diff --git a/internal/app/buffer.go b/internal/app/buffer.go
index 2e9f9d2..542ba28 100644
--- a/internal/app/buffer.go
+++ b/internal/app/buffer.go
@@ -21,29 +21,20 @@ func newBuffer(width, height int) *buffer {
 	return b
 }
 
-func (b *buffer) set(x, y int, t tile) bool {
+func (b *buffer) setTile(x, y int, t tile) {
 	n := y*b.width + x
 	if n >= len(b.tiles) {
-		return false
+		return
 	}
 	b.tiles[n] = t
-	return true
 }
 
-func (b *buffer) get(x, y int) (tile, bool) {
+func (b *buffer) getTile(x, y int) tile {
 	n := y*b.width + x
 	if n >= len(b.tiles) {
-		return tile{}, false
-	}
-	return b.tiles[n], true
-}
-
-func (b *buffer) writeString(s string, start math.Vec, style tcell.Style) {
-	for i, r := range []rune(s) {
-		if !b.set(start.X+i, start.Y, tile{r: r, style: style}) {
-			break
-		}
+		return tile{}
 	}
+	return b.tiles[n]
 }
 
 func (b *buffer) clear() {
@@ -55,10 +46,8 @@ func (b *buffer) clear() {
 func (b *buffer) blit(s tcell.Screen, offset math.Vec) {
 	for x := 0; x < b.width; x++ {
 		for y := 0; y < b.height; y++ {
-			t, ok := b.get(x, y)
-			if ok {
-				s.SetContent(x+offset.X, y+offset.Y, t.r, nil, t.style)
-			}
+			t := b.getTile(x, y)
+			s.SetContent(x+offset.X, y+offset.Y, t.r, nil, t.style)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -66,7 +55,9 @@ func (b *buffer) blit(s tcell.Screen, offset math.Vec) {
 func (b *buffer) fill(style tcell.Style) {
 	for x := 0; x < b.width; x++ {
 		for y := 0; y < b.height; y++ {
-			b.set(x, y, tile{r: ' ', style: style})
+			b.setTile(x, y, tile{r: ' ', style: style})
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func (b *buffer) bounds() math.Rect { return math.Rect{Width: b.width, Height: b.height} }
diff --git a/internal/app/canvas.go b/internal/app/canvas.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fca0234
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/canvas.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"github.com/gdamore/tcell/v2"
+	"github.com/jordanorelli/astro-domu/internal/math"
+)
+
+type canvas interface {
+	getTile(x, y int) tile
+	setTile(int, int, tile)
+	bounds() math.Rect
+}
+
+func writeString(img canvas, s string, start math.Vec, style tcell.Style) {
+	for i, r := range []rune(s) {
+		img.setTile(start.X+i, start.Y, tile{r: r, style: style})
+	}
+}
+
+func cut(img canvas, bounds math.Rect) canvas {
+	return &section{img: img, frame: bounds}
+}
+
+type section struct {
+	img   canvas
+	frame math.Rect
+}
+
+func (s *section) getTile(x, y int) tile {
+	if x < 0 || x >= s.frame.Width || y < 0 || y >= s.frame.Height {
+		return tile{}
+	}
+	return s.img.getTile(x+s.frame.Origin.X, y+s.frame.Origin.Y)
+}
+
+func (s *section) setTile(x, y int, t tile) {
+	if x < 0 || x >= s.frame.Width || y < 0 || y >= s.frame.Height {
+		return
+	}
+	s.img.setTile(x+s.frame.Origin.X, y+s.frame.Origin.Y, t)
+}
+
+func (s *section) bounds() math.Rect { return s.frame }
diff --git a/internal/app/chat_view.go b/internal/app/chat_view.go
index c6d8b1d..b6b9988 100644
--- a/internal/app/chat_view.go
+++ b/internal/app/chat_view.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type chatView struct {
 	history   []sim.ChatMessage
 }
 
-func (c *chatView) handleEvent(ui *UI, e tcell.Event) bool {
+func (c *chatView) handleEvent(e tcell.Event) change {
 	switch t := e.(type) {
 	case *tcell.EventKey:
 		key := t.Key()
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@ func (c *chatView) handleEvent(ui *UI, e tcell.Event) bool {
 		}
 
 		if key == tcell.KeyEnter {
-			// ugh lol
-			go ui.client.Send(sim.SendChatMessage{Text: c.composing})
 			c.composing = ""
-			break
+			return changeFn(func(ui *UI) {
+				// ugh lol
+				go ui.client.Send(sim.SendChatMessage{Text: c.composing})
+			})
 		}
 
 		if key == tcell.KeyRune {
@@ -45,22 +46,23 @@ func (c *chatView) handleEvent(ui *UI, e tcell.Event) bool {
 	default:
 		// ui.Debug("screen saw unhandled event of type %T", e)
 	}
-	return false
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *chatView) draw(b *buffer) {
-	chatHeight := b.height - 1
+func (c *chatView) draw(img canvas, st *state) {
+	bounds := img.bounds()
+	chatHeight := bounds.Height - 1
 	for i := 0; i < math.Min(chatHeight, len(c.history)); i++ {
 		msg := c.history[len(c.history)-1-i]
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("%12s: %s", msg.From, msg.Text)
-		b.writeString(s, math.Vec{0, b.height - 2 - i}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+		writeString(img, s, math.Vec{0, bounds.Height - 2 - i}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 	}
 
-	b.writeString(c.composing, math.Vec{0, b.height - 1}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+	writeString(img, c.composing, math.Vec{0, bounds.Height - 1}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 
 	if c.inFocus {
 		cursor := tile{r: tcell.RuneBlock, style: tcell.StyleDefault.Blink(true)}
-		b.set(len([]rune(c.composing)), b.height-1, cursor)
+		img.setTile(len([]rune(c.composing)), bounds.Height-1, cursor)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/app/container_view.go b/internal/app/container_view.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3417361
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/container_view.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"github.com/gdamore/tcell/v2"
+	"github.com/jordanorelli/astro-domu/internal/math"
+)
+
+type containerView struct {
+	children []*node
+	focussed int
+}
+
+func (c *containerView) handleEvent(e tcell.Event) change {
+	switch e.(type) {
+	case *tcell.EventKey:
+		return c.children[c.focussed].handleEvent(e)
+
+	default:
+		// ui.Debug("screen saw unhandled event of type %T", e)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *containerView) draw(img canvas, st *state) {
+	for _, n := range c.children {
+		n.draw(cut(img, n.frame), st)
+	}
+}
+
+type node struct {
+	view
+	frame math.Rect
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/form.go b/internal/app/form.go
index 9e1de04..29fcf55 100644
--- a/internal/app/form.go
+++ b/internal/app/form.go
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ func (f *form) handleEvent(e tcell.Event) change {
 	return f.fields[0].handleEvent(e)
 }
 
-func (f *form) draw(b *buffer, _ *state) {
+func (f *form) draw(img canvas, _ *state) {
 	for i, field := range f.fields {
-		b.writeString(field.label, math.Vec{0, i * 2}, tcell.StyleDefault)
-		b.writeString(field.prompt+field.entered, math.Vec{0, i*2 + 1}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+		writeString(img, field.label, math.Vec{0, i * 2}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+		writeString(img, field.prompt+field.entered, math.Vec{0, i*2 + 1}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/app/game_view.go b/internal/app/game_view.go
index 3a91f1b..48e8b5d 100644
--- a/internal/app/game_view.go
+++ b/internal/app/game_view.go
@@ -33,35 +33,34 @@ func (v *gameView) handleEvent(e tcell.Event) change {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (v *gameView) draw(b *buffer, st *state) {
-	v.drawHeader(b, st)
+func (v *gameView) draw(img canvas, st *state) {
+	v.drawHeader(img, st)
 
 	// fill in background dots first
 	for x := 0; x < st.room.Width; x++ {
 		for y := 0; y < st.room.Height; y++ {
-			b.set(x+1, y+2, tile{r: '·', style: tcell.StyleDefault})
+			img.setTile(x+1, y+2, tile{r: '·', style: tcell.StyleDefault})
 		}
 	}
-	b.set(0, 1, tile{r: '┌'})
-	b.set(st.room.Width+1, 1, tile{r: '┐'})
-	b.set(0, st.room.Height+2, tile{r: '└'})
-	b.set(st.room.Width+1, st.room.Height+2, tile{r: '┘'})
+	img.setTile(0, 1, tile{r: '┌'})
+	img.setTile(st.room.Width+1, 1, tile{r: '┐'})
+	img.setTile(0, st.room.Height+2, tile{r: '└'})
+	img.setTile(st.room.Width+1, st.room.Height+2, tile{r: '┘'})
 	for x := 0; x < st.room.Width; x++ {
-		b.set(x+1, 1, tile{r: '─'})
-		b.set(x+1, st.room.Height+2, tile{r: '─'})
+		img.setTile(x+1, 1, tile{r: '─'})
+		img.setTile(x+1, st.room.Height+2, tile{r: '─'})
 	}
 	for y := 0; y < st.room.Height; y++ {
-		b.set(0, y+2, tile{r: '│'})
-		b.set(st.room.Width+1, y+2, tile{r: '│'})
+		img.setTile(0, y+2, tile{r: '│'})
+		img.setTile(st.room.Width+1, y+2, tile{r: '│'})
 	}
 	for _, e := range st.room.Entities {
 		pos := e.Position
-		b.set(pos.X+1, pos.Y+2, tile{r: e.Glyph, style: tcell.StyleDefault})
+		img.setTile(pos.X+1, pos.Y+2, tile{r: e.Glyph, style: tcell.StyleDefault})
 	}
-
 }
 
-func (v *gameView) drawHeader(b *buffer, st *state) {
+func (v *gameView) drawHeader(img canvas, st *state) {
 	// the first row is the name of the room that we're currently in
 	var style tcell.Style
 	style = style.Background(tcell.NewRGBColor(64, 64, 128))
@@ -69,11 +68,12 @@ func (v *gameView) drawHeader(b *buffer, st *state) {
 
 	runes := []rune(st.room.Name)
 
-	for i := 0; i < b.width; i++ {
+	bounds := img.bounds()
+	for i := 0; i < bounds.Width; i++ {
 		if i < len(runes) {
-			b.set(i, 0, tile{r: runes[i], style: style})
+			img.setTile(i, 0, tile{r: runes[i], style: style})
 		} else {
-			b.set(i, 0, tile{r: ' ', style: style})
+			img.setTile(i, 0, tile{r: ' ', style: style})
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -86,5 +86,5 @@ type move struct {
 }
 
 func (m move) exec(ui *UI) {
-	ui.client.Send(sim.Move{m.x, m.y})
+	go ui.client.Send(sim.Move{m.x, m.y})
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/login.go b/internal/app/login.go
index fe0eedd..aba51a1 100644
--- a/internal/app/login.go
+++ b/internal/app/login.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"github.com/jordanorelli/astro-domu/internal/math"
 	"github.com/jordanorelli/astro-domu/internal/wire"
 )
 
@@ -37,9 +38,18 @@ func (l login) exec(ui *UI) {
 	// e := room.Entities[p.Avatar]
 	ui.state.room = &room
 
-	ui.root = &node{
-		view: &gameView{
-			Log: ui.Child("game-view"),
+	ui.root = &containerView{
+		children: []*node{
+			{
+				frame: math.Rect{math.Vec{0, 0}, 20, 20},
+				view: &gameView{
+					Log: ui.Child("game-view"),
+				},
+			},
+			{
+				frame: math.Rect{math.Vec{0, 20}, 40, 20},
+				view:  &chatView{},
+			},
 		},
 	}
 	ui.Info("done logging in, we replaced the root view whaduheck")
diff --git a/internal/app/menu_list.go b/internal/app/menu_list.go
index 35800df..753c16c 100644
--- a/internal/app/menu_list.go
+++ b/internal/app/menu_list.go
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ func (m *menuList) handleEvent(e tcell.Event) change {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *menuList) draw(b *buffer, _ *state) {
+func (m *menuList) draw(img canvas, _ *state) {
 	for i, choice := range m.choices {
 		if i == m.highlight {
-			b.writeString("▷ "+choice.name, math.Vec{0, i}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+			writeString(img, "▷ "+choice.name, math.Vec{0, i}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 		} else {
-			b.writeString("  "+choice.name, math.Vec{0, i}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+			writeString(img, "  "+choice.name, math.Vec{0, i}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/node.go b/internal/app/node.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 9250a27..0000000
--- a/internal/app/node.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-package app
-
-type node struct {
-	view
-	children []*node
-}
diff --git a/internal/app/status_bar.go b/internal/app/status_bar.go
index 8b6f571..37537b7 100644
--- a/internal/app/status_bar.go
+++ b/internal/app/status_bar.go
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ type statusBar struct {
 
 func (s *statusBar) handleEvent(ui *UI, e tcell.Event) bool { return false }
 
-func (s *statusBar) draw(b *buffer) {
+func (s *statusBar) draw(img canvas, st *state) {
 	line := fmt.Sprintf("shown: %08d cleared: %08d messages: %08d", s.showCount, s.clearCount, s.msgCount)
-	b.writeString(line, math.Vec{0, 0}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+	writeString(img, line, math.Vec{0, 0}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 }
 
 func (s *statusBar) setFocus(enabled bool) { s.inFocus = enabled }
diff --git a/internal/app/text.go b/internal/app/text.go
index 2156521..f440748 100644
--- a/internal/app/text.go
+++ b/internal/app/text.go
@@ -36,6 +36,6 @@ func (t *textInput) handleEvent(e tcell.Event) change {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *textInput) draw(b *buffer, _ *state) {
-	b.writeString(t.prompt+t.entered, math.Vec{0, 0}, tcell.StyleDefault)
+func (t *textInput) draw(img canvas, _ *state) {
+	writeString(img, t.prompt+t.entered, math.Vec{0, 0}, tcell.StyleDefault)
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/ui.go b/internal/app/ui.go
index 41d6fa6..47fa6c6 100644
--- a/internal/app/ui.go
+++ b/internal/app/ui.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ type UI struct {
 	notifications <-chan wire.Response
 
 	state state
-	root  *node
+	root  view
 }
 
 func (ui *UI) Run() {
@@ -164,33 +164,29 @@ func (ui *UI) pollInput(c chan tcell.Event) {
 	}
 }
 
-var mainMenu = &node{
-	view: &menuList{
-		choices: []menuItem{
-			menuItem{
-				name: "join",
-				onSelect: changeFn(func(ui *UI) {
-					ui.root = joinForm
-				}),
-			},
-			menuItem{
-				name: "exit",
-				onSelect: changeFn(func(ui *UI) {
-					panic("this is bad programming")
-				}),
-			},
+var mainMenu = &menuList{
+	choices: []menuItem{
+		menuItem{
+			name: "join",
+			onSelect: changeFn(func(ui *UI) {
+				ui.root = joinForm
+			}),
+		},
+		menuItem{
+			name: "exit",
+			onSelect: changeFn(func(ui *UI) {
+				panic("this is bad programming")
+			}),
 		},
 	},
 }
 
-var joinForm = &node{
-	view: &form{
-		fields: []textField{
-			textField{
-				label: "What is your name?",
-				textInput: textInput{
-					prompt: "> ",
-				},
+var joinForm = &form{
+	fields: []textField{
+		textField{
+			label: "What is your name?",
+			textInput: textInput{
+				prompt: "> ",
 			},
 		},
 	},
diff --git a/internal/app/view.go b/internal/app/view.go
index 38540bb..be49cca 100644
--- a/internal/app/view.go
+++ b/internal/app/view.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 type view interface {
 	handleEvent(tcell.Event) change
-	draw(*buffer, *state)
+	draw(canvas, *state)
 }
 
 type focusable interface {