diff --git a/lang/README.md b/lang/README.md
index c3be9401..4b04266b 100644
--- a/lang/README.md
+++ b/lang/README.md
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ main := fn(): uint {
 	if false {
 		@error("unexpected '\0", u8, "', wah now?\0")
 	}
-	byte := @as(u8, 10)
+	byte := @as(@ChildOf(^u8), 10)
 	_ = sum(byte, byte)
 	same_type_as_byte := @as(@TypeOf(byte), 30)
 	wide_uint := @as(u32, 40)
@@ -478,6 +478,7 @@ arbitrary text
 - `@kindof(<ty>)`: gives an u8 integer describing the kind of type as an index to array `[Builtin, Struct, Enum, Union, Ptr, Slice, Opt, Func, Template, Global, Const, Module]`
 - `@Any()`: generic parameter based on inference, TBD: this will ake arguments in the future that restrict what is accepted
 - `@error(...<expr>)`: emit compiler error, if reachable, and use arguments to construct a message, can display strings and types
+- `@ChildOf(<ty>)`: returns the child type of the `<ty>`, works for pointers and optionals (`@ChildOf(?u8) == u8`)
 
 #### c_strings
 ```hb
diff --git a/lang/src/son.rs b/lang/src/son.rs
index 60b3543a..5ed56bc4 100644
--- a/lang/src/son.rs
+++ b/lang/src/son.rs
@@ -491,6 +491,13 @@ impl Pool {
                 ctrl_scope.map(|mut s| s.clear(&mut dst.nodes));
             }
         });
+        if let Some((_, ctrl, mut scope, acl)) = dst.inline_ret.take() {
+            ctrl.remove(&mut dst.nodes);
+            if let Some(acl) = acl {
+                acl.remove(&mut dst.nodes)
+            };
+            scope.clear(&mut dst.nodes);
+        }
         mem::take(&mut dst.ctrl).remove(&mut dst.nodes);
         *dst = mem::take(&mut self.cis[self.used_cis]);
     }
@@ -3827,6 +3834,17 @@ impl<'a> Codegen<'a> {
             }
             Expr::Directive { name: "Any", args: [], .. } => ty::Id::ANY_TYPE,
             Expr::Directive { name: "TypeOf", args: [expr], .. } => self.infer_type(expr),
+            Expr::Directive { name: "ChildOf", args: [aty], .. } => {
+                let ty = self.parse_ty(sc.anon(), aty);
+                let Some(ty) = self.tys.base_of(ty).or(self.tys.inner_of(ty)) else {
+                    return self.error_low(
+                        sc.file,
+                        aty.pos(),
+                        fa!("only work for pointers and optionals, not '{}'", self.ty_display(ty)),
+                    );
+                };
+                ty
+            }
             Expr::Slice { size: None, item, .. } => {
                 let ty = self.parse_ty(sc.anon(), item);
                 self.tys.make_array(ty, ArrayLen::MAX)