diff --git a/cmd/welcome/main.go b/cmd/welcome/main.go
index 6f10f0e..2bf426d 100644
--- a/cmd/welcome/main.go
+++ b/cmd/welcome/main.go
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
-	//"github.com/gdamore/tcell/v2"
-	//"github.com/rivo/tview"
-
+	"git.tilde.town/tildetown/town/invites"
 	"github.com/AlecAivazis/survey/v2"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
 
@@ -31,18 +30,43 @@ func surveyIconSet(icons *survey.IconSet) {
 	icons.Question.Format = "magenta:b"
 }
 
-func promptInvite() (invite string, err error) {
-	invitePrompt := &survey.Input{
+func promptCode() (code string, err error) {
+	codePrompt := &survey.Input{
 		Message: "invite code?",
 	}
-	err = survey.AskOne(invitePrompt, &invite,
+	err = survey.AskOne(codePrompt, &code,
 		survey.WithValidator(survey.Required),
 		survey.WithIcons(surveyIconSet))
-	invite = strings.TrimSpace(invite)
+	code = strings.TrimSpace(code)
 	return
 }
 
+func promptUsername() (un string, err error) {
+	unPrompt := &survey.Input{
+		Message: "desired username?",
+	}
+	err = survey.AskOne(unPrompt, &un,
+		survey.WithValidator(survey.Required),
+		survey.WithIcons(surveyIconSet),
+		survey.WithValidator(func(val interface{}) error {
+			un := val.(string)
+			// TODO check for exising username
+			fmt.Println(un)
+
+			return nil
+		}))
+
+	return "", nil
+}
+
 func _main() error {
+	inviteDB, err := invites.ConnectDB()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	data := &newUserData{}
+
 	s := lipgloss.NewStyle().
 		Foreground(lipgloss.AdaptiveColor{
 			Light: "#7D19BD",
@@ -52,13 +76,29 @@ func _main() error {
 	s = s.SetString(welcomeArt)
 	fmt.Println(s)
 
-	invite, err := promptInvite()
+	code, err := promptCode()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	invite, err := invites.Get(inviteDB, code)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not look up invite code: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if invite.Used {
+		return errors.New("that invite code has already been used.")
+	}
+
+	s = s.SetString("thanks!! just gotta collect some information now and then your account will be ready.")
+
+	fmt.Println(s)
+
+	data.Username, err = promptUsername()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	fmt.Println("got " + invite)
 
-	// TODO check if token is valid
 	// TODO collect username
 	// TODO collect email
 	// TODO collect public key
@@ -69,6 +109,7 @@ func _main() error {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// TODO friendlier error handling
 	err := _main()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
diff --git a/invites/invites.go b/invites/invites.go
index 5ca0b63..f665ab7 100644
--- a/invites/invites.go
+++ b/invites/invites.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func Get(db *sql.DB, code string) (*Invite, error) {
 	inv := &Invite{
 		Code: code,
 	}
-	var created int64
+	var created string
 	var used int
 	stmt, err := db.Prepare(`
 		SELECT id, created, email, used
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@ func Get(db *sql.DB, code string) (*Invite, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	inv.Created = time.Unix(created, 0)
+	inv.Created, err = time.Parse("2006-01-02T15:04", created)
+	if err != nil {
+		return inv, err
+	}
+
 	inv.Used = used > 0
 
 	return inv, nil