diff --git a/src/cbaselib.c b/src/cbaselib.c
index ef41d25..facdac6 100644
--- a/src/cbaselib.c
+++ b/src/cbaselib.c
@@ -10,8 +10,12 @@
 
 int cosmoB_print(CState *state, int nargs, CValue *args) {
     for (int i = 0; i < nargs; i++) {
-        CObjString *str = cosmoV_toString(state, args[i]);
-        printf("%s", cosmoO_readCString(str));
+        if (IS_REF(args[i])) { // if its a CObj*, generate the CObjString
+            CObjString *str = cosmoV_toString(state, args[i]);
+            printf("%s", cosmoO_readCString(str));
+        } else { // else, thats pretty expensive for primitives, just print the raw value
+            printValue(args[i]);
+        }
     }
     printf("\n");
 
@@ -173,7 +177,7 @@ int cosmoB_oisChild(CState *state, int nargs, CValue *args) {
         return 0;
     }
 
-    if (!IS_OBJ(args[0]) || !IS_OBJECT(args[1])) {
+    if (!IS_REF(args[0]) || !IS_OBJECT(args[1])) {
         cosmoV_typeError(state, "object.ischild()", "<reference obj>, <object>", "%s, %s", cosmoV_typeStr(args[0]), cosmoV_typeStr(args[1]));
         return 0;
     }
diff --git a/src/cmem.c b/src/cmem.c
index a56452f..9770022 100644
--- a/src/cmem.c
+++ b/src/cmem.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ void tableRemoveWhite(CState *state, CTable *tbl) {
     int cap = tbl->capacityMask + 1;
     for (int i = 0; i < cap; i++) {
         CTableEntry *entry = &tbl->table[i];
-        if (IS_OBJ(entry->key) && !(cosmoV_readRef(entry->key))->isMarked) { // if the key is a object and it's white (unmarked), remove it from the table
+        if (IS_REF(entry->key) && !(cosmoV_readRef(entry->key))->isMarked) { // if the key is a object and it's white (unmarked), remove it from the table
             cosmoT_remove(state, tbl, entry->key);
         }
     }
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ void markObject(CState *state, CObj *obj) {
 }
 
 void markValue(CState *state, CValue val) {
-    if (IS_OBJ(val))
+    if (IS_REF(val))
         markObject(state, cosmoV_readRef(val));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cobj.h b/src/cobj.h
index daaf0db..6a77a6f 100644
--- a/src/cobj.h
+++ b/src/cobj.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ typedef struct CObjUpval {
 #define cosmoO_readCString(x)    ((CObjString*)x)->str
 
 static inline bool isObjType(CValue val, CObjType type) {
-    return IS_OBJ(val) && cosmoV_readRef(val)->type == type;
+    return IS_REF(val) && cosmoV_readRef(val)->type == type;
 }
 
 // just protects against macro expansion
diff --git a/src/ctable.c b/src/ctable.c
index cbce9e3..333deed 100644
--- a/src/ctable.c
+++ b/src/ctable.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ uint32_t getObjectHash(CObj *obj) {
 
 uint32_t getValueHash(CValue *val) {
     switch (GET_TYPE(*val)) {
-        case COSMO_TOBJ:
+        case COSMO_TREF:
             return getObjectHash(cosmoV_readRef(*val));
         case COSMO_TNUMBER: {
             uint32_t buf[sizeof(cosmo_Number)/sizeof(uint32_t)];
diff --git a/src/cvalue.c b/src/cvalue.c
index 6b0ab5c..ee58775 100644
--- a/src/cvalue.c
+++ b/src/cvalue.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ bool cosmoV_equal(CValue valA, CValue valB) {
     switch (GET_TYPE(valA)) {
         case COSMO_TBOOLEAN: return cosmoV_readBoolean(valA) == cosmoV_readBoolean(valB);
         case COSMO_TNUMBER: return cosmoV_readNumber(valA) == cosmoV_readNumber(valB);
-        case COSMO_TOBJ: return cosmoO_equal(cosmoV_readRef(valA), cosmoV_readRef(valB));
+        case COSMO_TREF: return cosmoO_equal(cosmoV_readRef(valA), cosmoV_readRef(valB));
         case COSMO_TNIL: return true;
         default:
             return false;
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ CObjString *cosmoV_toString(CState *state, CValue val) {
         case COSMO_TBOOLEAN: {
             return cosmoV_readBoolean(val) ? cosmoO_copyString(state, "true", 4) : cosmoO_copyString(state, "false", 5);            
         }
-        case COSMO_TOBJ: {
+        case COSMO_TREF: {
             return cosmoO_toString(state, cosmoV_readRef(val));
         }
         case COSMO_TNIL: {
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ cosmo_Number cosmoV_toNumber(CState *state, CValue val) {
         case COSMO_TBOOLEAN: {
             return cosmoV_readBoolean(val) ? 1 : 0;
         }
-        case COSMO_TOBJ: {
+        case COSMO_TREF: {
             return cosmoO_toNumber(state, cosmoV_readRef(val));
         }
         case COSMO_TNIL: // fall through
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ const char *cosmoV_typeStr(CValue val) {
         case COSMO_TNIL:        return "<nil>";
         case COSMO_TBOOLEAN:    return "<bool>";
         case COSMO_TNUMBER:     return "<number>";
-        case COSMO_TOBJ:        return cosmoO_typeStr(cosmoV_readRef(val));
+        case COSMO_TREF:        return cosmoO_typeStr(cosmoV_readRef(val));
         
         default:
             return "<unkn val>";
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void printValue(CValue val) {
         case COSMO_TBOOLEAN:
             printf(cosmoV_readBoolean(val) ? "true" : "false");
             break;
-        case COSMO_TOBJ: {
+        case COSMO_TREF: {
             printObject(cosmoV_readRef(val));
             break;
         }
diff --git a/src/cvalue.h b/src/cvalue.h
index 7f9afbd..94e0790 100644
--- a/src/cvalue.h
+++ b/src/cvalue.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 typedef enum {
     COSMO_TNUMBER, // number has to be 0 because NaN box
     COSMO_TBOOLEAN,
-    COSMO_TOBJ,
+    COSMO_TREF,
     COSMO_TNIL,
 } CosmoType;
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ typedef union CValue {
 
 #define SIG_MASK    (MASK_QUIETNAN | MASK_TYPE)
 #define BOOL_SIG    (MASK_QUIETNAN | ((uint64_t)(COSMO_TBOOLEAN) << 48))
-#define OBJ_SIG     (MASK_QUIETNAN | ((uint64_t)(COSMO_TOBJ) << 48))
+#define OBJ_SIG     (MASK_QUIETNAN | ((uint64_t)(COSMO_TREF) << 48))
 #define NIL_SIG     (MASK_QUIETNAN | ((uint64_t)(COSMO_TNIL) << 48))
 
 #define cosmoV_newNumber(x)     ((CValue){.num = x})
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ typedef union CValue {
 #define IS_NUMBER(x)    (((x).data & MASK_QUIETNAN) != MASK_QUIETNAN)
 #define IS_BOOLEAN(x)   (((x).data & SIG_MASK) == BOOL_SIG)
 #define IS_NIL(x)       (((x).data & SIG_MASK) == NIL_SIG)
-#define IS_OBJ(x)       (((x).data & SIG_MASK) == OBJ_SIG)
+#define IS_REF(x)       (((x).data & SIG_MASK) == OBJ_SIG)
 
 #else
 /*
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ typedef struct CValue {
 
 #define cosmoV_newNumber(x)     ((CValue){COSMO_TNUMBER,    {.num = (x)}})
 #define cosmoV_newBoolean(x)    ((CValue){COSMO_TBOOLEAN,   {.b = (x)}})
-#define cosmoV_newRef(x)        ((CValue){COSMO_TOBJ,       {.obj = (CObj*)(x)}})
+#define cosmoV_newRef(x)        ((CValue){COSMO_TREF,       {.obj = (CObj*)(x)}})
 #define cosmoV_newNil()         ((CValue){COSMO_TNIL,       {.num = 0}})
 
 // read CValues
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ typedef struct CValue {
 #define IS_NUMBER(x)    (GET_TYPE(x) == COSMO_TNUMBER)
 #define IS_BOOLEAN(x)   (GET_TYPE(x) == COSMO_TBOOLEAN)
 #define IS_NIL(x)       (GET_TYPE(x) == COSMO_TNIL)
-#define IS_OBJ(x)       (GET_TYPE(x) == COSMO_TOBJ)
+#define IS_REF(x)       (GET_TYPE(x) == COSMO_TREF)
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/cvm.c b/src/cvm.c
index 91dbd4a..e58074c 100644
--- a/src/cvm.c
+++ b/src/cvm.c
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ bool callCValue(CState *state, CValue func, int args, int nresults, int offset)
     printf("(%d args)\n", args);
 #endif
 
-    if (!IS_OBJ(func)) {
+    if (!IS_REF(func)) {
         cosmoV_error(state, "Cannot call non-callable type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(func));
         return false;
     }
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ COSMO_API void cosmoV_makeTable(CState *state, int pairs) {
     cosmoV_pushRef(state, (CObj*)newObj);
 }
 
-COSMO_API bool cosmoV_get(CState *state, CObj *_obj, CValue key, CValue *val) {
+bool cosmoV_rawget(CState *state, CObj *_obj, CValue key, CValue *val) {
     CObjObject *object = cosmoO_grabProto(_obj);
     
     // no proto to get from
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ COSMO_API bool cosmoV_get(CState *state, CObj *_obj, CValue key, CValue *val) {
     return false;
 }
 
-COSMO_API bool cosmoV_set(CState *state, CObj *_obj, CValue key, CValue val) {
+bool cosmoV_rawset(CState *state, CObj *_obj, CValue key, CValue val) {
     CObjObject *object = cosmoO_grabProto(_obj);
 
     // no proto to set to
@@ -486,8 +486,46 @@ COSMO_API bool cosmoV_set(CState *state, CObj *_obj, CValue key, CValue val) {
     return true;
 }
 
+COSMO_API bool cosmoV_get(CState *state) {
+    CValue val;
+    StkPtr obj = cosmoV_getTop(state, 1); // object was pushed first
+    StkPtr key = cosmoV_getTop(state, 0); // then the key
+
+    if (!IS_REF(*obj)) {
+        cosmoV_error(state, "Couldn't get field from type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*obj));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (!cosmoV_rawget(state, cosmoV_readRef(*obj), *key, &val))
+        return false;
+
+    // pop the obj & key, push the value
+    cosmoV_setTop(state, 2);
+    cosmoV_pushValue(state, val);
+    return true;
+}
+
+// yes, this would technically make it possible to set fields of types other than <string>. go crazy 
+COSMO_API bool cosmoV_set(CState *state) {
+    StkPtr obj = cosmoV_getTop(state, 2); // object was pushed first
+    StkPtr key = cosmoV_getTop(state, 1); // then the key
+    StkPtr val = cosmoV_getTop(state, 0); // and finally the value
+
+    if (!IS_REF(*obj)) {
+        cosmoV_error(state, "Couldn't set field on type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*obj));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (!cosmoV_rawset(state, cosmoV_readRef(*obj), *key, *val))
+        return false;
+    
+    // pop the obj, key & value
+    cosmoV_setTop(state, 3);
+    return true;
+}
+
 COSMO_API bool cosmoV_getMethod(CState *state, CObj *obj, CValue key, CValue *val) {
-    if (!cosmoV_get(state, obj, key, val))
+    if (!cosmoV_rawget(state, obj, key, val))
         return false;
     
     // if the result is callable, wrap it in an method
@@ -701,7 +739,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 StkPtr temp = cosmoV_getTop(state, 1); // after that should be the table
 
                 // sanity check
-                if (!IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (!IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     cosmoV_error(state, "Couldn't index type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*temp));
                     return -1;
                 }
@@ -733,7 +771,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 StkPtr temp = cosmoV_getTop(state, 2); // table is after the key
 
                 // sanity check
-                if (!IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (!IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     cosmoV_error(state, "Couldn't set index with type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*temp));
                     return -1;
                 }
@@ -769,8 +807,8 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 uint16_t ident = READUINT(); // use for the key
 
                 // sanity check
-                if (IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
-                    if (!cosmoV_set(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], *value))
+                if (IS_REF(*temp)) {
+                    if (!cosmoV_rawset(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], *value))
                         return -1;
                 } else {
                     CObjString *field = cosmoV_toString(state, constants[ident]);
@@ -788,8 +826,8 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 uint16_t ident = READUINT(); // use for the key
 
                 // sanity check
-                if (IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
-                    if (!cosmoV_get(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], &val))
+                if (IS_REF(*temp)) {
+                    if (!cosmoV_rawget(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], &val))
                         return -1;
                 } else {
                     CObjString *field = cosmoV_toString(state, constants[ident]);
@@ -807,7 +845,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 uint16_t ident = READUINT(); // use for the key
 
                 // this is almost identical to GETOBJECT, however cosmoV_getMethod is used instead of just cosmoV_get
-                if (IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     if (!cosmoV_getMethod(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], &val))
                         return -1;
                 } else {
@@ -828,9 +866,9 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 CValue val; // to hold our value
 
                 // sanity check
-                if (IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     // get the field from the object
-                    if (!cosmoV_get(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], &val))
+                    if (!cosmoV_rawget(state, cosmoV_readRef(*temp), constants[ident], &val))
                         return -1;
                     
                     // now invoke the method!
@@ -845,7 +883,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
             case OP_ITER: {
                 StkPtr temp = cosmoV_getTop(state, 0); // should be the object/table
 
-                if (!IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (!IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     cosmoV_error(state, "Couldn't iterate over non-iterator type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*temp));
                     return -1;
                 }
@@ -968,7 +1006,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
             case OP_COUNT: { 
                 StkPtr temp = cosmoV_getTop(state, 0);
 
-                if (!IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (!IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     cosmoV_error(state, "Expected non-primitive, got %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*temp));
                     return -1;
                 }
@@ -1038,7 +1076,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 StkPtr temp = cosmoV_getTop(state, 1); // object should be above the key
                 StkPtr key = cosmoV_getTop(state, 0); // grabs key
 
-                if (!IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (!IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     cosmoV_error(state, "Couldn't index non-indexable type %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(*temp));
                     return -1;
                 }
@@ -1089,11 +1127,11 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                 CValue ident = constants[indx]; // grabs identifier
 
                 // sanity check
-                if (IS_OBJ(*temp)) {
+                if (IS_REF(*temp)) {
                     CObj *obj = cosmoV_readRef(*temp);
                     CValue val;
                     
-                    if (!cosmoV_get(state, obj, ident, &val))
+                    if (!cosmoV_rawget(state, obj, ident, &val))
                         return -1;
 
                     // pop the object off the stack
@@ -1102,7 +1140,7 @@ int cosmoV_execute(CState *state) {
                     // check that it's a number value
                     if (IS_NUMBER(val)) { 
                         cosmoV_pushValue(state, val); // pushes old value onto the stack :)
-                        if (!cosmoV_set(state, obj, ident, cosmoV_newNumber(cosmoV_readNumber(val) + inc)))
+                        if (!cosmoV_rawset(state, obj, ident, cosmoV_newNumber(cosmoV_readNumber(val) + inc)))
                             return -1;
                     } else {
                         cosmoV_error(state, "Expected number, got %s!", cosmoV_typeStr(val));
diff --git a/src/cvm.h b/src/cvm.h
index 35b9a16..430153d 100644
--- a/src/cvm.h
+++ b/src/cvm.h
@@ -40,8 +40,20 @@ COSMO_API bool cosmoV_registerProtoObject(CState *state, CObjType objType, CObjO
 */
 COSMO_API bool cosmoV_compileString(CState *state, const char *src, const char *name);
 
-COSMO_API bool cosmoV_get(CState *state, CObj *obj, CValue key, CValue *val);
-COSMO_API bool cosmoV_set(CState *state, CObj *obj, CValue key, CValue val);
+/*
+    expects object to be pushed, then the key. 
+    
+    if returns false an error was thrown, if returns true the value was pushed onto the stack and the object and key were popped
+*/
+COSMO_API bool cosmoV_get(CState *state);
+
+/*
+    expects object to be pushed, then the key, and finally the new value. 
+    
+    if returns false an error was thrown, if returns true the value was set and the object key, and value were popped
+*/
+COSMO_API bool cosmoV_set(CState *state);
+
 // wraps the closure into a CObjMethod, so the function is called as an invoked method 
 COSMO_API bool cosmoV_getMethod(CState *state, CObj *obj, CValue key, CValue *val);