diff --git a/piker/ui/_axes.py b/piker/ui/_axes.py
index 3e66ada3..5757b6b1 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_axes.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_axes.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class DynamicDateAxis(Axis):
 
         # try:
         chart = self.linkedsplits.chart
-        bars = chart._ohlc
+        bars = chart._arrays['ohlc']
         shm = self.linkedsplits.chart._shm
         first = shm._first.value
 
@@ -232,7 +232,6 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
             p.setPen(self.fg_color)
             p.drawText(self.rect, self.text_flags, self.label_str)
 
-
     def draw(
         self,
         p: QtGui.QPainter,
@@ -250,9 +249,9 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
         # reason; ok by us
         p.setOpacity(self.opacity)
 
-        # this cause the L1 labels to glitch out if used 
-        # in the subtype and it will leave a small black strip
-        # with the arrow path if done before the above
+        # this cause the L1 labels to glitch out if used in the subtype
+        # and it will leave a small black strip with the arrow path if
+        # done before the above
         p.fillRect(self.rect, self.bg_color)
 
 
@@ -295,8 +294,8 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
 
         self.rect = QtCore.QRectF(
             0, 0,
-            (w or txt_w) + self._x_margin /2,
-            (h or txt_h) + self._y_margin /2,
+            (w or txt_w) + self._x_margin / 2,
+            (h or txt_h) + self._y_margin / 2,
         )
         # print(self.rect)
         # hb = self.path.controlPointRect()
diff --git a/piker/ui/_editors.py b/piker/ui/_editors.py
index 17b39b5d..00ef362d 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_editors.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_editors.py
@@ -111,12 +111,12 @@ class LineEditor:
 
         """
         # chart.setCursor(QtCore.Qt.PointingHandCursor)
-        if not self.chart._cursor:
+        cursor = self.chart.linked.cursor
+        if not cursor:
             return None
 
-        chart = self.chart._cursor.active_plot
-        cursor = chart._cursor
-        y = chart._cursor._datum_xy[1]
+        chart = cursor.active_plot
+        y = cursor._datum_xy[1]
 
         symbol = chart._lc.symbol
 
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ class LineEditor:
         """
         # chart = self.chart._cursor.active_plot
         # # chart.setCursor(QtCore.Qt.ArrowCursor)
-        cursor = self.chart._cursor
+        cursor = self.chart.linked.cursor
 
         # delete "staged" cursor tracking line from view
         line = self._active_staged_line
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ class LineEditor:
 
         """
         # Delete any hoverable under the cursor
-        return self.chart._cursor._hovered
+        return self.chart.linked.cursor._hovered
 
     def all_lines(self) -> tuple[LevelLine]:
         return tuple(self._order_lines.values())
@@ -275,13 +275,14 @@ class LineEditor:
         if line:
 
             # if hovered remove from cursor set
-            hovered = self.chart._cursor._hovered
+            cursor = self.chart.linked.cursor
+            hovered = cursor._hovered
             if line in hovered:
                 hovered.remove(line)
 
                 # make sure the xhair doesn't get left off
                 # just because we never got a un-hover event
-                self.chart._cursor.show_xhair()
+                cursor.show_xhair()
 
             line.delete()
             return line
@@ -411,7 +412,7 @@ class SelectRect(QtGui.QGraphicsRectItem):
         ixmn, ixmx = round(xmn), round(xmx)
         nbars = ixmx - ixmn + 1
 
-        data = self._chart._ohlc[ixmn:ixmx]
+        data = self._chart._arrays['ohlc'][ixmn:ixmx]
 
         if len(data):
             std = data['close'].std()
diff --git a/piker/ui/_graphics/_lines.py b/piker/ui/_graphics/_lines.py
index d2c5cf87..2e3324f8 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_graphics/_lines.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_graphics/_lines.py
@@ -259,10 +259,10 @@ class LevelLine(pg.InfiniteLine):
         detailed control and start end signalling.
 
         """
-        chart = self._chart
+        cursor = self._chart.linked.cursor
 
         # hide y-crosshair
-        chart._cursor.hide_xhair()
+        cursor.hide_xhair()
 
         # highlight
         self.currentPen = self.hoverPen
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ class LevelLine(pg.InfiniteLine):
         # This is the final position in the drag
         if ev.isFinish():
             # show y-crosshair again
-            chart._cursor.show_xhair()
+            cursor.show_xhair()
 
     def delete(self) -> None:
         """Remove this line from containing chart/view/scene.
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ class LevelLine(pg.InfiniteLine):
 
         # remove from chart/cursor states
         chart = self._chart
-        cur = chart._cursor
+        cur = chart.linked.cursor
 
         if self in cur._hovered:
             cur._hovered.remove(self)
@@ -457,8 +457,7 @@ class LevelLine(pg.InfiniteLine):
         """Mouse hover callback.
 
         """
-        chart = self._chart
-        cur = chart._cursor
+        cur = self._chart.linked.cursor
 
         # hovered
         if (not ev.isExit()) and ev.acceptDrags(QtCore.Qt.LeftButton):
@@ -648,7 +647,10 @@ def order_line(
         # use ``QPathGraphicsItem``s to draw markers in scene coords
         # instead of the old way that was doing the same but by
         # resetting the graphics item transform intermittently
+
+        # XXX: this is our new approach but seems slower?
         # line.add_marker(mk_marker(marker_style, marker_size))
+
         assert not line.markers
 
         # the old way which is still somehow faster?
@@ -659,7 +661,10 @@ def order_line(
             marker_size,
             use_qgpath=False,
         )
-        # manually append for later ``.pain()`` drawing
+        # manually append for later ``InfiniteLine.paint()`` drawing
+        # XXX: this was manually tested as faster then using the
+        # QGraphicsItem around a painter path.. probably needs further
+        # testing to figure out why tf that's true.
         line.markers.append((path, 0, marker_size))
 
     orient_v = 'top' if action == 'sell' else 'bottom'
@@ -754,9 +759,29 @@ def position_line(
         ymn, ymx = vr[1]
         level = line.value()
 
-        if level > ymx or level < ymn:
-            line._marker.hide()
+        if gt := level > ymx or (lt := level < ymn):
+
+            if chartview.mode.name == 'order':
+
+                # provide "nav hub" like indicator for where
+                # the position is on the y-dimension
+                if gt:
+                    # pin to top of view since position is above current
+                    # y-range
+                    pass
+
+                elif lt:
+                    # pin to bottom of view since position is above
+                    # below y-range
+                    pass
+
+            else:
+                # order mode is not active
+                # so hide the pp market
+                line._marker.hide()
+
         else:
+            # pp line is viewable so show marker
             line._marker.show()
 
     vb.sigYRangeChanged.connect(update_pp_nav)
@@ -787,6 +812,7 @@ def position_line(
         style = '>|'
 
     arrow_path = mk_marker(style, size=arrow_size)
+    # XXX: uses new marker drawing approach
     line.add_marker(arrow_path)
     line.set_level(level)
 
diff --git a/piker/ui/_interaction.py b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
index eec8cc38..18cada9f 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_interaction.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ async def handle_viewmode_inputs(
 ) -> None:
 
     mode = view.mode
-    status_bar = main_window().status_bar
 
     # track edge triggered keys
     # (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt#Triggering_methods)
@@ -148,6 +147,14 @@ async def handle_viewmode_inputs(
             if key in pressed:
                 pressed.remove(key)
 
+        # QUERY MODE #
+        if {Qt.Key_Q}.intersection(pressed):
+
+            view.linkedsplits.cursor.in_query_mode = True
+
+        else:
+            view.linkedsplits.cursor.in_query_mode = False
+
         # SELECTION MODE #
 
         if shift:
@@ -297,7 +304,7 @@ class ChartView(ViewBox):
             log.debug("Max zoom bruh...")
             return
 
-        if ev.delta() < 0 and vl >= len(chart._ohlc) + 666:
+        if ev.delta() < 0 and vl >= len(chart._arrays['ohlc']) + 666:
             log.debug("Min zoom bruh...")
             return
 
diff --git a/piker/ui/order_mode.py b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
index a4e55862..d57590cf 100644
--- a/piker/ui/order_mode.py
+++ b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class OrderMode:
 
         """
         # not initialized yet
-        if not self.chart._cursor:
+        if not self.chart.linked.cursor:
             return
 
         self._action = action
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class OrderMode:
 
         if msg is not None:
             self.lines.remove_line(uuid=uuid)
-            self.chart._cursor.show_xhair()
+            self.chart.linked.cursor.show_xhair()
 
             pending = self._pending_submissions.pop(uuid, None)
             if pending:
@@ -238,8 +238,9 @@ class OrderMode:
 
         size = size or self._size
 
-        chart = self.chart._cursor.active_plot
-        y = chart._cursor._datum_xy[1]
+        cursor = self.chart.linked.cursor
+        chart = cursor.active_plot
+        y = cursor._datum_xy[1]
 
         symbol = self.chart._lc._symbol