
         [HttpGet("s/user/{id:int}")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> SUser(int id) {
-            Slot slot = await new Database().Slots.FirstOrDefaultAsync(s => s.SlotId == id);
+            Slot slot = await this.database.Slots
+                .Include(s => s.Creator)
+                .Include(s => s.Location)
+                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(s => s.SlotId == id);
 
             return this.Ok(slot.Serialize());
         }
 
         [HttpGet("slots/lolcatftw/{username}")]
         public IActionResult SlotsLolCat(string username) {
-            string response = Enumerable.Aggregate(new Database().Slots, string.Empty, (current, slot) => current + slot.Serialize());
+            string response = Enumerable.Aggregate(
+                database.Slots
+                    .Include(s => s.Creator)
+                    .Include(s => s.Location)
+                , string.Empty, (current, slot) => current + slot.Serialize());
 
             return this.Ok(LbpSerializer.TaggedStringElement("slots", response, "total", 1));
         }
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/UserController.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/UserController.cs
index 244cec20..baebd029 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/UserController.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Controllers/UserController.cs
@@ -12,11 +12,16 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
     [Route("LITTLEBIGPLANETPS3_XML/")]
     [Produces("text/xml")]
     public class UserController : ControllerBase {
+        private readonly Database database;
+        public UserController(Database database) {
+            this.database = database;
+        }
+
         [HttpGet("user/{username}")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> GetUser(string username) {
-            await using Database database = new();
-            
-            User user = await database.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.Username == username);
+            User user = await database.Users
+                .Include(u => u.Location)
+                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.Username == username);
 
             if(user == null) return this.NotFound();
             return this.Ok(user.Serialize());
@@ -30,7 +35,6 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Controllers {
 
         [HttpPost("updateUser")]
         public async Task<IActionResult> UpdateUser() {
-            await using Database database = new();
             User user = await database.UserFromRequest(Request);
 
             if(user == null) return this.StatusCode(403, "");
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Database.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Database.cs
index ce078a7e..4e702974 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Database.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Database.cs
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse {
         public DbSet<Slot> Slots { get; set; }
         public DbSet<Comment> Comments { get; set; }
         public DbSet<Token> Tokens { get; set; }
-        
+
         protected override void OnConfiguring(DbContextOptionsBuilder options) => options.UseMySql(
             ServerSettings.DbConnectionString,
             MySqlServerVersion.LatestSupportedServerVersion
         );
-        
+
         public async Task<User> CreateUser(string username) {
             Location l = new(); // store to get id after submitting
             this.Locations.Add(l); // add to table
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse {
         public async Task<User?> UserFromAuthToken(string authToken) {
             Token? token = await Tokens.FirstOrDefaultAsync(t => t.UserToken == authToken);
             if(token == null) return null;
-            return await Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.UserId == token.UserId);
+            return await Users
+                .Include(u => u.Location)
+                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.UserId == token.UserId);
         }
 
         public async Task<User?> UserFromRequest(HttpRequest request) {
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Program.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Program.cs
index d79c24ac..3e74c1f7 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Program.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Program.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 using System;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
 using ProjectLighthouse.Types;
 
@@ -9,13 +11,13 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse {
             Console.WriteLine("Welcome to Project Lighthouse!");
             Console.WriteLine(ServerSettings.DbConnected ? "Connected to the database." : "Database unavailable. Starting in stateless mode.");
 
-            CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
-        }
+            IHostBuilder builder = Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args);
+            
+            builder.ConfigureWebHostDefaults(webBuilder => {
+                webBuilder.UseStartup<Startup>();
+            });
 
-        public static IHostBuilder CreateHostBuilder(string[] args) =>
-            Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
-                .ConfigureWebHostDefaults(webBuilder => {
-                    webBuilder.UseStartup<Startup>();
-                });
+            builder.Build().Run();
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/ProjectLighthouse.csproj b/ProjectLighthouse/ProjectLighthouse.csproj
index 64633e26..18ab9cbb 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/ProjectLighthouse.csproj
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/ProjectLighthouse.csproj
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 
     <ItemGroup>
         <PackageReference Include="BCrypt.Net-Next" Version="4.0.2" />
-        <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="5.0.10" />
+        <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.Diagnostics.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="5.0.11" />
+        <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="5.0.11" />
         <PackageReference Include="Pomelo.EntityFrameworkCore.MySql" Version="5.0.2" />
         <PackageReference Include="Swashbuckle.AspNetCore" Version="5.6.3" />
     </ItemGroup>
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Startup.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Startup.cs
index 173c5caf..b9e9b518 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Startup.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Startup.cs
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ using System.IO;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
 using ProjectLighthouse.Serialization;
+using ProjectLighthouse.Types;
 
 namespace ProjectLighthouse {
     public class Startup {
@@ -18,10 +20,11 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse {
 
         // This method gets called by the runtime. Use this method to add services to the container.
         public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services) {
-
             services.AddControllers();
             services.AddMvc(options =>
                 options.OutputFormatters.Add(new XmlOutputFormatter()));
+            
+            services.AddDbContext<Database>();
         }
 
         // This method gets called by the runtime. Use this method to configure the HTTP request pipeline.
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Comment.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Comment.cs
index 1faf6dda..d3abdec0 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Comment.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Comment.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
+using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Xml.Serialization;
 using ProjectLighthouse.Serialization;
@@ -14,25 +15,11 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Types {
         
         public int TargetUserId { get; set; }
 
-        private string posterUsername;
-
-//        [XmlAttribute("username")]
-        public string PosterUsername {
-            get {
-                if(this.posterUsername != null) return this.posterUsername;
-                return this.posterUsername = new Database().Users.First(u => u.UserId == PosterUserId).Username;
-            }
-        }
-
-        private string targetUsername;
-
-        public string TargetUsername {
-            get {
-                if(this.targetUsername != null) return this.targetUsername;
-
-                return this.targetUsername = new Database().Users.First(u => u.UserId == TargetUserId).Username;
-            }
-        }
+        [ForeignKey(nameof(PosterUserId))]
+        public User Poster { get; set; }
+        
+        [ForeignKey(nameof(TargetUserId))]
+        public User Target { get; set; }
 
         public long Timestamp { get; set; }
 
@@ -43,7 +30,7 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Types {
 
         private string serialize() {
             return LbpSerializer.StringElement("id", CommentId) +
-                   LbpSerializer.StringElement("npHandle", this.PosterUsername) +
+                   LbpSerializer.StringElement("npHandle", this.Poster.Username) +
                    LbpSerializer.StringElement("timestamp", Timestamp) +
                    LbpSerializer.StringElement("message", Message) +
                    LbpSerializer.StringElement("thumbsup", ThumbsUp) +
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Slot.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Slot.cs
index 4d061dab..eb090eab 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Slot.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/Slot.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
 using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Xml.Serialization;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Metadata.Internal;
 using ProjectLighthouse.Serialization;
 
 namespace ProjectLighthouse.Types {
@@ -39,30 +40,16 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Types {
 
         [XmlIgnore] 
         public int CreatorId { get; set; }
-        
-        private User creator;
 
-        public User Creator {
-            get {
-                if(this.creator != null) return this.creator;
-
-                return creator = new Database().Users.First(u => u.UserId == CreatorId);
-            }
-        }
-
-        private Location location;
+        [ForeignKey(nameof(CreatorId))]
+        public User Creator { get; set; }
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The location of the level on the creator's earth
         /// </summary>
         [XmlElement("location")]
-        public Location Location {
-            get {
-                if(location != null) return this.location;
-
-                return location = new Database().Locations.First(l => l.Id == LocationId);
-            }
-        }
+        [ForeignKey(nameof(LocationId))]
+        public Location Location { get; set; }
         
         [XmlElement("initiallyLocked")]
         public bool InitiallyLocked { get; set; }
diff --git a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/User.cs b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/User.cs
index fdd5b037..0badffc0 100644
--- a/ProjectLighthouse/Types/User.cs
+++ b/ProjectLighthouse/Types/User.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
 using System.Linq;
 using ProjectLighthouse.Serialization;
 
@@ -23,17 +24,12 @@ namespace ProjectLighthouse.Types {
         public bool CommentsEnabled { get; set; }
         
         public int LocationId { get; set; }
-        
-        private Location location;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// The location of the profile card on the user's earth
         /// </summary>
-        public Location Location {
-            get {
-                if(location != null) return this.location;
-                return location = new Database().Locations.First(l => l.Id == LocationId);
-            }
-        }
+        [ForeignKey("LocationId")]
+        public Location Location { get; set; }
 
         public int FavouriteSlotCount { get; set; }
         public int FavouriteUserCount { get; set; }