diff --git a/Server/Server.cs b/Server/Server.cs
index a51e0c9..2691259 100644
--- a/Server/Server.cs
+++ b/Server/Server.cs
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ public class Server {
     private readonly MemoryPool<byte> memoryPool = MemoryPool<byte>.Shared;
     public readonly List<Client> Clients = new List<Client>();
     public readonly Logger Logger = new Logger("Server");
-    private static int HeaderSize => Marshal.SizeOf<PacketHeader>();
     public async Task Listen(ushort port) {
         TcpListener listener = TcpListener.Create(port);
 
@@ -34,12 +33,12 @@ public class Server {
         Span<byte> data = memory.Span;
 
         MemoryMarshal.Write(data, ref header);
-        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[HeaderSize..], ref packet);
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[Constants.HeaderSize..], ref packet);
     }
 
     // broadcast packets to all clients
     public async void Broadcast<T>(T packet, Client? sender = null) where T : unmanaged, IPacket {
-        IMemoryOwner<byte> memory = memoryPool.Rent(Marshal.SizeOf<T>() + HeaderSize);
+        IMemoryOwner<byte> memory = memoryPool.Rent(Marshal.SizeOf<T>() + Constants.HeaderSize);
 
         PacketHeader header = new PacketHeader {
             Id = sender?.Id ?? Guid.Empty,
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ public class Server {
                         throw new Exception($"First packet was not init, instead it was {header.Type}");
                     }
 
-                    ConnectPacket connect = MemoryMarshal.Read<ConnectPacket>(memory.Memory.Span[HeaderSize..size]);
+                    ConnectPacket connect = MemoryMarshal.Read<ConnectPacket>(memory.Memory.Span[Constants.HeaderSize..size]);
                     lock (Clients) {
                         switch (connect.ConnectionType) {
                             case ConnectionTypes.FirstConnection: {
@@ -136,7 +135,10 @@ public class Server {
 
                 
                 // todo support variable length packets when they show up
-                if (header.Sender == PacketSender.Client) await Broadcast(memory, client);
+                if (header.Sender == PacketSender.Client) {
+                    Logger.Warn($"broadcasting {header.Type}");
+                    await Broadcast(memory, client);
+                }
                 else {
                     //todo handle server packets :)
                 }
diff --git a/Shared/Constants.cs b/Shared/Constants.cs
index 7dcd911..b1a8545 100644
--- a/Shared/Constants.cs
+++ b/Shared/Constants.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System.Reflection;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using Shared.Packet;
 using Shared.Packet.Packets;
 
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ namespace Shared;
 public static class Constants {
     public const int MaxPacketSize = 256;
     public const int MaxClients = 4;
+    public static int HeaderSize => Marshal.SizeOf<PacketHeader>();
     
     // dictionary of packet types to packet
     public static readonly Dictionary<Type, PacketAttribute> Packets = Assembly
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/CommandPacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/CommandPacket.cs
index 23a7174..00f6116 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/CommandPacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/CommandPacket.cs
@@ -2,4 +2,11 @@
 
 [Packet(PacketType.Command)]
 public struct CommandPacket : IPacket {
+    public void Serialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        
+    }
+
+    public void Deserialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/ConnectPacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/ConnectPacket.cs
index e02d78b..3d154af 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/ConnectPacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/ConnectPacket.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
-namespace Shared.Packet.Packets; 
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+
+namespace Shared.Packet.Packets; 
 
 [Packet(PacketType.Connect)]
 public struct ConnectPacket : IPacket {
     public ConnectionTypes ConnectionType;
+    public void Serialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data, ref ConnectionType);
+    }
+
+    public void Deserialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        ConnectionType = MemoryMarshal.Read<ConnectionTypes>(data);
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/CostumePacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/CostumePacket.cs
index 2080999..8a63f49 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/CostumePacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/CostumePacket.cs
@@ -6,8 +6,17 @@ namespace Shared.Packet.Packets;
 public struct CostumePacket : IPacket {
     public const int CostumeNameSize = 0x20;
 
-    [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CostumeNameSize)]
     public string BodyName;
-    [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = CostumeNameSize)]
     public string CapName;
+    public void Serialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        Span<char> strData = MemoryMarshal.Cast<byte, char>(data);
+        BodyName.CopyTo(strData[..CostumeNameSize]);
+        CapName.CopyTo(strData[CostumeNameSize..]);
+    }
+
+    public void Deserialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        Span<char> strData = MemoryMarshal.Cast<byte, char>(data);
+        BodyName = new string(strData[..CostumeNameSize].TrimEnd('\0'));
+        CapName = new string(strData[CostumeNameSize..].TrimEnd('\0'));
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/DisconnectPacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/DisconnectPacket.cs
index a266d2d..abbeeb7 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/DisconnectPacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/DisconnectPacket.cs
@@ -2,4 +2,11 @@
 
 [Packet(PacketType.Disconnect)]
 public struct DisconnectPacket : IPacket {
+    public void Serialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        
+    }
+
+    public void Deserialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/IPacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/IPacket.cs
index 7e12b64..2badf31 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/IPacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/IPacket.cs
@@ -2,4 +2,6 @@
 
 // Packet interface for type safety
 public interface IPacket {
+    void Serialize(Span<byte> data);
+    void Deserialize(Span<byte> data);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/PlayerPacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/PlayerPacket.cs
index 16ac10a..a9662d6 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/PlayerPacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/PlayerPacket.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 using System.Numerics;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 
-namespace Shared.Packet.Packets; 
+namespace Shared.Packet.Packets;
 
 [Packet(PacketType.Player)]
 public struct PlayerPacket : IPacket {
@@ -9,17 +9,52 @@ public struct PlayerPacket : IPacket {
 
     public Vector3 Position;
     public Quaternion Rotation;
-    [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst = 6)]
     public float[] AnimationBlendWeights;
     public float AnimationRate;
     public bool Flat;
     public bool ThrowingCap;
     public bool Seeker;
     public int ScenarioNum;
-    [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = NameSize)]
     public string Stage;
-    [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = NameSize)]
     public string Act;
-    [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = NameSize)]
     public string SubAct;
+
+    public void Serialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        int offset = 0;
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data, ref Position);
+        offset += Marshal.SizeOf<Vector3>();
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[offset..], ref Rotation);
+        offset += Marshal.SizeOf<Quaternion>();
+        AnimationBlendWeights.CopyTo(MemoryMarshal.Cast<byte, float>(data[offset..(offset += 4 * 6)]));
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[(offset += 4)..], ref AnimationRate);
+        offset += 4;
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[offset++..], ref Flat);
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[offset++..], ref ThrowingCap);
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[offset++..], ref Seeker);
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data[(offset += 4)..], ref ScenarioNum);
+        Span<char> strData = MemoryMarshal.Cast<byte, char>(data[offset..]);
+        Stage.CopyTo(strData[..NameSize]);
+        Act.CopyTo(strData[NameSize..(2 * NameSize)]);
+        SubAct.CopyTo(strData[(2 * NameSize)..(3 * NameSize)]);
+    }
+
+    public void Deserialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        int offset = 0;
+        Position = MemoryMarshal.Read<Vector3>(data);
+        offset += Marshal.SizeOf<Vector3>();
+        Rotation = MemoryMarshal.Read<Quaternion>(data[offset..]);
+        offset += Marshal.SizeOf<Quaternion>();
+        AnimationBlendWeights = MemoryMarshal.Cast<byte, float>(data[offset..(offset + 4 * 6)]).ToArray();
+        offset += 4 * 6;
+        AnimationRate = MemoryMarshal.Read<float>(data[(offset += 4)..]);
+        offset += 4;
+        Flat = MemoryMarshal.Read<bool>(data[offset++..]);
+        ThrowingCap = MemoryMarshal.Read<bool>(data[offset++..]);
+        Seeker = MemoryMarshal.Read<bool>(data[offset++..]);
+        ScenarioNum = MemoryMarshal.Read<int>(data[(offset += 4)..]);
+        Span<char> strData = MemoryMarshal.Cast<byte, char>(data[offset..]);
+        Stage = new string(strData[..NameSize].TrimEnd('\0'));
+        Act = new string(strData[NameSize..(2 * NameSize)].TrimEnd('\0'));
+        SubAct = new string(strData[(2 * NameSize)..(3 * NameSize)].TrimEnd('\0'));
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Shared/Packet/Packets/ShinePacket.cs b/Shared/Packet/Packets/ShinePacket.cs
index 9dab7fe..353a1de 100644
--- a/Shared/Packet/Packets/ShinePacket.cs
+++ b/Shared/Packet/Packets/ShinePacket.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
-namespace Shared.Packet.Packets; 
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+
+namespace Shared.Packet.Packets; 
 
 [Packet(PacketType.Shine)]
 public struct ShinePacket : IPacket {
     public int ShineId;
+    public void Serialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        MemoryMarshal.Write(data, ref ShineId);
+    }
+
+    public void Deserialize(Span<byte> data) {
+        ShineId = MemoryMarshal.Read<int>(data);
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/TestClient/Program.cs b/TestClient/Program.cs
index e9f86e2..a748574 100644
--- a/TestClient/Program.cs
+++ b/TestClient/Program.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Buffers;
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Numerics;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using Shared;
 using Shared.Packet;
@@ -8,9 +11,53 @@ TcpClient client = new TcpClient("127.0.0.1", 1027);
 Guid ownId = new Guid();
 Logger logger = new Logger("Client");
 NetworkStream stream = client.GetStream();
+PacketHeader coolHeader = new PacketHeader {
+    Type = PacketType.Connect,
+    Sender = PacketSender.Client,
+    Id = Guid.Empty
+};
 
+int e = 0;
+double d = 0;
 
-// void WritePacket(Span<byte> data, IPacket packet) {
-//     MemoryMarshal.Write();
-// }
-// stream.Write();
\ No newline at end of file
+async Task S() {
+    IMemoryOwner<byte> owner = MemoryPool<byte>.Shared.Rent(256);
+    while (true) {
+        await stream.ReadAsync(owner.Memory);
+        PacketHeader header = MemoryMarshal.Read<PacketHeader>(owner.Memory.Span);
+        if (header.Type == PacketType.Player) {
+            if (e++ != 0) {
+                e %= 3;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            d += Math.PI;
+            for (int i = 0; i < 1; i++) {
+                unsafe {
+                    coolHeader.Id = new Guid(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, (byte)i);
+                    MemoryMarshal.Write(owner.Memory.Span, ref coolHeader);
+                    // unbelievably shitty way to marshal playerpacket
+                    fixed (byte* basePtr = owner.Memory.Span) {
+                        byte* dataPtr = basePtr + Constants.HeaderSize;
+                        Vector3 pos = Unsafe.Read<Vector3>(dataPtr);
+                        pos.X += 1000f * (float)Math.Cos(d);
+                        pos.Z += 1000f * (float)Math.Sin(d);
+                        Unsafe.Write(dataPtr, pos);
+                    }
+                }
+                // Console.WriteLine($"aargh {coolHeader.Id} {owner.Memory.Span.Hex()}");
+                await stream.WriteAsync(owner.Memory);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+IMemoryOwner<byte> owner = MemoryPool<byte>.Shared.Rent(256);
+MemoryMarshal.Write(owner.Memory.Span[..], ref coolHeader);
+ConnectPacket connect = new ConnectPacket {
+    ConnectionType = ConnectionTypes.FirstConnection
+};
+MemoryMarshal.Write(owner.Memory.Span[Constants.HeaderSize..256], ref connect);
+await stream.WriteAsync(owner.Memory);
+coolHeader.Type = PacketType.Player;
+MemoryMarshal.Write(owner.Memory.Span[..], ref coolHeader);
+await S();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/TestClient/TestClient.csproj b/TestClient/TestClient.csproj
index 7d518c2..ee81c78 100644
--- a/TestClient/TestClient.csproj
+++ b/TestClient/TestClient.csproj
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
         <TargetFramework>net6.0</TargetFramework>
         <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
         <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+        <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
     </PropertyGroup>
 
     <ItemGroup>