diff --git a/sys/thing/properties.h b/sys/thing/properties.h
index 9feed60..6e26337 100644
--- a/sys/thing/properties.h
+++ b/sys/thing/properties.h
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@
 // prototypes
 
 // direct property access
-public varargs mixed Set(string name, mixed Value, int Type, int extern);
-public varargs mixed Query(string name, int Type);
+public mixed Set(string name, mixed Value,
+                 int Type = F_VALUE, int drop_priv = extern_call());
+public mixed Query(string name, int Type = F_VALUE);
 
 // filtered property access
 public mixed SetProp(string name, mixed Value);