#he keeps hitting the button that turns off my little touch screen mouse pad thing

[irukasenseii]

if at any point you see me liking or reblogging (and then unliking and deleting) posts it's because my roommates kitten likes to walk across my keyboard to get over my lap.

[taeheyhey]

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Chapter 16 - Look Where?

Taehyung x Reader - Fluff/Angst - 3.4k words

A/N - Happy weekend you gorgeous lot!! I hope you all had an amazing week filled with lovely things! Thank you so much for reading this and my other fics, I hope you know how much happiness you all bring me. As always, I hope you enjoy, please let me know if you do, and thank you for your asks and likes! 

One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four ~ Five ~ Six ~ Seven ~ Eight ~ Nine ~ Ten ~ Eleven ~ Twelve ~ Thirteen ~ Fourteen ~ Fifteen ~ Sixteen ~ Seventeen ~ Eighteen ~ Nineteen ~ Twenty ~ Twenty-One ~ Twenty-Two

You sat in front of the laptop with your fingers anxiously poised over the keys. You had been motionless for the last five minutes as you talked yourself in and out of the action you were about to take. You could feel Ronnie and Peter observing your lack of movement, their eyes burning holes in to the top of your head; the only part of you visible behind the screen rested on the bar’s surface as you crouched over the keyboard.

“...please y/n, look for me.”

As overcome with joy and relief as you had been at his phone call, you couldn’t help but feel it left you with even more questions than you had before. You had almost forgotten about the strange man who had burst in to the hotel suite the morning after you had met Taehyung for the first time, demanding to know who were and how you gained entry to the room, and it had been so easy for you to write off the evasive nature of his answers to your questions as being a result of the very clear and obvious language barrier between the two of you.

You had somehow convinced yourself to disregard the absolute lack of real information or knowledge you had of him, choosing instead to rationalise the strength of your desire to be with him on the kindness he had shown you, the ease with which he could pull laughs and smiles from your lips, the intense way he would fix his eyes on you, and the tenderness and all-encompassing passion with which he touched you.

Now, staring at the cursor blinking apathetically and relentlessly in the search bar, you asked yourself for the umpteenth time what the hell you were thinking. You pressed down on the 't' key heavily with your index finger, as though you had never typed in your life, before lifting your hand to your lips and chewing on your thumbnail, furrowing your brow in the glare of the cold, white screen. You took a deep breath in and quickly tapped on the 'a', your fingertip bouncing off the button as though it were red-hot metal and returning to cover your mouth again in something resembling panic.

The search engine beamed the word 'ta' back at you, along with the suggestions 'target', 'tax calculator', and 'Taylor Swift'. You huffed out a sigh and rapidly and aggressively tapped the delete button three times more than was needed to remove the two letters that were the fruit of almost fifteen minute’s work.

“This is stupid,” you announced loudly and slammed the lid of the laptop shut, causing Peter to partially spill the drink he had lifted partway to his mouth. “Completely and utterly pointless.”

You stood and hooked the computer beneath your arm as you stomped towards the other end of the bar and plugged it in. It was possibly the oldest laptop still in existence and were it not plugged in to the mains power approximately once every forty-five minutes, it would go in to what could only be described as panic-mode and shut down, a fact that you usually found endlessly frustrating.

On this occasion however you were actually grateful for the excuse to walk away from it for a moment. Although your mind was still buzzing with thoughts of what – if anything – you would find once you entered the correct combination of letters, the diversion of wordlessly removing Peter’s glass from his hand to refill the drink he had lost during your Google-related outburst, was a welcome one.

You returned the now replenished glass to it’s position before Peter with a thud without looking at him, leaning forward on to the bar with both hands after you had done so, and stared out through the glass of the front door and began to wonder if you had completely lost your mind.

Was this even what he meant by looking for him? It just seemed so ludicrous that you were sure there must have been a mistranslation. He hadn’t explicitly said to search him on the internet had he? But where else could you possibly begin to look? Then again what kind of person would be so sure that their web presence was enough to answer the multitude of questions you had whizzing around in your brain?

“Do you need to take a break?” Ronnie’s voice shook you from your thoughts. “You look like you’re having a sort of an episode.”

You felt your expression relax at his question, only just becoming aware that your jaw had been clenched and your brow knitted together to such an extent that the muscles in your face were beginning to ache in protest. You pressed your lips together in a brief, tight smile and shook your head no, picking up a damp rag and wiping the bar top in small circles vigorously and enthusiastically, and completely unnecessarily.

Ronnie rose from his stool and walked over to stand opposite you, reaching over the bar and plucking the rag from your hand easily. “Y/N, I’m sure I can handle serving Peter on my own for a little while, you’re just making streaks on the top at this point,” he pointed in the direction of the stairs that lead up to the living area of the building, rag still in hand. “Go.”

You huffed out a sigh and pulled the string at the back of your apron, balling the material up and throwing it on top of the back bar, sticking your tongue out at Ronnie as you did so.

Before you could fully make your exit, you heard Ronnie clear this throat pointedly and you turned to see him gesturing to the laptop, still plugged in at the wall.

You turned on your heel and retrieved the offending object. “Ugh, fine,” you grumbled as you stomped back towards the stairs.

Safely ensconced in your room once more, you sat cross-legged on the bed and lifted the computer’s top, ensuring in was plugged in again. The internet explorer was open just as you has left it and the cursor continued it’s mocking flashing as if you had never abandoned it in a strop some minutes before.

What had he meant by it’s all on the note? Removing the laptop from your legs and setting it beside you on the bed, you leant over to retrieve the folded napkin and removed it from the tiny bag you had decided to keep it in.

It’s all on the note? “There’s barely anything on it,” you muttered to yourself as you delicately set the tiger charm of the beside table, after it had fallen from the folds of the thin paper. You spread the napkin out over your thigh and frowned at it, imagining him leaning over it and biting his lip in concentration. You lifted it and held it close to your face. Your eyes fell on the letter 'V'.

Shaking your head and huffing out a laugh at the absurdity of the situation, you pulled the computer back in to your lap and dropped the note down on to the pile of blankets you still hadn’t straightened properly. You pressed on the 'v' button and hit enter, your eyes wide in anticipation as the search engine took longer than usual to return the results.

You were entirely unsurprised when you were offered a long list of articles on sporting events as a potential answer to your incredibly vague enquiry, along with a plethora of information on a 2009 television programme. You knew you weren’t trying to find out the truth in any earnest way, you were honestly apprehensive about what you might find.

You steeled yourself and tapped in the search bar once more, and added the letters 't' and 'a' to reduce the search results down. Your eyes scanned the list of suggestions and your focus was pulled to around half way down the list. 'V Taehyung South Korean Singer'.

You hesitantly hovered the mouse pointer over the name and attempted to prepare your brain for the immense can of worms you were sure you were about to open. Scrunching your eyes shut and tapping on the mouse pad, you took in a sharp breath to calm your nerves and opened your eyes slowly.

And there he was. 

The beauty of his face perfectly captured in photo after photo in the small selection at the top of the results page. You clicked on the images tab and were instantly bombarded with an enormous amount of varying hair colours and contact lenses and expensive looking clothes. You slowly let out the breath you had been holding as you scrolled through the page.

For the most part he looked the same, but you couldn’t help but notice some subtle differences. The practiced angles and careful lighting made the person in the images seem somehow unreal, untouchable, and your head was beginning to hurt from the comparison between the handsome, caring, giggling young man you had rapidly developed a deep affection for; and the person on the screen with the flawless skin and perfectly applied smoky eye.

Despite the fact he was very obviously wearing makeup in a fair few of the images, and that the photographs had been professionally taken and arranged, you couldn’t help but think how much better he looked in person. The pictures simply failed to do him justice. In a large number of them, the rich gold of his skin had been lightened to such an extent that it caused a dull rage to begin to throb behind your eyes, and you felt offended on his behalf.

So that was it: he was a singer. You realised should have guessed from the mellifluous quality of his voice as you had huddled together on the roof, and your heart clenched at the memory. You cast your thoughts back and tried to bring to mind the melody of the song he had sang so beautifully in his honeyed voice. You hummed a few bars aloud, varying the notes here and there until it sounded close enough according to your best recollection.

You returned your attention to the pictures on the screen in front of you and continued your trawl through them. It would occur to you a little later that you were scanning the images so intently with the goal of finding one that looked the most like the Taehyung you had encountered, so that you might be able to fully reconcile the person you had begun to fall for with the primped and precisely groomed man in front of you on the screen.

Your eyes were suddenly drawn to a photograph in the bottom right corner of the monitor. In it, his hair was the colour of coffee and his eyes were the chocolate brown you had found yourself being lost in over and over. He was biting his lip and staring in to the lens so intently that if you didn’t know any better you could swear he was looking right back at you, the very image of seductive.

Without truly understanding why, you felt an unease begin to unfurl in your stomach and decided you had seen enough pictures for the time being, opting instead for the Wikipedia page, once you were able to wrap your brain around the fact that it existed.

Sometime later that evening you lay on your back on the bed staring at the ceiling, the laptop battery long since draining to nothing, and tried to piece together the huge amount of information you had found. How did it make sense that you had never heard of them? Sure, it wasn’t like pop music was really something you were in to, but all you had had to do was type in three letters and the barrage of content you were instantly hit with was mind-boggling.

Strangely, it was not the fact that he, along with the rest of his group (which included cute, baby-faced Jimin, whom you recalled with a groan that you had carded for alcohol), was so well-known that was most troubling to you. Around an hour or so in to your search, you had come across a thumbnail for a video which purported to be a complication of Taehyung’s “Sexiest Moments”. Against your better judgement, you clicked on the link and were subjected to one of the most confusing three and a half minutes of your life.

The time you had spent with Taehyung had been filled with moments of him taking your breath away with the way he looked at you like you were the only one in the room. It was the heated desire and want that filled his eyes when his gaze met yours, and the way he would bite down gently on his bottom lip or flick his tongue out and run it along the flesh there that made you feel like he was simply incapable of controlling himself and that you were the most desirable person in the world.

Except it had become evident throughout the course of the video that these expressions were well-used and well-practiced, and those looks; those intense stares and provocative glances that you had thought were for your benefit alone; were apparently oft-utilised – and incredibly effective – stage tools with which to make their fans feel a kind of connection with him, much like the connection you believed you had made with him.

Had you really read the situation so inaccurately? Was this what he had wanted you to find? When he ended your last conversation with “I’ll miss you” was that his way of finally saying a proper goodbye?

You wracked your brain to try and think of another explanation, but all your mind could offer at that moment in time was a multitude of reasons as to why an ordinary girl like you had absolutely no place in the extraordinary life of a man like Kim Taehyung.

 ~~~

Finally boarding the plane, Taehyung pulled his headphones from the pocket of his bag and then lifted it to shove it haphazardly in to the over-head lockers before flopping down in to his seat and kicking his head back with a weary groan.

He wondered if you had found out about him yet, or if you had even begun to look, and his palms felt itchy with nervous energy. He rubbed his hands along his thighs in an attempt to calm the tingling and tried to picture what your reaction might be.

Would it make the reasons for his sudden disappearance any clearer to you? Would you be able to understand why he had needed to be evasive when the subject of the nature of his visit to your part of the world came up?

He hoped so. More than anything he wanted you to understand entirely. Ideally he would have been by your side when you discovered the truth; in a perfect world he would have been the one to tell you in person.

But it wasn’t a perfect world, Taehyung thought with a loud sigh as habit caused him to reach once again for the phantom phone in his left pocket, drawing the attention of Jimin who sat beside him.

Jimin wordlessly reached in to his own pocket and offered him his own handset without looking at him, before he continued to inattentively flick through the selection of movies he could watch on the long flight home.

Taehyung smiled gratefully at him – despite Jimin’s focus being trained on the screen in front of him – and plugged his own headphones in to the port at the base of the device. He and Jimin didn’t have exactly the same taste in music, but Taehyung knew that from the sheer amount of time they had spent together there was bound to be some overlaps.

He began to scroll through the music on Jimin’s phone, looking for one song in particular, a piece of music that he would now always associate with you. He remembered that Jimin had once said that it was the song that fit Taehyung the most, and it had always filled him with warmth when he heard it. Now, that warmth would still course through him upon hearing the opening lines, but he knew now there would be a sadness there too as he reminisced about your liaison on the rooftop, at the very least until he was able to see you again.

As the plane began to taxi away from the terminal, Jimin pulled on his earbuds to remove them and turned to Taehyung, who had finally finished moving his thumb along his friend’s phone with a furrowed brow, having just located the track he was looking for and hitting the play button.

“Taehyung-ah,” he began quietly, looking over each of his shoulders before leaning closer to him conspiratorially.

Taehyung pressed pause just as the first note played, pushing the left side of his earphones off and turning to acknowledge him – resting the phone in his lap – and waiting for him to continue.

“We never got to discuss our plan any further.” Jimin looked positively giddy, and Taehyung raised an eyebrow questioningly at him.

“We didn’t start to make a plan about anything, Jiminie.” He fidgeted in his seat uncomfortably. At that precise moment he could barely think beyond what your thoughts may be at finding out the truth about his fame, and whether or not you would have any idea of the implications that went hand-in-hand with it. He chewed on his lip and worried about whether or not you would still think he was worth the complications.

“Which is precisely why we need to discuss it more. What are we going to do?” He was practically bouncing in his seat, and Jimin’s blatant wish to help his friend would have been endearing were it not filling Taehyung with anxiety.

Following his conversations with Namjoon and Seong-min, he had no desire to get anyone in to trouble, and he hadn’t even considered how he might approach the situation once they arrived at home, what with their abrupt return to Korea scuppering his original plan to let you know bit-by-bit using carefully selected videos to reduce the risk of you being overwhelmed. Allowing more people to get involved at this point only seemed to run the risk of muddying things a great deal more.

In the interest of trying keeping things simple, he decided it would be best if he played dumb for the time being. “About what? Y/N?” Jimin rolled his eyes, only just stopping short of saying 'duh', and nodded. “We’ll have a break coming up in a few months, right? I was going to go back and see her and...pick up where we left off.”

The last part of his statement came out as a question in light of the thinly-veiled impatience beaming from Jimin’s face. “That’s your plan? Aish, I thought you were meant to be falling for her.”

“Well what do you suggest if you’re such an expert?” Taehyung’s frustration resulted in the volume of his voice raising above the loud whisper they had been speaking in, causing both of them to shift their eyes from side to side to see if anyone could hear their conversation.

Content that their discussions remained private, Jimin returned to hushed tones and continued. “I need you to tell me everything about what happened between the two of you.”

Taehyung swallowed thickly and felt his cheeks begin to burn as blood rushed to them. “Everything?” The question came out in a squeak.

It only took Jimin a moment to work out why Taehyung suddenly looked so bashful. “Ya, not that! Why would I need to know that?” He made a face as though it was the most offended he had been in his life.

“Because you’re a pervert, hyung.” The two friends turned to see Jungkook leaning over the back of their seats, clearly having heard everything. He turned to Taehyung, “I want to help too.”

As Jimin began to half-heartedly but repeatedly smack the back of the maknae's hands settled atop their headrests, Taehyung shifted back in his seat and faced forward, closing his eyes for a moment. So much for keeping things simple, he thought, turning his attention to the rapidly retreating view of the ground below through the small window. Exasperated, he sighed heavily and slid the headphone back over his ear and pressed play, allowing the sweet melody of the song to fill his ears and thoughts of you to fill his mind.

A/N - Hi again, we've only 6 more chapters to go after this now!! Thank you for sticking with me, feel free to send me any questions you might have about any characters or anything at all really!! Next chapter will be up next Friday evening (UK time!) ☺♥🌟♥

[fy-soukoku]

The Holy City - Ch. 2

The monitor leaves a scar. Not just on his neck, but in his heart. He is careful where he steps As threads begin to pull apart His life is forever changing But this will only be the start.

“I’m sorry, honey.” The nurse says, her palm pressing into the dip between Atsushi’s shoulder blades. The boy shivers as another burst of AC sweeps over his arms, and presses his cheeks against the padded operation table.

“It’s alright.” He manages. “I knew what I was doing.”

He’s certain that right now they are packing his room up, preparing to send him to the slums of the city. Whether that involves a foster family or not, he will no longer be a part of the Elite. He’ll be a regular citizen.

He hears the drilling before he feels it, the sharp, hot pain pressing into the nape of his neck. His body stiffens along with the nurse’s hand as the drill touches the monitor on his neck.

He screams.

----

“Mr. Nakajima...” The man sits down across from him, his hair pressed crisp and neat, his suit immaculate. Probably pressed and ironed just for this meeting, if the smell was anything to judge by. “Citizen Q1776.” He’s reading from a blue tablet, the size of his palm. “You are aware of what you’ve done, correct?”

Atsushi nods. The man watches him with steel gray eyes. They’re not soft or luminous, they’re as harsh as stone, cutting into his chest with practiced precision.

“Please state for the record what you have confessed to doing.” A woman in a similar suit holds out a recorder, the green button shining against the dull colours of the living room.

Atsushi sighs, “I knowingly aided a known criminal in his escape, giving him food and a place to sleep. My sponsors had no part or knowledge in the incident.”

The woman nods, clicking the device off, causing it to blink red. She holds up the small tablet, which is showing a steady heartbeat. “Monitor says he’s telling the truth.”

“Alright.” The man nods. He places a hand on the table. “Atsushi Nakajima, I am Officer Nakano.” His eyebrows knit together. “I hope that you understand that though you are under the age of sixteen, and thus cannot be sent to the Center, you still need to be punished.”

Atsushi nods. His hair falls in front of his eyes, temporarily obstructing his vision. “Yes sir.” Better to be soft and compliant than to put up a huge fuss.

Officer Nakano nods. “Alright.” His fingers slide over the scrollbar on his tablet. “Well, first off, you will be stripped of your Elite privileges, and enrolled in a normal school curriculum.”

Atsushi nods, slow but steady. His breathing shakes slightly. “Does that mean...”

“We’ll schedule a surgery to remove the monitor by tomorrow,” He says, and though his smile is sympathetic, his eyes remain steely and cold. “After all, only the Elite are allowed to have them.”

Atsushi can’t speak, his words lodged in his throat.

Nakano rises. “Well, we will make the arrangements to take you to a new home. Anything else before we’re off?”

Atsushi stares at the virtual candle at the dining room table. It flickers with synthetic flames, a perfect replication despite the lack of warmth. He flicks his eyes up to the two officers. “I don’t regret it.” He answers.

Nakano looks at him, a blank slate. Atsushi wants to paint some sort of expression on his face - anger, preferably.

“Noted.” The Officer says.

----

“Just stay here for another twenty minutes so we know you don’t go into shock,” The nurse tells him as his fingers wrap around the clean white bandage sloppily applied to his nape.

Atsushi nods numbly, sitting on the cheap blue waiting chair. To his right, Dr. Yosano is sitting at her desk, fingers typing on the silent pad of her desktop. Her dark hair is tucked back with a butterfly clip, her purple eyes focused intensely on the screen.

“Having a good day, Atsushi?” She suddenly asks. Atsushi jumps, whipping his head around to look at the woman. She’s still focused on her screen, but still managing to talk to him.

“Seriously?” He blurts out. Immediately, he claps his hands onto his mouth and gasps. “I am so sorry, Yosano-san!”

“I’m surprised you’re not relieved.” She simply says, waving off his embarrassment.

“Why would I be relieved?” Atsushi asks, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re not on their leash anymore,” She explains. “You’re as free as you get in this damn society.”

Atsushi frowns, spreading his fingers and watching them flex as if in a new light. She’s right, He realizes. For the first time, I can think and feel and do with no one poking around in my brain.

“Can’t they hear you?” Atsushi asks, waving up at the ceiling where the microphones were usually installed.

“Patient confidentiality.” She rolled her eyes. “As if they actually believe in that, but I pushed for it.” She suddenly rose, smoothing her skirt in the front. “I need to get my papers. I’m sure you can handle yourself?” She smirked, winking over her shoulder.

Atsushi nodded, listening to her footsteps fade.

For the first time, he saw this as a blessing in disguise.

----

He goes back to school, but outside of the Gifted courses. It’s almost nice, except that no one seems to view him as worthy of their attention anymore. He’s alone every second of the day, his shoulders bunching up as he felt icy words pierce his back, jeers and taunts about his degraded status.

Except for Lucy. She would find Atsushi everyday once school was over, smiling and quietly chatting about their day. It was nice to know that a change in Standing doesn’t affect their relationship - that Lucy was above caring of those things.

On her thirteenth birthday, she invites him over. They listen to stories from her grandma underneath the swinging lamplight, watch shadows dance as the sun sinks lower. Sweetness lingers on the roof of their mouths, from strawberry cupcakes smeared with cheap frosting. He spends the night in the spare room, under warm quilts and on a padded bed, his eyes fluttering shut as soon as his head hits the soft pillow.

He dreams of black diamonds.

----

He is sixteen when he comes to terms with his new way of life.

He finds his environment in a small workroom, one with air conditioning and a row of monitors that line the end. He finds a way to pass time in wheeling around in a desk chair, smelling cheap coffee that has been filtered through poor equipment, resentment wafting through the air day in and day out. It’s not perfect, it’s no life in the Uppers, but it’s the best he can do with so little prospects.

His coworker is a fairly nice man in his late twenties. When Atsushi had arrived with his official assignments, he had held out a calloused hand and opened up a cracked smile, saying, “Takeda. It’s nice to have someone here.”

Takeda is usually in the corner, checking park temperature regulation. Atsushi distracts himself with zooming in and out on the monitors, making sure the sprinklers are working according to protocol. The grass looks as emerald green as ever, which is satisfying for his end of the day report.

He clicks on camera five, sighing as he zooms in on the artificial cherry tree that stands by the fountain. Nobody has been over there for a while, which is always a bit of a red light for degraded plant life.

Is this really what my life is like? He wonders, watching pixels grow blurry, squinting his eyes to see a sign of anything out of the ordinary.

He freezes on one particular spot, a splash of gray on an otherwise flawless canvas. He looks over at Takeda, who is adjusting temperatures for the evening shift.

“Takeda-san,” He calls watching the man turn his head, his dark skin glinting under the lights. “Can you check this out? I can’t be sure.. But...”

Takeda rolls his eyes. “It’s probably nothing. Probably some kids playing a prank.” Atsushi frowns at that, but he puts a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “But it’s good you brought it up.” He leans over the desk, setting his mug down, eyes flickering over the screens.

“But that does look...” He mutters, and drags the keyboard closer, fingers flicking with precision over each key in swift strokes.

“What is it?” Atsushi asks, a little breathless. It’s not an exciting job that he has been blessed with, so this is the most joy he’s had in a good while.

“I’ll send one of the bots to this area.” He’s frowning now, black eyebrows knit together from thought. “I’m a little reluctant to say this is a fluke right now...”

Atsushi bites his lip as the robot’s monitor flickers to life, showing them its lens. A blur of green and white whisks by as it flies through the streets, only slowing down as its destination grows near.

“Alright, let's just... slowly approach...” Takeda mutters, moving the bot towards the mysterious shape.

As the camera looms over the area, Atsushi feels his heart beat faster. That... that looks like...

A chill shoots down his spine, crawling over his arms and making him lose his grip on the computer mouse.

It’s a dead body.

----

Atsushi walks home, rubbing his forehead. Lucy looks at him worriedly.

“Are you okay?” Her shoulder brushes against his, the casual intimacy something he has not noticed until this very moment.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Her eyes cut through the gray of the cloudy sky, sea foam sparkling in the immaculate street lights. “I know you well enough. You’re rubbing your forehead, which means you have a headache, and you only get headaches when you’re stressed.”

Atsushi pushes down the urge to groan at her words. Logically, he knows that he can’t keep anything from Lucy, but he just wishes he could.

“Sorry, it’s just that you’re leaving for another City tomorrow, and...” He shrugs. “I don’t really talk to anybody but you.”

She raises an eyebrow, telling Atsushi that she doesn’t believe him, but nods anyway. “We can still message each other.”

Yeah, but it’s not the same. Atsushi thinks. And it really isn’t. He’s talked to Lucy through screens, her face pixelated and unrecognizable from the poor connection. Her voice becomes static, her eyes blurry, and he can’t hear the tinge of amusement she seems to always carry around.

She stops them, placing a hand on his arm. He almost flinches. When did we touch each other this much? He wonders.

“Atsushi, can I ask you something?” She says, her voice shifting to a low volume, attempting to be discreet with their interaction. A security guard looks their way, but doesn’t say anything. Instead, they open up the tablet in their hand and surf through, no doubt looking for their citizen identification numbers.

“Sure, Lucy.” He answers, his tone relaxed despite the stiffness now spreading through his body. “I mean, you technically did, but...”

She shoots him an unamused stare, causing him to snap his mouth shut.

“Can we....” She gulps, audible in the silent streets. “I want your sperm.” She sputters.

Atsushi flinches, taking a step back. “What?”

Lucy flushes camellia, and waves her hands in panic. “Wait, that came out wrong!”

“Lucy, what are you...” Her hands cup his cheeks and suddenly he feels warm lips against his.

He doesn’t know what to do, his mind freezes up the second he feels her hands on him. Because something about this is so wrong. It’s all so wrong.

He gently pries her off, his hands pushing her shoulders away with a dread gnawing in the pit of his stomach.

“Lucy...” He trails off as she suddenly rolls her eyes.

“I know you don’t feel the same way, Atsushi.” She scoffs, stepping back and crossing her arms. It’s defensive, her hiding her emotions. Atsushi recognizes it from the first day of Primary School, when she had approached him for friendship, the lights glimmering off of the braces that framed her white teeth. “I just had to do that before I left.”

Atsushi opens his mouth to speak, and she scowls, placing her hand over his mouth. “Just... shut up, okay?”

He nods, numb despite her nails scratching her cheek. “Call me, okay? You’re still my only friend.” It sounds pathetic leaving his lips, but he’s willing to be pathetic if it means salvaging whatever platonic relationship he and Lucy have. Because as much as he loves Lucy, he doesn’t love her. Not like that.

“I’ll do that.” She says, slinging her bookbag over one shoulder. “And take care of yourself, alright? Don’t let them take you down.” She smiles at him, though it’s pulling at the seams and about to break. Atsushi grimaces inwardly, having been the one to pull the thread loose in the first place.

Atsushi nods. “Video me before you leave?”

She’s already turning away, the lights of the city sparkling over the stone road like a mosaic, a rainbow that curves into a path for the redhead, that will separate them for the next four years. But he thinks he catches the affirmation, though it is whisked away by the wind, and he can never be sure.

Atsushi sighs, rubs his hand over his forehead, trying to subdue the headache that slowly crackles through his head, threatening to split open his skull.

He feels a nudge on his toe, looking down to see a small mouse nudging the black of his shoes. It’s tiny, with gray fur and beady little eyes.

“You’re still as hopeless as ever, aren’t you?”

Atsushi freezes. Not because the mouse just talked. Because even if that had happened it would have been less of a shock than the voice that traveled to his ears from the ground up.

“Akutagawa?” He stutters.

“Yeah, took you a bit. I’ve been waiting for that conversation to be over for almost half an hour.” The voice - no, not voice, Akutagawa - sounds irritated. Like a sharp edge under an illusion of smooth glass.

“Why are you...” He bends down when he realizes he probably looks like a lunatic. Well, their opinion can’t get any lower, I suppose. He notes, but moves his face close to the creature. “Have you been watching me?”

“That doesn’t matter,” He cuts in. “What’s important is that you need to be careful. This city keeps its eyes on everything, and the second you show even the slightest disloyalty, they’ll do whatever it takes to get rid of you.”

Atsushi tries to control the rise in his breathe, the trouble that rises in his throat like sour bile. These words sound too much like Yosano-san had once told him, back when he was twelve and having his monitor pulled out.

They both talked like the city was a cage, like it was something dangerous and manipulative to be in. As if treading on its ground was like walking amongst eggshells, as if cutting your foot meant exposing your blood to the sick, tainted air and becoming infected by its sin.

“Akutagawa, what are you on about. Nobody’s been hurt by the city before.”

“Look, I don’t have time to deal with your naive views. This city is dangerous. Be careful, Atsushi.” With that, a click resounds through the air, and the mouse scrambles away on it’s scrawny paws, dancing between the rocks with grace and ease.

Atsushi stares after the mouse’s path, aware of footsteps behind him. His shoulder tenses as a hand lands on his shoulder.

“Are you alright, son?” An officer, tall and well-built, with blue eyes and tanned skin. His eyebrows furrow in worry, which would be heartwarming were it not accompanied by suspicion.

“I’m fine,” He smiles up at the man, knowing full well his skill with faking emotions. “Just lost in thought.”

The man nods, patting the dip between his shoulders. “Best run off to your house, kid. Almost curfew.” His finger accidentally grazes the back of his neck, his thumbnail scratching against the rugged scar that sits on his nape. It sends a shiver down his spine.

He thanks the officer, gathering up his thoughts and jogging towards the street he knows will lead to his home. His head pounds as his feet clap on the ground, and his nails dig into the soft flesh of his palm as his heart thunders as he realizes:

Everything will be changing soon.

[josephlrushing]

Sheltering in Place During a Pandemic – How We’ve Made It Work

Due to the global pandemic, those of us who have been unexpectedly thrust into working from home have had to figure out how to get our work done while sheltering in place. We wanted to share some of the things that have helped us stay productive and more-or-less content since we began physically distancing ourselves from our loved ones and friends who live outside of our homes.

This post is long, so grab a snack and let’s dive in.

Greg

Satechi Desk Mat

Now that I must sit at my kitchen Island to get work done (since I no longer have a desk), my setup for actual work needed to be as clean as possible, and the $34.99 Satechi Desk Mat has been a delight to use. Made of leather, it doubles as a wrist rest and a mouse pad for me, and it works perfectly with the next product on my list.

Satechi Type C Multi-Port Adapter 4k

The $89.99 Satechi USB-C Hub is another saving grace for me. I have a 15-Inch MacBook, but even with its large screen, its not enough for the various windows that I must have open in order to initiate cases at work. The Satechi hub not only gives me the USB ports that my MacBook Pro lacks, but there’s a nifty HDMI port that allows me to connect to an external monitor (provided by my office), so I can use as a secondary window. This is a NEXT-LEVEL hub that doesn’t need to sit flush with your MacBook which is a huge deal, especially if you have a case on your MacBook for protection.

Logitech MX Master 3

I’ll be brutally honest here, I’ve taken Logitech for granted for far too long. I’ve reviewed their products over the years, and there’s no more fitting time to use their products than when you’re working from home. I’m a fan of the $99.99 MX Master Mouse; it has a variety of different customizable buttons that are great for doing things like typing this article or quickly switching through windows, tables, and tabs in Excel for my full-time job. What’s more, it works on virtually any surface and has an incredible battery life so that even when I forget to charge it (which I have for a few weeks now), it manages to keep on ticking.

Drinkmate

Quite possibly the biggest most important thing on my list is the $99.95 Drinkmate. Allowing me to keep hydrated all while offering a change from traditional water, the Drinkmate has the ability to carbonate virtually anything from tap water to soda, from bourbon (trust me, I’ve tried) to wine. Like many people, I’ve grown fond of seltzer waters; with the shelves being bare in the stores this is a great soda water replacement both cost-wise and for the environment.

NVIDIA Shield TV

Yes, I know I should be working while working from home, but there are plenty of shows that I’ve been binging in the midst of getting work done including Tiger King along with everyone else. With thousands of apps on the $149.99 NVIDIA Shield TV, thanks to its Android integration, you can connect to Youtube, Netflix, Hulu … you name it and watch your favorite things on your “lunch breaks”.

Zoom

Zoom is the one brand that I wish I’d bought stocks in two years ago when I had the opportunity. For the past two years, my podcast friends and I have used Zoom to record all of our “remote” episodes, and now its outpaced Skype and FaceTime as the best way of communicating for me with my friends and co-workers. Virtual Happy hour anyone? Zoom’s free accounts only provide you with 40 minutes of time to use in groups larger than 10, but with the $14.99 per month account you can get unlimited time, and it’s a great way to stay connected with co-workers, boost morale, and make you feel like you’re still in the workplace (or social hour) from home. Zoom is free to join; benefits to the free and paid accounts can be compared here

PILLR by UpperCase

This is the laptop stand to best all laptop stands; the $69.99 PILLR is a product I started out using to get my podcast setup situated, and has now become the main player in my working-from-home setup. The PILLR allows you to adjust your viewing angle on your coffee table, desk, or kitchen island; with it, I can type at a reasonable angle and not worry about it moving thanks to the built-in grips on the base of the stand.

Anker’s EuFy Security Doorbell Camera

Social distancing doesn’t stop with just your friends and family, but with the packages that get delivered to you as well. With the $159.99 Eufy Security Doorbell, regardless if you live in a home, apartment, or have proper wiring for either, the Doorbell cam can notify you when that Amazon package gets delivered so you never have to actually interest with the person dropping it off.

Tidal

Tidal is a great way to stream your music and I’ve been a longtime fan of theirs. With Hi-Fi audio content, you and your family can listen to music from your favorite artists. If you have children, TIDAL has made kid-friendly playlists that will help keep them engaged, thanks to the playlists like Disney Hits, Kidz Bop Essentials, and even Reggae for Kids. What’s more, until April 15th you can get FOUR months of Tidal for only $4 using this link. Tidal is free to use, but the ad-free experience starts at $9.99.

Pocket Casts

When I’m not jamming to some tunes, I’m listening to just about any and every podcast that you could imagine (including my own, which you can check out here. Pocket Casts gives you suggestions on shows to listen to, and they even have playlists that you can follow from popular people who use the app. From True Crime to Sports to News, Entertainment, and even COVID-19 updates, Pocket Casts is a great way of hearing your favorite personalities. Pocket Casts is free, paying for a subscription brings perks.

Dark Noise

For those times when you don’t want to be bothered or distracted by loud music or talking voices, Dark Noise ($3.99) is a fantastic way to create “white noise” in the background while working. Even if you’re not at the beach, there’s a sound for that. There are soundscapes consisting of thunderstorms, rain, cars going by, hairdryers, a desk fan, and even of a cat purring — if you enjoy cats but don’t have one of your own.

Freeletics

With gyms everywhere closed, I still have to find a way to get a workout in even though summer body 2020 isn’t in full effect right now. Freeletics is a great pocket trainer app that walks you through the paces of staying healthy, getting healthy, or maintaining your health even when you’re stuck indoors. I’ve been using it for the past two weeks to direct me through bodyweight workouts such as pushups, sit-ups, and various other exercises that won’t bother the neighbors below. Freeletics is free to use, but if you opt for the in-app purchase of the premium tier, you can even get a nutrition trainer that will tell you what and what not to eat.

Carly

Not all of us are as fancy as Greg! For example, my “laptop stand” is two books stacked together — I’ve finally found a use for the 4-Hour Body and The Joy of Running! But honestly, no one’s office is throwing its doors open tomorrow. People at my workplace have been told repeatedly not to expect any communication on when the office will reopen before Memorial Day and even then, it’s going to be a gradual staggered reopening with a lot of flexibility for people in risky groups and people with kids. It’s also very likely this is going to happen in short bursts over and over until a vaccine is found; basically, we’re going to all have to live with the idea that school might abruptly close for a month, or offices might go to work from home for 6 weeks. So what started as a “let’s see how the next 2 weeks go,” has turned into an ongoing issue. Many of us will need to upgrade our home offices to deal with this new reality, and while we might not have wanted to invest money in our ‘work from home’  setup that 3 weeks ago, we’re are realizing more and more that we will need to for the future.

OWC Travel USB-C Dock

I’m using this $54.99 OWC Travel USB-C Dock, it’s been an absolute lifesaver for me.

Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard

I’m using the USB port on the OWC Travel USB-Dock to power a Logitech external keyboard I found in the closet. I’ve never been so excited to see a Logitech logo in my life, as a full-size keyboard makes work much easier. You can find these on Amazon for under $27.

Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse

I’m also using this $15 Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse — it’s a simple little guy but it does the job well, and it works without a mousepad. This isn’t the exact mouse I have, but the similar version I’m using was on clearance at Best Buy so…

TCL True Wireless In-Ear Headphones and V-Moda Crossfade Wireless Headphones

I spend most of my workday on the phone, and since I didn’t work from home much before this I never bought a dedicated Bluetooth headset. However, I’ve been jumping between these $79.99 TCL True Wireless In-Ear Headphones I picked up at CES …

… and a pair of V-Moda Crossfades to make being on the phone far easier.

Samsung Chromebook 3 & Chrome OS

I also have to give a shoutout to Chrome OS, as I doubt I’d make it through homeschooling with my sanity intact if my child didn’t have a Chromebook to use. I’d also like to thank Verizon FiOS for their free Samsung Chromebook 3 promotion two years ago, as past-me was utterly brilliant for hanging on to the free Chromebook, “just in case”. You can pick up a similar one for around $225.

Nintendo Switch

From a parent standpoint, the $299 Nintendo Switch is the greatest invention in the world. It’s got plenty of kid-friendly games for my elementary school-age son, and the games are familiar enough that I can help easily (and also maybe play when he’s asleep-hey, links awakening is fun for adults too!)

You Are Your Own Gym, Jungle Gym XT Straps, and an Everlast Punching Bag

Finally, since working out is the only way to stay sane, I’ve been following methods listed In the ~$15 book, You Are Your Own Gym as well as making good use of my Jungle Gym XT straps and a very hefty Everlast Punching Bag for days when I’m sick of staring at the walls. The $99 Jungle Gym XT Straps appear to be sold out right now, and an Everlast punching bag like mine is around $170.

Tejas

Excellent choices by Carly and Greg, but personally, during this time I’ve appreciated more than ever the little things on the periphery that have made this experience manageable.

Jabra Elite 75t Earphones

First of all, for my job, I do a lot of phone conferences and video calls using WebEx as an example. Being in a household with little kids and my wife who also works this is definitely not something I can use speakers and a mic for. Instead, I’ve relied heavily on the excellent $179.99 Jabra Elite 75t earphones. They’re comfortable enough to wear for hours, sound great and their mics are excellent at picking up my voice in meetings. Most importantly there’s plenty of juice on tap and dropping them in the case between meetings, a natural thing, means almost endless longevity. I would be a wreck without them.

Google Stadia

To keep your sanity, you need to entertain yourself and make sure you have some downtime. “All work and no play…” as the saying goes. I’ve grown especially in love with Google Stadia during this time for some very simple reasons. Most importantly that I can play it on basically any device in the house from any of the TVs (they each have Chromecast Ultras) to my desktop, my laptop, or even my phone. When you are all crammed into the house for weeks it is increasingly difficult to not end up conflicting on device usage. This gives me the freedom of being able to play whenever I want no matter where other people are. Secondly, the fact it’s instant and again available on any device means you can have quick gaming sessions during lunch or waiting for a meeting to start (theoretically of course). You can try Google Stadia for free; after that, it’s $9.99/month.

Google Pixel 4XL

Finally, I would say my most important device throughout this and even well before has been my phone, the excellent Google Pixel 4XL. In the recent group review on this site, there were different opinions and that’s totally fine, no device should ever be all things to everyone as that would be a boring place to live. But my Pixel 4 XL has been rock solid throughout, and I’ve been getting easily 24hrs+ of battery life (probably because I’m on wifi the whole time in the house). It’s handled work duties perfectly and I’ve used the WebEx client on it many times to attend a meeting while also multitasking on other work items directly on the device. I’ve never had a crash, reboot, or a single second of instability and that means a lot in this already unstable situation we are all dealing with. It just does its job day in and day out. I’m not saying a modern iPhone or Galaxy device can’t do the same, they totally can, but for me, the Pixel 4XL has really stepped it up and I couldn’t be happier that it’s my phone during this time. Also if you do decide to jump on the train the Pixel 4 phones can be had for all-time low prices right now — starting at just $499 for the Pixel 4 and $599 for the Pixel 4 XL!

Judie

I don’t think it even matters if you’re used to working from home or not; I’ve found that trying to get anything done right now — much less staying focused on a single task— has been a huge challenge. When I’m in my office, which for reference, is detached from the main part of our house and connected to the back porch, I usually work on a 27″ iMac. But through a series of unfortunate events that ended up being a gift in their own way, for the first month that we were in self-isolation, Kev and I had our two youngest granddaughters (6 & 7) staying with us. Very quickly, Kev and I had to figure out a new system so that I would be in the main part of the house with the grands while getting my work done; Kev would split the new homeschooling duties with me before leaving for work at his studio.

I thought that once the girls were able to go home with their parents, things would simplify and I’d be able to catch up on all I had fallen behind on, but I’ve found that it’s been a real struggle to stay focused and present. I suspect that a lot of people are dealing with that right now. So if that’s you as well, you’re not alone! <3

Lenovo Yoga C940 Laptop

  Rather than moving my iMac to our dining room table, where I would wind up working most days, I used the Lenovo Yoga C940. This 14″ laptop had proven itself time and time again over the past four months to be excellent for travel, but I also found it did very well as my main computer. The model I have is equipped with an Intel i7 1.3GHz processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. I can also use the C940 as a tablet, and when needed, it was great for the grands’ regular Zoom calls with their teachers and classmates. I can’t say enough good about this laptop. Prices for the Yoga C940 start at $1439.99

Withings Thermo

In early March, our part of Texas was at the tail-end of a really bad flu season — one that had already shut a neighboring town’s schools down for a week in mid-February. We were also in the midst of early spring allergies, so every sniffle, sore throat, or body ache was suspect as we better understood the severity of the pandemic. A few days into our granddaughters’ stay with us, right about the time that I found out that I might have been exposed on the trip to NYC I had just returned from days earlier, the girls started running low-grade fevers. Using the $99.95 Withings Thermo, I was able to quickly check the girl’s foreheads at different points of the day to check their temperatures. It may seem like a little thing, but the Thermo and the Withings Health Mate app gave me peace of mind in the early days of our self-isolation.

Sparkel Carbonator

A few days into self-quarantine, I realized how grateful I was for the $99 Sparkel water carbonation system that I’d reviewed late last year. Kev and I had already replaced buying store-bought carbonated water with the Sparkel system, and a refill box of 90 carbonation sachets had arrived just before we started isolating, so we were set. It’s the little things, but having a ready source of cold carbonated water has helped keep me in good spirits. We ordered two extra Sparkel bottles so we could keep cold water bottles in the refrigerator ready for carbonation or flavoring at a moment’s notice; the system is working out well, and we are staying hydrated with our favorite fizzy waters. As we enter our 8th week of sheltering at home, I’ve just ordered another box of 90 carbonation sachets so we don’t take a chance of running out. Getting our carbonated water this was is much easier to deal with than trying to buy unwieldy carbonated waters by the case during our weekly curbside grocery pick-up.

Air Speaker by Quirky

The $249 Air Speaker by Quirky is a clever portable system that can be configured as a single more powerful 24-watt stereo speaker, or it can be pulled apart into five smaller speakers that stay perfectly in sync. I set an Air Speaker up in the girls’ bedroom so that they could listen to music at night as they fell asleep. The speakers have a wireless range of up to 75′, so you can string them out around your home and back patio to create a synchronized multi-speaker system, or you can set them up in a single room to create a surround sound effect; you can also keep them together as a single stereo unit, which is what I wound up doing for the girls. Music played on the speaker soothed them to sleep, which in turn meant that Kev and I could sleep without too many disturbances in the middle of the night.

QWIN Plus Kit

I don’t know about you, but my stress levels have been through the roof since we’ve been in lockdown. Drinking a bottle of wine each night to knock myself out and (hopefully) stop my mind from racing long enough to sleep simply isn’t a viable or desirable option. Enter the $89.99 QWIN Plus Kit which arrived a few weeks ago; it has been a lifesaver. The pod flavors are delicious, and there is something very calming about the act of taking a puff from this vaporizer. The Plus Kit includes the QWIN Module, four 100mg flavored CBDi Capsules (shortcake, island, brisk, and arabica), and one 200mg CBDRx Supergreen capsule as well as a microUSB wireless charger; you supply the microUSB charging cable. The capsules are designed so that you can puff from them multiple times a day without ill effect, and I’m not even going to pretend to understand why doing so relaxes me and calms my mind, but it does. Worth it. I’ll be ordering refills when these are out.

Sirius XM App on Android and iOs 

Not leaving the house but once a week means not being in the car much, and that means I haven’t been listening to my favorite Sirius stations as often. With the app, I can keep up with the news on MSNBC, CNN, BBC, and others, listen to my favorite music stations, and yes, listen to Howard Stern as well as access his past interviews and musical guests’ performances — including video. I didn’t use this streaming app option that much before the pandemic (in fact, I had forgotten to download the app to my current Android phone), but now it’s a daily go-to.

AUKEY USB Outlet with Night Light Plug

I quickly realized that the girls would sleep better with a nightlight, and I just happened to have recently received the $19.99 AUKEY USB Outlet with Night Light Plug before we went into lockdown. The Aukey Night Light covers both sockets of a conventional double outlet, drawing power from one of them; in return, you get 300 Joules of surge-protection in four AC sockets and two Type-A USB outlets. The top of the night light also serves as a handy phone holder. This worked out very well in the girls’ bedroom because it also gave them a place to charge the devices they were using to complete their schoolwork each day.

Austere VII Series 8-Port Power Strip

Right now is not the time to stress about whether a storm might take out my television or computer, and that’s why I am thankful for the Austere VII Series 8-Port Power Strip; Dan reviewed the 6-port power strip recently, and you can read that review here. I didn’t realize until a meeting with Austere at CES this year that the word ‘Joules’ doesn’t just refer to how powerful or protective a surge protector might be, Joules also refers to a finite protective layer of energy that gets tapped every time there are shocks or surges in your electrical system. In other words, it had somehow never sunk in for me that the three APC backup batteries with 1000 Joule surge protectors that Kev and I had purchased to protect various sets of home electronics over 10 years ago (!!) were all well past their prime. Derp.

The Austere VII Series power strips have 4,000 Joules, and Austere offers a Component Guarantee which promises that “if a VII Series Austere Power Strip is responsible for any damage to a plugged-in device, Austere will replace that device regardless of its value for 7-years.” Blue LEDs on the power strip let you know exactly when the Joules have been depleted; the blue protection shield on the power strip will simply stop glowing. At $179.99 for the 6-port power strip and $199.99 for the 8-port power strip, both power strips also include a 45W USB-C PD port, two USB Type-C ports, and Two-USB-A ports. While the Austere VII Series is likely more expensive than any non-backup-battery-containing surge protector you’ve ever purchased, it makes a case for that purchase with its better than average look, solid build, the Component Guarantee, the 4,000 long-lasting Joules, and the power strip’s advanced EMI/RFI filtration which “cleans noise and artifacts that can travel through power lines and keeps them from impacting your devices.” It’s a worthy update for your home entertainment system at the very least, especially if you can’t remember when the last time you replaced that particular surge protector was.

LG V60 ThinQ with Dual Screen Case

  While I liked the idea behind LG’s use of Dual Screen cases on their V50 ThinQ and the LG G8X ThinQ models, it wasn’t until the 5G LG V50ThinQ that I really fell in love with the phone that went into that Dual Screen case. On its own, the LG V60 ThinQ is a gorgeous navy and gold Android device that features a 6.8″ OLED FHD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Octa-core processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB user memory, a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery, triple rear cameras (including ultra-wide-angle), and many of the other bells and whistles you’d expect in a 2020 flagship with the exception of a faster refresh rate — the V60 ThinQ is 60Hz only rather than a smoother 90 or 120Hz. Will you even notice it? Maybe, maybe not. The one thing that sets it apart from the other 2020 flagships isn’t just the Dual Screen case, it’s the actual size of the phone — it’s huge. While a phone this big (and thick, with the Dual Screen case involved) might get on my nerves if I were traveling or out and about, I have largely been stuck at home, so the size of the phone has not been an issue. When I put the V60 ThinQ into the Dual Screen case, I get two brilliant 6.8″ OLED FHD displays that play well together while I obsessively consume pandemic news, try to relax while playing word games, or while I am being productive. You can get the LG V60ThinQ and the Dual Screen Case for about $900; the phone alone is about $100 less.

DdroppStudio Cloth Masks

Since I haven’t sewn in years and I don’t own a sewing machine (something I would like to rectify), it was important to me to find someone who was making and delivering cloth masks for when Kev and I had to go out in public to pick up groceries or hit the post office. While researching what makes cloth masks most effective, I came across a link mentioning ddroppStudio on Etsy. Each ddroppStudio cloth mask is made with three protective layers that offer around 90% filtration; they come in medium and large sizes, and they have an adjustable aluminum nose wire for a snug but comfortable fit. The masks are not hard to breathe through, and they stay on with loops that go around your ears rather than the back of your head and neck; their fabrics are fashionable for both men and women. DdroppStudio masks start at $38. Cleaning these reusable masks is a simple matter of handwashing and air-drying; since you should do that every time you wear it in public, it’s a good idea to get a couple of these when you order. I have a feeling that conscientious people will be wearing cloth masks at least until the end of this year if not longer, whether or not local orders tell us to do so. It makes sense to find some masks that look good, wear well and will do a good job of protecting us as we start to integrate back into social situations. I am sure that there are other excellent cloth masks available from Etsy makers, but I can personally vouch for the quality and decent shipping times at ddroppStudio.

Dan

My situation is a bit different. Synagogues and churches are built around communal connection, and the rapid move to take our entire congregation’s operations online was no small feat. My leadership and I kept the synagogue open as long as we could but, even before our Governor issued his “stay at home” decree, we knew we would eventually have to make this change. By the time I did ask for a vote to shut down the building, we had some of the infrastructure built. We moved all leadership communication to Slack and upgraded our Zoom account so it could handle the expected increase in traffic once we went online. That expectation has been proven correct and, in any given thirty day period since this began, our community has spent well over 250,000 minutes together via Zoom.

Getting myself, not to mention my key staff members, up to speed with regard to hardware was the next challenge. Thankfully, my years with Gear Diary left me in good stead. In fact, most of my staff members are currently using one or more Gear Diary review items that I pulled out of the closet. Over the weeks I have found certain devices to be particularly useful to me. Here are just a few examples.

BenQ 27” QHD Designer Monitor

I usually have a 27” iMac at my office and a 13” MacBook Pro connected to an external monitor in my home office. The day I left my office, I brought the iMac home. It is connected to the $499 BenQ PD2710QC 27” QHD Designer Monitor I reviewed in 2017.  The combination of the two gives me a huge amount of screen-estate and had made trying to do ten things at once a bit easier. This also leaves my laptop free to use if it is a nice day and I want some fresh air. They sit atop my Varidesk ProDesk 60 Electric sit-stand desk. Considering how much time I am spending at my desk, having the ability to do some work standing had been a huge help.

Pursuit Ergonomic Chair by UPLIFT Desk

And considering that I am at my desk for hours on end, I’m grateful to have the $329 Pursuit Ergonomic Chair by UPLIFT Desk. It is comfortable, adjustable and supportive. And when I don’t want to sit but am too tired to stand, the $149 UPLIFT Motion Stool is a great in-between choice.

Logi StreamCam

Having a decent quality video is important when you are trying to teach or lead services via Zoom. The new $169.99 Logi StreamCam has been great. It offers high resolution and has countless settings that can be customized to your liking.

I’m also using the $499 Logitech ConferenceCam. It is not only a great camera and speaker for streaming but, thanks to its built-in Bluetooth, as the weather improves I’ll be able to take it outside and, once connected to my iPad or iPhone, hold meetings outdoors.

MXL APS Podcasting Bundle

I had the good fortune to be able to choose from a number of microphones I had reviewed over the years. Some went to my colleagues, but I kept the $295 MXL APS Podcasting Bundle, which has been my go-to most of the time. It includes MXL’S BCD-1 Live Broadcast Microphone, MXL’S USB Mic Mate Pro microphone adapter, and an MXL’S BCD Stand which is a convenient way to position my microphone in an optimal manner.

When using my laptop I’ve found the Blue Yeti X Professional USB Microphone to be the best choice. Both microphones work amazingly well and have allowed me to get good audio regardless of whether I am speaking, reading, or singing.

PromptSmart App for iPhone and iPad

I’ve started videotaping my weekly Shabbat Message. At first, I would use the StreamCam or ConferenceCam to record but, inevitably, it would capture me looking at the text of my message rather than the camera. My solution was to purchase the $19.99 PromptSmart app for iPhone and iPad. It is not only a voice-activated teleprompter that “understands” my text and advances the text as I speak. In addition, it places the text at the upper half of the iPad so I can read the text while looking at and recording from the device’s selfie camera. It works well and, each week, I’m getting better at using it. That said… I have a long way to go and have a renewed sense of respect for broadcasters.

Audioengine Wireless Speakers

I also rely on music to keep me calm. My Audioengine speakers do the trick. I have their $269 A2+ Wireless Speakers on my desk and their $499 A5+ speakers on stands on the other side of the room. Both are connected to Apple AirPort Expresses so I can have all four speakers playing music via AirPlay. In the den, where I also work sometimes, I have the Audioengine HD6. The powerful powered bookshelf speakers are able to fill the house with sound and come in handy when I’m on the treadmill.

Headphones

On the headphone front, I’m finding that different devices serve me best at different times. When I’m out for a socially distanced walk with my dog, the Jabra 75t True Wireless Earbuds seem to work best. They are also so small that they don’t get in the way of my face masks.  When I’m home and just want to escape for a bit, the Master & Dynamic MW07 PLUS headphones do the trick. Thanks to their onboard active noise cancellation, these earphones let me get lost in the music. And when I’m on the computer but want headphones for music and calls, the Plantronics Voyager 8200 UC and Master & Dynamic MW65 Over-the-Ear headphones do the trick. Both have excellent ANC and both sound fantastic. For the most part, I use the 8200 UC for work and the MW65 for relaxation but both do a great job in almost and situation.

Google Nest WiFi

With both Raina and me working from home, it is more important than ever that we have solid WiFi and the ability to keep all our devices charged. The WiFi issue is nicely addressed by the Google Nest WiFi I reviewed last fall. It is an amazing mesh wireless system that has the benefit of bringing Google Assistant to whichever room becomes the home of the Nest WiFi Point. Yup, in addition to increasing the coverage of the Nest WiFi from Google, the second wireless point is also a speaker with Google Assistant. Another great option would be Eero. That’s the system I had until I received the nest WiFi and its also terrific. Judie bought her eero system and swears by it; Perry thinks it’s great, too; you can read his review here.

Charging Stations

Finally, Raina and I are both relying more heavily than ever on our phones, tablets, and headphones. Each device needs to be kept charged lest it become a paperweight and our productivity plummet. We can’t afford for that to happen. Thankfully there are a growing number of sophisticated device chargers that not only top off our phones wirelessly but also charge other devices simultaneously. Mophie offers a few interesting ones. There’s the Dual Wireless Charging Pad, and there is the mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Base.

As good as those are, however, it is the updated Nomad Base Station that sits by my bed. It wirelessly charges my phone, my Apple Watch, and it has two additional charging ports- one USB-C and the other USB-A for additional charging options. It can also wirelessly charge AirPods with a wireless charging case but I don’t have one of those. I shared details of the charging base some weeks ago and will be finishing up a full review soon.

In the living room, we have the amazing Air Omni 6-in-1 Charging Solution from Pitaka. This charging base will wirelessly charge your phone and AirPods with a wireless charging case and an Apple Watch. In addition, the back section of the Air Omni has a charging area that can charge a device with either a USB-C or a Lightning connector. And as if that weren’t enough, the Air Omni also has a USB-C port and a USB-A port so you can charge two MORE devices. Finally, it has a small, lighted drawer so you can stow a few small items. There’s so much tech packed into this amazing charging base; you can back it on Kickstarter.

Each piece of kit makes working remotely a bit easier. And while I’m looking forward to eventually being back in the office and able to see people face-to-face, for now this is the best that it gets. And I am so grateful to Judie, Gear Diary, and all of the amazing companies we work with for making it possible for me to take a congregation of 800 families online and, in the process, offer even more programming than ever despite the challenges of our times.

Travis

Even though I have been teaching from home, my gear has stayed very simple. I have a Dell laptop that I run most of my assignments and work meetings over Google Meet.

My oldest son bought his own HP Chromebook almost two years ago but rarely used it. It has now become his lifeline to his school work.  My youngest works at the desktop with two monitors. My wife uses a work-issued laptop also. There are often mornings where we are all sitting silently in the den on our devices trying to get everything finished. I am fully ready to go back to teaching everyone else’s kids and not just my two!

Xbox One

The other saving device in our house is the Xbox One. While it is usually the cause of arguments, it is also a portal for both of my sons to get to talk (yell) and communicate with some of their friends. 

Wayne

Google Nest Hub Max

  I have the $229 Google Nest Hub Max sitting on my desk next to my computer. During the day, I watch TV with my YouTube TV subscription ($49/yr) which I control with my voice (“Hey Google, play xxx on YouTube TV”). In the last few weeks, I’ve used it to keep up-to-date with the stock market. When I have a conference call, I mute the audio and continue watching the video. I also play music from my YouTube music stations. The sound isn’t super high quality, but it’s good enough to help me pass the time in the office. On occasion, I’ll also use Chromecast to send movies to the screen. The volume is easy to quickly mute since Google added the ability to use quick gestures with the Nest Hub Max.

Dropbox

Technically I don’t think this qualifies as gear. However, Dropbox is essential to my workflow throughout the day. I’ve created a folder solely to sync common files between my three home office computers. Typically I use this to synchronize images or screenshots of things that I’m working on – either for reports or social media posts. But I also use it to sync files between my various computers. This is a very handy tool and allows me to not worry about where I left a particular file since everything is accessible across all my computers. Dropbox business plans start at $15/month with discounted prices for yearly plans. Google Drive or Microsoft One Drive would likely work just as well if you have access to them.

Anker Wireless PowerWave Charger

I use this $18 Anker Wireless PowerWave Charger to keep my iPhone 11 Pro Max charged up. I find it tough sometimes to find the “sweet spot” with Qi chargers, but this upright charger makes it so that I get a positive charging connection nearly every time.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Smart Battery Case

I live in a rural area, and I find it helpful to relax mid-day with a walk. On occasion, my walks extend to 5+ miles, which makes it handy to use the $129 Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Smart Battery Case so I can continue taking calls while out exercising. What I like the most is how easy it is to insert (and remove ) the phone. Simply pull the top portion back and your phone can be easily removed.

The case supports wireless charging, but I generally charge via cable overnight and leave it on my shelf until I’m ready to walk.  The grippy case helps prevent drops which is another thing I like. It’s not the cheapest battery case you’ll find, but it’s well built and does the job.

Perry

While I have some additional time at home, besides spending more time with my wife and two kids and teaching my 5-year-old daughter how to ride a 2 wheel bike (proud dad moment!), I’ve taken up a few hobbies.

Fender Malibu Player Guitar

I’ve always wanted to play the guitar, and our friends at Fender hooked me up with a Fender Malibu Player Guitar to try out, as well as their brand new Fullerton Strat Ukulele. The $429 Malibu Player is a gorgeous small-bodied guitar with a built-in electronic Fishman pre-amp and tuner. It’s a great guitar for beginners such as myself and I’ve been enjoying learning on it.

Fender Fullerton Strat Ukelele

The Fullerton Strat Ukulele is a $199 ukulele that’s designed to look like the classic Fender Stratocaster electric guitar. The Fullerton also has built-in electronics and tuner as well.

I’ve also spent a few weeks learning to play with the Fender Play app, and I’ve seen a lot of growth in such a short amount of time. I went from not knowing anything about playing to playing simple riffs, strumming chords, and switching between chords, albeit slowly. Fender has even put together a New Player Guide that helps budding guitarists navigate their new hobby with everything from gear buying guides to tips and tricks.

Challenger Bread Pan

If you’re like me and the thousands of other people turning to bread baking with your extra time, there’s no better way to bake your homemade loaves than the $299 Challenger Bread Pan. It was designed by home bakers, for home bakers to be the first highly designed home bread baking pan on the market.

The cast-iron enclosure traps steam, which helps the crust of your bread retain moisture and not cook too quickly, allowing your bread to expand more. The shallow base makes it easy to load your bread into the pan and the handles were ergonomically designed to help you remove the lid easily mid-bake.

HTC Vive Cosmos Elite VR Headset

If you’re looking to escape your quarantine environment but don’t want to risk infection, check out the $899 HTC Vive Cosmos Elite VR Headset. The Vive Cosmos Elite provides a fully immersive experience thanks to the high-quality headset and accurate tracking of your head and the controllers in your hands.

I’ve had a blast playing first-person shooter games like Half-Life: Alyx as well as action/sports games that get your body moving and your blood pumping. Even my 5-year-old daughter loves slashing at fruit in the classic Fruit Ninja VR.

Kingston Nucleum USB-C Hub

If we’re talking about actual work (boring), our friends at Kingston hooked me up with some great home office upgrades that have helped make my WFH experience better. The $49.99 Kingston Nucleum USB-C Hub allows me to connect an external monitor, keyboard, and wireless mouse to my laptop with the use of just one port, the USB-C.  It’s a great way to reduce clutter and make transitioning between travel and desk work simple.

HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical gaming keyboard is a joy to type on. It has RGB LED lights that are gorgeous to look at, while the typing experience feels accurate and high end.

HyperX Pulsefire Dart Wireless Gaming Mouse

The HyperX Pulsefire Dart wireless gaming mouse has three different DPI settings, comfortable leather-like grips, LED-lit accents, and is compatible with wireless Qi charging. Installation of both keyboard and mouse was seamless and I was up and running in minutes.

Joel

These are the things that I use every day when I work from home. Much of it changes depending on what’s going on, but this is what I have had since the start of the ‘work from home’ phase of the virus. I always work from home, so my life hasn’t changed much except for not being able to go to the gym and church like I usually do.

My Work-Supplied Gear Includes:

Dell Precision 7250 Laptop

The Dell Precision 7520 is big, thick, and heavy without being too heavy; it works well enough to get my job done.

Dell 3GMVT TB16 Thunderbolt 3 Dock with 240W Adapter

It’s not fancy but it gets the job done. If you have a Thunderbolt capable Dell, get the ~$200 Dell 3GMVT TB16 Thunderbolt 3 Dock with 240W Adapter; you won’t regret it.

HP 27″ FreeSync Monitor

Being in System Administration requires you to have many windows open at once, and the monitor on my work laptop just isn’t enough to handle my day-to-day so I picked up the HP 27″ FreeSync Monitor.  It’s 1080p and has enough real estate to take care of things like Slack, Service Now, and other websites I need to have open to get the job done.

iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 is my work-provided cellphone. On it, I run Slack, Pager Duty, e-mail, and everything I need when I am out and about or at home for work.

My Personal Gear Includes

Microsoft Surface Pro 6 

One thing I like to do when I am not in a call is have something playing in the background or some other computer besides my work laptop beside me so I can look up things and take care of non-work related things when I take breaks from my normal systems work. My Surface Pro 6 is my favorite device for this. It’s pretty much beside me always when I am working.

Not on the list, but something I always use with my Surface, is the keyboard … which should COME with the Surface Pro! Are you listening Microsoft?

Microsoft Surface Pen

If I need to sketch something or take notes in a call that I don’t care about where they are stored then the $100 Surface Pen comes out. I think it’s essential if you buy a Surface Pro, and the pen is a big pro for buying a Surface Pro in the first place.

Microsoft Surface Mouse

The $79.99 Microsoft Surface Arc mouse is nice, but I prefer just the plain old $36 Surface Mouse. It’s small enough that it travels nicely, and I always use it over the trackpad on the keyboard.

Avantree AH6B Bluetooth Headphones

A few weeks ago, my normal Logitech H600 headset died. I needed something in a pinch, so I ordered the $89.99 Avantree AH6B Bluetooth Headphones quickly as I spend a lot of time in Zoom calls. This headset works great for that, and it sounds good too!

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920

I always hate using the built-in camera on any laptop. It just makes for horrible viewing angles and is just not as good as an external cam like the $79.99 Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. I love that it has a cover that I usually keep down if I don’t feel like being on cam.

Kaweco Sport Classic Fountain Pen

I got the $34 Kaweco Sport Classic Fountain Pen in a Bespoke box, and I love writing with it! When I want something to write with to record things I don’t want on the web, this is what I use.

Moleskine Notebook

I’ve been a long time lover of Moleskine notebooks; I always have 2-3 of these hanging around my desk.

Galanz Mini Fridge

On a long call?  Getting drowsy?  This is why I have the $169 Galenz Mini Fridge. I keep mine fully stocked with cold beverages and the occasional snack.

IKEA Bekant Sit/Stand Desk

The $499 IKEA Bekant Sit/Stand Desk is my main desk, and while I rarely use the stand functionality, I do like to be able to work while standing from time to time.

IKEA Galant Black Storage Cabinet

Every office needs storage, and the $199 IKEA Galant Black Storage Cabinet is mine. I keep my camera gear and extra 3D printing supplies in here.

IKEA Linnmon/Alex Desk

I use the $119.99 IKEA Linnmon/Alex Desk as a side desk told hole extra computers and other junk (I really need to rearrange things in here!)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ with 5G

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is my personal phone, and I love using it; it’s pretty much always with me.

LG TONE Style Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headset

The $99.99 LG TONE Style Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headset is perfect for podcasts, YouTube, and movies. These are what I usually use these for especially if I don’t want the whole house to ALSO listen!  Works ok for calls but don’t usually get too many of those.

Logitech M557 Bluetooth Mouse

I’m a trackpad hater so my work laptop always has to have a mouse. I say go Bluetooth so you can avoid having to keep track of dongles since all of my computers have Bluetooth …you can’t go wrong with this mouse. It’s travel-sized which is what I prefer anyway.

Michael

Both my wife and I work in essential businesses, so we have had to adapt to strategies that enable us to work from home when possible but also be on-site each day. In order to be ready for any potential self-quarantine, my approach has been to have everything with me at all times when I leave the facility.

Above is a pile of my ‘essential stuff’

Mask – we get a new one every morning. Masks had become part of standard PPE throughout the facility even prior to the state order.

Safety Glasses and Fog-Be-Gone – the first thing everyone does wearing a mask with glasses is to fog them up!

Earbuds with 3.5mm jack – these are the AKG earbuds that came with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (the 10+ comes with USB-C earbuds). I am on conference calls frequently and have found that having something that plugs directly into my laptop works best – and these have great sound and microphone clarity.

HP Elitebook 840 – this is my work laptop, fully loaded up but still fairly portable. Drives my dual monitor setup at my desk, but the screen is good enough to use anywhere in the facility or at home.

iPad Pro 10.5

I have been using this iPad since release in 2017, to the point where I just had to replace the Smart Keyboard cover. It is my personal workhorse that I carry everywhere – email, social media, and web browsing, working on shared documents, keeping notes that bridge between work and home, and so much more. And when I get home it is great for music and games!

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

For nearly nine months the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has been my primary work phone. It does everything for me, but the S-Pen is the big differentiator, as I can be anywhere and quickly take notes, annotate pictures, and so on. The battery life is incredible, which is invaluable when you need to be in a part of the facility with poor signal without access to a charger for hours on end. This is an incredibly expensive flagship phone, but I have never had a regret.

Samsung Galaxy Buds

The $149 Samsung Galaxy Buds pair easily with either iOS or Android devices, but with a Samsung phone, you get more features – none of which I really care about. These are more comfortable than typical earbuds, and allow me to just keep them in my ears during the day so I can talk to people working from home about data, measurements or experiments while involved with other activities. My usage of these has jumped incredibly over the pandemic, as they allow me to be much more flexible and responsive.

Other critical items

Logitech M570 Trackball Mouse

Great for every surface at home or work, the $49.99 Logitech M570 Trackball Mouse is easy on the wrist once you get used to using the trackball. I am not a fan of laptop trackpads other than Apple, so when I can use this highly capable mouse I am much happier and more productive.

Osprey Axis Backpack

I bought the Osprey Axis Backpack for hiking in the Grand Canyon, and it quickly became my everyday bag. It’s light, tough, and spacious; everything fits and is easily accessible.

•••••

You’ve seen the gear that’s helping us stay productive and sane while we hunker down for the pandemic; what is working for you?

from Joseph Rushing https://geardiary.com/2020/05/03/sheltering-in-place-during-a-pandemic-how-weve-made-it-work/