diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go
index ed688d09..879cf595 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -45,10 +46,79 @@ type Asker struct {
 	// again that the bus did not give within its bound, or a wait ended with a cause its caller names (a superseded
 	// fingerprint). Never a wait ended by a shutdown (a plain cancel): the ask is then taken over by the next run.
 	Dropper AskDropper
+	// Bounds and Expiry keep the step bounds as keys with their own time to live (design 47 G A-77, A-101, A-118): the stand-still
+	// bound as StandBoundKey and the cap of three Bounds as CapBoundKey in the asking part's own state, whose expiry the part's watch
+	// of that state tells Expiry (Expiry.Ended), and Wait then ends. Nil Bounds keeps the bounds as timers of the process, as the
+	// checker has them.
+	Bounds StepBounds
+	Expiry *Expiry
 	// Logf says a drop that failed (the log's Printf when unset): the ask then stays on its stream, and it is said.
 	Logf func(format string, args ...any)
 }
 
+// StepBounds keeps one bound as a key with its own time to live: Arm writes key afresh to end after bound, End deletes it.
+type StepBounds interface {
+	Arm(ctx context.Context, key, why string, bound time.Duration) error
+	End(ctx context.Context, key string)
+}
+
+// The keys of an ask's step bounds in the asking part's state: `stand.<ask id>` (the step stood still) and `cap.<ask id>` (a step
+// that kept moving never ended).
+const (
+	standBoundPrefix = "stand."
+	capBoundPrefix   = "cap."
+)
+
+// StandBoundKey is the key of the stand-still bound of an ask's step.
+func StandBoundKey(askID string) string { return standBoundPrefix + askID }
+
+// CapBoundKey is the key of the cap on an ask's step.
+func CapBoundKey(askID string) string { return capBoundPrefix + askID }
+
+// StepBoundOf says whether key is a step bound's, as the part's watch of its bounds state reads it.
+func StepBoundOf(key string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(key, standBoundPrefix) || strings.HasPrefix(key, capBoundPrefix)
+}
+
+// Expiry is where the part's watch of its bounds state tells the end of a bound key (the bus's marker of its time to live), and the
+// waits for those keys hear it. Safe for concurrent use; the zero value is ready.
+type Expiry struct {
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+	waits map[string]chan struct{}
+}
+
+// Ended tells the end of key to the wait that holds it, and says whether one did.
+func (e *Expiry) Ended(key string) bool {
+	e.mu.Lock()
+	c, ok := e.waits[key]
+	e.mu.Unlock()
+	if ok {
+		select {
+		case c <- struct{}{}:
+		default:
+		}
+	}
+	return ok
+}
+
+// hold is the channel key's end is told on, and its release.
+func (e *Expiry) hold(key string) (<-chan struct{}, func()) {
+	e.mu.Lock()
+	defer e.mu.Unlock()
+	if e.waits == nil {
+		e.waits = map[string]chan struct{}{}
+	}
+	c := make(chan struct{}, 1)
+	e.waits[key] = c
+	return c, func() {
+		e.mu.Lock()
+		if e.waits[key] == c {
+			delete(e.waits, key)
+		}
+		e.mu.Unlock()
+	}
+}
+
 // Withdrawn is the cause a caller gives the context of an ask's wait to withdraw the ask (ADR 0664 §4): a build superseded by a
 // newer fingerprint, a candidate taken out, an ask asked again by hand. Asker.Wait drops the ask on this cause alone: a
 // plain cancel (a shutdown) and any other cause (a bound passing, a check of whether the ask is gone) leave it on its stream
@@ -155,16 +225,51 @@ func (k Asker) Wait(ctx context.Context, a buildstep.StepAsk) (buildstep.Step, e
 	if err != nil {
 		return buildstep.Step{}, err
 	}
-	var bound, outerCap <-chan time.Time
-	var timer, capTimer *time.Timer
+	// The two bounds: keys with their own time to live whose expiry is told by Expiry, or, with no Bounds, timers.
+	var bound, outerCap <-chan struct{}
+	keyed := k.Bounds != nil && k.Expiry != nil
+	var timers [2]*time.Timer
+	standKey, capKey := StandBoundKey(a.ID), CapBoundKey(a.ID)
+	if keyed {
+		var releaseStand, releaseCap func()
+		bound, releaseStand = k.Expiry.hold(standKey)
+		outerCap, releaseCap = k.Expiry.hold(capKey)
+		defer func() {
+			releaseStand()
+			releaseCap()
+			k.Bounds.End(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), standKey)
+			k.Bounds.End(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), capKey)
+		}()
+	}
 	defer func() {
-		if timer != nil {
-			timer.Stop()
-		}
-		if capTimer != nil {
-			capTimer.Stop()
+		for _, t := range timers {
+			if t != nil {
+				t.Stop()
+			}
 		}
 	}()
+	// arm ends the bound i (0 stand-still, 1 cap) after d: a key's time to live, or a timer.
+	arm := func(i int, d time.Duration) error {
+		d = max(d, time.Millisecond)
+		if keyed {
+			key, why := standKey, "the step of the ask "+a.ID+" stood still"
+			if i == 1 {
+				key, why = capKey, "the step of the ask "+a.ID+" never ended"
+			}
+			return k.Bounds.Arm(ctx, key, why, d)
+		}
+		if timers[i] != nil {
+			timers[i].Stop()
+		}
+		c := make(chan struct{}, 1)
+		timers[i] = time.AfterFunc(d, func() { c <- struct{}{} })
+		if i == 0 {
+			bound = c
+		} else {
+			outerCap = c
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
 	running, since, phase, phaseAt := "", time.Time{}, "", time.Time{}
 	var agains []string // the node of each run that ended on a transport fault, in order (ADR 0664 §3)
 	standStill := func() error {
@@ -203,11 +308,9 @@ func (k Asker) Wait(ctx context.Context, a buildstep.StepAsk) (buildstep.Step, e
 				agains = append(agains, step.Node)
 				running, since, phase, phaseAt = step.Node, step.Started, "given again after a transport fault", step.AgainAt
 				if k.Bound > 0 {
-					if timer != nil {
-						timer.Stop()
+					if err := arm(0, time.Until(step.AgainAt.Add(k.Bound))); err != nil {
+						return buildstep.Step{}, fmt.Errorf("the bound of the ask %s's step cannot be kept: %w", a.ID, err)
 					}
-					timer = time.NewTimer(max(time.Until(step.AgainAt.Add(k.Bound)), 0))
-					bound = timer.C
 				}
 				continue
 			}
@@ -240,21 +343,17 @@ func (k Asker) Wait(ctx context.Context, a buildstep.StepAsk) (buildstep.Step, e
 			if !last.IsZero() {
 				left = time.Until(last.Add(k.Bound))
 			}
-			if timer != nil {
-				timer.Stop()
+			if err := arm(0, left); err != nil {
+				return buildstep.Step{}, fmt.Errorf("the bound of the ask %s's step cannot be kept: %w", a.ID, err)
 			}
-			timer = time.NewTimer(max(left, 0))
-			bound = timer.C
 			if newRun {
-				if capTimer != nil {
-					capTimer.Stop()
-				}
 				outer := 3 * k.Bound
 				if !step.Started.IsZero() {
 					outer = time.Until(step.Started.Add(3 * k.Bound))
 				}
-				capTimer = time.NewTimer(max(outer, 0))
-				outerCap = capTimer.C
+				if err := arm(1, outer); err != nil {
+					return buildstep.Step{}, fmt.Errorf("the bound of the ask %s's step cannot be kept: %w", a.ID, err)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks_test.go
index cafe4c55..379a0579 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun/asks_test.go
@@ -397,3 +397,61 @@ func (p *subjectsOf) PublishAsk(ctx context.Context, subject, id string, data []
 	p.seen = append(p.seen, subject)
 	return p.inner.PublishAsk(ctx, subject, id, data)
 }
+
+// keyBounds is a StepBounds that keeps the armed keys and the ones ended.
+type keyBounds struct {
+	mu          sync.Mutex
+	armed, ends []string
+}
+
+func (b *keyBounds) Arm(_ context.Context, key, _ string, _ time.Duration) error {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+	b.armed = append(b.armed, key)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (b *keyBounds) End(_ context.Context, key string) {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+	b.ends = append(b.ends, key)
+}
+
+// Design 47 G A-77, A-101: a step's bounds are keys with their own time to live; the end of the stand-still key, told by the part's
+// watch of its state, ends the wait, and no timer of the process does.
+func TestAStepsBoundsAreKeysWhoseExpiryEndsTheWait(t *testing.T) {
+	h := &FakeAsks{}
+	id := "mvl0frv18d1990"
+	h.Write(buildstep.Step{ID: id, Node: "ace", State: buildstep.StepRunning, Started: time.Now(), Phase: "fetching", PhaseAt: time.Now()})
+	bounds, expiry := &keyBounds{}, &Expiry{}
+	k := Asker{Seats: testSeats(), Publisher: h, Waiter: h, Bound: time.Hour, Bounds: bounds, Expiry: expiry}
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { _, err := k.Wait(context.Background(), goAsk(id)); done <- err }()
+	for deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second); ; time.Sleep(time.Millisecond) {
+		bounds.mu.Lock()
+		n := len(bounds.armed)
+		bounds.mu.Unlock()
+		if n >= 2 {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatalf("armed %v, want the stand-still and the cap keys", bounds.armed)
+		}
+	}
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		t.Fatalf("the wait ended with no expiry told: %v", err)
+	case <-time.After(20 * time.Millisecond): // nothing moves it: the wait is on the key, not a timer
+	}
+	if !expiry.Ended(StandBoundKey(id)) {
+		t.Fatal("no wait held the stand-still key")
+	}
+	if err := <-done; err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "stood still") {
+		t.Errorf("the wait ended with %v, want its step stood still", err)
+	}
+	bounds.mu.Lock()
+	defer bounds.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(bounds.ends) != 2 || bounds.armed[0] != StandBoundKey(id) {
+		t.Errorf("armed %v, ended %v; want both keys ended with the wait", bounds.armed, bounds.ends)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go
index 1bd7f2e7..40948fb0 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/main.go
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	stepReads.bounds, stepReads.findings = func() jetstream.KeyValue { return pubBoundsKV.KV() }, found
 	pubs := &publishes{bounds: pubBoundsKV.KV, versions: numberer.Versions, findings: found, bound: versions.PublishBound, logf: logger.Printf}
 	numberer.Publishing = pubs.arm
+	stepExpiry := &buildrun.Expiry{}
 	var b *build.Builder
 	seatsChanged := func(ctx context.Context) {
 		heard.Watch(seats.Modules())
@@ -186,8 +187,9 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	b = &build.Builder{
 		Claimer: build.Claimer{Store: kvStore{buildsKV}, By: cred.Node + "." + cred.Module},
 		Seats:   seats,
-		Asks:    buildrun.Asker{Seats: seats, Publisher: asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: heard, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}, Bound: bound, Dropper: buildrun.SeatDrops{Caller: calls}},
-		Held:    heldOnTheBus{js: js, seats: seats},
+		Asks: buildrun.Asker{Seats: seats, Publisher: asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: heard, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}, Bound: bound, Dropper: buildrun.SeatDrops{Caller: calls},
+			Bounds: &stepBounds{bounds: pubBoundsKV.KV, now: time.Now, logf: logger.Printf}, Expiry: stepExpiry},
+		Held: heldOnTheBus{js: js, seats: seats},
 		// An ask that can no longer be answered is asked again (issue 1945), read at the step bound: a context's bound.
 		Gone:       heldOnTheBus{js: js, seats: seats},
 		CheckAfter: bound,
@@ -463,6 +465,12 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 				unput.expired(ctx, e)
 				return
 			}
+			if buildrun.StepBoundOf(e.Key()) {
+				if e.Operation() == jetstream.KeyValuePurge { // its time to live ended: the ask's wait ends
+					stepExpiry.Ended(e.Key())
+				}
+				return
+			}
 			if _, _, ok := versions.StepsBoundOf(e.Key()); ok {
 				stepReads.expired(ctx, e)
 				return
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/stepbounds.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/stepbounds.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..30c58647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/cmd/mesh-delivery-builder/stepbounds.go
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	"mesh-delivery-builder/internal/versions"
+)
+
+// stepBounds keeps the bounds of an ask's step as keys of the state bounds with their own time to live (design 47 G A-77, A-101,
+// A-118): the bus's marker of a key's end, heard on the watch of the state, is told to buildrun.Asker's Expiry. No timer.
+type stepBounds struct {
+	bounds func() jetstream.KeyValue
+	now    func() time.Time
+	logf   func(string, ...any)
+}
+
+// Arm is buildrun.StepBounds' Arm: the key is written afresh, so a step that moved has its bound counted from its movement.
+func (s *stepBounds) Arm(ctx context.Context, key, why string, bound time.Duration) error {
+	kv := s.bounds()
+	if kv == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is not on the bus yet", versions.BoundsBucket)
+	}
+	if err := kv.Delete(ctx, key); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err := kv.Create(ctx, key, versions.EncodeBound(why, s.now().Add(bound)), jetstream.KeyTTL(bound))
+	return err
+}
+
+// End is buildrun.StepBounds' End.
+func (s *stepBounds) End(ctx context.Context, key string) {
+	if kv := s.bounds(); kv != nil {
+		if err := kv.Delete(ctx, key); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+			s.logf("the step bound %s is not deleted: %v", key, err)
+		}
+	}
+}