diff --git a/core/src/datatypes/base.cpp b/core/src/datatypes/base.cpp
index b3519f8..92ca236 100644
--- a/core/src/datatypes/base.cpp
+++ b/core/src/datatypes/base.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "base.h"
+#include "error/data.h"
 #include "meta.h"
 #include <ios>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -7,7 +8,12 @@
 #define IMPL_WRAPPER_CLASS(CLASS_NAME, WRAPPED_TYPE, TYPE_NAME) Data::CLASS_NAME::CLASS_NAME(WRAPPED_TYPE in) : value(in) {} \
 Data::CLASS_NAME::~CLASS_NAME() = default; \
 Data::CLASS_NAME::operator const WRAPPED_TYPE() const { return value; } \
-const Data::TypeInfo Data::CLASS_NAME::TYPE = { .name = TYPE_NAME, .deserializer = &Data::CLASS_NAME::Deserialize, .fromString = &Data::CLASS_NAME::FromString }; \
+const Data::TypeInfo Data::CLASS_NAME::TYPE = { \
+    .name = TYPE_NAME, \
+    .deserializer = &Data::CLASS_NAME::Deserialize, \
+    .fromString = &Data::CLASS_NAME::FromString, \
+    .fromLuaValue = &Data::CLASS_NAME::FromLuaValue, \
+}; \
 const Data::TypeInfo& Data::CLASS_NAME::GetType() const { return Data::CLASS_NAME::TYPE; }; \
 void Data::CLASS_NAME::Serialize(pugi::xml_node node) const { node.text().set(std::string(this->ToString())); }
 
@@ -37,6 +43,10 @@ void Data::Null::PushLuaValue(lua_State* L) const {
     lua_pushnil(L);    
 }
 
+result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> Data::Null::FromLuaValue(lua_State* L, int idx) {
+    return Data::Variant(Data::Null());
+}
+
 //
 
 IMPL_WRAPPER_CLASS(Bool, bool, "bool")
@@ -122,4 +132,30 @@ void Data::Float::PushLuaValue(lua_State* L) const {
 
 void Data::String::PushLuaValue(lua_State* L) const {
     lua_pushstring(L, value.c_str());    
+}
+
+// FromLuaValue
+
+result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> Data::Bool::FromLuaValue(lua_State* L, int idx) {
+    if (!lua_isboolean(L, idx))
+        return LuaCastError(lua_typename(L, idx), "boolean");
+    return Data::Variant(Data::Bool(lua_toboolean(L, idx)));
+}
+
+result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> Data::Int::FromLuaValue(lua_State* L, int idx) {
+    if (!lua_isnumber(L, idx))
+        return LuaCastError(lua_typename(L, idx), "integer");
+    return Data::Variant(Data::Int((int)lua_tonumber(L, idx)));
+}
+
+result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> Data::Float::FromLuaValue(lua_State* L, int idx) {
+    if (!lua_isnumber(L, idx))
+        return LuaCastError(lua_typename(L, idx), "float");
+    return Data::Variant(Data::Float((float)lua_tonumber(L, idx)));
+}
+
+result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> Data::String::FromLuaValue(lua_State* L, int idx) {
+    if (!lua_tostring(L, idx))
+        return LuaCastError(lua_typename(L, idx), "string");
+    return Data::Variant(Data::String(lua_tostring(L, idx)));
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/datatypes/base.h b/core/src/datatypes/base.h
index 743ad3c..ab38d3f 100644
--- a/core/src/datatypes/base.h
+++ b/core/src/datatypes/base.h
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <optional>
 #include <pugixml.hpp>
+#include "error/result.h"
+#include "error/data.h"
 
 extern "C" { typedef struct lua_State lua_State; }
 
@@ -22,17 +24,20 @@ public: \
     \
     static Data::Variant Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node); \
     static std::optional<Data::Variant> FromString(std::string); \
+    static result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> FromLuaValue(lua_State*, int idx); \
 };
 
 namespace Data {
     class Variant;
     typedef std::function<Data::Variant(pugi::xml_node)> Deserializer;
     typedef std::function<std::optional<Data::Variant>(std::string)> FromString;
+    typedef std::function<result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError>(lua_State*, int idx)> FromLuaValue;
 
     struct TypeInfo {
         std::string name;
         Deserializer deserializer;
         FromString fromString;
+        FromLuaValue fromLuaValue;
     };
 
     class String;
@@ -57,6 +62,7 @@ namespace Data {
         virtual void PushLuaValue(lua_State*) const override;
 
         static Data::Variant Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node);
+        static result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> FromLuaValue(lua_State*, int idx);
     };
 
     DEF_WRAPPER_CLASS(Bool, bool)
diff --git a/core/src/datatypes/meta.cpp b/core/src/datatypes/meta.cpp
index 01cf5a3..d83c56f 100644
--- a/core/src/datatypes/meta.cpp
+++ b/core/src/datatypes/meta.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "meta.h"
 #include "datatypes/base.h"
 #include "datatypes/cframe.h"
+#include "datatypes/ref.h"
 #include "logger.h"
 #include "panic.h"
 #include <variant>
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ void Data::Variant::PushLuaValue(lua_State* state) const {
 
 Data::Variant Data::Variant::Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node) {
     if (Data::TYPE_MAP.count(node.name()) == 0) {
-        Logger::fatalErrorf("Unknown type for instance: '%s'", node.name());
+        Logger::fatalErrorf("Unknown type for property: '%s'", node.name());
         panic();
     }
 
@@ -42,4 +43,5 @@ std::map<std::string, const Data::TypeInfo*> Data::TYPE_MAP = {
     { "Vector3", &Data::Vector3::TYPE },
     { "CoordinateFrame", &Data::CFrame::TYPE },
     { "Color3", &Data::Color3::TYPE },
+    { "Ref", &Data::InstanceRef::TYPE },
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/datatypes/ref.cpp b/core/src/datatypes/ref.cpp
index 616a537..8a1d6eb 100644
--- a/core/src/datatypes/ref.cpp
+++ b/core/src/datatypes/ref.cpp
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 #include "datatypes/ref.h"
 #include "datatypes/base.h"
+#include "error/data.h"
 #include "logger.h"
 #include "meta.h" // IWYU pragma: keep
 #include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 #include "objects/base/instance.h"
 #include "lua.h"
+#include "objects/base/member.h"
 
 Data::InstanceRef::InstanceRef() {};
 Data::InstanceRef::InstanceRef(std::weak_ptr<Instance> instance) : ref(instance) {};
@@ -13,7 +15,8 @@ Data::InstanceRef::~InstanceRef() = default;
 
 const Data::TypeInfo Data::InstanceRef::TYPE = {
     .name = "Instance",
-    // .deserializer = &Data::InstanceRef::Deserialize,
+    .deserializer = &Data::InstanceRef::Deserialize,
+    .fromLuaValue = &Data::InstanceRef::FromLuaValue,
 };
 
 const Data::TypeInfo& Data::InstanceRef::GetType() const { return Data::InstanceRef::TYPE; };
@@ -32,15 +35,17 @@ void Data::InstanceRef::Serialize(pugi::xml_node node) const {
     // node.text().set(this->ToHex());
 }
 
-// Data::Variant Color3::Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node) {
-//     return Color3::FromHex(node.text().get());
-// }
+Data::Variant Data::InstanceRef::Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node) {
+    return Data::InstanceRef();
+}
 
 static int inst_gc(lua_State*);
 static int inst_index(lua_State*);
+static int inst_newindex(lua_State*);
 static const struct luaL_Reg metatable [] = {
     {"__gc", inst_gc},
     {"__index", inst_index},
+    {"__newindex", inst_newindex},
     {NULL, NULL} /* end of array */
 };
 
@@ -62,6 +67,16 @@ void Data::InstanceRef::PushLuaValue(lua_State* L) const {
     lua_setmetatable(L, n+1);
 }
 
+result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> Data::InstanceRef::FromLuaValue(lua_State* L, int idx) {
+    if (lua_isnil(L, idx))
+        return Data::Variant(Data::InstanceRef());
+    if (!lua_isuserdata(L, idx))
+        return LuaCastError(lua_typename(L, idx), "Instance");
+    // TODO: overhaul this to support other types
+    auto userdata = (std::shared_ptr<Instance>**)lua_touserdata(L, idx);
+    return Data::Variant(Data::InstanceRef(**userdata));
+}
+
 static int inst_gc(lua_State* L) {
     // Destroy the contained shared_ptr
     auto userdata = (std::shared_ptr<Instance>**)lua_touserdata(L, -1);
@@ -71,6 +86,7 @@ static int inst_gc(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+// __index(t,k)
 static int inst_index(lua_State* L) {
     auto userdata = (std::shared_ptr<Instance>**)lua_touserdata(L, 1);
     std::shared_ptr<Instance> inst = **userdata;
@@ -93,4 +109,28 @@ static int inst_index(lua_State* L) {
     }
 
     return luaL_error(L, "'%s' is not a valid member of %s", key.c_str(), inst->GetClass()->className.c_str());
+}
+
+// __newindex(t,k,v)
+static int inst_newindex(lua_State* L) {
+    auto userdata = (std::shared_ptr<Instance>**)lua_touserdata(L, 1);
+    std::shared_ptr<Instance> inst = **userdata;
+    std::string key(lua_tostring(L, 2));
+    
+    // Validate property
+    std::optional<PropertyMeta> meta = inst->GetPropertyMeta(key);
+    if (!meta)
+        return luaL_error(L, "'%s' is not a valid member of %s", key.c_str(), inst->GetClass()->className.c_str());
+    if (meta->flags & PROP_READONLY)
+        return luaL_error(L, "'%s' of %s is read-only", key.c_str(), inst->GetClass()->className.c_str());
+    if (key == "Parent" && inst->IsParentLocked())
+        return luaL_error(L, "Cannot set property Parent (%s) of %s, parent is locked", inst->GetParent() ? inst->GetParent().value()->name.c_str() : "NULL", inst->GetClass()->className.c_str());
+
+    result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> value = meta->type->fromLuaValue(L, -1);
+    lua_pop(L, 3);
+
+    if (value.isError())
+        return luaL_error(L, "%s", value.errorMessage().value().c_str());
+    inst->SetPropertyValue(key, value.expect()).expect();
+    return 0;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/datatypes/ref.h b/core/src/datatypes/ref.h
index 00bac3f..3b812aa 100644
--- a/core/src/datatypes/ref.h
+++ b/core/src/datatypes/ref.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "base.h"
+#include "error/data.h"
 #include <memory>
 
 class Instance;
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ namespace Data {
         virtual const Data::String ToString() const override;
         virtual void Serialize(pugi::xml_node node) const override;
         virtual void PushLuaValue(lua_State*) const override;
-        // static Data::Variant Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node);
+        static Data::Variant Deserialize(pugi::xml_node node);
+        static result<Data::Variant, LuaCastError> FromLuaValue(lua_State*, int idx);
     };
 }
diff --git a/core/src/error/data.h b/core/src/error/data.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2a58e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/error/data.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "error.h"
+
+class LuaCastError : public Error {
+    public:
+    inline LuaCastError(std::string sourceType, std::string targetType) : Error("InstanceCastError", "Attempt to cast " + sourceType + " to " + targetType) {}
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/error/result.h b/core/src/error/result.h
index b643123..034dbbd 100644
--- a/core/src/error/result.h
+++ b/core/src/error/result.h
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ public:
         }, error().value());
     }
 
+    std::optional<std::string> errorMessage() {
+        if (isSuccess()) return std::nullopt;
+        return std::visit([&](auto&& it) {
+            return it.message();
+        }, error().value());
+    }
+
     // Equivalent to .success
     operator std::optional<T_Result>() { return success(); }
     operator bool() { return isSuccess(); }
diff --git a/core/src/objects/base/instance.cpp b/core/src/objects/base/instance.cpp
index dde7c7f..2bac961 100644
--- a/core/src/objects/base/instance.cpp
+++ b/core/src/objects/base/instance.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ Instance::Instance(const InstanceType* type) {
         .super = std::nullopt,
         .members = {
             { "Name", { .backingField = &name, .type = &Data::String::TYPE, .codec = fieldCodecOf<Data::String, std::string>() } },
+            { "Parent", { .backingField = &parent, .type = &Data::InstanceRef::TYPE, .codec = fieldCodecOf<Data::InstanceRef, std::weak_ptr<Instance>>() } },
             { "ClassName", { .backingField = const_cast<InstanceType*>(type), .type = &Data::String::TYPE, .codec = classNameCodec(), .flags = (PropertyFlags)(PROP_READONLY | PROP_NOSAVE) } },
         }
     });
@@ -202,6 +203,14 @@ result<Data::Variant, MemberNotFound> Instance::GetPropertyValue(std::string nam
 }
 
 fallible<MemberNotFound, AssignToReadOnlyMember> Instance::SetPropertyValue(std::string name, Data::Variant value) {
+    // Handle special case: Parent
+    if (name == "Parent") {
+        Data::InstanceRef ref = value.get<Data::InstanceRef>();
+        std::weak_ptr<Instance> inst = ref;
+        SetParent(inst.expired() ? std::nullopt : std::make_optional(inst.lock()));
+        return {};
+    }
+
     auto meta_ = GetPropertyMeta(name);
     if (!meta_) return MemberNotFound(GetClass()->className, name);
     auto meta = meta_.expect();
diff --git a/editor/panes/explorerview.cpp b/editor/panes/explorerview.cpp
index 8a80267..4c62138 100644
--- a/editor/panes/explorerview.cpp
+++ b/editor/panes/explorerview.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "objects/script.h"
 #include <memory>
 #include <qaction.h>
+#include <qtreeview.h>
 
 #define M_mainWindow dynamic_cast<MainWindow*>(window())
 
@@ -74,10 +75,11 @@ void ExplorerView::keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent* event) {
 void ExplorerView::mouseDoubleClickEvent(QMouseEvent *event) {
     QModelIndex index = indexAt(event->pos());
     std::shared_ptr<Instance> inst = model.fromIndex(index);
-    if (!inst->IsA<Script>()) return;
+    if (!inst->IsA<Script>()) return QTreeView::mouseDoubleClickEvent(event);
 
     MainWindow* mainWnd = dynamic_cast<MainWindow*>(window());
     mainWnd->openScriptDocument(inst->CastTo<Script>().expect());
+    QTreeView::mouseDoubleClickEvent(event);
 }
 
 void ExplorerView::buildContextMenu() {