diff --git a/vacuum_gambit.p8 b/vacuum_gambit.p8
index c21af7a..16cac71 100644
--- a/vacuum_gambit.p8
+++ b/vacuum_gambit.p8
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ end
 
 -- generate standard "overlay"
 -- constructor for type tt.
--- if more is defined, generated
--- new calls more(ret) after
--- ret is definitely not nil
+-- if tt.init is defined, generated
+-- new calls tt.init(ret) after
+-- ret is definitely not nil,
 -- before calling setmetatable.
 -- use to initialize mutables.
 --
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ end
 -- object *after* more, because
 -- this works better with the
 -- `more` impls i use.
-function mknew(tt, more)
- local mt,oldnew = {__index=tt},tt.new
+function mknew(tt)
+ local mt,oldnew,more = {__index=tt},tt.new,rawget(tt, "init")
  tt.new=function(ret)
   if(not ret) ret = {}
   if(more) more(ret)
@@ -46,15 +46,18 @@ function mknew(tt, more)
   setmetatable(ret, mt)
   return ret
  end
+ return tt
 end
 
 -- intrusive singly-linked list.
 -- cannot be nested!
-linked_list = {is_linked_list=true}
-mknew(linked_list, function(x)
+linked_list = mknew{
+ is_linked_list=true,
+ init = function(x)
   x.next=nil
   x.tail=x
- end)
+ end,
+}
 
 function linked_list:push_back(x)
  self.tail.next = x
@@ -417,7 +420,7 @@ end
 
 scrollrate = 0.25 --in px/frame
 
-ship_m = {
+ship_m = mknew{
 
  -- ships have no shield by default
  shield = 0,
@@ -442,7 +445,6 @@ ship_m = {
  -- ymin, ymax default to nil
  --   pship needs more constraint 
 }
-mknew(ship_m)
 
 function ship_m:die()
  self.dead = true
@@ -593,14 +595,12 @@ function enemy_blt_cat()
  return ebullets
 end
 
-bullet_base = { }
-mknew(bullet_base)
+bullet_base = mknew{ }
 
-gun_base = { 
+gun_base = mknew{ 
  shoot_ready = -32768,
  icon = 20
 }
-mknew(gun_base)
 
 function bullet_base:hitship(_)
  self:die()
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ end
 -->8
 -- bullets and guns
 
-zap_e = bullet_base.new{
+zap_e = mknew(bullet_base.new{
  --shape
  sprite = 9, --index of enemy ammo sprite
  width = 1, --in 8x8 blocks
@@ -673,31 +673,27 @@ zap_e = bullet_base.new{
  hitship = const_fxn(true),
 
  category = enemy_blt_cat,
-}
-mknew(zap_e)
+})
 
-zap_p = zap_e.new{
+zap_p = mknew(zap_e.new{
  sprite = 8,
  dy = -8,
  y_off = 0,
  category = player_blt_cat,
-}
-mknew(zap_p)
+})
 
-zap_gun_e = gun_base.new{
+zap_gun_e = mknew(gun_base.new{
  power = 20, -- power consumed per shot
  cooldown = 0x0.000a, -- frames between shots
  ammo = nil, -- unlimited ammo - main gun
  actually_shoot = spawn_one(zap_e),
-}
-mknew(zap_gun_e)
+})
 
-zap_gun_p = zap_gun_e.new{
+zap_gun_p = mknew(zap_gun_e.new{
  actually_shoot = spawn_one(zap_p),
-}
-mknew(zap_gun_p)
+})
 
-blast = bullet_base.new{
+blast = mknew(bullet_base.new{
  --shape
  sprite = 12, --index of player ammo sprite
  width = 1, --in 8x8 blocks
@@ -740,20 +736,18 @@ blast = bullet_base.new{
   end
  end,
  category=player_blt_cat
-}
-mknew(blast)
+})
 
-blast_gun = gun_base.new{
+blast_gun = mknew(gun_base.new{
  icon = 13,
  power = 0, -- only cost is ammo
  cooldown = 0x0.0020, -- frames between shots
  ammo = 5,
  maxammo = 5,
  actually_shoot = spawn_one(blast),
-}
-mknew(blast_gun)
+})
 
-protron_e = bullet_base.new{
+protron_e = mknew(bullet_base.new{
  --shape
  sprite = 24,
  width = 1, --in 8x8 blocks
@@ -771,26 +765,23 @@ protron_e = bullet_base.new{
  dym = 0.5, -- gun sets dy;
              -- this is mult
  category = enemy_blt_cat,
-}
-mknew(protron_e)
+})
 
-protron_p = protron_e.new{
+protron_p = mknew(protron_e.new{
  sprite=23,
  dym = -1,
  y_off = 0,
  category=player_blt_cat,
-}
-mknew(protron_p)
+})
 
-protron_gun_e = gun_base.new{
+protron_gun_e = mknew(gun_base.new{
  icon = 25,
  power = 60,
  cooldown = 0x0.000f, -- frames between shots
  ammo = nil,
  maxammo = nil,
  munition = protron_e
-}
-mknew(protron_gun_e)
+})
 
 function protron_gun_e:actually_shoot(x, y)
  local m = self.munition.dym
@@ -813,12 +804,11 @@ function protron_gun_e:actually_shoot(x, y)
  bup:spawn_at(x,y)
 end
 
-protron_gun_p = protron_gun_e.new{
+protron_gun_p = mknew(protron_gun_e.new{
  munition = protron_p,
-}
-mknew(protron_gun_p)
+})
 
-vulcan_e = bullet_base.new{
+vulcan_e = mknew(bullet_base.new{
  --shape
  sprite = 21,
  width = 1, --in 8x8 blocks
@@ -836,18 +826,16 @@ vulcan_e = bullet_base.new{
  -- dx from gun
  dy = 2,
  category=enemy_blt_cat
-}
-mknew(vulcan_e)
+})
 
-vulcan_p = vulcan_e.new{
+vulcan_p = mknew(vulcan_e.new{
  sprite=22,
  y_off = 4,
  dy = -4,
  category=player_blt_cat
-}
-mknew(vulcan_p)
+})
 
-vulcan_gun_e = gun_base.new{
+vulcan_gun_e = mknew(gun_base.new{
  icon = 37,
  enemy = false,
  power = 8,
@@ -866,13 +854,11 @@ vulcan_gun_e = gun_base.new{
   self.dxidx += 1
   if (self.dxidx > #self.dxs) self.dxidx = 1
  end
-}
-mknew(vulcan_gun_e)
+})
 
-vulcan_gun_p = vulcan_gun_e.new{
+vulcan_gun_p = mknew(vulcan_gun_e.new{
  munition=vulcan_p,
-}
-mknew(vulcan_gun_p)
+})
 
 -->8
 --ships, including player
@@ -880,7 +866,7 @@ mknew(vulcan_gun_p)
 firespark = split"9, 8, 2, 5, 1"
 smokespark = split"13, 13, 5, 5"
 
-player = ship_m.new{
+player = mknew(ship_m.new{
  --shape
  sprite = 1, --index of ship sprite
  size = 1, --all ships are square; how many 8x8 sprites?
@@ -930,10 +916,9 @@ player = ship_m.new{
   end
   --dx, dy, shoot_spec, shoot_main
   return (((b&0x2)>>1) - (b&0x1)) * th, (((b&0x8)>>3) - ((b&0x4)>>2)) * th, (b&0x10) > 0, (b&0x20) > 0
- end
-}
-mknew(player,
- function(p)
+ end,
+
+ init = function(p)
   p.main_gun = zap_gun_p.new()
   -- ONE HIT MODE
   --
@@ -941,10 +926,10 @@ mknew(player,
   -- p.maxhp = 0
   -- p.shield = 0
   -- p.maxshield = 0
- end
-)
+ end,
+})
 
-frownie = ship_m.new{
+frownie = mknew(ship_m.new{
  --shape
  sprite = 3, --index of ship sprite
  size = 1, --all ships are square; how many 8x8 sprites?
@@ -975,10 +960,9 @@ frownie = ship_m.new{
   if (tstate>=4) dx=self.thrust
   return dx,0,false,false
  end,
-}
-mknew(frownie)
+})
 
-blocky = frownie.new{
+blocky = mknew(frownie.new{
  sprite = 10,
  hp = 1.5,
  hurt = {
@@ -996,10 +980,9 @@ blocky = frownie.new{
   end
   ship_m.ow(self)
  end
-}
-mknew(blocky)
+})
 
-spewy = frownie.new{
+spewy = mknew(frownie.new{
  sprite=26,
  power=-20,
  hurt = {
@@ -1016,13 +999,13 @@ spewy = frownie.new{
  act=function(self)
   local dx,dy,shoot_spec=frownie.act(self)
   return dx, dy, shoot_spec, true
+ end,
+ init = function(ship)
+  ship.main_gun=ship.main_gun or protron_gun_e.new{}
  end
-}
-mknew(spewy, function(ship)
- ship.main_gun=ship.main_gun or protron_gun_e.new{enemy=true}
-end)
+})
 
-chasey = ship_m.new{
+chasey = mknew(ship_m.new{
  sprite = 5,
  size = 1,
  hurt = {
@@ -1045,10 +1028,11 @@ chasey = ship_m.new{
  thrust = 0.2,
  drag = 0.075,
  slip = true,
-}
-mknew(chasey, function(ship)
- ship.main_gun=ship.main_gun or zap_gun_e.new{}
-end)
+
+ init = function(ship)
+  ship.main_gun=ship.main_gun or zap_gun_e.new{}
+ end
+})
 
 function chasey:act()
  self.xmin = max(primary_ship.x-8, 0)
@@ -1056,7 +1040,7 @@ function chasey:act()
  return 0, 0, false, self.x - 16 < primary_ship.x and self.x + 16 > primary_ship.x
 end
 
-xl_chasey=chasey.new{
+xl_chasey=mknew(chasey.new{
  size=2,
  maxspd=1.25,
  hurt = {
@@ -1081,10 +1065,11 @@ xl_chasey=chasey.new{
   sspr(40, 0, 8, 8, self.x, self.y, 16, 16)
   pal()
  end,
-}
-mknew(xl_chasey, function(ship)
- ship.main_gun=ship.main_gun or zap_gun_e.new{}
-end)
+ init = function(ship)
+  ship.main_gun=ship.main_gun or zap_gun_e.new{}
+ end,
+})
+
 -->8
 -- collisions
 
@@ -1098,12 +1083,11 @@ function collides(box1, box2)
 	  or box1.y+box1.height<box2.y)
 end
 
-collider = { }
-mknew(collider,
- function(x)
+collider = mknew{
+ init = function(x)
   x.suppress = {}
- end
-)
+ end,
+}
 
 function collider_indexes(box)
  local ret = {}
@@ -1798,7 +1782,7 @@ true, they are dropped.
 -->8
 -- standard events
 
-blip_fx = {
+blip_fx = mknew{
  cancel=false
 }
 
@@ -1816,8 +1800,6 @@ function blip_fx:abort()
  self.cancel=true
 end
 
-mknew(blip_fx)
-
 blip_pals = {}
 function init_blip_pals()
  for i=0,15 do
@@ -1852,8 +1834,7 @@ function boom(x,y,boominess,is_boss)
  return
 end
 
-spark_particle={}
-mknew(spark_particle)
+spark_particle=mknew{}
 
 function spark_particle:move()
  if (rnd(4) < 1) self.sidx += 1
@@ -1882,7 +1863,7 @@ end
 -->8
 -- powerups
 
-powerup = bullet_base.new{
+powerup = mknew(bullet_base.new{
  -- animated sprite array: "sprites"
  -- to draw under or over anim,
  -- override draw, draw the
@@ -1903,8 +1884,7 @@ powerup = bullet_base.new{
  
  anim_speed = 2,
  loop_pause = 30 -- affected by animspeed
-}
-mknew(powerup)
+})
 
 -- sprite indexes for "sheen" animation
 sheen8x8 = split"2,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61"
@@ -1924,7 +1904,7 @@ function powerup:draw()
      self.width, self.height) 
 end
 
-repair = powerup.new{
+repair = mknew(powerup.new{
  hurt = {
   x_off = -2,
   y_off = -2,
@@ -1943,14 +1923,13 @@ repair = powerup.new{
   spr(53, self.x, self.y, self.width, self.height)
   powerup.draw(self)
  end  
-}
-mknew(repair)
+})
 
 function spawn_repair_at(x, y)
  repair.new():spawn_at(x, y)
 end
 
-gun_swap = powerup.new{
+gun_swap = mknew(powerup.new{
  hurt = {
   x_off = -2,
   y_off = -2,
@@ -1972,8 +1951,7 @@ gun_swap = powerup.new{
   powerup.draw(self)
   spr(self.gun.icon, self.x+2, self.y+2, 1, 1)
  end
-}
-mknew(gun_swap)
+})
 
 function spawn_main_gun_at(x, y, gunt)
  if (type(gunt)=="string") gunt=_ENV[gunt]