diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index afab4d52d..2e5bbc336 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ rearrangements of Notcurses.
     been purged, as have `min_` and `max_supported_rows` and `_cols`. There
     is no longer any need to provide a pipe/eventfd. `ncreel_touch()`,
     `ncreel_del_focused()`, and `ncreel_move()` have been removed.
-  * Added `ncdirect_hline_interp()` and `ncdirect_vline_interp()`.
+  * Added `ncdirect_hline_interp()`, `ncdirect_vline_interp()`,
+    `ncdirect_rounded_box()`, `ncdirect_double_box()`, and the ridiculously
+    flexible `ncdirect_box()`.
 
 * 1.6.0 (2020-07-04)
   * Behavior has changed regarding use of the provided `FILE*` (which, when
diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index 4d79ac342..ed1deb8de 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -357,6 +357,24 @@ int ncdirect_hline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len,
 int ncdirect_vline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len,
                           uint64_t h1, uint64_t h2);
 
+// Draw a box with its upper-left corner at the current cursor position, having
+// dimensions |ylen|x|xlen|. See ncplane_box() for more information. The
+// minimum box size is 2x2, and it cannot be drawn off-screen. |wchars| is an
+// array of 6 wide characters: UL, UR, LL, LR, HL, VL.
+int ncdirect_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                 uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, const wchar_t* wchars,
+                 int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+
+// ncdirect_box() with the rounded box-drawing characters
+int ncdirect_rounded_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                         uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr,
+                         int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+
+// ncdirect_box() with the double box-drawing characters
+int ncdirect_double_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                        uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr,
+                        int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+
 // Display an image using the specified blitter and scaling. The image may
 // be arbitrarily many rows -- the output will scroll -- but will only occupy
 // the column of the cursor, and those to the right.
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_directmode.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_directmode.3.md
index 7668f783c..c4edfa907 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_directmode.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_directmode.3.md
@@ -60,6 +60,16 @@ ncdirect_init - minimal notcurses instances for styling text
 
 **bool ncdirect_canutf8(const struct ncdirect* n);**
 
+**int ncdirect_hline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len, uint64_t h1, uint64_t h2);**
+
+**int ncdirect_vline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len, uint64_t h1, uint64_t h2);**
+
+**int ncdirect_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur, uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, const wchar_t* wchars, int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);**
+
+**int ncdirect_rounded_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur, uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);**
+
+**int ncdirect_double_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur, uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);**
+
 **nc_err_e ncdirect_render_image(struct ncdirect* n, const char* filename, ncblitter_e blitter, ncscale_e scale);**
 
 # DESCRIPTION
diff --git a/include/notcurses/direct.h b/include/notcurses/direct.h
index ff615cf28..5acace54e 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/direct.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/direct.h
@@ -112,6 +112,24 @@ API int ncdirect_hline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len,
 API int ncdirect_vline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len,
                               uint64_t h1, uint64_t h2);
 
+// Draw a box with its upper-left corner at the current cursor position, having
+// dimensions |ylen|x|xlen|. See ncplane_box() for more information. The
+// minimum box size is 2x2, and it cannot be drawn off-screen. |wchars| is an
+// array of 6 wide characters: UL, UR, LL, LR, HL, VL.
+API int ncdirect_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                     uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, const wchar_t* wchars,
+                     int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+
+// ncdirect_box() with the rounded box-drawing characters
+API int ncdirect_rounded_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                             uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr,
+                             int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+
+// ncdirect_box() with the double box-drawing characters
+API int ncdirect_double_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                            uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr,
+                            int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+
 // Release 'nc' and any associated resources. 0 on success, non-0 on failure.
 API int ncdirect_stop(struct ncdirect* nc);
 
diff --git a/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py b/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
index 00b95c151..c23e82a3d 100644
--- a/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
+++ b/python/src/notcurses/build_notcurses.py
@@ -503,6 +503,9 @@ int ncdirect_cursor_right(struct ncdirect* nc, int num);
 int ncdirect_cursor_down(struct ncdirect* nc, int num);
 int ncdirect_hline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len, uint64_t h1, uint64_t h2);
 int ncdirect_vline_interp(struct ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len, uint64_t h1, uint64_t h2);
+int ncdirect_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur, uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, const wchar_t* wchars, int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+int ncdirect_rounded_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur, uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
+int ncdirect_double_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur, uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword);
 bool ncdirect_canopen_images(const struct ncdirect* n);
 bool ncdirect_canutf8(const struct ncdirect* n);
 nc_err_e ncdirect_render_image(struct ncdirect* n, const char* filename, ncalign_e align, ncblitter_e blitter, ncscale_e scale);
diff --git a/src/lib/direct.cpp b/src/lib/direct.cpp
index ef55976e4..2fa093d61 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/direct.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "notcurses/direct.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 
-int ncdirect_putstr(ncdirect* nc, uint64_t channels, const char* egc){
+int ncdirect_putstr(ncdirect* nc, uint64_t channels, const char* utf8){
   if(channels_fg_default_p(channels)){
     if(ncdirect_fg_default(nc)){
       return -1;
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ int ncdirect_putstr(ncdirect* nc, uint64_t channels, const char* egc){
   }else if(ncdirect_bg(nc, channels_bg(channels))){
     return -1;
   }
-  return fprintf(nc->ttyfp, "%s", egc);
+  return fprintf(nc->ttyfp, "%s", utf8);
 }
 
 int ncdirect_cursor_up(ncdirect* nc, int num){
@@ -652,6 +652,123 @@ int ncdirect_vline_interp(ncdirect* n, const char* egc, int len,
   return ret;
 }
 
+//  wchars: wchar_t[6] mapping to UL, UR, BL, BR, HL, VL.
+//  they cannot be complex EGCs, but only a single wchar_t, alas.
+int ncdirect_box(ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                 uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr, const wchar_t* wchars,
+                 int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword){
+  if(xlen < 2 || ylen < 2){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  char hl[WCHAR_MAX_UTF8BYTES + 1];
+  char vl[WCHAR_MAX_UTF8BYTES + 1];
+  unsigned edges;
+  edges = !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_TOP) + !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_LEFT);
+  if(edges >= box_corner_needs(ctlword)){
+    ncdirect_fg(n, channels_fg(ul));
+    ncdirect_bg(n, channels_bg(ul));
+    if(fprintf(n->ttyfp, "%lc", wchars[0]) < 0){
+      return -1;
+    }
+  }else{
+    ncdirect_cursor_right(n, 1);
+  }
+  mbstate_t ps = {};
+  size_t bytes;
+  if((bytes = wcrtomb(hl, wchars[4], &ps)) == (size_t)-1){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  hl[bytes] = '\0';
+  memset(&ps, 0, sizeof(ps));
+  if((bytes = wcrtomb(vl, wchars[5], &ps)) == (size_t)-1){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  vl[bytes] = '\0';
+  if(!(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_TOP)){ // draw top border, if called for
+    if(xlen > 2){
+      if(ncdirect_hline_interp(n, hl, xlen - 2, ul, ur) < 0){
+        return -1;
+      }
+    }
+  }else{
+    ncdirect_cursor_right(n, xlen - 2);
+  }
+  edges = !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_TOP) + !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_RIGHT);
+  if(edges >= box_corner_needs(ctlword)){
+    ncdirect_fg(n, channels_fg(ur));
+    ncdirect_bg(n, channels_bg(ur));
+    if(fprintf(n->ttyfp, "%lc", wchars[1]) < 0){
+      return -1;
+    }
+    ncdirect_cursor_left(n, xlen);
+  }else{
+    ncdirect_cursor_left(n, xlen - 1);
+  }
+  ncdirect_cursor_down(n, 1);
+  // middle rows (vertical lines)
+  if(ylen > 2){
+    if(!(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_LEFT)){
+      if(ncdirect_vline_interp(n, vl, ylen - 2, ul, ll) < 0){
+        return -1;
+      }
+      ncdirect_cursor_right(n, xlen - 2);
+      ncdirect_cursor_up(n, ylen - 3);
+    }else{
+      ncdirect_cursor_right(n, xlen - 1);
+    }
+    if(!(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_RIGHT)){
+      if(ncdirect_vline_interp(n, vl, ylen - 2, ur, lr) < 0){
+        return -1;
+      }
+      ncdirect_cursor_left(n, xlen);
+    }else{
+      ncdirect_cursor_left(n, xlen - 1);
+    }
+  }
+  ncdirect_cursor_down(n, 1);
+  // bottom line
+  edges = !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_BOTTOM) + !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_LEFT);
+  if(edges >= box_corner_needs(ctlword)){
+    ncdirect_fg(n, channels_fg(ll));
+    ncdirect_bg(n, channels_bg(ll));
+    if(fprintf(n->ttyfp, "%lc", wchars[2]) < 0){
+      return -1;
+    }
+  }else{
+    ncdirect_cursor_right(n, 1);
+  }
+  if(!(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_BOTTOM)){
+    if(xlen > 2){
+      if(ncdirect_hline_interp(n, hl, xlen - 2, ll, lr) < 0){
+        return -1;
+      }
+    }
+  }else{
+    ncdirect_cursor_right(n, xlen - 2);
+  }
+  edges = !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_BOTTOM) + !(ctlword & NCBOXMASK_RIGHT);
+  if(edges >= box_corner_needs(ctlword)){
+    ncdirect_fg(n, channels_fg(lr));
+    ncdirect_bg(n, channels_bg(lr));
+    if(fprintf(n->ttyfp, "%lc", wchars[3]) < 0){
+      return -1;
+    }
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+int ncdirect_rounded_box(ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                         uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr,
+                         int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword){
+  return ncdirect_box(n, ul, ur, ll, lr, L"╭╮╰╯─│", ylen, xlen, ctlword);
+}
+
+int ncdirect_double_box(ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
+                         uint64_t ll, uint64_t lr,
+                         int ylen, int xlen, unsigned ctlword){
+  return ncdirect_box(n, ul, ur, ll, lr, L"╔╗╚╝═║", ylen, xlen, ctlword);
+}
+
 // Can we load images? This requires being built against FFmpeg/OIIO.
 bool ncdirect_canopen_images(const ncdirect* n){
   (void)n;
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 4c449602f..f091d3f40 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -826,6 +826,12 @@ int ffmpeg_log_level(ncloglevel_e level);
 int term_setstyle(FILE* out, unsigned cur, unsigned targ, unsigned stylebit,
                   const char* ton, const char* toff);
 
+// how many edges need touch a corner for it to be printed?
+static inline unsigned
+box_corner_needs(unsigned ctlword){
+  return (ctlword & NCBOXCORNER_MASK) >> NCBOXCORNER_SHIFT;
+}
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 1e3a8aad0..4a5bf86f5 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -1668,12 +1668,6 @@ int ncplane_vline_interp(ncplane* n, const cell* c, int len,
   return ret;
 }
 
-// how many edges need touch a corner for it to be printed?
-static inline unsigned
-box_corner_needs(unsigned ctlword){
-  return (ctlword & NCBOXCORNER_MASK) >> NCBOXCORNER_SHIFT;
-}
-
 int ncplane_box(ncplane* n, const cell* ul, const cell* ur,
                 const cell* ll, const cell* lr, const cell* hl,
                 const cell* vl, int ystop, int xstop,
diff --git a/src/poc/dirlines.c b/src/poc/dirlines.c
index 51c33c8a3..bab3fc0a5 100644
--- a/src/poc/dirlines.c
+++ b/src/poc/dirlines.c
@@ -34,6 +34,20 @@ int main(void){
       }
     }
   }
+  printf("\n");
+  uint64_t ul, ur, ll, lr;
+  ul = ur = ll = lr = 0;
+  channels_set_fg_rgb(&ul, 0xff, 0x0, 0xff);
+  channels_set_fg_rgb(&ur, 0x0, 0xff, 0x0);
+  channels_set_fg_rgb(&ll, 0x0, 0x0, 0xff);
+  channels_set_fg_rgb(&lr, 0xff, 0x0, 0x0);
+  if(ncdirect_rounded_box(n, ul, ur, ll, lr, 10, 10, 0) < 0){
+    return EXIT_FAILURE;
+  }
+  ncdirect_cursor_up(n, 9);
+  if(ncdirect_double_box(n, ul, ur, ll, lr, 10, 20, 0) < 0){
+    return EXIT_FAILURE;
+  }
   if(ncdirect_stop(n)){
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   }