diff --git a/source/toy_ast.c b/source/toy_ast.c
index 3b028bc..19a1544 100644
--- a/source/toy_ast.c
+++ b/source/toy_ast.c
@@ -171,22 +171,22 @@ void Toy_private_emitAstVariableDeclaration(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast**
 	(*astHandle) = tmp;
 }
 
-void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_String* name, Toy_AstFlag flag, Toy_Ast* expr) {
+void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_AstFlag flag, Toy_Ast* expr) {
 	Toy_Ast* tmp = (Toy_Ast*)Toy_partitionBucket(bucketHandle, sizeof(Toy_Ast));
 
 	tmp->type = TOY_AST_VAR_ASSIGN;
 	tmp->varAssign.flag = flag;
-	tmp->varAssign.name = name;
+	tmp->varAssign.target = (*astHandle);
 	tmp->varAssign.expr = expr;
 
 	(*astHandle) = tmp;
 }
 
-void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_String* name) {
+void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle) {
 	Toy_Ast* tmp = (Toy_Ast*)Toy_partitionBucket(bucketHandle, sizeof(Toy_Ast));
 
 	tmp->type = TOY_AST_VAR_ACCESS;
-	tmp->varAccess.name = name;
+	tmp->varAccess.child = (*astHandle);
 
 	(*astHandle) = tmp;
 }
diff --git a/source/toy_ast.h b/source/toy_ast.h
index 1b72287..0f3ad81 100644
--- a/source/toy_ast.h
+++ b/source/toy_ast.h
@@ -171,13 +171,13 @@ typedef struct Toy_AstVarDeclare {
 typedef struct Toy_AstVarAssign {
 	Toy_AstType type;
 	Toy_AstFlag flag;
-	Toy_String* name;
+	Toy_Ast* target;
 	Toy_Ast* expr;
 } Toy_AstVarAssign;
 
 typedef struct Toy_AstVarAccess {
 	Toy_AstType type;
-	Toy_String* name;
+	Toy_Ast* child;
 } Toy_AstVarAccess;
 
 typedef struct Toy_AstPass {
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ void Toy_private_emitAstContinue(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** rootHandle
 void Toy_private_emitAstPrint(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle);
 
 void Toy_private_emitAstVariableDeclaration(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_String* name, Toy_Ast* expr);
-void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_String* name, Toy_AstFlag flag, Toy_Ast* expr);
-void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_String* name);
+void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle, Toy_AstFlag flag, Toy_Ast* expr);
+void Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle);
 
 void Toy_private_emitAstPass(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle);
 void Toy_private_emitAstError(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Ast** astHandle);
diff --git a/source/toy_parser.c b/source/toy_parser.c
index 024d915..b87883a 100644
--- a/source/toy_parser.c
+++ b/source/toy_parser.c
@@ -266,8 +266,12 @@ static Toy_ValueType readType(Toy_Parser* parser) {
 }
 
 static Toy_AstFlag nameString(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Parser* parser, Toy_Ast** rootHandle) {
+	//emit the name string
 	Toy_String* name = Toy_createNameStringLength(bucketHandle, parser->previous.lexeme, parser->previous.length, TOY_VALUE_UNKNOWN, false);
+	Toy_Value value = TOY_VALUE_FROM_STRING(name);
+	Toy_private_emitAstValue(bucketHandle, rootHandle, value);
 
+	//check for an assignment
 	Toy_AstFlag flag = TOY_AST_FLAG_NONE;
 
 	if (match(parser, TOY_TOKEN_OPERATOR_ASSIGN)) {
@@ -289,16 +293,16 @@ static Toy_AstFlag nameString(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Parser* parser, Toy
 		flag = TOY_AST_FLAG_MODULO_ASSIGN;
 	}
 
-	//assignment
+	//emit the assignment if found
 	if (flag != TOY_AST_FLAG_NONE) {
 		Toy_Ast* expr = NULL;
 		parsePrecedence(bucketHandle, parser, &expr, PREC_ASSIGNMENT); //this makes chained assignment possible, I think
-		Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(bucketHandle, rootHandle, name, flag, expr);
+		Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(bucketHandle, rootHandle, flag, expr);
 		return TOY_AST_FLAG_NONE;
 	}
 
-	//assume it's an access
-	Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(bucketHandle, rootHandle, name);
+	//assume it's an access instead
+	Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(bucketHandle, rootHandle);
 	return TOY_AST_FLAG_NONE;
 }
 
@@ -643,9 +647,6 @@ static void parsePrecedence(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Parser* parser, Toy_A
 			return;
 		}
 
-		//grab this for name storage
-		Toy_Token prevToken = parser->previous;
-
 		Toy_Ast* ptr = NULL;
 		Toy_AstFlag flag = infix(bucketHandle, parser, &ptr);
 
@@ -656,8 +657,7 @@ static void parsePrecedence(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle, Toy_Parser* parser, Toy_A
 		}
 		//eww, gross
 		else if (flag >= 10 && flag <= 19) {
-			Toy_String* name = Toy_createNameStringLength(bucketHandle, prevToken.lexeme, prevToken.length, TOY_VALUE_UNKNOWN, false);
-			Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(bucketHandle, rootHandle, name, flag, ptr);
+			Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(bucketHandle, rootHandle, flag, ptr);
 		}
 		else if (flag >= 20 && flag <= 29) {
 			Toy_private_emitAstCompare(bucketHandle, rootHandle, flag, ptr);
diff --git a/source/toy_routine.c b/source/toy_routine.c
index ebc756c..77577dd 100644
--- a/source/toy_routine.c
+++ b/source/toy_routine.c
@@ -471,27 +471,36 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 			break;
 	}
 
-	//name, duplicate, right, opcode
-	if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_ASSIGN) {
+	//target, based on type
+	if (ast.target->type == TOY_AST_VALUE && TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast.target->value.value) && TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast.target->value.value)->type == TOY_STRING_NAME) {
+		//name string
+		Toy_String* target = TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast.target->value.value);
+
+		//emit the name string
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, target->length); //store the length (max 255)
+
+		emitString(rt, target);
+	}
+	else {
+		//URGENT: assigning to an array member
+		fprintf(stderr, TOY_CC_ERROR "COMPILER ERROR: TODO at %s %d\n" TOY_CC_RESET, __FILE__, __LINE__);
+		(*rt)->panic = true;
+		return 0;
+	}
 
-		emitString(rt, ast.name);
+	//determine RHS, include duplication if needed
+	if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_ASSIGN) {
 		result += writeRoutineCode(rt, ast.expr);
 
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_ASSIGN);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, 0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
 	}
 	else if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_ADD_ASSIGN) {
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
-
-		emitString(rt, ast.name);
-
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_DUPLICATE);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ACCESS); //squeezed
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
@@ -501,15 +510,10 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ADD);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ASSIGN); //squeezed
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
 	}
 	else if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_SUBTRACT_ASSIGN) {
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
-
-		emitString(rt, ast.name);
-
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_DUPLICATE);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ACCESS); //squeezed
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
@@ -519,15 +523,10 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_SUBTRACT);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ASSIGN); //squeezed
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
 	}
 	else if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_MULTIPLY_ASSIGN) {
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
-
-		emitString(rt, ast.name);
-
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_DUPLICATE);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ACCESS); //squeezed
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
@@ -537,15 +536,10 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_MULTIPLY);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ASSIGN); //squeezed
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
 	}
 	else if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_DIVIDE_ASSIGN) {
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
-
-		emitString(rt, ast.name);
-
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_DUPLICATE);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ACCESS); //squeezed
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
@@ -555,15 +549,10 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_DIVIDE);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ASSIGN); //squeezed
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
 	}
 	else if (ast.flag == TOY_AST_FLAG_MODULO_ASSIGN) {
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
-
-		emitString(rt, ast.name);
-
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_DUPLICATE);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ACCESS); //squeezed
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
@@ -573,6 +562,8 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_MODULO);
 		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,TOY_OPCODE_ASSIGN); //squeezed
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
+		EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
 	}
 
 	else {
@@ -580,21 +571,24 @@ static unsigned int writeInstructionAssign(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAssign as
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	//4-byte alignment
-	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
-	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code,0);
-
 	return result;
 }
 
 static unsigned int writeInstructionAccess(Toy_Routine** rt, Toy_AstVarAccess ast) {
+	if (!(ast.child->type == TOY_AST_VALUE && TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast.child->value.value) && TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast.child->value.value)->type == TOY_STRING_NAME)) {
+		fprintf(stderr, TOY_CC_ERROR "COMPILER ERROR: Found a non-name-string in a value node when trying to write access\n" TOY_CC_RESET);
+		exit(-1);
+	}
+
+	Toy_String* name = TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast.child->value.value);
+
 	//push the name
 	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_READ);
 	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_VALUE_STRING);
 	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_STRING_NAME);
-	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, ast.name->length); //store the length (max 255)
+	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, name->length); //store the length (max 255)
 
-	emitString(rt, ast.name);
+	emitString(rt, name);
 
 	//convert name to value
 	EMIT_BYTE(rt, code, TOY_OPCODE_ACCESS);
diff --git a/source/toy_scope.c b/source/toy_scope.c
index fda31de..e475861 100644
--- a/source/toy_scope.c
+++ b/source/toy_scope.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void Toy_assignScope(Toy_Scope* scope, Toy_String* key, Toy_Value value) {
 
 	if (entryPtr == NULL) {
 		char buffer[key->length + 256];
-		sprintf(buffer, "Undefined variable: %s", key->as.name.data);
+		sprintf(buffer, "Undefined variable: %s\n", key->as.name.data);
 		Toy_error(buffer);
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/tests/cases/test_ast.c b/tests/cases/test_ast.c
index bcc115f..348458a 100644
--- a/tests/cases/test_ast.c
+++ b/tests/cases/test_ast.c
@@ -396,18 +396,23 @@ int test_type_emission(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle) {
 		Toy_Ast* ast = NULL;
 		Toy_Ast* right = NULL;
 		Toy_String* name = Toy_createNameStringLength(bucketHandle, "foobar", 6, TOY_VALUE_INTEGER, false);
+		Toy_private_emitAstValue(bucketHandle, &ast, TOY_VALUE_FROM_STRING(name));
 		Toy_private_emitAstValue(bucketHandle, &right, TOY_VALUE_FROM_INTEGER(69));
-		Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(bucketHandle, &ast, name, TOY_AST_FLAG_ASSIGN, right);
+		Toy_private_emitAstVariableAssignment(bucketHandle, &ast, TOY_AST_FLAG_ASSIGN, right);
 
 		//check if it worked
 		if (
 			ast == NULL ||
 			ast->type != TOY_AST_VAR_ASSIGN ||
 			ast->varAssign.flag != TOY_AST_FLAG_ASSIGN ||
-			ast->varAssign.name == NULL ||
-			ast->varAssign.name->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
-			strcmp(ast->varAssign.name->as.name.data, "foobar") != 0 ||
-			ast->varAssign.name->as.name.type != TOY_VALUE_INTEGER ||
+			ast->varAssign.target == NULL ||
+			ast->varAssign.target->type != TOY_AST_VALUE ||
+			TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast->varAssign.target->value.value) != true ||
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->varAssign.target->value.value)->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
+			strcmp(TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->varAssign.target->value.value)->as.name.data, "foobar") != 0 ||
+
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->varAssign.target->value.value)->as.name.type != TOY_VALUE_INTEGER ||
+
 			ast->varAssign.expr->type != TOY_AST_VALUE ||
 			TOY_VALUE_AS_INTEGER(ast->varAssign.expr->value.value) != 69)
 		{
@@ -420,18 +425,20 @@ int test_type_emission(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle) {
 	{
 		//build the AST
 		Toy_Ast* ast = NULL;
-		Toy_Ast* right = NULL;
 		Toy_String* name = Toy_createNameStringLength(bucketHandle, "foobar", 6, TOY_VALUE_INTEGER, false);
-		Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(bucketHandle, &ast, name);
+		Toy_private_emitAstValue(bucketHandle, &ast, TOY_VALUE_FROM_STRING(name));
+		Toy_private_emitAstVariableAccess(bucketHandle, &ast);
 
 		//check if it worked
 		if (
 			ast == NULL ||
 			ast->type != TOY_AST_VAR_ACCESS ||
-			ast->varAccess.name == NULL ||
-			ast->varAccess.name->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
-			strcmp(ast->varAccess.name->as.name.data, "foobar") != 0 ||
-			ast->varAccess.name->as.name.type != TOY_VALUE_INTEGER)
+			ast->varAccess.child == NULL ||
+			ast->varAccess.child->type != TOY_AST_VALUE ||
+			TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast->varAccess.child->value.value) != true ||
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->varAccess.child->value.value)->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
+			strcmp(TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->varAccess.child->value.value)->as.name.data, "foobar") != 0 ||
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->varAccess.child->value.value)->as.name.type != TOY_VALUE_INTEGER)
 		{
 			fprintf(stderr, TOY_CC_ERROR "ERROR: failed to emit an access as 'Toy_Ast', state unknown\n" TOY_CC_RESET);
 			return -1;
diff --git a/tests/cases/test_parser.c b/tests/cases/test_parser.c
index c7f4267..51ad1c5 100644
--- a/tests/cases/test_parser.c
+++ b/tests/cases/test_parser.c
@@ -170,9 +170,11 @@ int test_var_assign(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle) {
 			ast->block.child == NULL || \
 			ast->block.child->type != TOY_AST_VAR_ASSIGN || \
 			ast->block.child->varAssign.flag != ARG_FLAG || \
-			ast->block.child->varAssign.name == NULL || \
-			ast->block.child->varAssign.name->type != TOY_STRING_NAME || \
-			strcmp(ast->block.child->varAssign.name->as.name.data, ARG_NAME) != 0 || \
+			ast->block.child->varAssign.target == NULL || \
+			ast->block.child->varAssign.target->type != TOY_AST_VALUE || \
+			TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast->block.child->varAssign.target->value.value) != true ||\
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->block.child->varAssign.target->value.value)->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||\
+			strcmp(TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->block.child->varAssign.target->value.value)->as.name.data, ARG_NAME) != 0 || \
 			ast->block.child->varAssign.expr == NULL || \
 			ast->block.child->varAssign.expr->type != TOY_AST_VALUE || \
 			TOY_VALUE_IS_INTEGER(ast->block.child->varAssign.expr->value.value) == false || \
@@ -512,8 +514,11 @@ int test_aggregate(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle) {
 
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.left == NULL ||
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->type != TOY_AST_VAR_ACCESS ||
-			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.name->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
-			strcmp(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.name->as.name.data, "name") != 0 ||
+			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child == NULL ||
+			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->type != TOY_AST_VALUE ||
+			TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->value.value) != true ||
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->value.value)->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
+			strcmp(TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->value.value)->as.name.data, "name") != 0 ||
 
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.right->type != TOY_AST_VALUE ||
 			TOY_VALUE_IS_INTEGER(ast->block.child->aggregate.right->value.value) != true ||
@@ -542,8 +547,13 @@ int test_aggregate(Toy_Bucket** bucketHandle) {
 
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.left == NULL ||
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->type != TOY_AST_VAR_ACCESS ||
-			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.name->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
-			strcmp(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.name->as.name.data, "name") != 0 ||
+
+			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child == NULL ||
+			ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->type != TOY_AST_VALUE ||
+			TOY_VALUE_IS_STRING(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->value.value) != true ||
+			TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->value.value)->type != TOY_STRING_NAME ||
+
+			strcmp(TOY_VALUE_AS_STRING(ast->block.child->aggregate.left->varAccess.child->value.value)->as.name.data, "name") != 0 ||
 
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.right->type != TOY_AST_AGGREGATE ||
 			ast->block.child->aggregate.right->aggregate.flag != TOY_AST_FLAG_COLLECTION ||