diff --git a/include/ikarus/objects/entity.h b/include/ikarus/objects/entity.h
index 2ac9087..5ce2266 100644
--- a/include/ikarus/objects/entity.h
+++ b/include/ikarus/objects/entity.h
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ IKA_API void ikarus_entity_get_properties(
 );
 
 /// \brief Gets the value of a property of an entity.
-/// \details If the entity has never set the value of the property, the default value is returned (which may be indeterminate).
+/// \details If the entity has never set the value of the property, the default value is returned (which may be undefined).
 /// \param entity The entity to get the value of.
 /// \pre \li Must not be null.
 /// \pre \li Must exist.
diff --git a/include/ikarus/values/number_value.h b/include/ikarus/values/number_value.h
index 7049af8..cedd61d 100644
--- a/include/ikarus/values/number_value.h
+++ b/include/ikarus/values/number_value.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ IKA_API IkarusNumberValue * ikarus_number_value_create();
 /// \param idx The index of the data to fetch.
 /// \pre \li Must be less than the size of the value.
 /// \return The underlying data or null if an error occurs or the value is undefined.
-IKA_API long double const * ikarus_number_value_get(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx);
+IKA_API double const * ikarus_number_value_get(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx);
 
 /// \brief Fetches the size of the underlying data of a number value.
 /// \param value The number value.
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ IKA_API size_t ikarus_number_value_get_size(IkarusNumberValue const * value);
 /// \param idx The index of the data to set.
 /// \pre \li Must be less than the size of the value.
 /// \param new_data The new data.
-IKA_API void ikarus_number_value_set(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx, long double const * new_data);
+IKA_API void ikarus_number_value_set(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx, double const * new_data);
 
 /// \brief Removes a data from a number value.
 /// \param value The number value.
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ IKA_API void ikarus_number_value_remove(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx);
 /// \param idx The index of the data to insert.
 /// \pre \li Must be less than or equal to the size of the value.
 /// \param new_data The new data.
-IKA_API void ikarus_number_value_insert(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx, long double const * new_data);
+IKA_API void ikarus_number_value_insert(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx, double const * new_data);
 
 /// \brief Clears a number value.
 /// \param value The number value.
diff --git a/src/objects/properties/property.cpp b/src/objects/properties/property.cpp
index d1eb94a..00ab888 100644
--- a/src/objects/properties/property.cpp
+++ b/src/objects/properties/property.cpp
@@ -91,8 +91,9 @@ IkarusPropertySource const * ikarus_property_get_source(IkarusProperty const * p
 
     auto * ctx = property->get_project()->get_function_context();
 
-    VTRY(
+    VTRYRV(
         auto const source,
+        nullptr,
         property->get_project()
             ->get_db()
             ->query_one<int>("SELECT `source` FROM `properties` WHERE `id` = ?", property->get_id())
@@ -129,8 +130,9 @@ IkarusValue * ikarus_property_get_default_value(IkarusProperty const * property)
 
     auto * ctx = property->get_project()->get_function_context();
 
-    VTRY(
+    VTRYRV(
         auto const value,
+        nullptr,
         property->get_project()
             ->get_db()
             ->query_one<int>("SELECT `default_value` FROM `properties` WHERE `id` = ?", property->get_id())
@@ -144,7 +146,7 @@ IkarusValue * ikarus_property_get_default_value(IkarusProperty const * property)
             })
     );
 
-    return new IkarusValue(property->get_project(), value);
+    return IkarusValue::from_json(value).unwrap_value_or(nullptr);
 }
 
 void ikarus_property_visit(
diff --git a/src/redirect/json.hpp b/src/redirect/json.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c45bde6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/redirect/json.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <boost/json/src.hpp>
diff --git a/src/values/number_value.cpp b/src/values/number_value.cpp
index cef3508..b408925 100644
--- a/src/values/number_value.cpp
+++ b/src/values/number_value.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ IkarusNumberValue * ikarus_number_value_create() {
     return new IkarusNumberValue{};
 }
 
-long double const * ikarus_number_value_get(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx) {
+double const * ikarus_number_value_get(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx) {
     return ikarus_value_base_get(value, idx);
 }
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ size_t ikarus_number_value_get_size(IkarusNumberValue const * value) {
     return ikarus_value_base_get_size(value);
 }
 
-void ikarus_number_value_set(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx, long double new_data) {
+void ikarus_number_value_set(IkarusNumberValue * value, size_t idx, double new_data) {
     return ikarus_value_base_set(value, idx, new_data);
 }
 
@@ -45,12 +45,7 @@ void ikarus_number_value_set_undefined(IkarusNumberValue * value, bool undefined
 }
 
 char const * ikarus_number_value_to_string(IkarusNumberValue const * value) {
-    return boost::variant2::visit(
-        boost::make_overloaded_function(
-            [](boost::variant2::monostate const&) { return nullptr; }, [](auto const& data) { return fmt::join(data, ", "); }
-        ),
-        value->data
-    );
+    return ikarus_value_base_to_string(value, [](auto const& value) { return value; });
 }
 
 bool ikarus_number_value_is_equal(IkarusNumberValue const * lhs, IkarusNumberValue const * rhs) {
diff --git a/src/values/number_value.hpp b/src/values/number_value.hpp
index 6cad130..16f99c7 100644
--- a/src/values/number_value.hpp
+++ b/src/values/number_value.hpp
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <boost/container/vector.hpp>
+#include <boost/container/small_vector.hpp>
 #include <boost/variant2.hpp>
 
 #include <values/value.hpp>
 
 struct IkarusNumberValue final : IkarusValue {
 public:
-    using data_type = long double;
+    using data_type = double;
 
 public:
     explicit IkarusNumberValue();
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ public:
     ~IkarusNumberValue() override = default;
 
 public:
-    boost::variant2::
-        variant<boost::variant2::monostate, boost::container::small_vector<data_type, SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>
-            data{};
+    boost::variant2::variant<boost::variant2::monostate, boost::container::small_vector<data_type, SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>> data{
+    };
 };
diff --git a/src/values/text_value.cpp b/src/values/text_value.cpp
index 08ad03a..ff09770 100644
--- a/src/values/text_value.cpp
+++ b/src/values/text_value.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "ikarus/values/text_value.h"
 
+#include <boost/bind/bind.hpp>
 #include <boost/functional/overloaded_function.hpp>
 
 #include <values/text_value.hpp>
@@ -45,12 +46,7 @@ void ikarus_text_value_set_undefined(IkarusTextValue * value, bool undefined) {
 }
 
 char const * ikarus_text_value_to_string(IkarusTextValue const * value) {
-    return boost::variant2::visit(
-        boost::make_overloaded_function(
-            [](boost::variant2::monostate const&) { return nullptr; }, [](auto const& data) { return fmt::join(data, ", "); }
-        ),
-        value->data
-    );
+    return ikarus_value_base_to_string(value, [](auto const& value) { return value; });
 }
 
 bool ikarus_text_value_is_equal(IkarusTextValue const * lhs, IkarusTextValue const * rhs) {
diff --git a/src/values/text_value.hpp b/src/values/text_value.hpp
index 8d063f2..1ff74ac 100644
--- a/src/values/text_value.hpp
+++ b/src/values/text_value.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <boost/container/vector.hpp>
+#include <boost/container/small_vector.hpp>
 
 #include <values/value.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/values/toggle_value.cpp b/src/values/toggle_value.cpp
index 37b2069..c5ced27 100644
--- a/src/values/toggle_value.cpp
+++ b/src/values/toggle_value.cpp
@@ -46,17 +46,7 @@ void ikarus_toggle_value_set_undefined(IkarusToggleValue * value, bool undefined
 }
 
 char const * ikarus_toggle_value_to_string(IkarusToggleValue const * value) {
-    return boost::variant2::visit(
-        boost::make_overloaded_function(
-            [](boost::variant2::monostate const&) { return nullptr; },
-            [](auto const& data) {
-                return fmt::join(
-                    data | boost::adaptors::transformed([](auto const& bool_value) { return bool_value ? "✓" : "✗"; }), ", "
-                );
-            }
-        ),
-        value->data
-    );
+    return ikarus_value_base_to_string(value, [](auto const& value) { return value ? "✓" : "✗"; });
 }
 
 bool ikarus_toggle_value_is_equal(IkarusToggleValue const * lhs, IkarusToggleValue const * rhs) {
diff --git a/src/values/toggle_value.hpp b/src/values/toggle_value.hpp
index 6506dda..20c579c 100644
--- a/src/values/toggle_value.hpp
+++ b/src/values/toggle_value.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <boost/container/vector.hpp>
+#include <boost/container/small_vector.hpp>
 
 #include <values/value.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/values/value.cpp b/src/values/value.cpp
index b9a53a7..81cdaa9 100644
--- a/src/values/value.cpp
+++ b/src/values/value.cpp
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
+#include <boost/container/small_vector.hpp>
 #include <boost/functional/overloaded_function.hpp>
-#include <boost/type_traits.hpp>
 
-#include <fmt/format.h>
+// required for header-only inclusion
+#include <boost/json/src.hpp>
 
 #include <ikarus/objects/properties/property_type.h>
 
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@
 IkarusValue::IkarusValue(Data data):
     data(data) {}
 
-cppbase::Result<IkarusValue, IkarusValue::FromJsonError> IkarusValue::from_json(boost::json::value const& json) {
+cppbase::Result<IkarusValue *, IkarusValue::FromJsonError> IkarusValue::from_json(boost::json::value const& json) {
     if (auto const * obj = json.if_object(); obj == nullptr) {
         return cppbase::err(FromJsonError{});
     } else {
@@ -35,15 +36,23 @@ cppbase::Result<IkarusValue, IkarusValue::FromJsonError> IkarusValue::from_json(
         }
 
         auto create_value = [data]<typename T>() -> cppbase::Result<IkarusValue *, FromJsonError> {
-            auto * ret = new T{};
-            auto res = boost::json::try_value_to<boost::container::vector<typename T::data_type>>(*data);
+            T * ret = nullptr;
 
-            if (res.has_error()) {
-                return cppbase::err(FromJsonError{});
+            if (data->is_null()) {
+                ret = new T{};
+                ret->data = boost::variant2::monostate{};
+            } else {
+                auto res = boost::json::try_value_to<
+                    boost::container::small_vector<typename T::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(*data);
+
+                if (res.has_error()) {
+                    return cppbase::err(FromJsonError{});
+                }
+
+                ret = new T{};
+                ret->data = std::move(res.value());
             }
 
-            ret->data = std::move(res.value());
-
             return cppbase::ok(ret);
         };
 
@@ -74,7 +83,18 @@ boost::json::value IkarusValue::to_json() const {
         data
     );
 
-    auto data_json = boost::variant2::visit([](auto const * value) { return boost::json::value_from(value->data); }, data);
+    auto data_json = boost::variant2::visit(
+        []<typename T>(T const * value) -> boost::json::value {
+            return boost::variant2::visit(
+                boost::make_overloaded_function(
+                    []([[maybe_unused]] boost::variant2::monostate const& data) -> boost::json::value { return nullptr; },
+                    [](auto const& data) -> boost::json::value { return boost::json::value_from(data); }
+                ),
+                value->data
+            );
+        },
+        data
+    );
 
     return {
         {"type",      type},
diff --git a/src/values/value.hpp b/src/values/value.hpp
index 14c2a73..20b4717 100644
--- a/src/values/value.hpp
+++ b/src/values/value.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 struct IkarusValue {
 public:
     using Data = boost::variant2::variant<struct IkarusToggleValue *, struct IkarusNumberValue *, struct IkarusTextValue *>;
-    constexpr auto SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE = 8;
+    constexpr static auto SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE = 8;
 
 public:
     explicit IkarusValue(Data data);
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public:
 public:
     struct FromJsonError {};
 
-    [[nodiscard]] static cppbase::Result<IkarusValue, FromJsonError> from_json(boost::json::value const& json);
+    [[nodiscard]] static cppbase::Result<IkarusValue *, FromJsonError> from_json(boost::json::value const& json);
     [[nodiscard]] boost::json::value to_json() const;
 
 public:
diff --git a/src/values/value_base.hpp b/src/values/value_base.hpp
index 04bad48..416be34 100644
--- a/src/values/value_base.hpp
+++ b/src/values/value_base.hpp
@@ -1,8 +1,19 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <concepts>
+#include <ranges>
+
+#include <boost/bind/bind.hpp>
+#include <boost/container/small_vector.hpp>
+#include <boost/functional/overloaded_function.hpp>
+
 template<typename V>
 typename V::data_type const * ikarus_value_base_get(V * value, size_t idx) {
-    if (auto * data = value->data.template get_if<std::vector<typename V::data_type>>(); data != nullptr) {
+    if (auto * data =
+            boost::variant2::get_if<boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(
+                &value->data
+            );
+        data != nullptr) {
         return &(*data)[idx];
     }
 
@@ -11,7 +22,11 @@ typename V::data_type const * ikarus_value_base_get(V * value, size_t idx) {
 
 template<typename V>
 size_t ikarus_value_base_get_size(V const * value) {
-    if (auto * data = value->data.template get_if<std::vector<typename V::data_type>>(); data != nullptr) {
+    if (auto * data =
+            boost::variant2::get_if<boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(
+                &value->data
+            );
+        data != nullptr) {
         return data->size();
     }
 
@@ -20,28 +35,44 @@ size_t ikarus_value_base_get_size(V const * value) {
 
 template<typename V>
 void ikarus_value_base_set(V * value, size_t idx, typename V::data_type new_data) {
-    if (auto * data = value->data.template get_if<std::vector<typename V::data_type>>(); data != nullptr) {
+    if (auto * data =
+            boost::variant2::get_if<boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(
+                &value->data
+            );
+        data != nullptr) {
         (*data)[idx] = new_data;
     }
 }
 
 template<typename V>
 void ikarus_value_base_remove(V * value, size_t idx) {
-    if (auto * data = value->data.template get_if<std::vector<typename V::data_type>>(); data != nullptr) {
+    if (auto * data =
+            boost::variant2::get_if<boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(
+                &value->data
+            );
+        data != nullptr) {
         data->erase(data->begin() + idx);
     }
 }
 
 template<typename V>
 void ikarus_value_base_insert(V * value, size_t idx, typename V::data_type new_data) {
-    if (auto * data = value->data.template get_if<std::vector<typename V::data_type>>(); data != nullptr) {
+    if (auto * data =
+            boost::variant2::get_if<boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(
+                &value->data
+            );
+        data != nullptr) {
         data->insert(data->begin() + idx, new_data);
     }
 }
 
 template<typename V>
 void ikarus_value_base_clear(V * value) {
-    if (auto * data = value->data.template get_if<std::vector<typename V::data_type>>(); data != nullptr) {
+    if (auto * data =
+            boost::variant2::get_if<boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>>(
+                &value->data
+            );
+        data != nullptr) {
         data->clear();
     }
 }
@@ -56,10 +87,32 @@ void ikarus_value_base_set_undefined(V * value, bool undefined) {
     if (undefined) {
         value->data = boost::variant2::monostate{};
     } else {
-        value->data = typename V::data_type{};
+        value->data = boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE>{};
     }
 }
 
+template<typename V, std::invocable<typename V::data_type> F>
+char const * ikarus_value_base_to_string(V const * value, F transformer) {
+    return boost::variant2::visit(
+        boost::make_overloaded_function(
+            [](boost::variant2::monostate const&) -> char const * { return nullptr; },
+            [&transformer](boost::container::small_vector<typename V::data_type, IkarusValue::SMALL_VEC_VALUE_SIZE> const& data
+            ) -> char const * {
+                auto buffer = fmt::memory_buffer{};
+
+                fmt::format_to(
+                    std::back_inserter(buffer),
+                    "{}",
+                    fmt::join(data | std::views::transform(std::forward<F>(transformer)), ", ")
+                );
+
+                return buffer.data();
+            }
+        ),
+        value->data
+    );
+}
+
 template<typename V>
 bool ikarus_value_base_is_equal(V const * lhs, V const * rhs) {
     return lhs->data == rhs->data;