diff --git a/assets/disk0/tvdos/bin/telcom.js b/assets/disk0/tvdos/bin/telcom.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b209dcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/disk0/tvdos/bin/telcom.js
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+let port = Number.parseInt(exec_args[1])
+
+let [scrh, scrw] = con.getmaxyx()
+let status = 0
+let focus = 0
+let statusStr = ["Not Connected", "Idle", "Sending", "Receiving"]
+let getFocusStr = [()=>"CMD", ()=>`COM${port}`]
+
+if (Number.isNaN(port)) {
+    port = undefined
+}
+else {
+    focus = 1
+}
+
+
+function greet() {
+    if (!port) {
+        println("COM port not specified; please run 'listen [1|2|3|4]' to open a port first.")
+    }
+}
+
+
+function drawStatusBar() {
+    let [oy, ox] = con.getyx()
+
+    con.curs_set(0)
+    con.move(scrh, 0)
+    con.video_reverse()
+
+    print(` ${getFocusStr[focus]()}  ${statusStr[0]} `)
+
+    con.video_reverse()
+    con.move(oy, ox)
+    con.curs_set(1)
+}
+
+function sendMessage(line) {
+    if (0 == line.size) return;
+    var tokens = _G.shell.parse(line);
+    var cmd = tokens[0];
+    if (cmd === undefined || cmd === '') return 0;
+
+    // handle Ctrl-C
+    if (con.hitterminate()) {
+        cmdExit = true
+    }
+
+    if (focus == 0) {
+        if ("exit" == cmd || "quit" == cmd) cmdExit = true
+        else if ("listen" == cmd) {
+            port = Number.parseInt(tokens[1])
+            if (Number.isNaN(port)) {
+                port = undefined
+            }
+            else {
+                focus = 1
+            }
+        }
+        else if ("pull" == cmd && port) {
+            println(com.pullMessage(port - 1))
+        }
+    }
+    else {
+        com.sendMessage(port - 1, line + "\x17")
+        println(com.fetchResponse(port - 1))
+    }
+}
+
+function print_prompt_text() {
+    print(`${getFocusStr[focus]()}> `)
+}
+
+con.curs_set(1)
+greet()
+let cmdExit = false
+while (!cmdExit) {
+//    drawStatusBar()
+    print_prompt_text()
+
+    let cmdbuf = ""
+
+    while (true) {
+        // TODO event-ify key in and serial in so that they can run simultaneously
+
+        let key = con.getch()
+
+        // printable chars
+        if (key == 1) { // Ctrl+A
+            println()
+            focus = 0
+            break
+        }
+        else if (key >= 32 && key <= 126) {
+            let s = String.fromCharCode(key)
+            cmdbuf += s
+            print(s)
+        }
+        // backspace
+        else if (key === con.KEY_BACKSPACE && cmdbuf.length > 0) {
+            cmdbuf = cmdbuf.substring(0, cmdbuf.length - 1)
+            print(String.fromCharCode(key))
+        }
+        // enter
+        else if (key === 10 || key === con.KEY_RETURN) {
+            println()
+
+            sendMessage(cmdbuf)
+
+            con.curs_set(1)
+
+            break
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tsvm_core/src/net/torvald/tsvm/peripheral/GraphicsAdapter.kt b/tsvm_core/src/net/torvald/tsvm/peripheral/GraphicsAdapter.kt
index cfd6a7e..9e1a989 100644
--- a/tsvm_core/src/net/torvald/tsvm/peripheral/GraphicsAdapter.kt
+++ b/tsvm_core/src/net/torvald/tsvm/peripheral/GraphicsAdapter.kt
@@ -1083,6 +1083,10 @@ open class GraphicsAdapter(private val assetsRoot: String, val vm: VM, val confi
             textCursorIsOn = !textCursorIsOn
         }
 
+        // force light cursor up while typing
+        textCursorIsOn = textCursorIsOn || ((1..254).any { Gdx.input.isKeyPressed(it) })
+
+
     }
 
     private fun blendNormal(batch: SpriteBatch) {