diff --git a/piker/brokers/core.py b/piker/brokers/core.py
index 6111d307..c1aa88ac 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/core.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/core.py
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ routines should be primitive data types where possible.
 """
 import inspect
 from types import ModuleType
-from typing import List, Dict, Any, Optional
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+)
 
 import trio
 
@@ -34,8 +36,10 @@ from ..accounting import MktPair
 
 
 async def api(brokername: str, methname: str, **kwargs) -> dict:
-    """Make (proxy through) a broker API call by name and return its result.
-    """
+    '''
+    Make (proxy through) a broker API call by name and return its result.
+
+    '''
     brokermod = get_brokermod(brokername)
     async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
         meth = getattr(client, methname, None)
@@ -62,10 +66,14 @@ async def api(brokername: str, methname: str, **kwargs) -> dict:
 
 async def stocks_quote(
     brokermod: ModuleType,
-    tickers: List[str]
-) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Return quotes dict for ``tickers``.
-    """
+    tickers: list[str]
+
+) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
+    '''
+    Return a `dict` of snapshot quotes for the provided input
+    `tickers`: a `list` of fqmes.
+
+    '''
     async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
         return await client.quote(tickers)
 
@@ -74,13 +82,15 @@ async def stocks_quote(
 async def option_chain(
     brokermod: ModuleType,
     symbol: str,
-    date: Optional[str] = None,
-) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]]:
-    """Return option chain for ``symbol`` for ``date``.
+    date: str|None = None,
+) -> dict[str, dict[str, dict[str, Any]]]:
+    '''
+    Return option chain for ``symbol`` for ``date``.
 
     By default all expiries are returned. If ``date`` is provided
     then contract quotes for that single expiry are returned.
-    """
+
+    '''
     async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
         if date:
             id = int((await client.tickers2ids([symbol]))[symbol])
@@ -98,7 +108,7 @@ async def option_chain(
 # async def contracts(
 #     brokermod: ModuleType,
 #     symbol: str,
-# ) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]]:
+# ) -> dict[str, dict[str, dict[str, Any]]]:
 #     """Return option contracts (all expiries) for ``symbol``.
 #     """
 #     async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
@@ -110,15 +120,24 @@ async def bars(
     brokermod: ModuleType,
     symbol: str,
     **kwargs,
-) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]]:
-    """Return option contracts (all expiries) for ``symbol``.
-    """
+) -> dict[str, dict[str, dict[str, Any]]]:
+    '''
+    Return option contracts (all expiries) for ``symbol``.
+
+    '''
     async with brokermod.get_client() as client:
         return await client.bars(symbol, **kwargs)
 
 
-async def search_w_brokerd(name: str, pattern: str) -> dict:
+async def search_w_brokerd(
+    name: str,
+    pattern: str,
+) -> dict:
 
+    # TODO: WHY NOT WORK!?!
+    # when we `step` through the next block?
+    # import tractor
+    # await tractor.pause()
     async with open_cached_client(name) as client:
 
         # TODO: support multiple asset type concurrent searches.
@@ -130,12 +149,12 @@ async def symbol_search(
     pattern: str,
     **kwargs,
 
-) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]]:
+) -> dict[str, dict[str, dict[str, Any]]]:
     '''
     Return symbol info from broker.
 
     '''
-    results = []
+    results: list[str] = []
 
     async def search_backend(
         brokermod: ModuleType
@@ -143,6 +162,13 @@ async def symbol_search(
 
         brokername: str = mod.name
 
+        # TODO: figure this the FUCK OUT
+        # -> ok so obvi in the root actor any async task that's
+        # spawned outside the main tractor-root-actor task needs to
+        # call this..
+        # await tractor.devx._debug.maybe_init_greenback()
+        # tractor.pause_from_sync()
+
         async with maybe_spawn_brokerd(
             mod.name,
             infect_asyncio=getattr(
@@ -162,7 +188,6 @@ async def symbol_search(
             ))
 
     async with trio.open_nursery() as n:
-
         for mod in brokermods:
             n.start_soon(search_backend, mod.name)
 
@@ -172,11 +197,13 @@ async def symbol_search(
 async def mkt_info(
     brokermod: ModuleType,
     fqme: str,
+
     **kwargs,
 
 ) -> MktPair:
     '''
-    Return MktPair info from broker including src and dst assets.
+    Return the `piker.accounting.MktPair` info struct from a given
+    backend broker tradable src/dst asset pair.
 
     '''
     async with open_cached_client(brokermod.name) as client: