diff --git a/core/actor.lisp b/core/actor.lisp
index 8c7786d..77c16bb 100644
--- a/core/actor.lisp
+++ b/core/actor.lisp
@@ -2,22 +2,34 @@
 
 (defpackage :scopes/core/actor
   (:use :common-lisp)
-  (:export #:actor #:behave #:create #:send
-           #:handle-message))
+  (:local-nicknames (:util :scopes/util))
+  (:export #:actor #:become #:create #:send
+           #:echo #:lgi))
 
 (in-package :scopes/core/actor)
 
+;;;; basic actor and message implementation
+
 (defclass actor ()
-  ((behavior :accessor behavior :initarg :behavior)))
+  ((behavior :accessor behavior :initarg :behavior :initform #'no-op)))
 
-(defun behave (ac new-bhv)
-  (setf (behavior ac) new-bhv))
+(defun become (ac bhv)
+  (setf (behavior ac) bhv))
 
-(defun create (ac-cls bhv &rest params)
-  (make-instance ac-cls :behavior bhv))
+(defun create (bhv &optional (cls 'actor))
+  (make-instance cls :behavior bhv))
 
-(defun send (addr msg &key customer))
+(defun send (addr msg &key customer)
+  (let ((ac addr)) 
+    ;(setf (customer msg) customer)
+    (funcall (behavior ac) ac msg)))
 
-;;;; behaviors
+;;;; predefined behaviors
 
-(defun handle-message (ac msg))
+(defun no-op (ac msg))
+
+(defun lgi (ac msg)
+  (util:lgi msg))
+
+(defun echo (ac msg)
+  (send (customer msg) msg))
diff --git a/forge/forge.lisp b/forge/forge.lisp
index 58efe37..8c4dc3c 100644
--- a/forge/forge.lisp
+++ b/forge/forge.lisp
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
     (pushd (reverse *buffer*))))
 
 (defun call (code)
-  (util:lgi code)
+  ;(util:lgi code)
   (let ((*code* code))
     (do ((fn (pop *code*) (pop *code*)))
         ((null fn))
diff --git a/test/test-core.lisp b/test/test-core.lisp
index bc85184..320887d 100644
--- a/test/test-core.lisp
+++ b/test/test-core.lisp
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@
         (test-util-crypt)
         (test-util-iter)
         (test-shape)
-        (test-actor)
         (core:setup-services)
+        (test-actor)
         (setf (receiver t:*test-suite*) (core:find-service :test-receiver))
         (test-send))
       (core:shutdown)
@@ -128,7 +128,9 @@
 
 (deftest test-actor ()
   (let (a1 a2 a3)
-    (setf a1 (actor:create 'actor:actor 'actor:handle-message))))
+    (setf a1 (actor:create 'actor:lgi))
+    (actor:send a1 "Hello World")
+    ))
 
 (deftest test-send ()
   (let ((rcvr (receiver t:*test-suite*))