diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index b9dadabeb..9bc8b132b 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ rearrangements of Notcurses.
     without an obvious replacement is the `renderfp` field of
     `notcurses_options`, for which I make no apology. If you've been avoiding
     deprecated functionality, ABI3 ought require small changes, if any.
+  * `notcurses_get()` and `ncdirect_get()` now require an absolute deadline
+    rather than a delay bound; it ought be calculated using `CLOCK_MONOTONIC`.
   * The handling of geometry and distance has been normalized across all
     functions. Lengths are now `unsigned` as opposed to `int`. Where -1 was
     being used to indicate "everything", 0 is now required. This affects
diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index d1c6880f5..17d52b222 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ must be readable without delay for it to be interpreted as such.
 // resize events, etc.). These are mapped into Unicode's Supplementary
 // Private Use Area-B, starting at U+100000. See <notcurses/nckeys.h>.
 //
-// notcurses_getc_nblock() is nonblocking. notcurses_getc_blocking() blocks
+// notcurses_get_nblock() is nonblocking. notcurses_get_blocking() blocks
 // until a codepoint or special key is read, or until interrupted by a signal.
 // notcurses_get() allows an optional timeout to be controlled.
 //
@@ -730,10 +730,10 @@ typedef struct ncinput {
 
 // Read a UTF-32-encoded Unicode codepoint from input. This might only be part
 // of a larger EGC. Provide a NULL 'ts' to block at length, and otherwise a
-// timespec to bound blocking. Returns a single Unicode code point, or
-// (uint32_t)-1 on error. Returns 0 on a timeout. If an event is processed, the
-// return value is the 'id' field from that event. 'ni' may be NULL. 'ts' is an
-// a delay bound against CLOCK_MONOTONIC (see clock_gettime(2)).
+// timespec specifying an absolute deadline calculated using CLOCK_MONOTONIC.
+// Returns a single Unicode code point, or a synthesized special key constant,
+// or (uint32_t)-1 on error. Returns 0 on a timeout. If an event is processed,
+// the return value is the 'id' field from that event. 'ni' may be NULL.
 uint32_t notcurses_get(struct notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
                        ncinput* ni);
 
@@ -742,10 +742,10 @@ uint32_t notcurses_get(struct notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
 int notcurses_getvec(struct notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
                      ncinput* ni, int vcount);
 
-// 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. If no event
-// is ready, returns 0.
+// 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. If no
+// event is ready, returns 0.
 static inline uint32_t
-notcurses_getc_nblock(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
+notcurses_get_nblock(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
   struct timespec ts = { .tv_sec = 0, .tv_nsec = 0 };
   return notcurses_get(n, &ts, ni);
 }
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ notcurses_getc_nblock(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
 // 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. Blocks
 // until an event is processed or a signal is received.
 static inline uint32_t
-notcurses_getc_blocking(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
+notcurses_get_blocking(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
   return notcurses_get(n, NULL, ni);
 }
 
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md
index 897f1d919..ec0d2d842 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses_direct.3.md
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ notcurses_direct - minimal notcurses instances for styling text
 
 **bool ncdirect_canget_cursor(const struct ncdirect* ***nc***);**
 
+**uint32_t ncdirect_get(struct ncdirect* ***n***, const struct timespec* ***absdl***, ncinput* ***ni***);**
+
 ```c
 typedef struct ncvgeom {
   int pixy, pixx;     // true pixel geometry of ncvisual data
diff --git a/include/ncpp/Direct.hh b/include/ncpp/Direct.hh
index 3b62f18d5..01e717d74 100644
--- a/include/ncpp/Direct.hh
+++ b/include/ncpp/Direct.hh
@@ -210,8 +210,8 @@ namespace ncpp
 		char32_t get (ncinput *ni, bool blocking) const noexcept
 		{
 			if (blocking)
-				return ncdirect_getc_blocking (direct, ni);
-			return ncdirect_getc_nblock (direct, ni);
+				return ncdirect_get_blocking (direct, ni);
+			return ncdirect_get_nblock (direct, ni);
 		}
 
 		char32_t get (const struct timespec *ts, ncinput *ni) const noexcept
diff --git a/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh b/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh
index 2a8d1308f..92d570141 100644
--- a/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh
+++ b/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh
@@ -248,9 +248,9 @@ namespace ncpp
 		uint32_t get (bool blocking = false, ncinput *ni = nullptr) const noexcept
 		{
 			if (blocking)
-				return notcurses_getc_blocking (nc, ni);
+				return notcurses_get_blocking (nc, ni);
 
-			return notcurses_getc_nblock (nc, ni);
+			return notcurses_get_nblock (nc, ni);
 		}
 
 		char* get_at (int yoff, int xoff, uint16_t* attr, uint64_t* channels) const noexcept
diff --git a/include/notcurses/direct.h b/include/notcurses/direct.h
index 35118b77c..2b3e750ac 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/direct.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/direct.h
@@ -241,16 +241,16 @@ API int ncdirect_double_box(struct ncdirect* n, uint64_t ul, uint64_t ur,
   __attribute__ ((nonnull (1)));
 
 // Provide a NULL 'ts' to block at length, a 'ts' of 0 for non-blocking
-// operation, and otherwise a timespec to bound blocking. Returns a single
-// Unicode code point, or (uint32_t)-1 on error. Returns 0 on a timeout. If
-// an event is processed, the return value is the 'id' field from that
-// event. 'ni' may be NULL.
-API uint32_t ncdirect_get(struct ncdirect* n, const struct timespec* ts,
+// operation, and otherwise an absolute deadline in terms of CLOCK_MONOTONIC.
+// Returns a single Unicode code point, a synthesized special key constant,
+// or (uint32_t)-1 on error. Returns 0 on a timeout. If an event is processed,
+// the return value is the 'id' field from that event. 'ni' may be NULL.
+API uint32_t ncdirect_get(struct ncdirect* n, const struct timespec* absdl,
                           ncinput* ni)
   __attribute__ ((nonnull (1)));
 
 // Get a file descriptor suitable for input event poll()ing. When this
-// descriptor becomes available, you can call ncdirect_getc_nblock(),
+// descriptor becomes available, you can call ncdirect_get_nblock(),
 // and input ought be ready. This file descriptor is *not* necessarily
 // the file descriptor associated with stdin (but it might be!).
 API int ncdirect_inputready_fd(struct ncdirect* n)
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ API int ncdirect_inputready_fd(struct ncdirect* n)
 // 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. If no event
 // is ready, returns 0.
 static inline uint32_t
-ncdirect_getc_nblock(struct ncdirect* n, ncinput* ni){
+ncdirect_get_nblock(struct ncdirect* n, ncinput* ni){
   struct timespec ts = { .tv_sec = 0, .tv_nsec = 0 };
   return ncdirect_get(n, &ts, ni);
 }
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ ncdirect_getc_nblock(struct ncdirect* n, ncinput* ni){
 // 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. Blocks
 // until an event is processed or a signal is received.
 static inline uint32_t
-ncdirect_getc_blocking(struct ncdirect* n, ncinput* ni){
+ncdirect_get_blocking(struct ncdirect* n, ncinput* ni){
   return ncdirect_get(n, NULL, ni);
 }
 
diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index 6fccc7f54..88fe3ff77 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@ API void notcurses_drop_planes(struct notcurses* nc)
 // resize events, etc.). These are mapped into Unicode's Supplementary
 // Private Use Area-B, starting at U+100000. See <notcurses/nckeys.h>.
 //
-// notcurses_getc_nblock() is nonblocking. notcurses_getc_blocking() blocks
+// notcurses_get_nblock() is nonblocking. notcurses_get_blocking() blocks
 // until a codepoint or special key is read, or until interrupted by a signal.
 // notcurses_get() allows an optional timeout to be controlled.
 //
@@ -1107,10 +1107,10 @@ ncinput_equal_p(const ncinput* n1, const ncinput* n2){
 
 // Read a UTF-32-encoded Unicode codepoint from input. This might only be part
 // of a larger EGC. Provide a NULL 'ts' to block at length, and otherwise a
-// timespec to bound blocking. Returns a single Unicode code point, or
-// (uint32_t)-1 on error. Returns 0 on a timeout. If an event is processed, the
-// return value is the 'id' field from that event. 'ni' may be NULL. 'ts' is an
-// a delay bound against CLOCK_MONOTONIC (see clock_gettime(2)).
+// timespec specifying an absolute deadline calculated using CLOCK_MONOTONIC.
+// Returns a single Unicode code point, or a synthesized special key constant,
+// or (uint32_t)-1 on error. Returns 0 on a timeout. If an event is processed,
+// the return value is the 'id' field from that event. 'ni' may be NULL.
 API uint32_t notcurses_get(struct notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
                            ncinput* ni)
   __attribute__ ((nonnull (1)));
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ API int notcurses_getvec(struct notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
   __attribute__ ((nonnull (1, 3)));
 
 // Get a file descriptor suitable for input event poll()ing. When this
-// descriptor becomes available, you can call notcurses_getc_nblock(),
+// descriptor becomes available, you can call notcurses_get_nblock(),
 // and input ought be ready. This file descriptor is *not* necessarily
 // the file descriptor associated with stdin (but it might be!).
 API int notcurses_inputready_fd(struct notcurses* n)
@@ -1131,7 +1131,7 @@ API int notcurses_inputready_fd(struct notcurses* n)
 // 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. If no event
 // is immediately ready, returns 0.
 static inline uint32_t
-notcurses_getc_nblock(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
+notcurses_get_nblock(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
   struct timespec ts = { .tv_sec = 0, .tv_nsec = 0 };
   return notcurses_get(n, &ts, ni);
 }
@@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@ notcurses_getc_nblock(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
 // 'ni' may be NULL if the caller is uninterested in event details. Blocks
 // until an event is processed or a signal is received (including resize events).
 static inline uint32_t
-notcurses_getc_blocking(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
+notcurses_get_blocking(struct notcurses* n, ncinput* ni){
   return notcurses_get(n, NULL, ni);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/demo/input.c b/src/demo/input.c
index 81b1e4795..3ccca94ce 100644
--- a/src/demo/input.c
+++ b/src/demo/input.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ ultramegaok_demo(void* vnc){
   ncinput ni;
   struct notcurses* nc = vnc;
   uint32_t id;
-  while((id = notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while((id = notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
     if(id == 0){
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/direct.c b/src/lib/direct.c
index ea14bfa90..42ac33a5d 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.c
+++ b/src/lib/direct.c
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@ char* ncdirect_readline(ncdirect* n, const char* prompt){
   ncinput ni;
   uint32_t id;
   unsigned oldx = xstart;
-  while((id = ncdirect_getc_blocking(n, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while((id = ncdirect_get_blocking(n, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
     if(ni.evtype == NCTYPE_RELEASE){
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/in.c b/src/lib/in.c
index 12f3184b9..7724ad34e 100644
--- a/src/lib/in.c
+++ b/src/lib/in.c
@@ -2146,29 +2146,9 @@ internal_get(inputctx* ictx, const struct timespec* ts, ncinput* ni){
   return id;
 }
 
-// FIXME kill off for API3, and expect an absolute deadline directly
-static inline void
-delaybound_to_deadline(const struct timespec* ts, struct timespec* absdl){
-  if(ts){
-    // incoming ts is a delay bound, but we want an absolute deadline for
-    // pthread_cond_timedwait(). convert it, using CLOCK_MONOTONIC (we
-    // initialized the condvar with pthread_condmonotonic_init()).
-    struct timespec tspec;
-    clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &tspec);
-    absdl->tv_sec = ts->tv_sec + tspec.tv_sec;
-    absdl->tv_nsec = ts->tv_nsec + tspec.tv_nsec;
-    if(absdl->tv_nsec > 1000000000){
-      ++absdl->tv_sec;
-      absdl->tv_nsec -= 1000000000;
-    }
-  }
-}
-
 // infp has already been set non-blocking
-uint32_t notcurses_get(notcurses* nc, const struct timespec* ts, ncinput* ni){
-  struct timespec absdl;
-  delaybound_to_deadline(ts, &absdl);
-  uint32_t id = internal_get(nc->tcache.ictx, ts ? &absdl : NULL, ni);
+uint32_t notcurses_get(notcurses* nc, const struct timespec* absdl, ncinput* ni){
+  uint32_t id = internal_get(nc->tcache.ictx, absdl, ni);
   if(ni){
     if(id == (uint32_t)-1){
       ni->id = id;
@@ -2178,12 +2158,10 @@ uint32_t notcurses_get(notcurses* nc, const struct timespec* ts, ncinput* ni){
 }
 
 // FIXME better performance if we move this within the locked area
-int notcurses_getvec(notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
+int notcurses_getvec(notcurses* n, const struct timespec* absdl,
                      ncinput* ni, int vcount){
-  struct timespec absdl;
-  delaybound_to_deadline(ts, &absdl);
   for(int v = 0 ; v < vcount ; ++v){
-    uint32_t u = notcurses_get(n, ts ? &absdl : NULL, &ni[v]);
+    uint32_t u = notcurses_get(n, absdl, &ni[v]);
     if(u == (uint32_t)-1){
       if(v == 0){
         return -1;
@@ -2196,8 +2174,8 @@ int notcurses_getvec(notcurses* n, const struct timespec* ts,
   return vcount;
 }
 
-uint32_t ncdirect_get(ncdirect* n, const struct timespec* ts, ncinput* ni){
-  return internal_get(n->tcache.ictx, ts, ni);
+uint32_t ncdirect_get(ncdirect* n, const struct timespec* absdl, ncinput* ni){
+  return internal_get(n->tcache.ictx, absdl, ni);
 }
 
 int get_cursor_location(inputctx* ictx, const char* u7, unsigned* y, unsigned* x){
diff --git a/src/poc/direct-input.c b/src/poc/direct-input.c
index 00b27ca15..e19cbb337 100644
--- a/src/poc/direct-input.c
+++ b/src/poc/direct-input.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ int main(void){
   }
   ncinput ni;
   uint32_t i;
-  while((i = ncdirect_getc_blocking(n, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while((i = ncdirect_get_blocking(n, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
     unsigned char utf8[5] = {};
     notcurses_ucs32_to_utf8(&i, 1, utf8, sizeof(utf8));
     printf("Read input: [%c%c%c] %s\n", ni.ctrl ? 'C' : 'c',
diff --git a/src/poc/interp.c b/src/poc/interp.c
index eea0a3827..603439a04 100644
--- a/src/poc/interp.c
+++ b/src/poc/interp.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ int main(void){
   }
   ncinput ni;
   do{
-    notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni);
+    notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni);
   }while(ni.id != (uint32_t)-1 && ni.evtype != NCTYPE_RELEASE);
   notcurses_stop(nc);
   return EXIT_SUCCESS;
diff --git a/src/poc/menu.c b/src/poc/menu.c
index 24ca2218c..df91a96c7 100644
--- a/src/poc/menu.c
+++ b/src/poc/menu.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ run_menu(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncmenu* ncm){
   uint32_t keypress;
   ncinput ni;
   notcurses_render(nc);
-  while((keypress = notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while((keypress = notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
     if(!ncmenu_offer_input(ncm, &ni)){
       if(ni.evtype == NCTYPE_RELEASE){
         continue;
diff --git a/src/poc/multiselect.c b/src/poc/multiselect.c
index d5680a1e2..b5e7953c5 100644
--- a/src/poc/multiselect.c
+++ b/src/poc/multiselect.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ run_mselect(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncmultiselector* ns){
   notcurses_render(nc);
   uint32_t keypress;
   ncinput ni;
-  while((keypress = notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while((keypress = notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
     if(ni.evtype == NCTYPE_RELEASE){
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/src/poc/procroller.c b/src/poc/procroller.c
index 39b545c41..f5f793bed 100644
--- a/src/poc/procroller.c
+++ b/src/poc/procroller.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv){
   notcurses_render(nc);
   ncinput ni;
   do{
-    notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni);
+    notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni);
   }while(ni.evtype == NCTYPE_RELEASE);
   if(notcurses_stop(nc)){
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
diff --git a/src/poc/selector.c b/src/poc/selector.c
index 88685c637..138ce7750 100644
--- a/src/poc/selector.c
+++ b/src/poc/selector.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ run_selector(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncselector* ns){
   notcurses_render(nc);
   uint32_t keypress;
   ncinput ni;
-  while((keypress = notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while((keypress = notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (uint32_t)-1){
     if(!ncselector_offer_input(ns, &ni)){
       if(ni.evtype == NCTYPE_RELEASE){
         continue;
diff --git a/src/poc/tabbed.c b/src/poc/tabbed.c
index caddb17be..8ca0a909e 100644
--- a/src/poc/tabbed.c
+++ b/src/poc/tabbed.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv){
   int tabnameind = 0;
   uint32_t c;
   ncinput ni;
-  while((c = notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni)) != 'q'){
+  while((c = notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni)) != 'q'){
     if(ni.evtype == NCTYPE_RELEASE){
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/src/poc/tree.c b/src/poc/tree.c
index a12f031eb..e45022984 100644
--- a/src/poc/tree.c
+++ b/src/poc/tree.c
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ callback(struct ncplane* ncp, void* curry, int dizzy){
 static int
 tree_ui(struct notcurses* nc, struct nctree* tree){
   ncinput ni;
-  while(notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni) != (uint32_t)-1){
+  while(notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni) != (uint32_t)-1){
     if(nctree_offer_input(tree, &ni)){
       if(nctree_redraw(tree)){
         return -1;
diff --git a/src/pocpp/reel.cpp b/src/pocpp/reel.cpp
index 3c41e0580..c171a15f3 100644
--- a/src/pocpp/reel.cpp
+++ b/src/pocpp/reel.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ int runreels(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncreel* nr){
   int y, x;
   char32_t key;
   ncinput ni;
-  while((key = notcurses_getc_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (char32_t)-1){
+  while((key = notcurses_get_blocking(nc, &ni)) != (char32_t)-1){
     if(ni.evtype == EvType::Release){
       continue;
     }