diff --git a/chats/handler/chats.go b/chats/handler/chats.go
index d2745b3..6ef3149 100644
--- a/chats/handler/chats.go
+++ b/chats/handler/chats.go
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 package handler
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
-	"github.com/micro/services/pkg/gorm"
+	"github.com/micro/services/pkg/tenant"
 
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/errors"
-	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -21,13 +23,12 @@ var (
 )
 
 type Chats struct {
-	gorm.Helper
 	Time func() time.Time
 }
 
 type Chat struct {
 	ID        string
-	UserIDs   string `gorm:"uniqueIndex"` // sorted json array
+	UserIDs   []string
 	CreatedAt time.Time
 }
 
@@ -45,17 +46,69 @@ func (m *Message) Serialize() *pb.Message {
 		AuthorId: m.AuthorID,
 		ChatId:   m.ChatID,
 		Text:     m.Text,
-		SentAt:   timestamppb.New(m.SentAt),
+		SentAt:   m.SentAt.UnixNano(),
 	}
 }
 
+func (c *Chat) Index(ctx context.Context) string {
+	sort.Strings(c.UserIDs)
+	users := strings.Join(c.UserIDs, "-")
+
+	key := fmt.Sprintf("chatByUserIDs:%s", users)
+
+	t, ok := tenant.FromContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return key
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", t, key)
+}
+
+func (c *Chat) Key(ctx context.Context) string {
+	key := fmt.Sprintf("chat:%s", c.ID)
+
+	t, ok := tenant.FromContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return key
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", t, key)
+}
+
+func (m *Message) Key(ctx context.Context) string {
+	key := fmt.Sprintf("message:%s:%s", m.ChatID, m.ID)
+
+	t, ok := tenant.FromContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return key
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", t, key)
+}
+
+func (m *Message) Index(ctx context.Context) string {
+	key := fmt.Sprintf("messagesByChatID:%s", m.ChatID)
+
+	if !m.SentAt.IsZero() {
+		key = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", key, m.SentAt.UnixNano())
+
+		if len(m.ID) > 0 {
+			key = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", key, m.ID)
+		}
+	}
+
+	t, ok := tenant.FromContext(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return key
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", t, key)
+}
+
 func (c *Chat) Serialize() *pb.Chat {
-	var userIDs []string
-	json.Unmarshal([]byte(c.UserIDs), &userIDs)
-
 	return &pb.Chat{
 		Id:        c.ID,
-		UserIds:   userIDs,
-		CreatedAt: timestamppb.New(c.CreatedAt),
+		UserIds:   c.UserIDs,
+		CreatedAt: c.CreatedAt.UnixNano(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/chats/handler/chats_test.go b/chats/handler/chats_test.go
index 63ad3ae..ea83c3a 100644
--- a/chats/handler/chats_test.go
+++ b/chats/handler/chats_test.go
@@ -2,38 +2,20 @@ package handler_test
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"database/sql"
-	"os"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/auth"
+	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/store"
+	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/store/memory"
 	"github.com/micro/services/chats/handler"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-
-	"github.com/golang/protobuf/ptypes/timestamp"
 )
 
 func testHandler(t *testing.T) *handler.Chats {
-	// connect to the database
-	addr := os.Getenv("POSTGRES_URL")
-	if len(addr) == 0 {
-		addr = "postgresql://postgres@localhost:5432/postgres?sslmode=disable"
-	}
-	sqlDB, err := sql.Open("pgx", addr)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to open connection to DB %s", err)
-	}
-
-	// clean any data from a previous run
-	if _, err := sqlDB.Exec("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS micro_chats, micro_messages CASCADE"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Error cleaning database: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	h := &handler.Chats{Time: func() time.Time { return time.Unix(1611327673, 0) }}
-	h.DBConn(sqlDB).Migrations(&handler.Chat{}, &handler.Message{})
-	return h
+	store.DefaultStore = memory.NewStore()
+	return &handler.Chats{Time: func() time.Time { return time.Unix(1611327673, 0) }}
 }
 
 func assertChatsMatch(t *testing.T, exp, act *pb.Chat) {
@@ -52,18 +34,12 @@ func assertChatsMatch(t *testing.T, exp, act *pb.Chat) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, exp.UserIds, act.UserIds)
 
-	if act.CreatedAt == nil {
+	if act.CreatedAt == 0 {
 		t.Errorf("CreatedAt not set")
 		return
 	}
 
-	assert.True(t, microSecondTime(exp.CreatedAt).Equal(microSecondTime(act.CreatedAt)))
-}
-
-// postgres has a resolution of 100microseconds so just test that it's accurate to the second
-func microSecondTime(t *timestamp.Timestamp) time.Time {
-	tt := t.AsTime()
-	return time.Unix(tt.Unix(), int64(tt.Nanosecond()-tt.Nanosecond()%1000))
+	assert.True(t, exp.CreatedAt == act.CreatedAt)
 }
 
 func assertMessagesMatch(t *testing.T, exp, act *pb.Message) {
@@ -83,11 +59,12 @@ func assertMessagesMatch(t *testing.T, exp, act *pb.Message) {
 	assert.Equal(t, exp.AuthorId, act.AuthorId)
 	assert.Equal(t, exp.ChatId, act.ChatId)
 
-	if act.SentAt == nil {
+	if act.SentAt == 0 {
 		t.Errorf("SentAt not set")
 		return
 	}
-	assert.True(t, microSecondTime(exp.SentAt).Equal(microSecondTime(act.SentAt)))
+
+	assert.True(t, exp.SentAt == act.SentAt)
 }
 
 func microAccountCtx() context.Context {
diff --git a/chats/handler/create_chat.go b/chats/handler/create_chat.go
index 0c333d1..1bb631b 100644
--- a/chats/handler/create_chat.go
+++ b/chats/handler/create_chat.go
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package handler
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"time"
 
@@ -11,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/auth"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/errors"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/logger"
+	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/store"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
 )
 
@@ -26,43 +25,56 @@ func (c *Chats) CreateChat(ctx context.Context, req *pb.CreateChatRequest, rsp *
 		return ErrMissingUserIDs
 	}
 
-	// sort the user ids and then marshal to json
+	// sort the user ids
 	sort.Strings(req.UserIds)
-	bytes, err := json.Marshal(req.UserIds)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("Error mashaling user ids: %v", err)
-		return errors.InternalServerError("ENCODING_ERROR", "Error encoding user ids")
+
+	id := uuid.New().String()
+	if len(req.Id) > 0 {
+		id = req.Id
 	}
 
 	// construct the chat
-	chat := Chat{
-		ID:        uuid.New().String(),
+	chat := &Chat{
+		ID:        id,
 		CreatedAt: time.Now(),
-		UserIDs:   string(bytes),
+		UserIDs:   req.UserIds,
 	}
 
-	db, err := c.GetDBConn(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("Error connecting to DB: %v", err)
-		return errors.InternalServerError("DB_ERROR", "Error connecting to DB")
-	}
-	// write to the database, if we get a unique key error, the chat already exists
-	err = db.Create(&chat).Error
-	if err == nil {
+	// read the chat by the unique composition of ids
+	recs, err := store.Read(chat.Key(ctx), store.ReadLimit(1))
+	if err == nil && len(recs) == 1 {
+		// found an existing record
+		recs[0].Decode(&chat)
 		rsp.Chat = chat.Serialize()
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if match, _ := regexp.MatchString(`idx_[\S]+_chats_user_ids`, err.Error()); !match {
+	// if not found check it exists by user index key
+	if err == store.ErrNotFound {
+		recs, err = store.Read(chat.Index(ctx), store.ReadLimit(1))
+		if err == nil && len(recs) > 0 {
+			recs[0].Decode(&chat)
+			rsp.Chat = chat.Serialize()
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	// ok otherwise we're creating an entirely new record
+	newRec := store.NewRecord(chat.Key(ctx), chat)
+	if err := store.Write(newRec); err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("Error creating chat: %v", err)
 		return errors.InternalServerError("DATABASE_ERROR", "Error connecting to database")
 	}
 
-	var existing Chat
-	if err := db.Where(&Chat{UserIDs: chat.UserIDs}).First(&existing).Error; err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("Error reading chat: %v", err)
+	// write the user composite key
+	newRec = store.NewRecord(chat.Index(ctx), chat)
+	if err := store.Write(newRec); err != nil {
+		logger.Errorf("Error creating chat: %v", err)
 		return errors.InternalServerError("DATABASE_ERROR", "Error connecting to database")
 	}
-	rsp.Chat = existing.Serialize()
+
+	// return the record
+	rsp.Chat = chat.Serialize()
+
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/chats/handler/create_message.go b/chats/handler/create_message.go
index ed3fb97..9161347 100644
--- a/chats/handler/create_message.go
+++ b/chats/handler/create_message.go
@@ -2,18 +2,17 @@ package handler
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/auth"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/errors"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/logger"
+	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/store"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
-	"gorm.io/gorm"
 )
 
 // Create a message within a chat
-func (c *Chats) CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, req *pb.CreateMessageRequest, rsp *pb.CreateMessageResponse) error {
+func (c *Chats) SendMessage(ctx context.Context, req *pb.SendMessageRequest, rsp *pb.SendMessageResponse) error {
 	_, ok := auth.AccountFromContext(ctx)
 	if !ok {
 		errors.Unauthorized("UNAUTHORIZED", "Unauthorized")
@@ -29,14 +28,12 @@ func (c *Chats) CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, req *pb.CreateMessageRequest,
 		return ErrMissingText
 	}
 
-	db, err := c.GetDBConn(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("Error connecting to DB: %v", err)
-		return errors.InternalServerError("DB_ERROR", "Error connecting to DB")
+	chat := &Chat{
+		ID: req.ChatId,
 	}
-	// lookup the chat
-	var conv Chat
-	if err := db.Where(&Chat{ID: req.ChatId}).First(&conv).Error; err == gorm.ErrRecordNotFound {
+
+	recs, err := store.Read(chat.Key(ctx), store.ReadLimit(1))
+	if err == store.ErrNotFound {
 		return ErrNotFound
 	} else if err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("Error reading chat: %v", err)
@@ -46,28 +43,45 @@ func (c *Chats) CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, req *pb.CreateMessageRequest,
 	// create the message
 	msg := &Message{
 		ID:       req.Id,
-		SentAt:   c.Time(),
 		Text:     req.Text,
 		AuthorID: req.AuthorId,
 		ChatID:   req.ChatId,
+		SentAt:   c.Time(),
 	}
 	if len(msg.ID) == 0 {
 		msg.ID = uuid.New().String()
 	}
-	if err := db.Create(msg).Error; err == nil {
+
+	// check if the message already exists
+	recs, err = store.Read(msg.Key(ctx), store.ReadLimit(1))
+	if err == nil && len(recs) == 1 {
+		// return the existing message
+		msg = &Message{}
+		recs[0].Decode(&msg)
 		rsp.Message = msg.Serialize()
 		return nil
-	} else if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "messages_pkey") {
+	}
+
+	// if there's an error then return
+	if err != nil && err != store.ErrNotFound {
 		logger.Errorf("Error creating message: %v", err)
 		return errors.InternalServerError("DATABASE_ERROR", "Error connecting to database")
 	}
 
-	// a message already exists with this id
-	var existing Message
-	if err := db.Where(&Message{ID: msg.ID}).First(&existing).Error; err != nil {
+	// otherwise write the record
+	if err := store.Write(store.NewRecord(msg.Key(ctx), msg)); err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("Error creating message: %v", err)
 		return errors.InternalServerError("DATABASE_ERROR", "Error connecting to database")
 	}
-	rsp.Message = existing.Serialize()
+
+	// write the time based index
+	if err := store.Write(store.NewRecord(msg.Index(ctx), msg)); err == nil {
+		rsp.Message = msg.Serialize()
+		return nil
+	} else if err != nil {
+		logger.Errorf("Error creating message: %v", err)
+		return errors.InternalServerError("DATABASE_ERROR", "Error connecting to database")
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/chats/handler/create_message_test.go b/chats/handler/create_message_test.go
index c2caa43..0bd1f42 100644
--- a/chats/handler/create_message_test.go
+++ b/chats/handler/create_message_test.go
@@ -5,13 +5,12 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/micro/services/chats/handler"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
-	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
-func TestCreateMessage(t *testing.T) {
+func TestSendMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	h := testHandler(t)
 
 	// seed some data
@@ -82,8 +81,8 @@ func TestCreateMessage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tt {
 		t.Run(tc.Name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			var rsp pb.CreateMessageResponse
-			err := h.CreateMessage(microAccountCtx(), &pb.CreateMessageRequest{
+			var rsp pb.SendMessageResponse
+			err := h.SendMessage(microAccountCtx(), &pb.SendMessageRequest{
 				AuthorId: tc.AuthorID,
 				ChatId:   tc.ChatID,
 				Text:     tc.Text,
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ func TestCreateMessage(t *testing.T) {
 			assertMessagesMatch(t, &pb.Message{
 				AuthorId: tc.AuthorID,
 				ChatId:   tc.ChatID,
-				SentAt:   timestamppb.New(h.Time()),
+				SentAt:   h.Time().UnixNano(),
 				Text:     tc.Text,
 				Id:       tc.ID,
 			}, rsp.Message)
diff --git a/chats/handler/list_messages.go b/chats/handler/list_messages.go
index 8831d31..b4f6ec5 100644
--- a/chats/handler/list_messages.go
+++ b/chats/handler/list_messages.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/auth"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/errors"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/logger"
+	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/store"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
 )
 
@@ -23,33 +24,46 @@ func (c *Chats) ListMessages(ctx context.Context, req *pb.ListMessagesRequest, r
 		return ErrMissingChatID
 	}
 
-	db, err := c.GetDBConn(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("Error connecting to DB: %v", err)
-		return errors.InternalServerError("DB_ERROR", "Error connecting to DB")
-	}
-	// construct the query
-	q := db.Where(&Message{ChatID: req.ChatId}).Order("sent_at DESC")
-	if req.SentBefore != nil {
-		q = q.Where("sent_at < ?", req.SentBefore.AsTime())
-	}
-	if req.Limit != nil {
-		q.Limit(int(req.Limit.Value))
-	} else {
-		q.Limit(DefaultLimit)
+	message := &Message{
+		ChatID: req.ChatId,
 	}
 
-	// execute the query
-	var msgs []Message
-	if err := q.Find(&msgs).Error; err != nil {
+	// default order is descending
+	order := store.OrderDesc
+	if req.Order == "asc" {
+		order = store.OrderAsc
+	}
+
+	opts := []store.ReadOption{
+		store.ReadPrefix(),
+		store.ReadOrder(order),
+	}
+
+	if req.Limit > 0 {
+		opts = append(opts, store.ReadLimit(uint(req.Limit)))
+	} else {
+		opts = append(opts, store.ReadLimit(uint(DefaultLimit)))
+	}
+	if req.Offset > 0 {
+		opts = append(opts, store.ReadOffset(uint(req.Offset)))
+	}
+
+	// read all the records with the chat ID suffix
+	recs, err := store.Read(message.Index(ctx), opts...)
+	if err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("Error reading messages: %v", err)
 		return errors.InternalServerError("DATABASE_ERROR", "Error connecting to database")
 	}
 
-	// serialize the response
-	rsp.Messages = make([]*pb.Message, len(msgs))
-	for i, m := range msgs {
-		rsp.Messages[i] = m.Serialize()
+	// return all the messages
+	for _, rec := range recs {
+		m := &Message{}
+		rec.Decode(&m)
+		if len(m.ID) == 0 || m.ChatID != req.ChatId {
+			continue
+		}
+		rsp.Messages = append(rsp.Messages, m.Serialize())
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/chats/handler/list_messages_test.go b/chats/handler/list_messages_test.go
index 2570e6e..0a5e3be 100644
--- a/chats/handler/list_messages_test.go
+++ b/chats/handler/list_messages_test.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/micro/services/chats/handler"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/wrapperspb"
 )
 
 func TestListMessages(t *testing.T) {
@@ -29,8 +28,8 @@ func TestListMessages(t *testing.T) {
 
 	msgs := make([]*pb.Message, 50)
 	for i := 0; i < len(msgs); i++ {
-		var rsp pb.CreateMessageResponse
-		err := h.CreateMessage(microAccountCtx(), &pb.CreateMessageRequest{
+		var rsp pb.SendMessageResponse
+		err := h.SendMessage(microAccountCtx(), &pb.SendMessageRequest{
 			ChatId:   chatRsp.Chat.Id,
 			AuthorId: uuid.New().String(),
 			Text:     strconv.Itoa(i),
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ func TestListMessages(t *testing.T) {
 		var rsp pb.ListMessagesResponse
 		err := h.ListMessages(microAccountCtx(), &pb.ListMessagesRequest{
 			ChatId: chatRsp.Chat.Id,
-			Limit:  &wrapperspb.Int32Value{Value: 10},
+			Limit:  10,
 		}, &rsp)
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -86,9 +85,9 @@ func TestListMessages(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("OffsetAndLimit", func(t *testing.T) {
 		var rsp pb.ListMessagesResponse
 		err := h.ListMessages(microAccountCtx(), &pb.ListMessagesRequest{
-			ChatId:     chatRsp.Chat.Id,
-			Limit:      &wrapperspb.Int32Value{Value: 5},
-			SentBefore: msgs[20].SentAt,
+			ChatId: chatRsp.Chat.Id,
+			Limit:  5,
+			Offset: 15,
 		}, &rsp)
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -96,7 +95,7 @@ func TestListMessages(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("Expected %v messages but got %v", 5, len(rsp.Messages))
 			return
 		}
-		expected := msgs[15:20]
+		expected := msgs[30:35]
 		sortMessages(rsp.Messages)
 		for i, msg := range rsp.Messages {
 			assertMessagesMatch(t, expected[i], msg)
@@ -107,9 +106,9 @@ func TestListMessages(t *testing.T) {
 // sortMessages by the time they were sent
 func sortMessages(msgs []*pb.Message) {
 	sort.Slice(msgs, func(i, j int) bool {
-		if msgs[i].SentAt == nil || msgs[j].SentAt == nil {
+		if msgs[i].SentAt == 0 || msgs[j].SentAt == 0 {
 			return true
 		}
-		return msgs[i].SentAt.AsTime().Before(msgs[j].SentAt.AsTime())
+		return msgs[i].SentAt < msgs[j].SentAt
 	})
 }
diff --git a/chats/main.go b/chats/main.go
index 93732fc..f260ad2 100644
--- a/chats/main.go
+++ b/chats/main.go
@@ -1,21 +1,15 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"database/sql"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/micro/services/chats/handler"
 	pb "github.com/micro/services/chats/proto"
 
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service"
-	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/config"
 	"github.com/micro/micro/v3/service/logger"
-
-	_ "github.com/jackc/pgx/v4/stdlib"
 )
 
-var dbAddress = "postgresql://postgres:postgres@localhost:5432/chats?sslmode=disable"
-
 func main() {
 	// Create service
 	srv := service.New(
@@ -23,19 +17,7 @@ func main() {
 		service.Version("latest"),
 	)
 
-	// Connect to the database
-	cfg, err := config.Get("chats.database")
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Fatalf("Error loading config: %v", err)
-	}
-	addr := cfg.String(dbAddress)
-	sqlDB, err := sql.Open("pgx", addr)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Fatalf("Failed to open connection to DB %s", err)
-	}
-
 	h := &handler.Chats{Time: time.Now}
-	h.DBConn(sqlDB).Migrations(&handler.Chat{}, &handler.Message{})
 	// Register handler
 	pb.RegisterChatsHandler(srv.Server(), h)
 
diff --git a/chats/proto/chats.pb.go b/chats/proto/chats.pb.go
index 898ffe3..e910e30 100644
--- a/chats/proto/chats.pb.go
+++ b/chats/proto/chats.pb.go
@@ -1,17 +1,14 @@
 // Code generated by protoc-gen-go. DO NOT EDIT.
 // versions:
-// 	protoc-gen-go v1.25.0
-// 	protoc        v3.15.5
+// 	protoc-gen-go v1.26.0
+// 	protoc        v3.15.6
 // source: proto/chats.proto
 
 package chats
 
 import (
-	proto "github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
-	timestamppb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	wrapperspb "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/wrapperspb"
 	reflect "reflect"
 	sync "sync"
 )
@@ -23,18 +20,17 @@ const (
 	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(protoimpl.MaxVersion - 20)
 )
 
-// This is a compile-time assertion that a sufficiently up-to-date version
-// of the legacy proto package is being used.
-const _ = proto.ProtoPackageIsVersion4
-
 type Chat struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
 
-	Id        string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=id,proto3" json:"id,omitempty"`
-	UserIds   []string               `protobuf:"bytes,2,rep,name=user_ids,json=userIds,proto3" json:"user_ids,omitempty"`
-	CreatedAt *timestamppb.Timestamp `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=created_at,json=createdAt,proto3" json:"created_at,omitempty"`
+	// unique id of the chat
+	Id string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=id,proto3" json:"id,omitempty"`
+	// list of users in the chat
+	UserIds []string `protobuf:"bytes,2,rep,name=user_ids,json=userIds,proto3" json:"user_ids,omitempty"`
+	// unix nanosecond timestamp
+	CreatedAt int64 `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=created_at,json=createdAt,proto3" json:"created_at,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *Chat) Reset() {
@@ -83,11 +79,11 @@ func (x *Chat) GetUserIds() []string {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (x *Chat) GetCreatedAt() *timestamppb.Timestamp {
+func (x *Chat) GetCreatedAt() int64 {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.CreatedAt
 	}
-	return nil
+	return 0
 }
 
 type Message struct {
@@ -95,11 +91,16 @@ type Message struct {
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
 
-	Id       string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=id,proto3" json:"id,omitempty"`
-	AuthorId string                 `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=author_id,json=authorId,proto3" json:"author_id,omitempty"`
-	ChatId   string                 `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=chat_id,json=chatId,proto3" json:"chat_id,omitempty"`
-	Text     string                 `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=text,proto3" json:"text,omitempty"`
-	SentAt   *timestamppb.Timestamp `protobuf:"bytes,5,opt,name=sent_at,json=sentAt,proto3" json:"sent_at,omitempty"`
+	// unique id of the message
+	Id string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=id,proto3" json:"id,omitempty"`
+	// user id of the message
+	AuthorId string `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=author_id,json=authorId,proto3" json:"author_id,omitempty"`
+	// chat id the message belongs to
+	ChatId string `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=chat_id,json=chatId,proto3" json:"chat_id,omitempty"`
+	// text within the message
+	Text string `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=text,proto3" json:"text,omitempty"`
+	// unix nanosecond timestamp
+	SentAt int64 `protobuf:"varint,5,opt,name=sent_at,json=sentAt,proto3" json:"sent_at,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *Message) Reset() {
@@ -162,19 +163,23 @@ func (x *Message) GetText() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *Message) GetSentAt() *timestamppb.Timestamp {
+func (x *Message) GetSentAt() int64 {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.SentAt
 	}
-	return nil
+	return 0
 }
 
+// Create a new chat between mulitple users
 type CreateChatRequest struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
 
-	UserIds []string `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=user_ids,json=userIds,proto3" json:"user_ids,omitempty"`
+	// The chat ID
+	Id string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=id,proto3" json:"id,omitempty"`
+	// List of users in the chat
+	UserIds []string `protobuf:"bytes,2,rep,name=user_ids,json=userIds,proto3" json:"user_ids,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *CreateChatRequest) Reset() {
@@ -209,6 +214,13 @@ func (*CreateChatRequest) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
 	return file_proto_chats_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{2}
 }
 
+func (x *CreateChatRequest) GetId() string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Id
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (x *CreateChatRequest) GetUserIds() []string {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.UserIds
@@ -263,7 +275,8 @@ func (x *CreateChatResponse) GetChat() *Chat {
 	return nil
 }
 
-type CreateMessageRequest struct {
+// Send a message to a chat room
+type SendMessageRequest struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
@@ -274,8 +287,8 @@ type CreateMessageRequest struct {
 	Text     string `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=text,proto3" json:"text,omitempty"`
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) Reset() {
-	*x = CreateMessageRequest{}
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) Reset() {
+	*x = SendMessageRequest{}
 	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
 		mi := &file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes[4]
 		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
@@ -283,13 +296,13 @@ func (x *CreateMessageRequest) Reset() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) String() string {
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) String() string {
 	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
 }
 
-func (*CreateMessageRequest) ProtoMessage() {}
+func (*SendMessageRequest) ProtoMessage() {}
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
 	mi := &file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes[4]
 	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
 		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
@@ -301,40 +314,40 @@ func (x *CreateMessageRequest) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
 	return mi.MessageOf(x)
 }
 
-// Deprecated: Use CreateMessageRequest.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
-func (*CreateMessageRequest) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+// Deprecated: Use SendMessageRequest.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*SendMessageRequest) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
 	return file_proto_chats_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{4}
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) GetId() string {
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) GetId() string {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Id
 	}
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) GetChatId() string {
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) GetChatId() string {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.ChatId
 	}
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) GetAuthorId() string {
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) GetAuthorId() string {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.AuthorId
 	}
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageRequest) GetText() string {
+func (x *SendMessageRequest) GetText() string {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Text
 	}
 	return ""
 }
 
-type CreateMessageResponse struct {
+type SendMessageResponse struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
@@ -342,8 +355,8 @@ type CreateMessageResponse struct {
 	Message *Message `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=message,proto3" json:"message,omitempty"`
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageResponse) Reset() {
-	*x = CreateMessageResponse{}
+func (x *SendMessageResponse) Reset() {
+	*x = SendMessageResponse{}
 	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
 		mi := &file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes[5]
 		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
@@ -351,13 +364,13 @@ func (x *CreateMessageResponse) Reset() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageResponse) String() string {
+func (x *SendMessageResponse) String() string {
 	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
 }
 
-func (*CreateMessageResponse) ProtoMessage() {}
+func (*SendMessageResponse) ProtoMessage() {}
 
-func (x *CreateMessageResponse) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+func (x *SendMessageResponse) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
 	mi := &file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes[5]
 	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
 		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
@@ -369,26 +382,32 @@ func (x *CreateMessageResponse) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
 	return mi.MessageOf(x)
 }
 
-// Deprecated: Use CreateMessageResponse.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
-func (*CreateMessageResponse) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+// Deprecated: Use SendMessageResponse.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*SendMessageResponse) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
 	return file_proto_chats_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{5}
 }
 
-func (x *CreateMessageResponse) GetMessage() *Message {
+func (x *SendMessageResponse) GetMessage() *Message {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Message
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
+// List messages within a chat
 type ListMessagesRequest struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
 
-	ChatId     string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=chat_id,json=chatId,proto3" json:"chat_id,omitempty"`
-	SentBefore *timestamppb.Timestamp `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=sent_before,json=sentBefore,proto3" json:"sent_before,omitempty"`
-	Limit      *wrapperspb.Int32Value `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=limit,proto3" json:"limit,omitempty"`
+	// unique id of the chat
+	ChatId string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=chat_id,json=chatId,proto3" json:"chat_id,omitempty"`
+	// limit the number of messages
+	Limit int64 `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=limit,proto3" json:"limit,omitempty"`
+	// offset for the messages
+	Offset int64 `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=offset,proto3" json:"offset,omitempty"`
+	// order "asc" or "desc" (defaults to reverse chronological)
+	Order string `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=order,proto3" json:"order,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *ListMessagesRequest) Reset() {
@@ -430,18 +449,25 @@ func (x *ListMessagesRequest) GetChatId() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *ListMessagesRequest) GetSentBefore() *timestamppb.Timestamp {
-	if x != nil {
-		return x.SentBefore
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (x *ListMessagesRequest) GetLimit() *wrapperspb.Int32Value {
+func (x *ListMessagesRequest) GetLimit() int64 {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Limit
 	}
-	return nil
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (x *ListMessagesRequest) GetOffset() int64 {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Offset
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (x *ListMessagesRequest) GetOrder() string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Order
+	}
+	return ""
 }
 
 type ListMessagesResponse struct {
@@ -495,75 +521,65 @@ var File_proto_chats_proto protoreflect.FileDescriptor
 
 var file_proto_chats_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
 	0x0a, 0x11, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x2f, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72,
-	0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x12, 0x05, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x1a, 0x1f, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67,
-	0x6c, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2f, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65,
-	0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x1a, 0x1e, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f,
-	0x67, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2f, 0x77, 0x72, 0x61,
-	0x70, 0x70, 0x65, 0x72, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x22, 0x6c, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x43,
-	0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x12, 0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52,
-	0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x12, 0x19, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x73, 0x18,
-	0x02, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x07, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x73, 0x12, 0x39,
-	0x0a, 0x0a, 0x63, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x64, 0x5f, 0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01,
-	0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x1a, 0x2e, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74,
-	0x6f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2e, 0x54, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x52, 0x09,
-	0x63, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x64, 0x41, 0x74, 0x22, 0x98, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x4d, 0x65,
-	0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x12, 0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28,
-	0x09, 0x52, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x12, 0x1b, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x5f,
-	0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x08, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72,
-	0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20,
-	0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x12, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x74,
-	0x65, 0x78, 0x74, 0x18, 0x04, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78, 0x74, 0x12,
-	0x33, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x73, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x5f, 0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x05, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b,
-	0x32, 0x1a, 0x2e, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x62,
-	0x75, 0x66, 0x2e, 0x54, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x52, 0x06, 0x73, 0x65,
-	0x6e, 0x74, 0x41, 0x74, 0x22, 0x2e, 0x0a, 0x11, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68,
-	0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12, 0x19, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65,
-	0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x73, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x07, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65,
-	0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x73, 0x22, 0x35, 0x0a, 0x12, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68,
-	0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x1f, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x63, 0x68,
-	0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x0b, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73,
-	0x2e, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x04, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x22, 0x70, 0x0a, 0x14, 0x43,
-	0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75,
-	0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12, 0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52,
-	0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x02,
-	0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x1b, 0x0a, 0x09,
-	0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52,
-	0x08, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x12, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78,
-	0x74, 0x18, 0x04, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78, 0x74, 0x22, 0x41, 0x0a,
-	0x15, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x65,
-	0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x28, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67,
-	0x65, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x0e, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e,
-	0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x07, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65,
-	0x22, 0x9e, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x13, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65,
-	0x73, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74,
-	0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x49,
-	0x64, 0x12, 0x3b, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x73, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x5f, 0x62, 0x65, 0x66, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65,
-	0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x1a, 0x2e, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e,
-	0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2e, 0x54, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61,
-	0x6d, 0x70, 0x52, 0x0a, 0x73, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x42, 0x65, 0x66, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x12, 0x31,
-	0x0a, 0x05, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x69, 0x74, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x1b, 0x2e,
-	0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2e,
-	0x49, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x33, 0x32, 0x56, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x52, 0x05, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x69,
-	0x74, 0x22, 0x42, 0x0a, 0x14, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65,
-	0x73, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x2a, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73,
-	0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x0e, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68,
-	0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x08, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73,
-	0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x32, 0xdf, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x12,
-	0x41, 0x0a, 0x0a, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x12, 0x18, 0x2e,
-	0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74,
-	0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x1a, 0x19, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e,
-	0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e,
-	0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x4a, 0x0a, 0x0d, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73,
-	0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x12, 0x1b, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61,
-	0x74, 0x65, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74,
-	0x1a, 0x1c, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x4d,
-	0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x47,
-	0x0a, 0x0c, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x12, 0x1a,
-	0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61,
-	0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x1a, 0x1b, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61,
-	0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x52,
-	0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x42, 0x0f, 0x5a, 0x0d, 0x2e, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f,
-	0x74, 0x6f, 0x3b, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
+	0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x12, 0x05, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x22, 0x50, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x43, 0x68,
+	0x61, 0x74, 0x12, 0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x02,
+	0x69, 0x64, 0x12, 0x19, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x73, 0x18, 0x02,
+	0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x07, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x73, 0x12, 0x1d, 0x0a,
+	0x0a, 0x63, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x64, 0x5f, 0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28,
+	0x03, 0x52, 0x09, 0x63, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x64, 0x41, 0x74, 0x22, 0x7c, 0x0a, 0x07,
+	0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x12, 0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20,
+	0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x12, 0x1b, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f,
+	0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x08, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68,
+	0x6f, 0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18,
+	0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x12, 0x0a,
+	0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78, 0x74, 0x18, 0x04, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78,
+	0x74, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x73, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x5f, 0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x05, 0x20, 0x01,
+	0x28, 0x03, 0x52, 0x06, 0x73, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x41, 0x74, 0x22, 0x3e, 0x0a, 0x11, 0x43, 0x72,
+	0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12,
+	0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x12,
+	0x19, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x73, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28,
+	0x09, 0x52, 0x07, 0x75, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x73, 0x22, 0x35, 0x0a, 0x12, 0x43, 0x72,
+	0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65,
+	0x12, 0x1f, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x0b,
+	0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x04, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61,
+	0x74, 0x22, 0x6e, 0x0a, 0x12, 0x53, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65,
+	0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12, 0x0e, 0x0a, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20,
+	0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x02, 0x69, 0x64, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x5f,
+	0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x49, 0x64,
+	0x12, 0x1b, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20,
+	0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x08, 0x61, 0x75, 0x74, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x12, 0x0a,
+	0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78, 0x74, 0x18, 0x04, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x04, 0x74, 0x65, 0x78,
+	0x74, 0x22, 0x3f, 0x0a, 0x13, 0x53, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65,
+	0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x28, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73,
+	0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x0e, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74,
+	0x73, 0x2e, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x07, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61,
+	0x67, 0x65, 0x22, 0x72, 0x0a, 0x13, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67,
+	0x65, 0x73, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12, 0x17, 0x0a, 0x07, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61,
+	0x74, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x64, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74,
+	0x49, 0x64, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x69, 0x74, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28,
+	0x03, 0x52, 0x05, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x69, 0x74, 0x12, 0x16, 0x0a, 0x06, 0x6f, 0x66, 0x66, 0x73,
+	0x65, 0x74, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x03, 0x52, 0x06, 0x6f, 0x66, 0x66, 0x73, 0x65, 0x74,
+	0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x64, 0x65, 0x72, 0x18, 0x04, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52,
+	0x05, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x64, 0x65, 0x72, 0x22, 0x42, 0x0a, 0x14, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65,
+	0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x2a,
+	0x0a, 0x08, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0b,
+	0x32, 0x0e, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65,
+	0x52, 0x08, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x32, 0xd9, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x43,
+	0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x12, 0x41, 0x0a, 0x0a, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68,
+	0x61, 0x74, 0x12, 0x18, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74,
+	0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x1a, 0x19, 0x2e, 0x63,
+	0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x43, 0x72, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x52,
+	0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x44, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x53, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x4d,
+	0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x12, 0x19, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x53,
+	0x65, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73,
+	0x74, 0x1a, 0x1a, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x53, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x4d, 0x65,
+	0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x52, 0x65, 0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x12, 0x47, 0x0a,
+	0x0c, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x12, 0x1a, 0x2e,
+	0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67,
+	0x65, 0x73, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x1a, 0x1b, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74,
+	0x73, 0x2e, 0x4c, 0x69, 0x73, 0x74, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x52, 0x65,
+	0x73, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x65, 0x42, 0x0f, 0x5a, 0x0d, 0x2e, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74,
+	0x6f, 0x3b, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x74, 0x73, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
 }
 
 var (
@@ -580,36 +596,30 @@ func file_proto_chats_proto_rawDescGZIP() []byte {
 
 var file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 8)
 var file_proto_chats_proto_goTypes = []interface{}{
-	(*Chat)(nil),                  // 0: chats.Chat
-	(*Message)(nil),               // 1: chats.Message
-	(*CreateChatRequest)(nil),     // 2: chats.CreateChatRequest
-	(*CreateChatResponse)(nil),    // 3: chats.CreateChatResponse
-	(*CreateMessageRequest)(nil),  // 4: chats.CreateMessageRequest
-	(*CreateMessageResponse)(nil), // 5: chats.CreateMessageResponse
-	(*ListMessagesRequest)(nil),   // 6: chats.ListMessagesRequest
-	(*ListMessagesResponse)(nil),  // 7: chats.ListMessagesResponse
-	(*timestamppb.Timestamp)(nil), // 8: google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	(*wrapperspb.Int32Value)(nil), // 9: google.protobuf.Int32Value
+	(*Chat)(nil),                 // 0: chats.Chat
+	(*Message)(nil),              // 1: chats.Message
+	(*CreateChatRequest)(nil),    // 2: chats.CreateChatRequest
+	(*CreateChatResponse)(nil),   // 3: chats.CreateChatResponse
+	(*SendMessageRequest)(nil),   // 4: chats.SendMessageRequest
+	(*SendMessageResponse)(nil),  // 5: chats.SendMessageResponse
+	(*ListMessagesRequest)(nil),  // 6: chats.ListMessagesRequest
+	(*ListMessagesResponse)(nil), // 7: chats.ListMessagesResponse
 }
 var file_proto_chats_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
-	8,  // 0: chats.Chat.created_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	8,  // 1: chats.Message.sent_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	0,  // 2: chats.CreateChatResponse.chat:type_name -> chats.Chat
-	1,  // 3: chats.CreateMessageResponse.message:type_name -> chats.Message
-	8,  // 4: chats.ListMessagesRequest.sent_before:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	9,  // 5: chats.ListMessagesRequest.limit:type_name -> google.protobuf.Int32Value
-	1,  // 6: chats.ListMessagesResponse.messages:type_name -> chats.Message
-	2,  // 7: chats.Chats.CreateChat:input_type -> chats.CreateChatRequest
-	4,  // 8: chats.Chats.CreateMessage:input_type -> chats.CreateMessageRequest
-	6,  // 9: chats.Chats.ListMessages:input_type -> chats.ListMessagesRequest
-	3,  // 10: chats.Chats.CreateChat:output_type -> chats.CreateChatResponse
-	5,  // 11: chats.Chats.CreateMessage:output_type -> chats.CreateMessageResponse
-	7,  // 12: chats.Chats.ListMessages:output_type -> chats.ListMessagesResponse
-	10, // [10:13] is the sub-list for method output_type
-	7,  // [7:10] is the sub-list for method input_type
-	7,  // [7:7] is the sub-list for extension type_name
-	7,  // [7:7] is the sub-list for extension extendee
-	0,  // [0:7] is the sub-list for field type_name
+	0, // 0: chats.CreateChatResponse.chat:type_name -> chats.Chat
+	1, // 1: chats.SendMessageResponse.message:type_name -> chats.Message
+	1, // 2: chats.ListMessagesResponse.messages:type_name -> chats.Message
+	2, // 3: chats.Chats.CreateChat:input_type -> chats.CreateChatRequest
+	4, // 4: chats.Chats.SendMessage:input_type -> chats.SendMessageRequest
+	6, // 5: chats.Chats.ListMessages:input_type -> chats.ListMessagesRequest
+	3, // 6: chats.Chats.CreateChat:output_type -> chats.CreateChatResponse
+	5, // 7: chats.Chats.SendMessage:output_type -> chats.SendMessageResponse
+	7, // 8: chats.Chats.ListMessages:output_type -> chats.ListMessagesResponse
+	6, // [6:9] is the sub-list for method output_type
+	3, // [3:6] is the sub-list for method input_type
+	3, // [3:3] is the sub-list for extension type_name
+	3, // [3:3] is the sub-list for extension extendee
+	0, // [0:3] is the sub-list for field type_name
 }
 
 func init() { file_proto_chats_proto_init() }
@@ -667,7 +677,7 @@ func file_proto_chats_proto_init() {
 			}
 		}
 		file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes[4].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
-			switch v := v.(*CreateMessageRequest); i {
+			switch v := v.(*SendMessageRequest); i {
 			case 0:
 				return &v.state
 			case 1:
@@ -679,7 +689,7 @@ func file_proto_chats_proto_init() {
 			}
 		}
 		file_proto_chats_proto_msgTypes[5].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
-			switch v := v.(*CreateMessageResponse); i {
+			switch v := v.(*SendMessageResponse); i {
 			case 0:
 				return &v.state
 			case 1:
diff --git a/chats/proto/chats.pb.micro.go b/chats/proto/chats.pb.micro.go
index c6fb2a8..3297be0 100644
--- a/chats/proto/chats.pb.micro.go
+++ b/chats/proto/chats.pb.micro.go
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ package chats
 import (
 	fmt "fmt"
 	proto "github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
-	_ "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/timestamppb"
-	_ "google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/wrapperspb"
 	math "math"
 )
 
@@ -48,7 +46,7 @@ type ChatsService interface {
 	// chat will be returned
 	CreateChat(ctx context.Context, in *CreateChatRequest, opts ...client.CallOption) (*CreateChatResponse, error)
 	// Create a message within a chat
-	CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, in *CreateMessageRequest, opts ...client.CallOption) (*CreateMessageResponse, error)
+	SendMessage(ctx context.Context, in *SendMessageRequest, opts ...client.CallOption) (*SendMessageResponse, error)
 	// List the messages within a chat in reverse chronological order, using sent_before to
 	// offset as older messages need to be loaded
 	ListMessages(ctx context.Context, in *ListMessagesRequest, opts ...client.CallOption) (*ListMessagesResponse, error)
@@ -76,9 +74,9 @@ func (c *chatsService) CreateChat(ctx context.Context, in *CreateChatRequest, op
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-func (c *chatsService) CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, in *CreateMessageRequest, opts ...client.CallOption) (*CreateMessageResponse, error) {
-	req := c.c.NewRequest(c.name, "Chats.CreateMessage", in)
-	out := new(CreateMessageResponse)
+func (c *chatsService) SendMessage(ctx context.Context, in *SendMessageRequest, opts ...client.CallOption) (*SendMessageResponse, error) {
+	req := c.c.NewRequest(c.name, "Chats.SendMessage", in)
+	out := new(SendMessageResponse)
 	err := c.c.Call(ctx, req, out, opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -103,7 +101,7 @@ type ChatsHandler interface {
 	// chat will be returned
 	CreateChat(context.Context, *CreateChatRequest, *CreateChatResponse) error
 	// Create a message within a chat
-	CreateMessage(context.Context, *CreateMessageRequest, *CreateMessageResponse) error
+	SendMessage(context.Context, *SendMessageRequest, *SendMessageResponse) error
 	// List the messages within a chat in reverse chronological order, using sent_before to
 	// offset as older messages need to be loaded
 	ListMessages(context.Context, *ListMessagesRequest, *ListMessagesResponse) error
@@ -112,7 +110,7 @@ type ChatsHandler interface {
 func RegisterChatsHandler(s server.Server, hdlr ChatsHandler, opts ...server.HandlerOption) error {
 	type chats interface {
 		CreateChat(ctx context.Context, in *CreateChatRequest, out *CreateChatResponse) error
-		CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, in *CreateMessageRequest, out *CreateMessageResponse) error
+		SendMessage(ctx context.Context, in *SendMessageRequest, out *SendMessageResponse) error
 		ListMessages(ctx context.Context, in *ListMessagesRequest, out *ListMessagesResponse) error
 	}
 	type Chats struct {
@@ -130,8 +128,8 @@ func (h *chatsHandler) CreateChat(ctx context.Context, in *CreateChatRequest, ou
 	return h.ChatsHandler.CreateChat(ctx, in, out)
 }
 
-func (h *chatsHandler) CreateMessage(ctx context.Context, in *CreateMessageRequest, out *CreateMessageResponse) error {
-	return h.ChatsHandler.CreateMessage(ctx, in, out)
+func (h *chatsHandler) SendMessage(ctx context.Context, in *SendMessageRequest, out *SendMessageResponse) error {
+	return h.ChatsHandler.SendMessage(ctx, in, out)
 }
 
 func (h *chatsHandler) ListMessages(ctx context.Context, in *ListMessagesRequest, out *ListMessagesResponse) error {
diff --git a/chats/proto/chats.proto b/chats/proto/chats.proto
index 8d8343a..3d24ca0 100644
--- a/chats/proto/chats.proto
+++ b/chats/proto/chats.proto
@@ -4,57 +4,73 @@ package chats;
 
 option go_package = "./proto;chats";
 
-import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto";
-import "google/protobuf/wrappers.proto";
-
 service Chats {
 	// Create a chat between two or more users, if a chat already exists for these users, the existing
 	// chat will be returned
 	rpc CreateChat(CreateChatRequest) returns (CreateChatResponse);
 	// Create a message within a chat
-	rpc CreateMessage(CreateMessageRequest) returns (CreateMessageResponse);
+	rpc SendMessage(SendMessageRequest) returns (SendMessageResponse);
 	// List the messages within a chat in reverse chronological order, using sent_before to
 	// offset as older messages need to be loaded
 	rpc ListMessages(ListMessagesRequest) returns (ListMessagesResponse);
 }
 
 message Chat {
+	// unique id of the chat
 	string id = 1;
+	// list of users in the chat
 	repeated string user_ids = 2;
-	google.protobuf.Timestamp created_at = 3;
+	// unix nanosecond timestamp
+	int64 created_at = 3;
 }
 
 message Message {
+	// unique id of the message
 	string id = 1;
+	// user id of the message
 	string author_id = 2;
+	// chat id the message belongs to
 	string chat_id = 3;
+	// text within the message
 	string text = 4;
-	google.protobuf.Timestamp sent_at = 5;
+	// unix nanosecond timestamp
+	int64 sent_at = 5;
 }
 
+// Create a new chat between mulitple users
 message CreateChatRequest {
-	repeated string user_ids = 1;
+	// The chat ID
+	string id = 1;
+	// List of users in the chat
+	repeated string user_ids = 2;
 }
 
 message CreateChatResponse {
 	Chat chat = 1;
 }
 
-message CreateMessageRequest {
+// Send a message to a chat room
+message SendMessageRequest {
 	string id = 1;
 	string chat_id = 2;
 	string author_id = 3;
 	string text = 4;
 }
 
-message CreateMessageResponse {
+message SendMessageResponse {
 	Message message = 1;
 }
 
+// List messages within a chat
 message ListMessagesRequest {
+	// unique id of the chat
 	string chat_id = 1;
-	google.protobuf.Timestamp sent_before = 2;
-	google.protobuf.Int32Value limit = 3;
+	// limit the number of messages
+	int64 limit = 2;
+	// offset for the messages
+	int64 offset = 3;
+	// order "asc" or "desc" (defaults to reverse chronological)
+	string order = 4;
 }
 
 message ListMessagesResponse {
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 39b9db2..641fb5b 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/hailocab/go-geoindex v0.0.0-20160127134810-64631bfe9711
 	github.com/jackc/pgx/v4 v4.10.1
 	github.com/micro/dev v0.0.0-20201117163752-d3cfc9788dfa
-	github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210502173659-359ab425002e
+	github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507154259-3dd1cd29e797
 	github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.31 // indirect
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-streaming-server v0.21.1
 	github.com/paulmach/go.geo v0.0.0-20180829195134-22b514266d33
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 1f1b907..b95ee0d 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -400,6 +400,14 @@ github.com/micro/dev v0.0.0-20201117163752-d3cfc9788dfa/go.mod h1:j/8E+ezN/ij7a9
 github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.0.0-beta.6.0.20201016094841-ca8ffd563b2b/go.mod h1:RPJTp9meQAppzW/9jgQtfJmPpRJAySVPbz9uur4B3Ko=
 github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210502173659-359ab425002e h1:o58+WWFR5l85vktSL/mQQFrGwG88PPyeuGlaQF348yU=
 github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210502173659-359ab425002e/go.mod h1:3jH/R5iGtpMyeKH09iHt3KIw8gSFN7aW3W4iGOWUucE=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210506130842-249062b573c2 h1:ZBp8IJ2fjWq1OlFjTEMBN4kVXoYEbHeXPMJ1z43Igl8=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210506130842-249062b573c2/go.mod h1:3jH/R5iGtpMyeKH09iHt3KIw8gSFN7aW3W4iGOWUucE=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507151653-da4405f8310f h1:MUgQhZj5BrIEPVliGNwV5flQQoMSvCXyirgS3kzAAwI=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507151653-da4405f8310f/go.mod h1:3jH/R5iGtpMyeKH09iHt3KIw8gSFN7aW3W4iGOWUucE=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507153404-9b089a4eaf70 h1:OxjaaG+dR7kIRl5mpXTR6WMmuVYGgnwK57mKHIaV5uA=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507153404-9b089a4eaf70/go.mod h1:3jH/R5iGtpMyeKH09iHt3KIw8gSFN7aW3W4iGOWUucE=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507154259-3dd1cd29e797 h1:0j1z+nxdjv2ImkiEa4qvm3r39yqKKW0663G1JPz7eTw=
+github.com/micro/micro/v3 v3.2.2-0.20210507154259-3dd1cd29e797/go.mod h1:3jH/R5iGtpMyeKH09iHt3KIw8gSFN7aW3W4iGOWUucE=
 github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.15/go.mod h1:W1PPwlIAgtquWBMBEV9nkV9Cazfe8ScdGz/Lj7v3Nrg=
 github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.27/go.mod h1:KNUDUusw/aVsxyTYZM1oqvCicbwhgbNgztCETuNZ7xM=
 github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.31 h1:sJFOl9BgwbYAWOGEwr61FU28pqsBNdpRBnhGXtO06Oo=
diff --git a/image/generate.go b/image/generate.go
index 96f431a..7d9db91 100644
--- a/image/generate.go
+++ b/image/generate.go
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 package main
+
 //go:generate make proto
diff --git a/pkg/tenant/tenant.go b/pkg/tenant/tenant.go
index 46cb708..42080aa 100644
--- a/pkg/tenant/tenant.go
+++ b/pkg/tenant/tenant.go
@@ -19,10 +19,22 @@ func FromContext(ctx context.Context) (string, bool) {
 
 // FromAccount returns a tenant from
 func FromAccount(acc *auth.Account) string {
+	id := acc.ID
+	issuer := acc.Issuer
 	owner := acc.Metadata["apikey_owner"]
-	if len(owner) == 0 {
-		owner = acc.ID
+
+	if len(id) == 0 {
+		id = "micro"
 	}
+
+	if len(issuer) == 0 {
+		issuer = "micro"
+	}
+
+	if len(owner) == 0 {
+		owner = id
+	}
+
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", acc.Issuer, owner)
 }