#Smart LED Light Bulb

[dailydoseoffunblogs]

Nanoleaf Essentials Smart LED Color-Changing Light Bulb

Gadgets and Home Essentials may earn a commission. You incur no extra cost when you buy through links on our site. I’m excited to share the Nanoleaf Essentials Smart LED Color-Changing Light Bulb with you. It’s a top-notch smart lighting option that can change your home. It has cool features that make it perfect for any modern home. Imagine having control over your lighting with just your…

[emi1y]

BRING BACK LIGHT BULBS OH MY GODDD im SO SO tired of every lighting fixture with integrated LEDs that you can't change and are controlled by the stupidest little remote in the world and all have smart bluetooth wifi capabilities that inflate the price even though im never going to pair it to my phone in the first place!!!!! i don't want to turn my lights on with a fucking app just let me wire it to my light switch jesus christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thehousehold]

This is why we are glad we got colour changing LEDs. Between preferences and needs of different alters, it makes our life easier. Want the “nostalgic” colour from our childhood? Just switch the colour. Have a fronter who doesn’t like the body but also isn’t super familiar with the bathroom layout? Set the light to a really low colour to make it harder to see the body but not impossible to see the bottles. Want to hide the “mess” a little so we can still do some self care (properly deep cleaning it takes a lot of physical and mental energy)? Turn the light to a colour that hides the mess you don’t like.

There are so many different shades of white light bulbs, I am so overwhelmed walking down the light bulb aisle, and then I'm never happy with the one I choose, no matter which one I choose, I get it home and I put it in and I'm like, ugh, I don't like THAT white

[electronic22]

Why Are LED Bulbs the Smartest Lighting Choice Today?

What Makes LED Bulbs So Popular?

LED bulbs, or light-emitting diode bulbs, have taken the lighting world by storm—and for good reason. Known for their energy efficiency, longevity, and versatility, these bulbs are quickly replacing traditional incandescent and CFL options. Whether you're illuminating a residential space, an industrial setup, or upgrading your office lighting, LED technology offers unmatched performance with reduced environmental impact.

LEDs operate by passing an electrical current through a semiconductor, producing light more efficiently than filament-based lighting. Unlike older technologies, they emit very little heat and convert most of their energy into light, not waste.

How Do LED Bulbs Work?

At the heart of every LED bulb is a semiconductor chip. When electricity flows through this chip, it releases photons—the particles of light. The brightness and color temperature of the light depend on the materials used in the chip and the surrounding housing.

LEDs do not rely on gas or filaments to produce light. Instead, their compact solid-state design makes them more resistant to vibrations, shocks, and extreme temperatures, increasing their overall durability and making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Why Are Smart Bulbs Changing the Way We Light Our Spaces?

Smart bulbs, a newer extension of LED technology, add an entirely new layer of convenience and control. Integrated with wireless capabilities such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, these bulbs can be managed via smartphone apps, voice assistants, or smart home systems.

Smart bulbs offer:

Remote control of brightness and colour temperature

Scheduling for automatic on/off functionality

Integration with voice control platforms like Alexa or Google Assistant

Scene setting for ambience control in any room

This intelligent lighting not only improves convenience but also helps in energy management, as users can control lighting even when they're not home.

What Are the Key Benefits of Using LED Bulbs?

LED bulbs are engineered for superior performance and a wide range of applications. Here's why they stand out:

Energy Efficiency: LED bulbs consume up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Long Lifespan: Some LEDs last up to 25,000 hours or more, significantly reducing replacement frequency.

Eco-Friendliness: Free from harmful elements like mercury, LEDs are safer for the environment.

Cost Savings: Lower energy bills and minimal maintenance costs make LEDs highly cost-effective.

Cool Operation: LEDs emit minimal heat, making them safe to touch and reducing cooling needs.

Instant Lighting: No warm-up time—LEDs light up instantly to full brightness.

Directional Light: Ideal for focused lighting in spots, displays, or task lighting setups.

Where Can LED Bulbs Be Used?

The adaptability of LED bulbs makes them suitable for a variety of spaces. They are available in various base types, shapes, and brightness levels to fit diverse needs:

Home Lighting: Living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and outdoor patios

Commercial Spaces: Offices, conference rooms, retail stores

Industrial Use: Warehouses, production lines, and garages

Public Areas: Streetlights, traffic signals, and parking structures

Decorative Settings: Accent lighting, chandeliers, and event spaces

How Do LED Bulbs Compare with Traditional Lighting?

Traditional bulbs like incandescent or halogen types waste most of their energy as heat, while CFLs take time to warm up and contain mercury, posing environmental hazards. In contrast, LED bulbs offer immediate full brightness, energy efficiency, and safer disposal.

Compared side-by-side:

Incandescent vs. LED: Incandescents last about 1,000 hours; LEDs exceed 25,000 hours.

Halogen vs. LED: Halogens are brighter but hotter; LEDs provide cooler light with better longevity.

CFL vs. LED: CFLs save energy but can't match the lifespan or instant-on capability of LEDs.

What Features Should You Consider Before Buying LED Bulbs?

With a wide range of LED options on the market, choosing the right bulb depends on your specific needs. Key features to evaluate include:

Lumen Output: Determines brightness. Higher lumens mean more light.

Color Temperature: Measured in Kelvin, this defines the warmth or coolness of the light. Warm white (2700K–3000K) is ideal for homes, while cool white (4000K–5000K) suits offices and task lighting.

Dimmability: Check if the bulb is compatible with dimmer switches.

Beam Angle: Narrow beams are good for spotlights, while wide beams cover larger areas.

Base Type: Make sure the bulb fits your fixture, whether it’s E27, GU10, or another type.

Connectivity (for smart bulbs): Confirm compatibility with your smart home platform or app.

Are Smart LED Bulbs Worth the Investment?

Smart LED bulbs offer both functional and financial benefits. While their upfront cost is higher than standard LED bulbs, they provide advanced features that save energy, add convenience, and enhance lifestyle comfort.

Advantages of investing in smart bulbs:

Automation: Set schedules or motion detection to operate lights without manual switches.

Customisation: Change light colours for mood lighting or alerts.

Energy Reports: Monitor usage through apps to make efficient choices.

Integration: Pair with smart thermostats or security systems for a cohesive home environment.

What’s the Future of LED Lighting?

The future of LED lighting is bright—literally and figuratively. Innovations in design and technology are continuously evolving to meet growing demands for sustainability and connectivity. Expect to see:

Increased integration with IoT systems

Advancements in energy efficiency and light quality

Wider adoption in automotive, healthcare, and horticulture lighting

Greater affordability and accessibility of smart lighting

Conclusion

LED bulbs are redefining how we think about illumination. From energy-saving benefits and extended lifespan to modern smart features, they offer a compelling solution for nearly every environment. Whether you're upgrading your home, automating your office, or seeking eco-conscious alternatives, LED technology stands out as the most forward-thinking choice in lighting today.

[jivahelectric786]

From Homes to High-Rises: Jivah Lights Every Space

Illuminate your spaces with Jivah LED lights—energy-efficient, long-lasting, and eco-friendly lighting solutions for homes and businesses. Smart, stylish, and built for performance.

[pankj123]

Motion Sensor Bulb

What is a Motion Sensor Bulb?

A motion sensor bulb is a special type of lighting that uses motion-detection technology to automatically turn on and off. When movement is detected within a specific range, the bulb lights up, and after a set period of inactivity, it turns off by itself. This feature is particularly useful in places like hallways, stairwells, garages, basements, and even outdoor spaces where you may need light temporarily.

How Does a Motion Sensor Bulb Work?

Motion sensor bulbs contain small sensors that detect movement within a certain range, usually about 10 to 15 feet. When the sensor detects motion, it signals the bulb to turn on. After a set period with no detected movement, the bulb turns off automatically. This feature is especially handy in areas like garages, basements, hallways, and patios where you don’t want the light on all the time.

Different Types of ESYSENSE Motion Sensor Bulbs

1. ESYSENSE 7W Motion Sensor Bulb

The 7W motion sensor bulb by ESYSENSE is energy-efficient, using only 7 watts to provide bright light. It’s ideal for smaller spaces like bathrooms, closets, or hallways, where you need quick lighting that doesn’t consume much energy. This bulb also features the motion sensor auto on/off function, meaning it lights up when it detects motion and shuts off automatically when it’s no longer needed. This feature helps save energy and makes it perfect for spaces where lights are often left on accidentally.

2. Radar Motion Sensor Bulb

The radar motion sensor bulb is one of the most advanced bulbs in the ESYSENSE range. Unlike standard motion sensors, radar sensors can detect movement through thin walls or glass, which makes them perfect for larger spaces like garages, driveways, or outdoor areas. Radar technology is also more sensitive, so it can even pick up small movements, ensuring that the light comes on as soon as you need it.

3. LED Motion Sensor Bulb

If you’re looking for an energy-efficient and long-lasting option, the LED motion sensor bulb is a fantastic choice. LED lights use less electricity than traditional bulbs and can last up to 25,000 hours. With this type of bulb, you get bright light and energy savings without needing frequent replacements. Combining LED technology with motion sensing makes these bulbs eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Why Choose a Smart Motion Sensor Bulb?

ESYSENSE's smart motion sensor bulb is ideal for people who desire simple, contemporary lighting control. You have more control over when and how the light turns on thanks to this bulb's smart settings, which let you change the motion sensor's sensitivity, timing, and brightness. In areas like garages or entryways where you desire more specialised lighting options, this easy fix can have a significant impact.

Auto On/Off Bulb by ESYSENSE: Making Life Easier

The auto on/off bulb feature in ESYSENSE’s motion sensor bulbs means that you never have to think about turning the lights on or off. Whether it’s nighttime or a rainy day, these bulbs turn on as soon as you step into the room or space and turn off automatically when you leave. This feature not only saves energy but also adds security to your home by keeping dark areas lit when needed.

Benefits of Using ESYSENSE Motion Sensor Bulbs

Using motion sensor bulbs has many benefits:

Convenience: No more fumbling in the dark looking for a light switch. Motion sensor bulbs turn on instantly when they detect movement, making it easy to enter and exit rooms without hassle.

Energy Savings: Your electricity expenses will go down because the light only turns on when it's needed. Considering how energy-efficient LED motion sensor lamps are, this is particularly true.

Safety and Security: By providing quick lighting in places like driveways, entryways, and staircases, motion sensor bulbs help reduce the risk of accidents. Additionally, by lighting up as someone approaches, they can serve as a deterrent to invaders.

Long Lifespan: You won't need to change ESYSENSE's LED motion sensor bulbs very frequently because they last a long time. Over time, this lowers waste and saves money.

Eco-Friendly: These bulbs are a more environmentally friendly option for lighting because they consume less energy and last longer. 

Ideal Places for Motion Sensor Bulbs

Motion sensor bulbs are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations:

Hallways and Stairways: Perfect for lighting up as you pass through, making nighttime navigation safer.

Garages and Driveways: Motion sensor bulbs automatically light up as soon as you arrive, whether by car or on foot.

Bathrooms and Closets: Ideal for areas where lights are often left on by accident.

Front and Back Doors: Provides immediate light when you approach, making it easier to see your way at night.

Storage Areas and Basements: Ensures you have light when you need it, without requiring you to remember to turn it off.

How to Set Up a Motion Sensor Bulb

Setting up a motion sensor bulb is straightforward. Simply screw the bulb into any standard socket, and it’s ready to work. If it’s a smart bulb, follow the instructions to connect it to any apps or smart home devices. Once installed, the bulb will start detecting motion and turning on automatically.

Some bulbs, especially smart models, allow you to adjust settings such as motion sensitivity and how long the light stays on after detecting movement. Customizing these options lets you tailor the bulb’s performance to your preferences.

Why Pick a Bulb with Motion Sensors?

Selecting a motion sensor light bulb combines cost savings, security, and comfort. They're a fantastic option for any home for the following reasons:

Automatic Lighting: The ease of having lights that operate without the need for switches.

Cost and Energy Savings: These bulbs assist the environment and reduce energy costs with features like motion sensing and LED technology.

Long-Lasting Performance: LED motion sensor lights require fewer replacements because they last for years.

Extra Security: By unexpectedly lighting up and offering visibility in dimly lit locations, this is perfect for discouraging burglars.

In conclusion

Motion sensor bulbs are a better and more energy-efficient option for lighting your house. There is a motion sensor bulb to meet any demand, including the long-lasting LED motion sensor bulb, the radar motion sensor bulb for vast spaces, and the 7W motion sensor bulb for energy savings. Your house can become safer, more efficient, and brighter with the extra flexibility of a smart motion sensor bulb or the ease of a motion sensor auto on/off bulb.

Why wait, then? Take advantage of lighting that works for you rather than the other way around by switching to auto-on/off bulbs now! Whether you want to improve security with outside sensors, add convenient lighting to your home's entryways, or just take advantage of the hands-free convenience of motion-detected lights, motion sensor bulbs provide a solution for every room and outdoor space.

Motion Sensor Lights

Motion sensor B22 bulb 7W

Motion Sensor E27 Bulb

Motion Sensor B22 Bulb

Motion detector bulb

Motion Sensor Tube light

Motion sensor Tube light Auto Diimmable

Motion Sensor T5 Tube light 

Motion Sensor T8 Tube light

 Motion Sensor Tube light Auto ON/OFF 

Motion Sensor 2X2 Panel

Motion sensor Panel 36W

Motion Sensor Panel 40 W

Motion Sensor Panel Auto Dimmable

Motion Sensor Panel Auto ON/OFF

Motion Sensor Conceal Light

Motion sensor Conceal Down Light

Motion Sensor Conceal Light 10 W 

Motion Sensor Conceal Light 7 W

 Motion Sensor Conceal Light Auto ON/OFF 

Motion Sensor Mini PIR 

PIR Motion sensor

 Motion Detection UP to 6M

Motion Sensor 

Motion Sensor Auto ON/OFF 

[ledcityusa]

How Can Aluminum LED Channels Improve the Efficiency of Your LED Lighting?

Lighting technology has come a long way, moving from old incandescent bulbs to more efficient and long-lasting LED lights. Both businesses and homeowners are now choosing these bulbs because they save energy and perform better. But to get the most out of your LED lights, it’s not just about picking the right bulbs. Aluminum LED channels are essential, too. These channels help spread the light evenly, protect the light from dust and moisture, and keep it cool by managing heat. This not only makes these lights last longer but also makes installation and maintenance easier, saving you time and money. This article will explain how these LED channels can improve your LED lighting and how they help spread light more evenly, making your lighting last longer.

Optimizing Light Distribution

One of the primary advantages of using aluminum LED channels is their ability to optimize light distribution. These channels protect the LEDs and spread light more evenly, which helps to reduce glare and make the lighting look better. This is particularly important in commercial spaces where good lighting is needed for both practical use and comfort. By improving how light is distributed, businesses can make sure their areas are well-lit, which can boost productivity and make customers happier.

Enhancing Durability

Aluminum is known for being strong and resistant to rust and damage. When LED strips are covered in aluminum channels, they are protected from

dust,

moisture,

and physical impact.

This protection is vital in harsher environments or in areas where lights need to withstand regular cleaning. By safeguarding the LEDs, aluminum channels extend the lifespan of the lighting system, which is particularly beneficial for commercial LED lighting applications that require consistent and reliable brightness.

Improving Heat Reduction

LEDs generate heat, and managing this heat is key to maintaining their efficiency and lifespan. Aluminum LED channels assist in reducing heat more effectively. The metal acts as a heat sink, pulling heat away from the LED bulbs and dispersing it more evenly. This cooling effect helps prevent overheating, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the LEDs and preventing premature failure. This feature is crucial in high-power applications such as 480v lighting, where managing thermal output is essential for safety and efficiency.

Streamlining Installation and Maintenance

Another significant benefit of aluminum LED channels is their contribution to easier installation and maintenance. These channels often come with all necessary mounting hardware and can be easily integrated into various architectural styles. For businesses, this means quicker setup times and lower labor costs. Maintenance also becomes simpler, as the channels provide straightforward access to the LEDs for cleaning and replacements, ensuring minimal downtime and disruption. This easy access helps avoid extended outages and keeps your lighting system working well.

Final remarks

Incorporating aluminum LED channels into your commercial lighting setup is not just about aesthetics; it’s about enhancing efficiency, durability, and performance, especially in demanding commercial environments. Whether you are upgrading your office, retail space, or production area, consider how these channels can improve the effectiveness of your lighting solutions. Those searching for high-quality LED products can look at the products offered by businesses such as LED City. They boost your lighting efficiency with solutions that shine brighter and last longer. With better light spread and heat management, you’ll get more reliable and consistent lighting. Also, they help you cut maintenance and energy costs.

[subabookmark]

 Lighting Philips- Transforming Smart home with smart LED light bulb 

Smart LED bulbs are the future of lighting. They are not only energy-efficient but also longer-lasting and generate less heat than traditional bulbs. Smart lighting systems are the way to go to connect all your home devices such as cameras, thermostats, and home assistants. Don't wait any longer to upgrade your home to a smart home and reap the benefits of a seamless and sustainable living experience. 

[dailydoseoffunblogs]

Nanoleaf Essentials: Smart LED Bulb for Home Automation

Gadgets and Home Essentials may earn a commission. You incur no extra cost when you buy through links on our site. I’m excited to share the Nanoleaf Essentials Smart LED Color-Changing Light Bulb with you. It’s a top-notch smart lighting option that can change your home. It has cool features that make it perfect for any modern home. Imagine having control over your lighting with just your…

[hsmagazine254]

Illuminating Your Space: Choosing the Perfect LED Lighting for Your Home

Brighten Up Your Abode with the Magic of LED Lights! Lighting plays a pivotal role in creating a warm and inviting ambiance in your home. Among the myriad of lighting options available, LED lights have emerged as a popular choice for their energy efficiency, longevity, and versatility. Whether you want to revamp your living room, infuse some charm into your garden, or create a cosy reading nook,…

[copperbadge]

Light Cues

From the "find what works" department of my life...

I was telling my prescribing psychiatrist about this and he really loved it, and it occurred to me I'm not sure I've ever talked about it on here, but I've started using light cues instead of alarms for some things.

I don't use a lot of alarms regularly throughout the day (I don't need one to wake up unless I'm getting up at an unusual time, for example) but I use them for one-off stuff like "time to start getting ready to go out" or "today you have a doctor's appointment". I found after a while that with an alarm for a regular repeating task, there comes a point where I just silence it and forget to do the thing. Like, I have almost all notifications on my phone turned off and it's still muscle memory for me, as it is for many people, to have my phone beep for attention and just silence it unthinkingly. So I started using lighting cues.

It's evolved a lot, starting with the end of the workday. The lighting in my bedroom is all floor lamps; the one over my work desk is on a smart switch, which plugs into the wall and then the lamp plugs into the switch. I set the switch to turn the lamp on at 8am just before I start work, and off at 4:30pm to remind me to stop work, which I don't always remember to do. The light suddenly going out makes that corner unpleasantly dim, and it's more work to turn it back on (open phone, open app, find the right switch) than it is to stop work for the day.

Then I thought, this is so irritating it must be useful for other things. So I set it to go off from noon to 12:03pm. It's more of a pain in the ass to turn it back on than it is to get up, go to the kitchen, and do what I'm supposed to do at noon anyway: take my second Adderall dose. And the light is back on by the time I get back.

But I was running into the problem of taking the dose on an empty stomach as you're supposed to, but not having eaten since breakfast at like 5am. And now I'm in the kitchen. Having forgotten to eat my Early Lunch at 10:30. But the Adderall needs like 20 minutes to kick in before I eat, and by then I'm back at work, and then I wonder why I eat my body weight in pasta at 5pm.

So I set a light cue for 10:30 to remind me to take a break and eat. But I don't want to use the same cue for everything. The lamp on the other end of the bedroom doesn't have a smart switch but it does have a smart bulb, which is even more flexible, so at 10:30am it dims to 50% (irritating) and turns deep blue (doubly irritating). I leave the room, go eat lunch, and usually come back to sit on the bed with the cats for a few minutes. I don't mind the dim blue light when I'm on the bed -- I just can't work with it that way. So at 11 the light goes back to full white brightness and I get my cue to go back to work.

I have various other cues -- the living room lamps go off and the LED string on the headboard in the bedroom goes on low and red to indicate it's bedtime, and the LEDs go off a little later to remind me NO, it is BEDTIME NOW.

Obviously a lot of this is only possible with either analog daily timers or smart bulbs/switches, and those can be cost-prohibitive for some while others don't like having their lighting on the internet. But it's all switches and bulbs that I can remove easily, and they've come down a great deal in price -- mine are all Kasa brand so they're controlled from a single app, and I've found them extremely helpful.

Plus sometimes at night I put all the lights to deep blue and pretend I'm underwater and that's fun.

[athenagc94]

Dear Daddy Long Legs - Chapter 18

Jason Todd x Fem!Reader

TW: Blood and injury (tending to a wound), slight body dysphoria

First | Prev | Next

Chapter 18

Well, this wasn’t how he expected his night to go.

Your little stunt caused a scene. Shoving a curio cabinet over would do that. By the time people filtered out into the hall, you were long gone, leaving Jason as the prime suspect with Luca hanging limp from his closed fist and a mess of priceless antiques broken at his feet.

It looked pretty damning, even to him.

The night was already a bust, but this sealed the deal. Had anyone else ruined his plans, Jason might have been a lot more upset, but in this case, he was relieved the guests had found him instead of you. Jason could handle being a wanted man, and like the misogynistic prick he was, Luca would rather die than admit a woman—nay—the help knocked him out.

He had a contingency plan for a situation like this. Mind you, not this exact situation because nothing could have prepared him to run into you. Fortunately, relationships between the different mob families hung by a tenuous thread. Simply uttering another family’s name as he reached for his gun had them turning on each other.

If someone asked him who shot first, the answer would be yes. He used the chaos that ensued to slip out and find you.

You were bound to be a little jumpy after your run-in with Luca. He blamed himself.

Luca surprised him.

Some innate Bat-trained part of his brain wanted him to maintain the charade. Focus. You’re on a mission, it practically barked—sounding a lot like a stone-faced Bat he’d rather not think about. That battled with the more empathetic part of his brain that wanted to keep you as far from Luca as humanly possible.

Which resulted in a complete mental shutdown.

Blue screen.

Not a thought behind his eyes as he tried to figure out how he was going to explain the situation to you.

Then Luca laid his fucking hands on you.

You beat him to the punch. Quite literally, which was probably for the best. If it had been him, Jason couldn’t have promised Luca would still be breathing.

He was still reeling. You landed a clean punch with enough power behind it to knock him out cold. Where did you learn to punch like that?

He’d have to ask.

Later.

After he processed everything else.

Like the fact that you'd made the connection between Red Hood and Jacob. He planned to tell you eventually, clearly, but this wasn’t how he wanted it to happen. You were too smart for your own good and he’d gotten careless with all these loose threads that led back to him. It was a wonder you hadn’t figured it out sooner.

A single beam of harsh light came from the naked bulb overhead as he plucked bits of glass from your palm. The soft plink of shards hitting the metal tray at his feet filled the air. His glasses slipped down his nose as he peered closely at the cuts.

As far as safehouses went, this was his worst. The garage, more of a glorified storage shed really, had a few boxes with tarps thrown over them to mimic furniture. It smelled of mildew from a leak in the roof that he hadn’t gotten around to patching. Standing water pooled in the corner near the dented sink. He didn’t come here often, but it had running water, a first aid kit, and was a convenient ten-minute walk from the Riviera estate, so it worked.

Jason was only slightly embarrassed that this would be your first real impression of his life outside of the time he spent with you.

You hissed as he dabbed one of the larger cuts with antiseptic.

His fingers tightened around your wrist to keep it steady. “Sorry. I know it hurts, but I gotta make sure it’s clean before I bandage you, but you won’t need stitches. Lucky you.”

“Is that what we’re calling this?” you grumbled as you stared off into the darkness, eyes narrowing. The day your eyes didn’t narrow with suspicion would be the day he feared for his life, but for now, they were a familiar sight that eased the tension locking his jaw.

“Are all your safehouses this depressing?”

A distinct heat bloomed under his collar. “No, my other places are better.” Not an outright lie. At least the other safehouses had furniture. Granted, none of them were ideal for bringing a girl home, but that wasn’t their purpose. He didn’t want to impress you. He wanted to make sure you didn’t get an infection.

“I don’t stay here unless I’ve had a rough night.”

Namely, it was his fallback whenever he found himself working with a member of the Bat-brigade. He slept there if his work required him to be within spitting distance of the Batcave.

“Would you consider tonight rough?”

“I’ve had worse nights.”

You hummed, your expression shifting to something thoughtful as you pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He went a little cross-eyed to track the motion. As you drew back, you trailed down the curved length. His eyelashes fluttered as he refocused on your face.

“Thanks.”

“Mhm.”

He set the tweezers aside and grabbed a roll of bandages from his kit, content to work in silence if it meant pushing off the interrogation that was sure to come next. You probably had questions. A lot of them, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to get into the nitty-gritty of his tragic™ backstory tonight.

Silence was a small mercy until the bandages were snug, and he had nothing to keep his mind and hands busy. You flexed your fingers to test his work, a small wince betraying your discomfort.

“Too tight?”

You shook your head. “It’s fine.”

“Good,” he said as he started to clean up, “You’ll want to change them in the morning.”

Your hand fell back to your lap. He half-expected that interrogation, but you stood instead. He swallowed thickly as he gazed up. It wasn’t too often he looked up at people. He was always looking down at the world, be it from a rooftop or due to his general height, but the sudden shift your dynamic made his stomach bubble like soda fizz.

Before he could dwell on the sensation too long, you headed over to the dented sink. Dampening a clean cloth, you returned a second later and knelt in front of him. He shivered when it touched his skin, rough and cold, but your strokes were gentle as you brushed the cloth over his cheek.

“I got blood on your face earlier,” you said.

“I didn’t notice.”

You didn’t respond, focusing instead on cleaning the blood from his face. Jason held his breath as you leaned in, trying and failing not to remember how nice it had felt to grip your hips and draw you in. You had been so close to—

He stopped that thought before it flirted too close with a painful truth. He read your letter, after all.

In amongst the drunken ramblings that made his insides fill with butterflies, somewhere between the third and fourth page, you wrote a sobering declaration that stomped those butterflies dead.

This is silly. Stupid. Stupidly silly. I can’t remember the last time I had a crush. Let alone two at the same time, but that’s all they’ll ever be... crushes. Nothing will ever come of them.

I have too much to worry about between school and ensuring my bills are paid to add dating into the mix. It would complicate things, and my life is complicated enough. I don’t even know how dating would work with Red Hood. Are vigilantes allowed to date? That seems illegal. Why would he choose a civilian like me? That’s like Batman choosing to date Vicki Vale.

Scratch that. At least Vicki Vale is a household name.

I’m literally no one.

Whatever I feel, be it for Red Hood or Jacob, it doesn’t matter. It can never matter. I would never let my personal feelings get in the way of this opportunity.

Talk about a clear fucking message.

By some miracle, you liked both sides of him. The first half of your letter confirmed that, but you never act on those feelings, especially now that you knew Red Hood and Jas—Jacob were one and the same. You didn’t need the distraction.

Jason respected that.

But…

He wasn’t quite sure how to handle all the touching. Equally scary and exhilarating, he didn’t want you to stop. God, not at all, but if you didn’t stop soon, he would convince himself that your declaration had been a fluke and that something could come of this.

You paused in your ministrations to trace the scar near his mouth. He caught himself before he pressed his cheek in your palm.

Sensing that you wanted to say something, he said, “The J doesn’t stand for Jacob if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

“It’s usually the first thing out of someone’s mouth.”

Your expression remained thoughtful as you ventured higher to trace the pale scar on his cheekbone. “Since the day we crossed paths.” Your face scrunched cutely, and you amended, “Since the day Hood and I crossed paths, I wondered what you might look like under the helmet. Now that I know, it’s a little surreal.” You pushed his glasses up to settle on top of his head. “I don’t know why, but I couldn’t ever settle on what color your eyes were. I supposed blue makes sense but so does green or hazel.”

Your touch left him wanting, wishing, hoping for more. Anything that might fill this yawning pit in his chest. It was selfish to want, and yet, he did so earnestly. It caught on his resolve like a drug, the worst kind. Being without it wouldn’t kill him outright and the symptoms of withdrawal were fabrications made up in his mind, but he yearned for it.

“You’re so—” You stopped yourself.

“So?” he breathed.

You retreated. “Forget it. I’m rambling.”

A soft whine crept into his throat, but he squashed the noise before he vocalized it. “I think I’ve rambled enough that you’re allowed few roving thoughts to compensate.” He forced himself to laugh, to smile, to pretend that he didn’t want to press his forehead to yours and inhale your scent until his head spun. “I can take you home.”

“That’s not necessary. I can take the subway.”

“I want to take you home,” he emphasized though it killed him how desperate it made him sound. He wanted to spend a little more time with you. It seemed unlikely that you would want to spend the night with him as you processed everything. He didn’t blame you, but he hoped you would grant him this small indulgence.

“I wouldn’t say no to the company.”

He loosed a sigh of relief. “Let me change quick.”

Jason shrugged off his ill-fitting sports coat before fiddling with the buttons on the front of his shirt. You watched carefully from your spot on the floor with that familiar quiet intensity. It made him feel oddly exposed as he peeled his shirt off to reveal the plain white shirt underneath.

He tossed the clothes off to the side and walked over to his stash of miscellaneous weapons and supplies. As he sifted through the mess, he made a mental note to tidy this place up. This wasn’t the best look, and he didn’t want you to think he was a lazy slob. A minimalist and a bachelor, absolutely, but never a slob.

He found an old leather jacket and his Red Hood helmet. It wasn’t the same quality as the one he currently wore, this one older and more prone to glitches due to crack on its shell but it would work for a quick ride across the city.

When you saw the helmet, you frowned. “You don’t have to wear that now that I know, do you?”

“I only have one other helmet here and that’ll be for you.”

You joined him by his stash. “Why would I need a helmet.”

“We’re taking my motorcycle.”

Your expression shuttered, several emotions playing on your face before you settled on something appropriately neutral. “Right. I heard that Hood drives a motorcycle.”

“I drive a motorcycle. Period. No need for the distinction between us anymore.” He pulled a standard helmet out and handed it to you. “If we leave now, we can make it back before midnight. There shouldn’t be too much traffic at this…”

He trailed off when he noticed you weren’t listening. You stared at the reflective surface of the helmet, your expression growing less neutral the longer you gazed at it.

“Everything good?”

“Is your motorcycle like other vigilante…” You pursed your lips. “Is it safe?”

Ah, that was a fair question. “This is a regular motorcycle. No big red buttons to accidentally push or hidden explosives if that’s what you’re worried about.” His gaze fell to your bandaged hand before he added, “And I promise to take it slow, especially with your hand.”

His assurances seemed to put you at ease. “Perfect.”

He removed his glasses and slipped his helmet on before heading over to where his motorcycle sat in the opposite corner, hidden beneath a tarp to protect it from the dust and mildew. Jason tugged it off, releasing a small cloud of dust that made you sneeze.

Okay, now he was sufficiently embarrassed.

The motorcycle was a vintage cruiser with a black shell. He usually preferred a sportier bike, but this had been a gift… from Bruce. It appeared one day outside one of his safehouses last year around his birthday. Jason hated to see a beauty like this one out in the cold, and took it in. It didn’t count as accepting the gift if he didn’t use it and he hadn’t before today, but these were extenuating circumstances.

He threw a leg over the seat and settled lower to the ground than he was used to on his other bikes. It felt like his knees were tucked around his ears. He readjusted before motioning for you to join him. You slipped into place behind him, the subtle curve of the seat forcing your hips to sit flush against his back. His fingers flexed around the handlebars, trying to play it cool.

He couldn’t be normal about anything, it seemed, so he wasn’t sure why he bothered pretending now.

“Comfortable?” he managed through clenched teeth. Jason was grateful this helmet came with a modulator to hide the tension in his voice.

“All good.” Your voice fed into his ear through his comm.

“Great, awesome, cool.”

There had to be a better word for the situation. Great and every subsequent synonym didn’t seem to cut it, but that was what kept spilling from his mouth. He wasn’t about to exhaust a thesaurus for the rest of the drive and caught his tongue between his teeth as he flipped the control for the garage door.

Once it lifted enough to let him through, the engine roaring as he peeled off down the street.

The first leg of the drive passed uneventfully as he whizzed down the side streets he had memorized like the scars on the back of his hands. Despite the winter chill, he burned hotter than a furnace.

Every hitched breath and gasp fed straight into his ear, clear as day. Your thighs tightened around his hips, anchoring you in place whenever he took a turn a little too sharply. But it was your hands that—oh, hey now—where were they doing?

Your hands tightened around his middle, shifting under the hem of his shirt as it rode up past his beltline. Alarm bells went off in his head as your palms flattened over the soft planes of his stomach. You didn’t seem to notice the way he froze, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Soft hair covered his stomach, and he wasn’t as toned as he liked with a thin layer of fat cushioning the hard muscles beneath, and of course, there were the scars that created rough patches of skin just above his—

“My hands are cold. You’re warm.”

His doubts evaporated like morning mist over the harbor. If not for his comm, he wouldn’t have heard your quiet admission over the growl of the engine, but it did a better job at quieting the voices that tried to tell him he was a disgusting monster.

Your thumb stroked a soothing line down his incision scar, nearly coaxing a groan from him. “Should I stop?”

“It’s fine,” he grunted as he turned onto Park Row.

Another swipe of your thumb. “You sure?”

He wasn’t sure what game you were playing, but it wasn’t going to work. He had more self-control than that. “We’re almost to your place.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

Fucking hell, he was trying to respect the boundaries you set in your letter. Why did you have to make this harder for him? “I like it.”

He swore he heard your smile as you said, “Was that so hard?”

Painfully so. Your palms were like ice against his skin, but he burned so hot that it hardly registered. He decided it was safer not to say anything about the situation as he stopped under the fire escape that led to your apartment. A normal person would have taken you to the front door, but normal people didn’t wear vigilante masks with a civilian on the back of their bike. Nothing about this was normal.

“We’re here.”

You stayed where you were, fingers roaming idly over his stomach. He shuddered.

“Do you want to come inside?”

“I don’t know if that’s—”

Your fingers dug into his sides with enough force to smother his opposition. “Let me rephrase that,” you said more firmly, voice dripping in his ear like syrup, “Come inside. Please. There’s still time before midnight.”

“What happens at midnight?” he asked breathlessly.

“Well, aside from the obvious start of the new year, I think I’ll wake up and realize this was all a dream.”

He laughed despite how weak he felt. “I guess I can stay for a bit.”

“Good, I would have hated to see you run from me again.” Your arms unwound from his middle, and you hopped off.

Shedding your helmets and stowing the motorcycle behind the dumpsters, you led him around to the front door. Entering like a real person rather than through a window shouldn’t have been as thrilling as it felt, but honestly, Jason never thought he’d make it this far.

Once inside, the glow of several table lamps bathing the space in a soft yellow light, he came to his senses. What did you do now? You couldn’t go back to the way things were before.

“I—”

“Did you want to read a few chapters before we call it a night?” you asked before he could make things weird, “I wanted to start Frankenstein next.”

He wiped his palms on his pants. “I guess.”

You smiled as you put your bag and phone on the kitchen table. “On the bright side, we don’t have to read back-to-back anymore. Do you want something to drink? I don’t know if have much, but I should have a few cans of—”

“Are we really going to pretend like nothing changed?”

You hesitated, rolling your lower lip between your teeth. “No.”

“It feels like we’re pretending everything is fine. I’m sure you have questions. Why aren’t you asking questions? I’ve been waiting and you haven’t—” His voice rose the octave, cracking. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he could feel the lump swell in his throat. Crying was the last thing he wanted to do right now, but he was a bundle of frayed nerves between the identity reveal and all the touching.

Your expression softened to something more sympathetic. “I had no idea—I’m sorry. Obviously, I have questions, but I’m not going to force you to answer them. I already took away how you shared your identity with me.”

He released a shuddering breath. “I mean, you can ask questions. I owe you that much.”

“If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll ask two questions.”

“Two questions,” he agreed, bracing himself.

“I’m going to change first,” you said gently, “It’ll give me a second to decide where I want to start. Is that alright?”

The knot in his throat loosened enough for him to speak. “Yeah.”

“Make yourself comfortable.”

You grabbed the clothes at the foot of your bed and ducked into the bathroom, leaving him to do the exact opposite. He shrugged off his coat, draping it on the back of your kitchen chair and paced.

If you had a lower neighbor, they likely heard his heavy footfalls because he couldn’t be bothered to care about stealth right now.

Two questions could blow up in his face.

Hell, a single question could unravel his carefully crafted lies like a spool of thread. He didn’t have to do this now. You didn’t want to pry, but he couldn’t fathom sitting with you tonight whilst pretending everything was fine.

When the door to the bathroom opened, he stopped his pacing. You wore the yellow hoodie, the plastic on the strings chewed to the nubs. “I said get comfortable, not wear a hole in my ground.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’d rather stand for this.”

“Alright,” you conceded as you sank into one of your rickety chairs, “Question one: Say you get sick one night, could you ask Batman to cover your patrol for you or are we civilians just shit out of luck?”

You lobbed the softest of balls at him and he still fumbled. “I, uh, what?”

“What part confused you?”

“No, it’s just, that’s your first question?”

Your gaze sharpened. “Would you rather I ask what drove a twenty-something book nerd to become a gunslinging vigilante slash crime lord, because that’s on the list too, I just thought I’d start with a silly question to take the edge off. An emotional chaser, if you will.”

He choked on a laugh. “First question it is.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Park Row is my territory. I don’t allow other vigilantes onto my turf.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s mine,” he said plainly, “I grew up here. I know how this place works, and I don’t trust anyone else to do it right. The others, they’re too analytical. They’re looking for the most efficient way to—”

God, he sounded like Bruce.

He tore his nail to the quick. The sting hardly registered. “To answer your question, no, I don’t have a rolodex of people to pick from if I’m down for the count. I have underlings as a crime lord, but they’re not exactly the ones I turn to for stopping crime.”

You nodded, your expression painfully dispassionate. “Fair enough and good to know. I’ll be sure to get mugged when you’re on the clock.”

“What else?”

“I already asked two questions. That explains why I don’t see other vigilantes out here. I thought they just hated us.” You laughed despite how depressing that sounded. “Consider my curiosity sated for now.”

“Bullshit.” He settled in the chair opposite you. “That last part didn’t count. I’ll let you have one more.”

“Fine.” You shifted your chair closer so that your knee bumped his. To his credit, he kept an even demeanor despite his nerves crackling like sparklers on the Fourth of July. “Are your other safehouses really any better than the one I saw tonight?”

He should have known. “No, they all have barebone essentials.”

“A minimalist. My place must drive you batshit then.”

“I like it here. It’s very…” He glanced around, taking in all the plants and trinkets littered throughout. “Green.”

He meant it as a compliment. Here, among the items that reminded him of you, he felt warm and secure. Green evoked a similar feeling for him. Was that weird? Probably, but it was the truth.

“Green,” you mused, “I like it.”

“It’s been a while since I considered someplace home.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. He hadn’t meant to admit that, and now that he’d spoken it out loud, he heard how pitiful that sounded. He wet his lips. “I, eh, I didn’t mean to say that.”

Your brow pinched. “We can’t have that,” you mumbled under your breath. Slowly, you stood and drifted over to your bookshelf where several plants of varying sizes decorated its surface. After considering the options, you picked a medium-sized succulent with deep eggplant-colored leaves edged with light green.

You set it in front of him and returned to your seat. “This is Viola. She’s named after the character in Twelfth Night. I’m quite fond of her.”

He stared at the succulent. “You name your plants?”

“That’s no way to speak to her.”

Jason fought a smile. “My apologies. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“That’s more like it. It wouldn’t feel right to give her to you if you didn’t treat her with the respect she deserves.”

His smile faltered. “You’re giving her to me?”

You smiled wistfully. “Not only will she liven up your space, but any time you look at her, you’ll think of me and maybe you’ll feel more at home.” You avoided his gaze before quickly adding, “She’s also made of plastic, so it’s impossible to kill her.”

His heart thumped against his ribcage. Jason was just supposed to ignore the fact that you wanted him to think of you. News flash, he was well past that point. A plant wouldn’t change how you were constantly on his mind. Even when he should focus on other things.

A distraction.

But maybe, tonight, you both needed it.

“You’re always—”

Your phone vibrated, revealing the time—12:01—and a long string of texts from various group chats. Jealousy tightened his gut when he saw the names. Steph, Cass, and even Tim had sent you a message. His phone was noticeably quiet in his back pocket. He expected as much, but it still stung.

You flipped your phone over without opening any of them and faced him. Your hand fell over his fist that sat clenched on the table. “Happy New Year, Mr. Darcy.”

Jason swallowed another lump in his throat. All those people vying for your attention, and you chose him. He couldn’t remember the last time he was anyone’s first choice, be it as vigilante or in his personal life, but he supposed there was a first time for everything.

He uncurled his fist to lace his fingers with yours as he whispered, “Happy New Year.”

--------------------------

A/N: I went to a convention this weekend and there was exactly one Red Hood walking around. *sigh* I would have liked to see more.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this mini-arc. Back to college next week.

--------------------------

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[ruby-white-rabbit]

My husband's cousin got us smart lightbulbs. They can change color, brightness, white/yellow lighting....

Know what else they do?

Help one of my clients in a wheelchair.

Oh yeah, we can be lazy and turn our lights on or off without getting up. We can change the lighting to not be annoying..

It's made her life more manageable and comfortable. When she can't adjust her timers or go up the stairs cause I'm not there. When she can't handle led brightness or get out of bed

She's been trying for AGES to manage her lighting with the time changes and the lack of older style bulbs that aren't blinding led. She's been messing with smart timers, hand adjustable timers, nightlights...

Things can be fun AND have a purpose.

Don't rail on products because "omg it's for lazy people" like precut food or whatever else. They exist because it's handy and also because just cause it doesn't help you, doesn't mean it doesn't help someone and make their life so much easier.

This client has to eat a specific amount of a certain brand of multiple food products. To LIVE. The light bulbs are a "God send" as she put it. Just a press of her phone and no need to adjust or suffer or whatever else.

So before you mock products ... What if you didn't have use of your hands or legs? Would it help you if you weren't "normal"?

[tricktster]

When I was in 8th (or possibly 9th?) grade physical sciences class we had a movie day where we watched videos about the elements.

Except that one of my classmates (who I will refer to here as Mike M) decided to write “SHCOOL GO BOOM” (sic) in a library book the day prior…

And, you know, the scarred-by-the-very-recent-9/11 administration decided late in the day that it constituted a bomb threat so credible that we all had to evacuate to the gym, so as a result we only got through a video about exactly one element:

74

W

(That’s Tungsten for you lame-os who don’t know the most likely periodic table symbols to come up during pub trivia.)

Also, it was one of my first bomb threats and clearly mildly traumatic given that I cannot remember a single other thing about that class, including the name of the teacher, but boy oh boy do I remember that we only made it through Tungsten.

Anyway, this video was specifically about how we are running out of Tungsten, which will cause absolute bedlam because Tungsten is essential for the filament used in incandescent light bulbs. I believe it posited that if we kept consuming Tungsten at our current rate, by 2060 we wouldn’t be able to light our homes.

At the time, this was not particularly concerning for me, a child who did not purchase lightbulbs.

Anyway, what’s up, it’s 2025, I now use like 100% LED RGBICWW smart bulbs that I have set up in a variety of elaborate routines to confound and annoy my loved ones, but I gotta hand it to you Mike M…

This may have not been the desired effect you were going for when you wrote SHCOOL GO BOOM in that library book circa roughly 2002, but now whenever something goes remotely wrong with my dumb dumb smart lights, even though I intellectually know there is no filament involved, my first thought is always

OH FUCK NOW I GOTTA DEPLETE OUR LIMITED TUNGSTEN RESERVE YET AGAIN AND AT THIS RATE WHEN I’M SEVENTY I’LL HAVE TO USE A FUCKING CANDLE

[qrpixel]

QR-PIXEL Smart lights lets you have a fully automated control of your in- house lighting. You can switch the bulb On/Off, you can also adjust the brightness, vary the RGB colour according to your choice.