#Mobile workstations

[buzzlift]

Workstation Laptops: Are They Worth it?

Discover the pros and cons of workstation laptops to determine if they are worth the investment. Explore their performance, portability, and suitability for various tasks in this comprehensive blog.

[dndtreasury]

Gyro's Mobile Workstation

[metrocomputers]

[mobiblip]

Explore the Best ThinkPad Laptop Models: Ultimate Performance at Unbeatable Prices

In the realm of laptops, one brand has consistently stood out for its reliability, durability, and unparalleled performance – ThinkPad. Renowned for catering to professionals and tech enthusiasts alike, ThinkPad laptops have become synonymous with efficiency and productivity. Let's delve into some of the best models ThinkPad has to offer, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9: Sporting a sleek design and weighing just over 2 pounds, the X1 Carbon Gen 9 is an epitome of portability and power. Boasting an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 32GB of RAM, this laptop ensures seamless multitasking and lightning-fast performance. Its vibrant display and impressive battery life make it a perfect companion for both work and entertainment.

ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6: Combining the versatility of a 2-in-1 design with robust performance, the X1 Yoga Gen 6 is a force to be reckoned with. Featuring a 360-degree hinge and optional 4K OLED display, this laptop offers stunning visuals and unparalleled flexibility. With powerful processors and ample storage options, it effortlessly handles intensive tasks with ease.

ThinkPad T14s Gen 2: Catering to the needs of business professionals, the T14s Gen 2 strikes the perfect balance between performance and portability. Equipped with AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of RAM, it delivers exceptional computing power while remaining remarkably thin and lightweight. Its robust security features ensure peace of mind, making it an ideal choice for enterprise use.

ThinkPad P15v: Designed for professionals in creative fields such as design and engineering, the P15v packs a punch with its powerful graphics and processing capabilities. With NVIDIA Quadro graphics and up to 64GB of RAM, it effortlessly handles resource-intensive tasks like 3D rendering and video editing. Its durable build and comprehensive connectivity options make it a reliable workstation for demanding professionals.

ThinkPad E14 Gen 3: Offering impressive performance at an affordable price point, the E14 Gen 3 is perfect for small business owners and students alike. With AMD Ryzen processors and optional AMD Radeon graphics, it delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks and light gaming. Its robust security features and durable build ensure longevity, making it a cost-effective investment for budget-conscious buyers.

These are just a few highlights from the extensive lineup of ThinkPad laptops, each tailored to meet specific needs and preferences. Whether you're a business professional seeking unrivaled performance or a student in need of a reliable study companion, ThinkPad has you covered.

To explore the full range of ThinkPad laptops and find the perfect fit for your needs, visit mobiblip.com/thinkpad-laptop. Elevate your computing experience with ThinkPad – where performance meets reliability.

[praveenroshmi-blog]

EUREKA ERGONOMIC Z2 Gaming Desk 50.6'' Z Shaped Office PC Computer Gaming Table with Retractable Cup Holder Headset Hook RGB Light for Men Boyfriend Female Gift(Wood, Black)

Price: (as of – Details) Ergonomics Comfortable, 5° Tilt Angle. Oversized Mouse Pad. Rgb Led Lights, Six Color Changeable. Multi-Function Tabletop, Cable Management System. ??RETRACTABLE GEAR HOLDERS?-Cup holder & Headset hook, save desktop space and easy to reach for drinking and listening. ??5° ERGONOMIC INCLINE? – Stay comfortable and ergonomic for hours with the inclined keyboard tray and…

[casescomau]

Mobile Workstations & Portable Office

Discover a wide selection of premium storage solutions including drawer cases, wardrobe cases, Mobile Workstations & Portable Office, and flight cases tailored for video editing and production. Our offerings come with the added advantage of budget-friendly shipping options to Australia and New Zealand. Whether you're seeking functional drawers or specialized flight cases, our collection ensures quality and caters to your preferences while keeping shipping costs reasonable. Embrace top-notch protection and convenience with our range of storage cases, all designed to meet your unique needs.

[samwiselastname]

The mechanisms by which computers (and household objects with computers tucked into them) are subsidized for consumer markets are fucking insane and thinking about it for more than a minute makes me start to Understand The Coat.

And you seem anticonsumption types skimming over the full weight of all the tragedy that puts the smart in your smart TV or churns out disposable cellphones to say, "it's a stupid wasteful luxury status symbol" when its the shape of the entire consumer market. Nobody's fucking buying a new iPhone every year, dude. They're trading in every 2-5 years to get a new one on credit for $30/month. It's hardware as a service. The hardware is necessary to cope with obscene memory bloat on the web & in software, and remain socially connected in a very photography-oriented culture.

Anyway, pretty hype for my pixel 7 to get here. (rimshot)

[ioceanebranding]

Top 5 Must-Have IT Products for Start-Ups

You can streamline your business operations and help your business grow by investing in the right IT products as a start-up. The market has plenty of options and it is challenging to choose the most appropriate one for your specific needs. Here, we highlight the top five must-have IT products for start-ups and why they might benefit your business.

HP 247 G8 Notebook PC

The HP 247 G8 Notebook PC is a powerful and efficient laptop designed for start-ups. It has a processor based on AMD's R3 5300, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, which allows it to handle complex tasks and store large amounts of data. It comes with a 1-year warranty, providing peace of mind if problems arise. The 14" display is a good size for working on multiple projects without taking up too much space.

Efficient Performance

The system has an AMD Ryzen 3 5300 processor

8GB RAM to provide fast performance 

Large Storage Capacity

A 512GB SSD provides plenty of storage space

Portable & Lightweight

14-inch display and compact design

Ideal for start-ups that frequently travel or work remotely

Dell Optiplex 3000 Tower

The Dell Optiplex 3000 Tower desktop computer allows you to run your business more efficiently and effectively. This laptop is equipped with a Core i3-12100 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It runs Windows 10 Pro and has no DVD drive, so it's easy to use and maintain. It's perfect for businesses that need more processing power, and the 22" display is large enough to multitask comfortably.

High Performance

Core i3 processor and 

8GB RAM

More Storage Capacity

256GB SSD's ample storage space

Easy to Upgrade

Very  easy to upgrade 

Ideal for start-ups that anticipate scaling and need IT products that can adapt

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 30A All-In-One

For start-ups seeking power in a small package, the Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 30A All-In-One is ideal. This machine has an Intel Core i5-1240P processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, making it a reliable and efficient machine. It's 24" display and all-in-one design make it perfect for working on multiple projects simultaneously. Windows 11 Pro is included, so it's easy to set up and use.

Built-in Webcam

For virtual meetings or require video conferencing

Efficient Performance

Intel Core i5 processor and 

8GB RAM

Space-Saving Design

24-inch display and an all-in-one design

ideal choice for start-ups with limited office space

Dell Precision 3560 Mobile Workstation

Start-ups that require more processing power and advanced graphics capabilities will find the Dell Precision 3560 Mobile Workstation ideal. This computer has an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, which makes it capable of handling complex tasks. You can work on multiple projects at once with the 15.6" display, and a 3-year warranty backs the workstation.

Lightweight & Portable

lightweight build and compact design

Better for start-ups that work remotely or travel frequently

Large Storage Capacity

512GB SSD is better for large businesses that need plenty of storage space

High-Performance Graphics

NVIDIA T500 graphics card

Ideal for start-ups that require high-performance graphics

Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 2

Designed for start-ups that require a lot of processing power, the Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 2 is an excellent laptop. A 512GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, and an Intel processor make this a powerful and efficient laptop. Work on multiple projects simultaneously on the laptop's 14" display, which is perfect for multitasking, and operate it efficiently with Windows 10 Pro.

Built-in Collaboration Features

Smart voice recognition software,

Dual noise-canceling microphone arrays, and 

Dolby Audio

Impressive Battery Life

battery lasts up to 11 hours

Powerful Performance

Intel Core i5 processors and 

8GB RAM

Bonus: T440 Server

Start-ups requiring sophisticated IT infrastructure should consider the T440 Server. This is the perfect solution for businesses that require more processing power and storage capacity. This server can be customised to meet your specific needs, and it comes with a 3-year warranty, ensuring your peace of mind. You can scale and grow your business with this powerful and reliable machine.

Efficient Performance

High-speed, efficient performance on the server

Storage Capacity

Storage capacity is ample

A great choice for large businesses

High Scalability

Designed to be scalable

Ideal for start-ups anticipating growth

Your choice of IT products can greatly impact your start-up's success. Our online store offers the HP 247 G8 Notebook PC, Dell Optiplex 3000 Tower, and Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo, which are some of the newest models.

Maximize your start-up's potential with top-quality IT products from NoteBuk.in

All-in-Ones, Dell Precision 3560 Mobile Workstations, and Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Generation 2 are excellent choices for start-ups looking to invest in powerful and reliable IT equipment. These machines aren't only efficient and come with warranties, making them a safe investment for your business.

What to look for in a business laptop 

Processor

Most Windows systems use Intel or AMD processors.

A small number of ARM-based CPUs used in ultralight systems.

Processor needs vary by task: Celeron/Pentium for receptionist, i3/i5 for sales, i7/M2 Pro for graphics.

RAM:

Comes in many sizes and speeds, with more translating into better performance.

4GB minimum for any business computer.

16GB is better for typical office workers.

Storage

Can have a traditional hard drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD).

SSDs are faster, more reliable, use less power, are costlier.

Look for at least a 128GB SSD or a 1TB HDD.

Battery

A 3,500 mAh capacity power pack will likely run for longer.

OS

Windows 10/11 Pro provides better security, BitLocker encryption, and management tools.

Organisations needing enterprise-class security and manageability can opt for Windows 10/11 Enterprise.

Form Factor & Screen

13.3- to 16-inch screens are standard for laptops, with some models up to 17.3 inches.

Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) should be the minimum.

A touch screen benefits designers, marketers, and salespeople in various tasks.

So, where do you go when you need the best IT equipment at competitive rates? Choose the right product for your needs from the various options available. Additionally, the platform offers flexible payment and financing options, so start-ups can invest in the right IT products without straining their budget. This investment can be made without breaking the bank with NoteBuk.in, allowing you to focus on what matters most - growing your business.

[interiorergonomics]

Furnish Your Office Workspace with Modern Office Accessories

Furnish your office workspace with modern office accessories for a functional, comfortable and productive environment. Choose from a range of

cable management systems like under desk snake cable organizer

acoustic panels

mobile phone wireless chargers

Interactive Counterbalance Desk Mount Single “Monitor Arm”

A combination of these accessories plays a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and organization.

Invest in high-quality accessories as way to

optimize your workspace layout

improve workflow

create a more ergonomic setup for your employees.

Additionally, modern office accessories add a touch of style and sophistication to your office decor. In this case, reflecting the professionalism and innovation of your business. Even when you're setting up a new office or upgrading your existing workspace, incorporating modern office accessories is a smart investment that will benefit your employees and your business in the long run.

[laboratory-equipment-supplier]

Erlab Captair Bio 391 Smart Mobile Ductless Filtering PCR Workstation

Erlab Captair Bio 391 Smart Mobile Ductless Filtering PCR Workstation features a high efficiency filtration system that provides a particulate free atmosphere around the manipulation. A high energy UV light is used to decontaminate the worktop from biological cross-contamination between operations. Erlab PCR workstations are fitted with a high-efficiency filtration system (HEPA/ULPA U16) which keeps your work area particle-free and prevents any pollution from reaching your handling operations. To Learn About More Details On Captair Bio 391 Smart PCR Workstation Please Come And Visit Our Website..!

[agapi-kalyptei]

crowdstrike: hot take 1

It's too early in the news cycle to say anything truly smart, but to sum things up, what I know so far:

there was no "hack" or cyberattack or data breach*

a private IT security company called CrowdStrike released a faulty update which practically disabled all its desktop (?) Windows workstations (laptops too, but maybe not servers? not sure)

the cause has been found and a fix is on the way

as it stands now, the fix will have to be manually applied (in person) to each affected workstation (this could mean in practice maybe 5, maybe 30 minutes of work for each affected computer - the number is also unknown, but it very well could be tens (or hundreds) of thousands of computers across thousands of large, multinational enterprises.

(The fix can be applied manually if you have a-bit-more-than-basic knowledge of computers)

Things that are currently safe to assume:

this wasn't a fault of any single individual, but of a process (workflow on the side of CrowdStrike) that didn't detect the fault ahead of time

[most likely] it's not that someone was incompetent or stupid - but we don't have the root cause analysis available yet

deploying bugfixes on Fridays is a bad idea

*The obligatory warning part:

Just because this wasn't a cyberattack, doesn't mean there won't be related security breaches of all kinds in all industries. The chaos, panic, uncertainty, and very soon also exhaustion of people dealing with the fallout of the issue will create a perfect storm for actually malicious actors that will try to exploit any possible vulnerability in companies' vulnerable state.

The analysis / speculation part:

globalization bad lol

OK, more seriously: I have not even heard about CrowdStrike until today, and I'm not a security engineer. I'm a developer with mild to moderate (outsider) understanding of vulnerabilities.

OK some background / basics first

It's very common for companies of any size to have more to protect their digital assets than just an antivirus and a firewall. Large companies (Delta Airlines) can afford to pay other large companies to provide security solutions for them (CrowdStrike). These days, to avoid bad software of any kind - malware - you need a complex suite of software that protects you from all sides:

desktop/laptop: antivirus, firewall, secure DNS, avoiding insecure WiFi, browser exploits, system patches, email scanner, phishing on web, phishing via email, physical access, USB thumb drive, motherboard/BIOS/UEFI vulnerabilities or built-in exploits made by the manufacturers of the Chinese government,

person/phone: phishing via SMS, phishing via calls, iOS/Android OS vulnerabilities, mobile app vulnerabilities, mobile apps that masquerade as useful while harvesting your data, vulnerabilities in things like WhatsApp where a glitched JPG pictures sent to you can expose your data, ...

servers: mostly same as above except they servers have to often deal with millions of requests per day, most of them valid, and at least some of the servers need to be connected to the internet 24/7

CDN and cloud services: fundamentally, an average big company today relies on dozens or hundreds of other big internet companies (AWS / Azure / GCP / Apple / Google) which in turn rely on hundreds of other companies to outsource a lot of tasks (like harvesting your data and sending you marketing emails)

infrastructure - routers... modems... your Alexa is spying on you... i'm tired... etc.

Anyway if you drifted to sleep in the previous paragraph I don't blame you. I'm genuinely just scratching the surface. Cybersecurity is insanely important today, and it's insanely complex too.

The reason why the incident blue-screened the machines is that to avoid malware, a lot of the anti-malware has to run in a more "privileged" mode, meaning they exist very close to the "heart" of Windows (or any other OS - the heart is called kernel). However, on this level, a bug can crash the system a lot more easily. And it did.

OK OK the actual hot lukewarm take finally

I didn't expect to get hit by y2k bug in the middle of 2024, but here we are.

As bad as it was, this only affected a small portion of all computers - in the ballpark of ~0.001% or even 0.0001% - but already caused disruptions to flights and hospitals in a big chunk of the world.

maybe-FAQ:

"Oh but this would be avoided if they weren't using the Crowdwhatever software" - true. However, this kind of mistake is not exclusive to them.

"Haha windows sucks, Linux 4eva" - I mean. Yeah? But no. Conceptually there is nothing that would prevent this from happening on Linux, if only there was anyone actually using it (on desktop).

"But really, Windows should have a better protection" - yes? no? This is a very difficult, technical question, because for kernel drivers the whole point is that 1. you trust them, and 2. they need the super-powerful-unrestrained access to work as intended, and 3. you _need_ them to be blazing fast, so babysitting them from the Windows perspective is counterproductive. It's a technical issue with no easy answers on this level.

"But there was some issue with Microsoft stuff too." - yes, but it's unknown if they are related, and at this point I have not seen any solid info about it.

The point is, in a deeply interconnected world, it's sort of a miracle that this isn't happening more often, and on a wider scale. Both bugfixes and new bugs are deployed every minute to some software somewhere in the world, because we're all in a rush to make money and pay rent and meet deadlines.

Increased monoculture in IT is bad for everyone. Whichever OS, whichever brand, whichever security solution provider - the more popular they are, the better visible their mistakes will be.

As much as it would be fun to make jokes like "CrowdStroke", I'm not even particularly mad at the company (at this point - that might change when I hear about their QA process). And no, I'm not even mad at Windows, as explained in the pseudo-FAQ.

The ultimate hot take? If at all possible, don't rely on anything related to computers. Technical problems are caused by technical solutions.

[cevansbrat0007]

The Green Light

Summary: Full Story! Andy is over the moon when you finally get the green light to be intimate again after the birth of your babies. But how do you explain to him that you're not quite comfortable with your post-pregnancy body just yet? Check out the sequel: The Green Light Afterglow.

Warnings: Mature Themes, Light Smut, Daddy Kink, Insecure Reader, Discussions of Post-Pregnancy Body, Discussions of Intimacy, Slight Lactation Kink Reference, Cursing, Minors DNI

A/N: I know this took a while. Thank you all for your patience and I sincerely hope it's okay. Prompt courtesy of an anonymous reader. Part of my ongoing Growing Pains Series. Warnings subject to change. All mistakes are my own. Please let me know your thoughts!

___

“Well, I’ve gotta tell you, my dear, by all appearances you’ve healed just fine.” You let out a sigh as Dr. Wilson, your OBGYN, removes the speculum. God, how you hated that thing. “You can go ahead and sit up.” You watch as he removes his gloves to make some notes on his mobile workstation. “Everything looks good. How have you been feeling lately? Raising four kids is no easy feat, especially when half of them are newborns.”

“Andy and I try to split the shifts as best we can. If he’s helping with the twins then I’ve got the older girls, and vice versa.”

“That’s good. One thing I’ve always liked about the two of you is that you believe in teamwork. You’d be surprised at how many couples don’t.” He makes a few more notes. “And how many hours of sleep would you say you get a night? Ballpark it for me if you can.”

“Um…” You have to think about that one. “Maybe five. Yeah, I would say about five hours a night. And I can occasionally squeeze in a quick nap during the day when the twins are sleeping. It doesn’t happen all of the time, but it’s better than nothing.”

The older man nods his head. “And how are Bianca and Katrina adjusting to the new additions? And by the way, don’t forget that you promised to show me pictures, because I certainly haven’t.” Dr. Wilson looks up from his computer and offers you a warm smile.

“I haven’t forgotten, don’t worry.” You tell him with a chuckle. “And they’re okay. Bianca loves to hold them all the time. And Katrina is enjoying being a big sister – she’s very helpful. She wants to play with them so bad, but she doesn’t quite get that they’re still a little too young.”

“I see. And is she still threatening to put A.J. outside?” The corners of his eyes crinkle as he struggles not to laugh just like he had when you’d first relayed your three-year-old’s initial reaction to your pregnancy reveal. 

“Oh, God. She’s only made that threat twice I think since we’ve brought them home. Once when he wouldn’t stop crying. And then again when she wanted to cuddle with me while I was in the middle of a feeding. Other than that, she’s been fine. He’s growing on her.” 

“Glad to hear it.” He mutters. “That’s usually how it goes. Give it a few years, and I bet they’ll be the best of friends.”

God, you sure hoped so. Just last night you had a dream about finding your little boy out in the woods. Except he’d somehow grown a beard, making him look like a baby mountain man. And, of course, he had been clutching that damn blankie too! 

“Well, you’ll be happy to know that I’m officially giving you the all-clear to resume any and all physical activity. If you have any concerns after we’re done here, you know I’m only a phone call away.”

Thank goodness! You couldn’t wait to start working out again. You were tired of rocking stretchy pants and maternity clothes. 

Your phone buzzes in your purse as Dr. Wilson finishes up whatever else he’s typing. It goes on for a while before it finally stops, only to resume buzzing seconds later. 

If you were a betting woman, and you were, you’d put your money on the person behind all the constant buzzing being none other than your husband, Andrew. You knew he’d been waiting for this day. Your man had been extra giddy this morning. So much in fact that you could’ve sworn he’d clicked his heels on his way out the door.

___

Twenty Minutes Later…

You wait to check your phone until after your appointment is over and you're safely back in your car. According to your phone, you have two missed calls from Andy Bear, along with three new texts.  

Andy Bear: Hey, baby girl. How’d the appointment go? Did we get the all clear?

Andy Bear: Can you answer your phone, please? I want to hear your sweet voice when you tell me the good news.

Andy Bear: C'mon! You’ve got me dancing on pins and needles right now. Call me.

You shake your head and then dial your man. He answers on the second ring. 

“There you are, sweetness! I was starting to get worried there for a moment.” The genuine concern in his voice has you playfully rolling your eyes. 

“Relax, Andy. Sometimes these appointments can take a while. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong, Dr. Wilson is just being thorough.” You check your appearance in the rearview mirror, noting that the bags under your eyes seem to look better than they have in days. “That’s part of the reason he’s been my OBGYN for so long, because he’s good at what he does.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. He’s great.” You know he's not being dismissive on purpose, it’s just that he’s chomping at the bit to hear one key piece of information. “How’s your little body? Did we get the green light?”

Ahh, and there it was. Sometimes Andrew Barber was like a dog with a fucking bone. And only your husband would refer to your body as being “little” when you were still walking around sporting maternity wear.  

“I’ve been cleared for all physical activity. Which means I can finally start working out again and –”

“Fuck, yeah we did!” He cheers into the receiver, loud enough to make you wince. “Alright, baby girl, that settles it. BiBi and KitCat are going to my sister’s for a sleepover and the twins will stay at grandma’s. Meanwhile, I’m gonna leave the office early to pick us up some dinner. How about we celebrate with some surf and turf?”

“Oh my god, Andrew! We are not leaving our two newborns at your mother’s house for the night. That’s too much!”

“What if she already said yes?” You have no doubt that your unrepentant husband is smiling hard enough to crack a tooth right about now. 

“You didn’t.” Your head drops to the steering wheel with a light thunk. 

“Oh, I did.” The sound of an eager chuckle spills across the other line. “Ma and Bill are happy to keep Rory and Junior. She said you left them with enough formula and diapers to get ‘em through and that she, and I quote, would be positively heartbroken if you deprived her of time with her precious new grandchildren.”  

“Andy…I don’t know…” As tempting as the thought of a night of uninterrupted slumber was, you were on the fence about being away from your precious babies for that long. 

RoRo needed to be rocked to sleep, while A.J. needed you to pat his little tush and bounce him just so. And they both needed approximately 1,375 kisses every five minutes, otherwise they got fussy. 

“You must really want a good night’s sleep, huh, Big Man?”

“Baby, when I get my hands on you, I promise that sleeping will be the last thing on both of our minds. Now, I’ve gotta run. But I’ll see you home around 4:00pm.”

“Andy…” 

How did you tell your husband that you weren’t really feeling your post-pregnancy body right now? You’d even taken to changing in the bathroom lately. Thankfully he hadn’t seemed to notice that increasingly bad habit of yours…

At least not yet. But it was only a matter of time.

“Hush, sweetness. You just let Daddy take care of everything, okay? I’ve been dreaming of this day for almost two months now, and I plan to take my time loving all over every inch of your delectable body. And what’s more, you’re going to let me.” You can practically feel your nipples pebbling beneath the fabric of your shirt. 

God, how did he always manage to sound so sexy when he was telling you what to do? Handsome ass buttface!

“I’ve gotta head into this meeting, but in the meantime, get some rest. You’re gonna need it.”

“Yeah, okay, sure.” You respond with a resigned sigh. “I…I guess I’ll see you when you get home then.”

“Damn right. Can’t wait to lose myself between those luscious thighs.” Andy rasps, with a slightly roughened edge to his tone. “It’s been way too long since I’ve had a taste…” 

Oh good God…and it had been way too long since you had to deal with beard burn. At this point, you’d almost forgotten about what it felt like.

“Bye, Andy Bear.”

"Goodbye, little love.”

The call ends, leaving you alone with your thoughts. Putting the car in drive, you pull out of the parking lot and start thinking of every argument you could possibly make to talk your sweet, although slightly ogreish, husband out of sexy times and into sleepy times. But there was also something that told you that might not work.

Which meant it was time to come up with a Plan B. And while you were at it, probably a Plan C too.

___

Later That Afternoon...

“This makes me look like an apple with legs.”

You stare at your reflection in the bathroom mirror trying your best not to give in to the overwhelming feeling of defeat. At this point, you’d tried on multiple sets of lingerie – all different styles, cuts, and colors. 

And this one had been the only thing that seemed to look halfway decent.

Well, the good news was that your ass was still there. But the bad news? So was your stomach. 

“Swear to God…I’m gonna find an ocean and throw myself in it.” You mutter as you stare at your reflection. You let out a resigned sigh as you do a little spin. “Knowing my ass can’t swim.” You gently smoosh your hand against your tummy in an attempt to flatten it. 

To be fair, you’d only given birth two months ago and the lingerie you’d purchased was kind of slimming so…

Maybe you were being too hard on yourself. Or, maybe it was still worth trying to convince your husband to settle for an evening filled with dinner and cuddles. You really weren’t in the mood to take your clothes off in front of him at the moment. 

Hell, who were you kidding? You could walk around wearing nothing but fishnets and tinfoil and the man would still find a reason to be into you. 

Sometimes your loving husband was a man of the hopeless variety. 

Plus, while Andrew Barber wouldn’t force you to do anything you didn’t want to do, he would definitely do everything in his power to persuade you. And he could be very persuasive when he put his mind to it. 

Yeah. You were probably fucked.

You take a deep breath and run your fingers through your thick hair, loosening and fluffing your curls. Although Andy would be home any minute, there was still time to throw on sweats and a t-shirt or something. 

“Fuck!” You hiss as your eyes well and your bottom lip begins to tremble. The other problem was that, while you were convinced that you needed more time, you also wanted to make your husband happy. But how could you when you could barely stomach the idea of taking off your clothes in front of him.

Just last week, some asshole at your favorite smoothie bar had the nerve to ask how far along you were – his intrusive gaze lingering on your post-baby body. His audacity had caught you so off guard that you were pretty sure that you’d given some unintelligible answer before snatching your drink and running towards the nearest exit. 

That one little interaction had practically eviscerated what little bit of self-confidence you had left. And while you hadn’t made specific mention of it to Andy, you might end up doing so – if only to plead your case. 

Which was that you were simply too large right now to be sexy, let alone feel attractive. Your skin was too loose, your stretch marks too prominent. And not only that, you were pretty sure that the only reason Andy wanted you right now was because he hadn’t gotten any in a couple of months. 

Once his itch had been sufficiently scratched, the haze would clear and then your husband would see your body for what it was. He would understand your need to undress behind closed doors, without an audience. And then he would give you however much time you needed to get yourself back into some semblance of shape. 

A lone tear slips down your cheek, which only serves to piss you off more. And although you’re quick to dash it away, another one is soon to follow. The last thing you needed for Andrew to notice you’d been crying. There was no need for both of you to feel bad about the state of things, you know?

With one last shake of your head you decide to throw on your robe and head downstairs to greet your man. 

“Let’s get this shit over with.”

___

Ten Minutes Later…

“Baby?” Your husband calls out as he enters the house from the garage. “Baby, I’m home! Where are you?”

“Kitchen!” You go back to busying yourself folding your brand new set of dish towels you’d purchased from Bed, Bath, & Beyond. That store was one of your happy places, second only to Target and Disney World. It also helped that there was one located almost directly across the street from the mall you’d stopped at as well.

Your pulse quickens as you hear him approach, his rapidly falling footsteps coming closer by the second.

“Ah, I found you.” Andy rounds the corner, grinning from ear to ear. “Hi, my gorgeous girl.” His smile somehow grows impossibly wider. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”  

“Well, here I am.” You cast him a demure glance over your shoulder. “Although, I’m afraid I’m probably not much to look at.” Noticing his hands are surprisingly empty, you attempt to change the subject. “I thought you were gonna stop and grab dinner on the way?” 

“I was.” He cocks his hip against the kitchen counter as loosens his tie. “But since you didn’t seem all that keen on the idea of surf and turf this morning I figured I’d hold off. Maybe see how we were feeling later this evening.”

“Oh.” 

“Oh? Is that all my baby has to say about that?” Andy tosses his tie onto the counter before unfastening the top three buttons of his light blue dress shirt. “Just oh?” 

“Uh, yeah. How was your day?” You were quickly running out of towels to unfold and refold. If you kept it up you were going to start looking like a lunatic.

“Too long for a man who’s been missing his wife the way I have.” His sensual purr is enough to make you weak in the knees. “It was fucking excruciating, Baby Girl.” 

Don’t make eye contact. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t make eye – fuck! Your dumbass just made fucking eye contact!

Your throat suddenly goes dry as the weight of his intense gaze threatens to overwhelm you. Andrew Barber always seemed to have this way about him. Only he had the power to unravel you in this manner. 

It was truly a skill that was his alone. But on days like today, it was also a major nuisance.   

“Come here.” The gentleness of his tone softens the command.

“Umm…” Instead of doing as you’re told you decide to shove those stupid towels you’ve been preoccupied with into a drawer. Which also happens to be the wrong drawer. Kitchen linens didn’t belong with the cutting boards. Anybody with some sense could see that!   

“Sweetheart…” Andy’s voice drops another octave. “Stop fussing with those and come here already. I’d really like to hold my wife.” His earnest plea has your eyes welling with tears.

“Yeah. Okay.” You sniffle out, before dropping the towel and making a headlong dash into his waiting embrace. He wraps his brawny arms around you then, tucking his chin into your thick mane of glossy curls.

The two of you stand there without moving. Holding each other close as your hearts beat in time with one another. Andy’s hand comes to rest on your lower back, his palm slowly rubbing in small, soothing circles. 

“What’s wrong, princess?” He hugs even tighter as you gently nuzzle your face against his chest, effectively wiping off what little bit of makeup you’d managed to apply earlier. “Tell me, please.”

Aww. Your sweet Ogre had even said “please”. 

“Nothing.” Which was also code for everything. 

Andy steps back to tenderly grip your chin, his thumb lightly smoothing across your bottom lip. “You know Daddy doesn’t like it when you lie.” And then he leans in to brush his mouth over your own. “Especially when you’re upset.”

“I know.” The words come out barely above a whisper. “And I’m fine. I just, um…” You go to pull away, surprised when he actually lets you. “I went and did a little shopping today. You know…cuz’ we got the green light. But – well, not the robe. Th–that isn’t new. But once I got it home and really looked at it, I um…” You throw up your hands as everything comes tumbling out in one jumbled mess.

“It just doesn’t fit right, okay? It probably didn’t even fit properly at the boutique when I tried it on and I just didn’t notice. Because the lighting was different and the mirrors are maybe a little more forgiving. Kind of like the ones you find in a funhouse. Except all of them were super flattering. Not like the one we’ve got in our bathroom here at home. Which…I mean that’s probably how they get ya, right?”

Your husband lifts a quizzical brow as you continue to ramble and slowly back away. You knew there was quite literally no possible chance you could manage to outrun your handsome attorney. But that didn’t mean you weren’t above giving it the old college try.   

“So, I’m just gonna go upstairs and peel this ugly thing off. That way neither one of us has to even bother looking at it.” You finish rather lamely.

“And why exactly do you think I wouldn’t want to look at you? How about you explain that one to me, please?” Andy growls, jamming his hands into the pockets of his trousers.                 

“Because I don’t like the way I look right now and I’m pretty sure that if I show you, then you won’t either.”

Andy stares you down, the muscle ticking in his jaw. But you were beyond caring at this point. Right now was about acknowledging the truth regarding your body and the level of comfort you had with it.  

“That’s bullshit, baby.” He rakes an impatient hand through his hair, moussing the auburn strands. “You know I love the way you look. I fucking adore you.”  

“And that last part may very well be true, Big Man.” You concede, toying with the material of your robe. “But I, um...” A lump forms in your throat, but you force yourself to press on. “I do believe you love the way I look when I’m pregnant, yes. So do I…mostly. And you also love the way I look when I’m not pregnant. As in, after I’ve lost a healthy chunk of the baby weight.”  

“What in the–? I mean, Jesus fucking Christ!” Your husband cuts himself off mid-sentence as he rocks back on his heels – as if stunned by your admission. 

“I’m saying this wrong.” Good lord, you needed to get a better handle on the direction of this conversation. “Fuck! I know I am. But I don’t feel very good about myself right now. I don’t want to take off my clothes. I don’t want you to see me in this lingerie. Because I am almost entirely convinced that once you do – once you see all that I’m currently working with – you will change your mind about wanting to sleep with me.”

“You don’t mean that.” Andy scoffs under his breath, which you ignore.

“And if I see that…if I see that switch flip behind your eyes when it finally clicks just how unattractive I truly am…I don’t think I could handle that.”  

As hard as this was, it was important for you to make him understand. And once you were finished, perhaps you could cook the two of you something for dinner.  After that you would simply settle in and enjoy an easy, child-free night.

“Meaning?” Andy grunts.

“Meaning, I’m not taking off this robe tonight.” You blow out a weary breath as your hands go rest on your hips. “In fact, I don’t even know why –”

“Are you finished yet, sweetheart?” Your husband finally interrupts, apparently having had enough of your tirade. “Or do you have more? Because I’ve gotta tell you, as nice as it is that you think you’ve decided all this shit for us, your Daddy has quite a bit to say. So, are you fucking finished?”

“Y–yes.” That strange lump in your throat is back. “But I –”

“Stop. If you’re going to be done, then be done.” Andy interrupts again, scrubbing a tired hand over his face. “Baby Girl…I know what you’re doing. Even if you don’t, even if you can’t see it. I do. And I’m going to put a stop to it right now.”

“I’m just telling us both the truth!” You cry before you can catch yourself. 

“No. You’re feeding us both lies. And I won’t stand for that shit. Not for another goddamned moment. I–I just won’t.”

The passion in his voice is enough to temporarily silence any forthcoming protests. 

“And what’s more,” Andy forges on, “you’re not giving me even a shred of credit here. Which, and I’ve gotta be real honest with you here, kinda pisses me the fuck off.” Now it’s his turn to sigh, although this one is filled with exasperation.

“I’m sorry.” You whisper, looking down at your toes.

“Look. At. Me.” The authority in his tone has your head snapping up immediately. 

“Have I ever, and I do mean ever, in all the years we’ve been together, given you any indication that you are anything but beautiful to me?” He takes a step towards you, even as you take one back. “I quite literally worship the ground you walk on, sweetness. Which means that I occasionally notice things, even when you think I don’t.”

Your husband takes another step towards you, and then another. He’s getting closer, purposely crowding you with his big body – essentially trapping you like the predator that he was.   

“There has never been a time, not once, when I have been less than hopelessly attracted to you. I want you all of the goddamned time. And, you know, maybe I should seek professional help for this shit, but I don’t want to. I don’t need to. Because I love my wife. I adore every single inch of you.”

You jump when your back collides with the refrigerator, the cool surface of the stainless steel appliance piercing your skin through the thin fabric of your robe.

“So what is it, Baby Girl? What is that you’ve got under there that’s got you so convinced I’m going to be disgusted by what I see.” Andy levels you with a pointed look as his hands go to gently grip your biceps, caging you in. “What is it you’re trying to hide from me?”

You close your eyes when it becomes too hard to look at the man you loved more than anything - the man who was surely about to become your undoing.     

“While I appreciate your so-called brand of honesty, sometimes it hurts me when you talk about yourself like this. When you doubt yourself in this way. When you doubt me. Doubt us.” Andy briefly rests his forehead against yours before continuing. 

“How am I supposed to help you battle these insecurities if you won’t even let me in the ring, sweetness? Sometimes you make it damn near impossible to – fuck!” He hisses, breaking the almost tender embrace before reminding himself to pause. “Okay.”

“I–I’m sorry, Andrew.” This time you don’t bother trying to fight back the tears when they come. Instead you decide to let them fall, realizing that it might finally be okay to let your husband catch you.

Before you broke completely and shattered into a hundred-million little pieces.   

“Why on earth are you apologizing to me right now?” He cups your face with his hands as he brushes your tears away. “I’m not shaming you. I’m just…” He takes another calming breath. “I’m just talking to you. I thought we were expressing how we felt about things, weren’t we?”

“Yeah.” You give him a quick nod as more tears make their way down your cheeks.  

“Okay.” He presses a sweet kiss to your nose. “Then will you trust me to show you something?” Again you nod before allowing him to lace his fingers through yours and pull you in the direction of the hall.

“Wh–where are we going?”

“Hush.” 

He leads you down the hallway in silence, not stopping until you’re both standing in front of the full-length mirror located in the foyer. And then he reaches around to undo the knot on your robe, sliding it off your shoulders and letting it pool on the floor at your feet. 

“Well, would you look at you? Is this pretty little thing what you bought for me today?”

“Mmhm.” You breathe, resting your head against his broad chest while your man looks his fill. Andy smooths his hands up and down your sides, lovingly kneading your ample curves. “It was the only thing that I felt, um…like it might be okay.”

“You’re fucking gorgeous, Baby Girl.” Andy playfully nips at your ear. “You still trust me? Okay, good. Then let’s take this off, too.” He reaches for the skirt of your lingerie.

“But why?” You whine, attempting to wiggle out of his hold. Unfortunately for you, your Big Man refuses to let you go. “Wait!”

“I think I’ve waited long enough.” Even though he’s pushing you, you can tell he’s also trying to keep a lid on his patience. “We both have. You got to make your case back there in the kitchen, young lady. Which means it’s now time for your Daddy to make his, don’t you think?”

While you weren’t quite sure where this was going, you also weren’t sure if you were ready to use your safe word yet. If that particular rule even applied right now.

“I – alright.” You concede before lifting your arms so that he can help remove the flimsy garment, leaving you naked and bare to his gaze. Goosebumps rise on your vulnerable flesh as you shiver, but it’s not from the cold.

Safe to say, catching a chill was the last thing on your mind. You just wanted to get this shit over with, whatever it was, and then move the fuck on already.

“Be a good girl and open your eyes for me, little love.” Andy purrs, lightly running his fingers through your curls. “I want to show you what I see every time I look at you.” 

It takes you a moment, but eventually you’re able to do as you’re told. But instead of focusing on your own reflection, you choose to look at your husband – taking comfort in the warmth radiating from him.

You wanted to trust him. You really did.     

“Thank you. Now, I want you to do your best to hear me.” Andy begins as his hands come up to rest themselves on your shoulders. “You are gorgeous no matter what size you are. And I am consistently awed by the fact that you, my darling wife, just gave birth to two healthy babies a little over eight weeks ago. My babies.” You receive a tender kiss to the back of your neck.

Your lower lip begins to tremble of its own accord. But this time you don’t look away, instead you follow the path of his fingers as they trail their way down your body.

“It’s because of you, and your magnificent little body, that I’m lucky enough to have four pieces of heaven running around this house, making noise and causing chaos. Giving me both a reason to live again along with a few new gray hairs at the same time.” 

You watch as he lifts your breasts, hefting the erotic weight of them in his palms. He gently massages them, completely unfazed by the light dribble of milk leaking from your left nipple. Instead you’re treated to another roguish grin as his tongue darts out to greedily lap up the stray drops from his knuckles. 

“Fucking delicious. But stop trying to distract me, baby.” He rasps, his tone just shy of teasing. “We both know you’re not quite ready for me to feast just yet.” And then he winks at you, which suddenly has your legs feeling like jelly. 

Although you flinch when his focus shifts to your belly, the pads of his fingers tracing along one of your more prominent stretch marks. He keeps his touch light - bordering on reverent - as he marvels at the angry stripes painted across your skin.

The ones formed out of a natural bond built between a mother and her children. 

“I love this part of you. This part right here where you – aw, no. Please don’t look away from me, honey.” Andy moves to kiss away a fresh wave of tears. “Let me see those eyes.”  

“I…I...” Your mouth clamps shut as you stifle a hiccup. You grant yourself a couple of seconds before opening your eyes again. This time when you do, you gently place your hands on top of his. “I’m sorry. I know, you love this part of me because of the kids. And I get it, I do. But…” You shake your head and give up.

Because something tells you that perhaps you’d be better off just listening for right now. 

“Yes, I absolutely love this part of you because of our rugrats, but that’s not the only reason. It’s because, as much as I adore your tight little pussy and that spankable ass of yours, your belly has always been it for me.”

“What?” Now that has your full attention.    

“I’m not kidding.” He asserts. “I don’t think I’ve ever shared this with you, probably because I thought I’d run the risk of sounding dumb. But your belly has always been my favorite feature because it’s…it’s my anchor.”

Your husband’s heartfelt admission actually has the nerve to throw you for a bit of a loop.   

“I’m serious.” Andy continues, leaning down to press a hard kiss to your cheek. “There’s something about whenever the world feels like it’s falling apart all around me and then I reach for you, because that’s what I do. And you’re always there for me, my love. Always.” He gives you a light squeeze. “And without fail, you just let me hold you like this, wherever we are. And I just…I feel better.”

“Swear to God, I’m a grown-ass man, but this part of you brings me so much comfort. I understand the fact that you struggle with accepting your body the way it is right now, especially after welcoming the twins. But please believe me when I tell you that where you only seem to see your flaws, I see strength. I see incomparable beauty.” 

Andy takes that moment to fully envelope you, wrapping his arms tightly around your middle and burying his face in your hair. You allow yourself to stand there for a little while, drinking in the sight of your devoted husband holding your nude body.

You’ve never felt more loved. More cherished than you did right now.  

“Andy Bear…” You whisper, your voice filled with emotion. “I…I don’t quite see what you see. Not yet. But I do think I feel it now. More than I did anyway.” 

You let out a surprised yip when he spins you around. His intoxicating blue eyes bore into your own as his hands move to tease the globes of your ass.

“You should know that I wasn’t finished yet, princess. I just spent the last several minutes composing a sonnet dedicated to that greedy pussy of yours. Then there’s those luscious thighs, and that ass. I also never really had a thing for feet until I met you, but I’m particularly fond of those too. I’m prepared to wax poetic about it all because I want you to see what I see.” 

A laugh bubbles up in your chest. And when you decide to let it loose, it’s quite literally the most wonderful feeling in the world. You feel lighter than you have in days.

It’s enough to make you start crying all over again.   

“I love you, Andrew Barber.” You murmur, rising on your tiptoes to take his lips in a brief kiss. “And I know you had what I’m sure was one hell of a speech planned, and while I really hate to cut it short, I’m thinking I might wanna take you to bed now.”

“Oh?” His tone is rife with cautious optimism. “Is that right?”

“Yeah.” Giving in to impulse, you proceed to tickle his ears. He makes a show of batting your hands away as he playfully dodges your advances – much to your delight. Although he eventually puts an end to things by picking you up and holding you close.

“But can we maybe take it slow?” You ask as you snuggle into his chest, basking in the safety and security of his familiar scent. 

“Of course.” Andy murmurs as he spins on his heel and heads towards the direction of the stairs. “We have all night, my precious girl.”  

That was the moment you knew without a doubt. The moment you finally believed that everything he’d said, every word he’d spoken to you, had been nothing but the truth.  

And later that night, when you collapsed on the bed feeling completely sated with one another, you thanked your lucky stars that fate had led you into the arms of the one and only Andrew Barber.

END

For more about Andy and Reader's first time making love after welcoming their twins, be sure to check out the sequel, The Green Light: Afterglow.

[and-his-hands-were-24-crows]

My current mobile workstation has become tragically unreliable, so my friend let me borrow their iPad so I could try Procreate. I don't know how tf to use this program but please enjoy the best eyeball I've ever painted for some reason.

[whumpshaped]

cast of my robot story (i made 2 of every big hierarchical level but obviously theres like. More lol but i figured i wouldnt rly need more than 2 of each? maybe i wont even need that many. as u can tell i dont know what the fuck i wanna do)

picrew

two of the members of the seventh earth council, the group that controls the spaceship and literally everything on it. it's funny they're called that, none of the members have seen earth with their own two eyes. it's been a long time since any human has walked on that planet...

levendula (she/her), dorel (he/him)

two of the techies. the tech department is where all regular folk want to end up at. there's a very slim chance anyone could get into the council, it almost functions like a royal family — but the tech department? well... okay that kind of functions like that too, the children of techies usually end up as techies, and there's little class mobility otherwise. BUT there's a bigger chance for any regular person to become a mechanic than to become a council member!

they handle maintenance work on the spaceship, on the equipment, on the robots, they write code, they design new and improved versions of any sort of tech. they enjoy much more personal freedom than regular workers.

kikinda (she/her), szoren (he/him)

two of the workers. the workers are manual labourers who handle all the work the techies haven't yet managed to automate or don't have the resources to automate. farming, mining, all that stuff. backbreaking labour. on top of that, they get paid very little, and now with the new SSRCU models already created, they're HOUNDED by the stupid bots too.

kara (they/them), hanga (she/her)

i chose hungarian names/spellings for all of them, if you wanna know exactly how they're pronounced please use a translator app because my phonetic spelling SUCKS. but i think they're all very straightforward :)

rambling about zaps copied and pasted from discord:

so about zaps. the tech guys call it zaps 100%. affectionately (mostly). its primary and default disciplinary action is administering shocks, and well, sometimes it goes haywire and just shocks a bunch of people at the workstation. hence the name.

the workers usually refer to it as anything derogatory. the thing, the beast, the monster, the attack dog, the painbot, the warden. officially though they address it like they would any superior, with either sir or ma'am. but they rarely have to (if theyre good <3 )

council members refer to it as the bot, or if they need to specify theyll say the serial number, 01.

zaps' full official name is self-sufficient riot control unit or SSRCU-01. it was the first of its kind and its been around the longest

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Mitsubishi Tokyo Auto Salon Kei Concepts, 2023. For this year's show Mitsubishi have created versions of the Delica Mini, eK Cross and Minicab Mieve. The Delica Mini comes in one-off Snow Survivor, Coleman and accessorised production form. The electric eK Cross EV Smooth x Tough is upgraded with all-terrain tires, a matte grey metallic finish, roof rack with integrated LEDs, rear ladder, and a bull bar on the front bumper. The Minicab Mieve B-Leisure Style II comes with a scooter, a mountain stream fishing set as well as an interior that is a mobile workstation with a desk, chair, projector, and a bed kit

[pandorapromises]

every interesting fact and thought i've gathered from this page about ian garvin;

HE DISCOVERED AMRITA!! meaning he's literally responsible for the entire tulkun hunting enterprise bro wtf 😭

and from dissecting tulkun brains?? now i wonder how he got access to those.... 👀

but it brings up an interesting moral dilemma because we know earth is dying so was he in the type of situation where he felt like he had to choose between humanity and the tulkun? 🤔 hm....

he ORIGINALLY did solo research and was in contact with Tonowari and the reef people !! i like to imagine that's where he learned na'vi sign language

the RDA forces garvin to hunt tulkun by threatening to cut his research which i think even if garvin were to quit he'd probably be replaced by another marine biologist with no morals so it's like a no-win situation

that's all i've got for now!!

photo text under the read-more;

DR. IAN GARVIN

RDA MARINE BIOLOGIST Ian Garvin is regarded as the on-world scientific expert on Pandora's oceans, and the tulkun in particular. Though he would prefer to have nothing to do with tulkun hunting, the RDA uses the threat of shutting down his research to coerce the scientist into working with them. Upon his arrival on Pandora, Garvin led an existing oceanographic research team. This small team managed everything itself--and Garvin is well suited to the task. He knows his way around a lab, but he's a field researcher to the core, happily risking his life where others would dread to roam. A seasoned scuba diver, he regularly traverses the predator-infested Pandoran oceans taking samples, imaging specimens, and capturing data.

FIELD RESEARCHER Garvin originally conducted marine research in the same way that xenobotanist Dr. Grace Augustine once did in the jungle. He had a small, mobile, habitable, research lab vessel--a catamaran hull with a couple of trusses across it and two shacks built onto it. Garvin is able to set up a shack on a beach for a while. Then his mobile lab can dock with the landed setup and, if he needs it to interface with olo'eyktan (clan leader) Tonowari or the Reef People, his lab can drop anchor in their cove for easy access.

DATA FILE SUBJECT Ian Garvin SPECIES Human STATUS Marine Biologist AFFILIATION RDA HEIGHT 6 ft. (1.85 m)

FACT FILE > Garvin discovered the powerful, natural compound known as amrita while dissecting the brains of the tulkun. > A passionate oceanographic explorer, Dr. Garvin studied and fell in love with Pandora's oceans and the rich and exotic life found within.

[Small text pointing to an image of Garvin's datapad]

STOLEN DATA With the use of the knowledge stored on Garvin's datapad, including locator tags, the RDA can find and hunt down more tulkun than ever before.

Tablet can be used to extend a desktop workstation by docking into a stand

Touchscreen mobile workstation

[Small text pointing to an image of Dr. Ian Garvin]

Field vest [that Garvin wears]

Scanner [on vest pocket] collects data from environment and transforms it to chip card

Dive watch [on left wrist]

Dive knife [strapped to the left side of his shorts]

Wristband [on right wrist] contains chip-card processing information from scanner