diff --git a/demos/calc.cpp b/demos/calc.cpp
index c8f69ab..8f38517 100644
--- a/demos/calc.cpp
+++ b/demos/calc.cpp
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ struct CalculatorUI {
     $gui.layout(
         "[*%(400)stack  |_|_|_]"
         "[*%(400)readout|_|_|_]"
-        "[push|pop|clear|eq]"
-        "[add |sub|mul  |div]"
-        "[btn7|btn8|btn9]"
-        "[btn4|btn5|btn6]"
-        "[btn1|btn2|btn3]"
-        "[neg |btn0|del]");
+        "[=push|=pop|=clear|=eq]"
+        "[=add |=sub|=mul  |=div]"
+        "[=btn7|=btn8|=btn9]"
+        "[=btn4|=btn5|=btn6]"
+        "[=btn1|=btn2|=btn3]"
+        "[=neg |=btn0|=del]");
   }
 
   void init() {
@@ -161,16 +161,16 @@ struct CalculatorUI {
       $gui.set<guecs::Rectangle>(id, {});
 
       if(name == "readout") {
-        $gui.set<guecs::Textual>(id, {L"", 40});
+        $gui.set<guecs::Text>(id, {L"", 40});
       } else if(name == "stack") {
-        $gui.set<guecs::Textual>(id, {L"", 20});
+        $gui.set<guecs::Text>(id, {L"", 20});
       } else {
         $gui.set<guecs::Effect>(id, {});
-        $gui.set<guecs::Label>(id, { label });
+        $gui.set<guecs::Text>(id, { label });
         wchar_t op = label[0];
         $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>(id, {
-            [&, op](auto, auto) { handle_button(op); }
-            });
+            [&, op](auto) { handle_button(op); }
+        });
       }
     }
 
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ struct CalculatorUI {
     // $gui.debug_layout(window);
   }
 
-  void mouse(float x, float y, bool hover) {
-    $gui.mouse(x, y, hover);
+  void mouse(float x, float y, guecs::Modifiers mods) {
+    $gui.mouse(x, y, mods);
   }
 
   void handle_button(wchar_t op) {
diff --git a/demos/clicker_game.cpp b/demos/clicker_game.cpp
index bb6cda7..c5e68b6 100644
--- a/demos/clicker_game.cpp
+++ b/demos/clicker_game.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ struct ClickerUI {
   ClickerUI() {
     $gui.position(0, 0, WINDOW_WIDTH, WINDOW_HEIGHT);
     $gui.layout(
-        "[_|*%(300,400)clicker|_|_|_]"
+        "[_|=*%(300,400)clicker|_|_|_]"
         "[_|_               |_|_|_]"
         "[_|_               |_|_|_]"
         "[_|_               |_|_|_]"
@@ -91,11 +91,10 @@ struct ClickerUI {
     for(auto& [name, cell] : $gui.cells()) {
       auto id = $gui.entity(name);
       if(name != "clicker") {
-        $gui.set<guecs::Rectangle>(id, {});
         $gui.set<guecs::Effect>(id, {});
         $gui.set<guecs::Icon>(id, { "clicker_treat_bone" });
         $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>(id, {
-            [&](auto, auto) { handle_button(Event::A_BUTTON); }
+            [&](auto) { handle_button(Event::A_BUTTON); }
             });
       }
     }
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ struct ClickerUI {
     $gui.set<guecs::Sprite>($clicker, {"clicker_the_dog"});
     $gui.set<guecs::Sound>($clicker, {"clicker_bark"});
     $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>($clicker, {
-        [&](auto, auto) { handle_button(Event::CLICKER); }
+        [&](auto) { handle_button(Event::CLICKER); }
         });
 
     // custom components need to be initialized manually
@@ -127,23 +126,22 @@ struct ClickerUI {
     // $gui.debug_layout(window);
   }
 
-  void mouse(float x, float y, bool hover) {
-    $gui.mouse(x, y, hover);
+  void mouse(float x, float y, guecs::Modifiers mods) {
+    $gui.mouse(x, y, mods);
   }
 
   void handle_button(Event ev) {
     using enum Event;
     switch(ev) {
       case CLICKER: {
-                      auto& shaker = $gui.get<Shake>($clicker);
-                      auto& sprite = $gui.get<guecs::Sprite>($clicker);
-                      shaker.play(sprite);
-                      fmt::println("CLICKER LOVES YOU!");
-                    } break;
+          auto& shaker = $gui.get<Shake>($clicker);
+          auto& sprite = $gui.get<guecs::Sprite>($clicker);
+          shaker.play(sprite);
+          fmt::println("CLICKER LOVES YOU!");
+        } break;
       case A_BUTTON:
-                    fmt::println("a button clicked");
-                    break;
-
+        fmt::println("a button clicked");
+        break;
       default:
                     assert(false && "invalid event");
     }
diff --git a/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp b/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
index a323371..74d12bc 100644
--- a/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
+++ b/include/guecs/sfml/components.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 namespace guecs {
   using std::shared_ptr, std::wstring, std::string;
 
-  struct Textual {
+  struct Text {
     std::wstring content;
     unsigned int size = THEME.TEXT_SIZE;
     sf::Color color = THEME.TEXT_COLOR;
@@ -24,22 +24,11 @@ namespace guecs {
     void render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr);
   };
 
-  struct Label : public Textual {
-    template<typename... Args>
-      Label(Args... args) : Textual(args...)
-    {
-      centered = true;
-      size = THEME.LABEL_SIZE;
-    }
-
-    Label() {
-      centered = true;
-    };
-  };
-
   struct Sprite {
     string name;
     int padding = THEME.PADDING;
+    bool stretch = true;
+    bool is_icon = false;
     std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> sprite = nullptr;
 
     void init(lel::Cell &cell);
@@ -47,14 +36,18 @@ namespace guecs {
     void render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr);
   };
 
-  struct Icon {
-    string name;
-    int padding = THEME.PADDING;
-    std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> sprite = nullptr;
+  struct Icon : public Sprite {
+    template<typename... Args>
+      Icon(Args... args) : Sprite(args...)
+    {
+      stretch = false;
+      is_icon = true;
+    }
 
-    void init(lel::Cell &cell);
-    void update(const string& new_name);
-    void render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr);
+    Icon() {
+      stretch = false;
+      is_icon = true;
+    };
   };
 
   struct Rectangle {
diff --git a/include/guecs/ui.hpp b/include/guecs/ui.hpp
index d66b063..bb1f7b7 100644
--- a/include/guecs/ui.hpp
+++ b/include/guecs/ui.hpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "guecs/theme.hpp"
 #include "guecs/sfml/components.hpp"
 #include <cassert>
+#include <bitset>
 
 namespace guecs {
   using std::shared_ptr, std::wstring, std::string;
@@ -24,22 +25,30 @@ namespace guecs {
       std::queue<size_t> free_indices;
     };
 
+  namespace ModBit {
+    enum {
+      NONE=0,
+      hover=1,
+      left=2,
+      right=3
+    };
+  }
+
+  using Modifiers = std::bitset<16>;
+
+  constexpr const Modifiers NO_MODS{0};
+
   struct Clickable {
     /* This is actually called by UI::mouse and passed the entity ID of the
      * button pressed so you can interact with it in the event handler.
      */
-    std::function<void(Entity ent, std::any data)> action;
-  };
-
-  struct ActionData {
-    std::any data;
+    std::function<void(Modifiers mods)> action;
   };
 
   struct CellName {
     string name;
   };
 
-
   class UI {
     public:
       Entity MAIN = 0;
@@ -69,9 +78,9 @@ namespace guecs {
 
       void init();
       void render(sf::RenderWindow& window);
-      bool mouse(float x, float y, bool hover);
-      void click_on(const string& name, bool required=false);
-      void click_on(Entity slot_id);
+      bool mouse(float x, float y, Modifiers mods);
+      void click_on(const std::string& name, Modifiers mods=NO_MODS);
+      void click_on(Entity slot_id, Modifiers mods=NO_MODS);
       void debug_layout(sf::RenderWindow& window);
 
       Entity entity() { return ++entity_count; }
@@ -218,6 +227,7 @@ namespace guecs {
       sf::Shader* find_shader(Entity ent, bool is_shape);
 
       void show_sprite(const string& region, const string& sprite_name);
+      void show_icon(const string& region, const string& sprite_name);
       void show_text(const string& region, const wstring& content);
       void show_label(const string& region, const wstring& content);
   };
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 830a626..57f07ec 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # HEY BUG: when you have a . spec in a LEL it doesn't work on text
 
 project('lel-guecs', 'cpp',
-  version: '0.4.0',
+  version: '0.6.0',
   default_options: [
     'cpp_std=c++20',
     'cpp_args=-D_GLIBCXX_DEBUG=1 -D_GLIBCXX_DEBUG_PEDANTIC=1',
diff --git a/src/guecs/lel.cpp b/src/guecs/lel.cpp
index b363293..c8efccc 100644
--- a/src/guecs/lel.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/lel.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ namespace lel {
     int cell_height = grid_h / rows;
 
     for(auto& row : grid) {
+      // BUG: see issue #16
       size_t columns = row.size();
       int cell_width = grid_w / columns;
       assert(cell_width > 0 && "invalid cell width calc");
diff --git a/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp b/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
index 064cc3a..e52097f 100644
--- a/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/sfml/components.cpp
@@ -7,13 +7,34 @@
 namespace guecs {
   using std::make_shared;
 
-  void Textual::init(lel::Cell &cell, shared_ptr<sf::Font> font_ptr) {
+  template<typename T>
+    void sfml_center_helper(T& obj, lel::Cell& cell, int padding) {
+      sf::Vector2f position{float(cell.x + padding), float(cell.y + padding)};
+
+      if(cell.center) {
+        auto bounds = obj->getLocalBounds();
+        position = {float(cell.mid_x), float(cell.mid_y)};
+        obj->setOrigin({bounds.size.x/2, bounds.size.y/2});
+      }
+
+      obj->setPosition(position);
+    }
+
+  inline SpriteTexture load_texture(const string& name, bool is_icon) {
+    if(is_icon) {
+      return BACKEND->get_icon(name);
+    } else {
+      return BACKEND->get_sprite(name);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void Text::init(lel::Cell &cell, shared_ptr<sf::Font> font_ptr) {
     assert(font_ptr != nullptr && "you failed to initialize this WideText");
     if(font == nullptr) font = font_ptr;
     if(text == nullptr) text = make_shared<sf::Text>(*font, content, size);
     text->setFillColor(color);
 
-    if(centered) {
+    if(centered || cell.center) {
       auto bounds = text->getLocalBounds();
       auto text_cell = lel::center(bounds.size.x, bounds.size.y, cell);
       // this stupid / 2 is because SFML renders from baseline rather than from the claimed bounding box
@@ -25,11 +46,11 @@ namespace guecs {
     text->setCharacterSize(size);
   }
 
-  void Textual::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
+  void Text::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
     window.draw(*text, shader_ptr);
   }
 
-  void Textual::update(const wstring& new_content) {
+  void Text::update(const wstring& new_content) {
     content = new_content;
     text->setString(content);
   }
@@ -44,59 +65,40 @@ namespace guecs {
   }
 
   void Sprite::init(lel::Cell &cell) {
-    auto sprite_texture = BACKEND->get_sprite(name);
+    if(cell.center) stretch = false;
 
-    sf::IntRect rect{{0,0},sprite_texture.frame_size};
+    auto sprite_texture = load_texture(name, is_icon);
+    auto bounds = sprite_texture.frame_size;
+
+    sf::IntRect rect{{0,0}, bounds};
     sprite = make_shared<sf::Sprite>(*sprite_texture.texture, rect);
 
-    sprite->setPosition({
-        float(cell.x + padding),
-        float(cell.y + padding)});
+    if(stretch) {
+      sprite->setScale({
+          float(cell.w - padding * 2) / float(bounds.x),
+          float(cell.h - padding * 2) / float(bounds.y)});
+    } else {
+      float box_width = float(cell.w - padding * 2);
+      float box_height = float(cell.h - padding * 2);
+      float scale = std::min(box_width / float(bounds.x), box_height / float(bounds.y));
+      sprite->setScale({scale, scale});
+    }
 
-    auto bounds = sprite->getLocalBounds();
-
-    sprite->setScale({
-        float(cell.w - padding * 2) / bounds.size.x,
-        float(cell.h - padding * 2) / bounds.size.y});
+    sfml_center_helper(sprite, cell, padding);
   }
 
   void Sprite::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
     window.draw(*sprite, shader_ptr);
   }
 
-  void Icon::update(const string& new_name) {
-    if(new_name != name) {
-      name = new_name;
-      auto sprite_texture = BACKEND->get_icon(name);
-      sprite->setTexture(*sprite_texture.texture);
-      sprite->setTextureRect({{0,0},sprite_texture.frame_size});
-    }
-  }
-
-  void Icon::init(lel::Cell &cell) {
-    auto sprite_texture = BACKEND->get_icon(name);
-
-    sf::IntRect rect{{0,0},sprite_texture.frame_size};
-    fmt::println("ICON SIZE: {},{}; {},{}",
-        rect.position.x, rect.position.y,
-        rect.size.x, rect.size.y);
-    sprite = make_shared<sf::Sprite>(*sprite_texture.texture, rect);
-
-    sprite->setPosition({ float(cell.x + padding), float(cell.y + padding)});
-  }
-
-  void Icon::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
-    window.draw(*sprite, shader_ptr);
-  }
-
-
   void Rectangle::init(lel::Cell& cell) {
     sf::Vector2f size{float(cell.w) - padding * 2, float(cell.h) - padding * 2};
     if(shape == nullptr) shape = make_shared<sf::RectangleShape>(size);
-    shape->setPosition({float(cell.x + padding), float(cell.y + padding)});
     shape->setFillColor(color);
     shape->setOutlineColor(border_color);
     shape->setOutlineThickness(border_px);
+
+    sfml_center_helper(shape, cell, padding);
   }
 
   void Rectangle::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, sf::Shader *shader_ptr) {
diff --git a/src/guecs/ui.cpp b/src/guecs/ui.cpp
index b1824c6..1cbaffd 100644
--- a/src/guecs/ui.cpp
+++ b/src/guecs/ui.cpp
@@ -82,11 +82,7 @@ namespace guecs {
       }
     });
 
-    query<lel::Cell, Textual>([this](auto, auto& cell, auto& text) {
-      text.init(cell, $font);
-    });
-
-    query<lel::Cell, Label>([this](auto, auto& cell, auto& text) {
+    query<lel::Cell, Text>([this](auto, auto& cell, auto& text) {
       text.init(cell, $font);
     });
 
@@ -147,20 +143,15 @@ namespace guecs {
       icon.render(window, shader_ptr);
     });
 
-    query<Label>([&](auto ent, auto& text) {
-      auto shader_ptr = find_shader(ent, false);
-      text.render(window, shader_ptr);
-    });
-
-    query<Textual>([&](auto ent, auto& text) {
+    query<Text>([&](auto ent, auto& text) {
       auto shader_ptr = find_shader(ent, false);
       text.render(window, shader_ptr);
     });
   }
 
-  bool UI::mouse(float x, float y, bool hover) {
+  bool UI::mouse(float x, float y, Modifiers mods) {
     int action_count = 0;
-    // BUG: Is Parser::hit useful?
+    bool hover = mods.test(size_t(ModBit::hover));
 
     query<lel::Cell>([&](auto ent, auto& cell) {
       if((x >= cell.x && x <= cell.x + cell.w) &&
@@ -178,11 +169,11 @@ namespace guecs {
 
         if(hover) return;
 
-        click_on(ent);
+        click_on(ent, mods);
 
         action_count++;
       } else {
-        do_if<Effect>(ent, [hover](auto& effect) {
+        do_if<Effect>(ent, [](auto& effect) {
           effect.stop();
         });
 
@@ -206,52 +197,37 @@ namespace guecs {
     }
   }
 
+  void UI::show_icon(const string& region, const string& sprite_name) {
+    auto ent = entity(region);
+
+    if(auto sprite = get_if<Icon>(ent)) {
+      sprite->update(sprite_name);
+    } else {
+      set_init<Icon>(ent, {sprite_name});
+    }
+  }
+
   void UI::show_text(const string& region, const wstring& content) {
     auto ent = entity(region);
 
-    if(auto tc = get_if<Textual>(ent)) {
+    if(auto tc = get_if<Text>(ent)) {
       tc->text->setString(content);
     } else {
       auto &cell = cell_for(ent);
-      Textual to_set{content, THEME.TEXT_SIZE};
+      Text to_set{content, THEME.TEXT_SIZE};
       to_set.init(cell, $font);
-      set<Textual>(ent, to_set);
+      set<Text>(ent, to_set);
     }
   }
 
-  void UI::click_on(const string& name, bool required) {
-    auto ent = entity(name);
-
-    if(required) {
-      assert(has<Clickable>(ent) &&
-          "click_on required '{}' to exist but it doesn't");
-    }
-
-    click_on(ent);
+  void UI::click_on(const std::string& name, Modifiers mods) {
+    click_on(entity(name), mods);
   }
 
-  void UI::click_on(Entity ent) {
-    if(auto clicked = get_if<Clickable>(ent)) {
-      if(auto action_data = get_if<ActionData>(ent)) {
-        clicked->action(ent, action_data->data);
-      } else {
-        clicked->action(ent, {});
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void UI::show_label(const string& region, const wstring& content) {
-    auto ent = entity(region);
-
-    if(auto tc = get_if<Label>(ent)) {
-      tc->text->setString(content);
-    } else {
-      auto &cell = cell_for(ent);
-      Label to_set{content, THEME.LABEL_SIZE};
-      to_set.init(cell, $font);
-      to_set.text->setFillColor(THEME.TEXT_COLOR);
-      set<Label>(ent, to_set);
-    }
+  void UI::click_on(Entity gui_id, Modifiers mods) {
+    if(auto to_click = get_if<Clickable>(gui_id)) {
+      to_click->action(mods);
+    };
   }
 
   wstring to_wstring(const string& str) {