#maybe put it in storage in the basement for if I ever need a temporary solution lol | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mldrgrl · 4 years

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Would You Lie With Me and Just Forget the World?

by: mldrgrl Rating: PG Summary: A little ‘what if?’ AU during Fight the Future, if Scully had gone to Salt Lake City. Inspired by the wonderful little poem Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. (Sweet midnight, Anon, I think this fits nicely with your prompt as well)

“Salt Lake City, transfer effective immediately.” She hesitates in his doorway for only a moment, and then she turns to leave. “I have to go.”

His head is spinning and his heart is racing. He springs up from his desk to chase her down, to stop her from leaving. He makes it to the hall, but all he can manage is her name. She stops at the elevator, her back to him. He sees her ball her hands into determined little fists and the way she takes a deep breath and straightens her spine. When she turns, the wobble of her chin and the tears in her eyes threaten to break the composure she’s just worked so hard to muster.

There’s an ache in his chest. He wants to tell her everything in that moment; how much she means to him and how much he needs her. He’s as afraid that she’ll think he’s only talking about their work as much as he’s afraid she’ll know he isn’t talking about work at all.

“Is this...is this what you want?” he asks.

The elevator doors open up behind her and she turns away from him to step inside. He moves a few steps closer and then she turns around again and he stops. She only gives him a glance before bowing her head. The doors close and he’s alone in his hallway. He doubles over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. It feels like he’s been kicked in the gut.

With Scully sent to Utah, Mulder is reassigned to counter-terrorism. He hates it. Hates the work, hates the other agents in the unit, and hates his new superior. They’ve got him chasing down suspicious purchases of fertilizer and harassing confused farmers day in and day out. Shit detail. He’d quit, but he doesn’t like the thought of how smugly satisfied They’ll be knowing he had given up. Easy as it would be to search the directory for her new information, he doesn’t even contact Scully. Nor does she contact him. He doesn’t drive by her old apartment and he takes her number out of his speed dial. He refuses to be broken.

He lasts six weeks.

Six long, torturous, miserable, and painful weeks and then he’s at the airport one Friday afternoon, booking the next flight out to Salt Lake City. For four and a half hours he gorges himself on tiny bags of peanuts and shreds his cocktail napkins into tiny pieces on the tray table in front of him. He rents a car and drives the few miles to the field office in the area, solely relying on hope and a hunch that she’ll be there.

His badge gets him in the door without issue, but he can’t go aimlessly wandering the halls. He stops a woman pushing a cart, assuming she’s a mail clerk that will know every office blindfolded. Luck is on his side. When he asks where he can find Agent Scully, she tells him to take the stairs down one flight, third door on the right. He takes a few deep breaths in the stairwell and wipes his sweaty palms on the front of his pants before he heads down the hall.

He passes a janitor’s closet and a storage room. The third door is missing a real nameplate. Someone has scribbled SCULLY onto a piece of lined paper, ripped that in half, and taped it to the empty slot where a nameplate should be. The door is open, but he knocks anyway, just a few light taps with his knuckle as he enters.

Scully is hunched over a small table in the corner, squished between a bookcase and filing cabinet. The room is cold, dimly lit, and not a window in sight. It’s barely bigger than a broom closet.

“You can take the girl out of the basement,” he says. “But, I guess you can’t really take the basement out of the girl.”

Scully blinks as she looks up and drops her pen on the table. She looks the same to him, but changed somehow. Her eyes, he realizes, look grey.

“Mulder,” she says. “What are you doing here?”

“I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d check out the new digs.” He looks around. He bets if he stretches his arms out, he’d be able to touch both sides of the walls. “Please tell me this is just temporary while they renovate the corner office for you.”

She doesn’t answer, just looks down at the papers on the table and begins collecting them into a neat pile. Watching her gather her things in this pathetic excuse for an office, he feels like his heart is being squeezed in a vice. She doesn’t deserve this.

“What’re you working on?” he asks.

“Nothing,” she answers. “Reviewing autopsy reports.”

“Can I take you to dinner?”

She checks her watch and glances past Mulder to the door. He turns to see what she’s looking for, but there isn’t anything there. She’s nervous, he realizes, but he doesn’t know what for.

“Or maybe I should go,” he says. “I didn’t mean to...catch you off guard.”

“No, it’s okay,” she says, softly. “It’s been a long week. Do you mind if...we could order in.”

“Sure.”

He scans her bookshelves as he waits for her to pack up her satchel. Nothing but textbooks on forensics and pathology, some of them with cracked, ancient binding. She turns the light off and he follows her down the hall and up the stairs. She pauses for a moment and waves a file folder in her hand.

“I just have to…” she says.

“Take your time.”

She nods and knocks on the first door to the left. He hears a mumbled conversation and nonchalantly steps into the view of the open office. Scully is in the antechamber of another office, passing the file folder to a woman who looks like she just sucked on a lemon. Her disdain is more than obvious and Mulder wonders what it’s about. For a fleeting second, the woman’s eyes meet Mulder’s and her expression turns from sour to suspicious. He turns his head and keeps moving past the door to wait for Scully. She comes out a few moments later with her eyes forward and doesn’t look at him, doesn’t wait for him as she heads to the exit. He follows a few paces behind.

“You drove?” she asks.

“Got a free upgrade to a Toyota Corolla,” he answers, waggling his brows at her. “Riding in style around the Beehive State. What was the deal with the wicked witch of the west back there?”

“Things are different here. People are...different.” She turns her head and a slight breeze ruffles her hair. He almost lifts his hand to brush it out of her eyes. “I’m over there.” She points to the left of the parking lot. “You can follow me out. It’s not far.”

“After you.”

He watches her walk away. The tired slump of her shoulders and bowed head is depressing. He doesn’t even have to see her face to see how sad and defeated she is. He’s angry with himself for waiting so long to come to her. He should’ve been on a plane immediately. He should have never let her go.

The drive to her apartment is only about ten minutes. The building is compact and lacks character, bland and beige and ugly. Next door is an empty lot of dirt and shrubs and a clear view of the highway. He hopes the interior makes up for the exterior. His hopes are dashed as soon as he steps foot inside. It’s even worse.

Her apartment is a studio with ancient appliances and worn carpet. Clearly, it came furnished with pea-green, threadbare chairs and a pull-out couch. He doesn’t recognize a thing. What little she does have is still in boxes, pushed up against the walls and stacked to make as much room as possible. They’ve stayed in nicer motels throughout the years. He hates everything about it, but especially that this is what she’s been calling home for the last six weeks.

“It’s temporary,” she says, watching him look around.

“You don’t deserve this,” he replies.

“I didn’t have much of a choice.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

“It’s over, Mulder. You need to accept that and move on.”

“Move on? Are you serious?”

“What do you want from me, Mulder? The files are destroyed. The OPR was quite clear that there’s no hope of ever reinstating the department. I’ve been exiled to what’s arguably the least friendly, most backwards and misogynistic field office in the country, which I’m sure was intended to break my resolve somehow.”

“Then why are you still here?”

“If I quit now, they win. I don’t see you walking away.”

The defiant tilt of her chin ends the debate. He nods in agreement and shoves his hands into his pockets in frustration. She’s right, as usual, and he hates that she’s right about this. But, he didn’t come here to argue. He takes his hands out of his pockets and swings them awkwardly for a moment. He wants to touch her, but he doesn’t.

“I need you,” he says.

“You don’t need me,” she whispers as she sinks down and perches on the edge of one of the chairs. “You never have. I just held you back.” For a few moments, she holds her face in one hand and rubs her temples. When she looks up, her eyes are heavy and tired. She blinks and then her eyes well up and she looks down at her lap, picking at the skin along her thumbnail.

“You’re wrong, Scully. You are so wrong.”

“Why did they assign me to you, Mulder? To rein you in. To shut you down.”

“And you saved me. Your goddamn strict science and rationalism have saved me a thousand times over. You kept me honest. You made me a whole person. And I’m not...” He pauses and swallows hard against the tightening in his throat. He’d built up his courage and come out here to tell her all the things he’d held back, but fear has a merciless stranglehold on him and steals his voice.

She looks up at him with her brows furrowed and he kneels down in front of her. He puts his hands on her knees, palms up, and she automatically slips her hands into his as if they’ve done this a thousand times. He bows his head over their hands for a few moments and then looks up and gazes openly into her eyes.

“I’m not just talking about the work,” he says. “When I say I need you, I mean you are the other half of me. You’re right, they’ve taken everything from us and I’ve spent these last weeks being furious and disgruntled and railing at the injustice of...we were so close, Scully. We were on the verge. But...but…”

She squeezes his hands and he bows his head again.

“It’s not the work I want back,” he says. “It’s you.”

She chokes on whatever reply she’s about to give and then lowers her head so her forehead rests against his. He pulls his hands free of hers and wraps his arms around her, nearly pulling her from the chair and into him. She hides her face against his shoulder and both hands slide over the back of his head and through his hair.

“What do we do?” she asks. “I know you, Mulder, you’ll never give up.”

“I’m not giving up. The only thing I know for sure is that I’m not leaving here without you. Everything else...I don’t know.”

Her fingers tighten, pulling gently at his hair. He leans his head against hers and they stay that way until finally she picks her head up and stares at him. He brushes his thumbs along the crescents beneath her eyes, damp with tears. Her lips part even before he leans in as though she anticipates his kiss. He whispers her name as their mouths meet and her whimpered reply makes the six weeks away from her worth the lost time.

When they pull back, maybe minutes or hours later, there’s a mixture of shock and awe in Scully’s expression and Mulder can’t help the lopsided and goofy grin that pulls at his cheeks. He can feel every muscle in his face lift in happiness and then Scully smiles as well. She’s the first to look away, glancing to the side at the pull-out couch and then biting her lip when she returns to his gaze.

Like most things, they don’t discuss the next step. Mulder gets up and takes Scully’s hands to help her from the chair. They empty the couch of cushions, stacking them in a little space next to the arm that she’s designated as the holding area, and then they unfold the bed together. They remove blazers and shoes and belts, but come to an unspoken agreement that that’s enough for now. Cuffs and collars are loosened for comfort and then they lay down facing each other, nose to nose, Mulder’s arms around her and Scully’s arms folded between them with her hands on his chest.

They take turns pressing soft kisses to one another’s face; her cheek, his brow, the side of her nose, his chin, the back of her jaw, the corner of his mouth. Things escalate slowly and gradually. The lazy circles Mulder makes against Scully’s upper back move lower until his hand rests lightly at the hint of a curve below her hip. Their legs shift and twine. Scully moves one hand to Mulder’s side, fingers tugging unconsciously at his shirt.

The bed is surprisingly comfortable, not that Mulder would notice if it wasn’t. It does squeak though with nearly every move they make and they can’t help laughing at the absurdity every so often. He can’t believe the anger and heartache he’s been holding for the last six weeks has evaporated so quickly into joy. He can’t believe he’s here and that they’re doing this.

And then things simmer and slow and then they’re back to where they started, nose to nose, albeit a little more entwined. He could be afraid she’s changed her mind or that this isn’t what she wants, but he isn’t, not with the way her fingers play at his nape or the way she moves to trace his lips every so often with the pad of her thumb. No skin has even been uncovered and yet he feels more exposed and naked than he ever has been, and he’s not afraid of that either.

“What do we do now?” she whispers.

“Got any good Chinese takeout around these parts?”

She smiles and brushes his nose with his. He shifts and sighs and they both tighten their hold on each other, just a little.

“I don’t know,” he says. “You should...be a doctor. Go be a doctor while you still can.”

“Maybe one day I will be. But, you haven’t found the truth yet and I have my own questions that need answers. I have...my own injustices that need to be resolved.”

“You wanna go rogue?”

“I’ve been out here for the past six weeks thinking that I didn’t want to burn bridges. I thought maybe if I kept my head down, stayed below radar, I’d earn the chance to come back.”

He nods. “How’s that been working out?”

“Not very well.”

“I’m at the end of my rope, Scully. Tell me you feel the same.”

She slides down and curls herself up against his chest. He makes a shelter out of his arms and curves himself around her in return.

“We’ll figure it out,” he says. “Just maybe not right now.”

“Thank you for coming after me.”

“I’ll always come after you.”

“I know.”

They fall asleep twined like a yin and yang; two halves, one whole. He’s needed respite from his crusade for so long and tonight he has it. Tomorrow, they’ll form a plan, but for now, they’ll lie together and just forget the world.

The End

#i wrote this #xf fanfic #msr #fight the future #no bees allowed #thank you to chasing cars

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softgreysentences · 6 years

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Low Battery - DBH Fic

Requested by @carley-carley-carley! Prompt was Connor falling asleep/unable to stay awake.

***

"Connor? Connor!"

Connor jerked his head up, rubbing his eyes to clear the static from them. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

Hank eyed him warily. "What's up with you? You've been staring into space all day."

Connor gave Hank his best smile, ignoring the way his vision tunneled. Static danced at the edges of his optical input, and even focusing on Hank's face was proving difficult. "I am fully operational, Lieutenant. I am simply attempting to resolve a few minor errors. I'm...okay."

Hank looked disbelieving, but didn't push it. "Sure, kid," he said, turning back to his computer.

Connor did the same, but instead of starting the next batch of paperwork as he should, he reviewed the results of his last diagnostic scan. A 'few minor errors' actually meant a damaged charging port. In their last chase after a rogue deviant, the suspect had managed an unfortunate blow to Connor's wrist. His charging port was shattered.

This wouldn't normally be a problem, but he was...uncertain. Surely he had overstayed his welcome with Hank? The older detective had done so much for him; let him stay, helped him get back his job at the DPD, taught him about living as a full member of society, and (most importantly) let him pet Sumo whenever he wanted. Connor had no idea how to repay Hank for everything, much less ask more of him. Like ordering replacement biocomponents.

He'd just ask Markus. Jericho always had spare parts.

***

"Sorry, Connor." Markus looked up from a document, eyebrows knitted in concern. "You're going to have to either order it or find it in a shop somewhere. We haven't had anybody needing a charging port replaced so we never gathered any."

Connor did his best to conceal his worry. It would be impossible to visit a shop without Hank finding out, since Connor rarely left the house to run errands without Sumo, and the only parts shop he knew of was in an area he would never take Sumo. Maybe there were extras at the police station? It was becoming increasingly hard to concentrate. "Thank you, Markus."

Markus nodded. "If you ever need anything else, our supplies are open to you. Stay safe, Connor."

Connor smiled, and with anxiety tight in his chest and nothing else to say, left to search elsewhere.

***

Connor was halfway through the fifth box before Hank caught on. "Connor, what are you doing down here?"

Connor looked up from his spot on the ground, elbows deep in a box of thoracic biocomponents in the hope that a charging port might have simply been put in the wrong spot. However, his hope seemed unjustified as an hour-long search had proved fruitless. "...Nothing, Lieutenant."

"You're awful at lying, kid." Hank took in the multiple boxes of biocomponents, strewn haphazardly around the storage room in the basement of the DPD. "Looking for anything specific?"

"No, merely cataloguing crucial biocomponents. I shall return to my desk work in a short period of time."

Something was up with Connor, but what could Hank do to find out without pressuring him? Hank sighed, turning to head back up the stairs. "Holler if you need help, okay?"

"Affirmative, Lieutenant." Connor scanned the box once more, before pulling the next one over and unlocking it.

***

The next day found Connor, once again, staring at another batch of paperwork he wasn't sure he could complete. He had entered rest mode overnight, but without his charging port he had merely recycled his remaining energy without replenishing it. His energy levels were at 18% and nonessential processes had begun to shut down. Moving, speaking, and his artificial respiration system were among the first to go.

So Connor sat at his desk, both unable and unwilling to waste energy on paperwork. All of his protocols were urging him to find the nearest charging station. Notifications filled his optical input. He did his best to clear a few away, then gave up. Temporary shut down until he could find a charging station was imminent.

He calculated that if he spent the day sitting in standby mode, he might reserve enough energy to stay after work and modify his collapsed charging port. Or maybe he could locate an android willing to transfer energy to him- he shook that thought away. If he didn't feel comfortable asking that of even Markus, there was no way he could ask that of an android he didn't know. Trying to repair his charging port by hand was the only available option. He just had to stay in standby mode without alerting Hank to the fact that he wasn't doing any work.

CHANCE OF SUCCESS: 34%

Connor began flicking through the paperwork, making as few movements as possible and hoping 34% was enough.

***

Hank was getting really fed up with his android partner. This marked eight times Connor had...well, for lack of a better word, drifted off since lunch. Connor had spent the entire day glazed over and pretending to do work (that dumb kid thought he was fooling Hank, what an idiot). Then, occasionally, Connor's eyes would close and he would list to the side. Hank would never ever admit it out loud but it reminded him of the way Cole would drift off after insisting No, Dad, I can stay up late, I promise! Which, Hank wouldn't be mad at Connor for needing to rest, but. It was getting ridiculous.

"Hey. Connor." The android snapped upright, eyes bleary and hair mussed.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Connor replied, voice unusually quiet.

"You finish the McCleary case yet?" Connor frowned, LED whirring yellow as he tried to recall such a case. Was that one of the cases he had processed today? Was it android or human? He couldn't remember. His fingers were sluggish as he tapped at his screen, trying to pull up the file. It was, indeed, a case he had finished. He didn't recall doing so, but sent it over to Hank's desk.

Hank grunted in confirmation, opening it up to skim it briefly. "Thanks." He decided not to mention the variety of minor typos Connor had left behind, but his concern deepened.

Connor would reply, but...the world went dark for a second. Was it still Thursday? He couldn't recall. A check of his systems told him the lack of energy had shut down his memory recall program. Nonessential, he realized. Then his optical input sparked back to life. Hank was shooting him a concerned look that he ignored in favor of tapping at his screen some more.

A glance at the digital clock on Hank's desk (an outdated piece of technology Hank insisted on keeping) revealed Hank's usual work day ended in an hour. Surely Connor could last another hour?

***

The problem, as it turned out, wasn't lasting another hour. It was lasting another three, Connor thought as they sped towards the latest crime scene.

Thankfully, it was barely ten minutes away because the rumbling of the car below him reminded Connor of the buzzing that came with using a charging station. The sensation pulled him closer to temporary shut down. He struggled to keep his eyes open.

"You still with me?"

Connor's eyes didn't want to focus. Static filled the edges of his vision. "Yes. Why would I not?" Energy levels at 9%. Where was he again? He wasn't sure.

"We'll take a quick look around and head home, alright? You look beat, Connor."

"I am unsure of your observation, Lieutenant. I have no injuries from blunt-force trauma." Hank sighed, rubbing a hand down his face in exasperation.

"Just...get outta the car. Try not to lick anything. If you do...warn me." Hank got out of the car and slammed the door behind him, already strolling towards the restaurant the crime had occurred in. Connor scrambled to catch up, pressing a hand against the side of the car to both lock it and regain his balance. He glanced in the car window, watching his LED flicker red for a few moments before tugging at his hair to cover it up.

"CONNOR! C'MON!" Hank yelled from the doorway, clearly annoyed. Connor rushed to catch up, doing his best not to trip over his feet in the process.

Upon entering the restaurant, his sensors were assaulted by several evidence notifications flashing yellow. Pools of deep red blood on the floor, a knife embedded in the wall, dishes shattered on the floor. Clear signs of an intense struggle. Connor knelt on the floor to take a closer look at a frying pan, dented and smeared with blue. Victim was an android. First attacked in the dining room. Fight moved to the kitchen.

He got up to move to the kitchen when his vision cut out fully. A voice called out his name, not annoyed but concerned. "I-I'm fine," Connor mumbled as his optical input reconnected. "Minor error."

Hank was thoroughly unconvinced but helped Connor stand anyway, glaring at any of the other officers that dared look even the slightest bit interested in what was going on. Connor walked carefully to the kitchen, processors already disregarding the lapse in consciousness as unimportant.

Struggle continued in the kitchen. Knife wounds were inflicted on both parties. Victim fled to backdoor, bleeding profusely. Victim at an unknown location. Suspect in custody. Disturbance was called in by the few remaining patrons at approximately 3 PM.

New objective: locate victim.

"Lieutenant, we must locate the victim. Model AX400 android, bleeding thirium." Connor stepped away from the countertop he had been examining, then stepped back closer when he realized the countertop was helping him stay upright.

Hank nodded. "Alright, we'll go find 'em." He went to leave the kitchen before noticing that Connor wasn't following him. "...you coming?"

Connor froze, uncertain. If he moved to follow the Lieutenant, there was an 89% chance he would not be able to keep his balance. However, if he did not, that 34% chance of keeping Hank uninformed to his situation would drop to approximately 3%. "I will follow in a minute, Lieutenant. I need to finish analyzing the blood sample, and I am certain you do not wish to see that."

Hank squinted in his direction. "I...literally just watched you 'analyze' that blood, Connor." He glared at the android, unamused. "You gotta give me more credit sometimes. Walk over here."

Connor blinked. "What?"

"Walk over here. Easy." Hank crossed his arms. "Unless, for some reason, you can't."

"Lieutenant, I-"

"This really shouldn't be an issue."

"But I must-"

"Walk over here. That's it."

"I-"

Hank leveled him with a look that could spark fear in even an android. Connor's shoulders slumped slightly, and he resigned himself to failure.

CHANCE OF SUCCESS: 0%.

Connor took a step away from the counter, and when he managed to stay upright - could he succeed? - took another. And another. And ano-

His knees buckled, and the world tilted sideways.

***

Hank cursed and lunged to catch Connor, just noticing the LED circling red in his temple. What was wrong with him this time? It seemed like Connor was determined to hide any kind of problem he encountered, and now it had managed to catch up with him. A quick once-over didn't show any thirium or wounds or anything. "Connor." He shook the android's shoulder. "Connor, you okay? Connor!"

Connor's brow wrinkled and he moved closer to Hank. Hank, confused, let him. Was he hurt? Hank moved to stand up but Connor latched onto his wrist and pressed into Hank's side.

Hank resisted the urge to laugh. If Connor was human, Hank would say he was sleeping. Was that it? Had he just...run out of battery? Hank huffed. "Connor, wake up." He patted his face and was reminded of when Connor had done the same to him, all those weeks ago...

Feeling a spark of inspiration, he allowed himself a grin and slapped Connor with a sizeable amount of force. The android gasped and sat up, LED cycling red-yellow-blue. "Connor, what's going on with you?"

"My apologies, Lieutenant, I-"

Hank silenced him with a look and stood up. "Yeah yeah, lemme guess, you're 'fully functioning' and 'operational' or whatever. Get up, c'mon. Someone else can find the victim."

Connor pulled himself up and looked as if he might slump over again, eyes half-shut. "Victim?"

"Yeah, the case we're working on?" Hank held open the door for him, hand on his elbow. "You don't remember, do you."

Connor shook his head. "Lieutenant!" One of the other detectives on the case called out, clipboard in hand. Hank cursed.

"Hang tight here and don't move, okay? Be right back." Hank jogged over to the detective, immediately caught up in a discussion on one of the witnesses still on scene.

Connor watched him for a moment, then leaned against the wall of the building when it became too much work to stand on his own. Energy levels were at 5% and dropping quickly. He needed to either enter standby mode or risk temporary shut down on the way home - which would undoubtedly put unneeded stress on Hank.

He let himself slip into standby, sensors disconnecting.

***

Light pervaded his optical input first, followed by his auditory and tactile processors coming back online. "-nor. C'mon. You gotta stop falling asleep on me."

Connor lifted his head from Hank's shoulder. When had they moved away from the building? Hank's voice rumbled in his ear but he couldn't make out what the older detective was saying. His feet were heavy, and he stumbled forward slightly. "Hey, hey-"

Hank's hands were on his shoulders. Connor frowned. His sense of balance wasn't calibrated correctly, because he kept leaning to the side. A scan revealed his optical input was also affected, full of static. But he already knew that, didn't he? It had been full of static all day.

His processes were running in circles. He was...tired. His arms, dead weights at his sides, latched onto Hank's jacket. "Connor? We're going home now. And you're gonna tell me what's going on."

Connor hummed and let his eyes close, letting Hank guide them to the car. He was about to get in the car when he felt something warm drape over his shoulders. It was heavy and smelled like whiskey, but comforting all the same.

He opened his eyes to pull Hank's jacket tighter around himself, a small smile tugging at his lips. Hank avoided eye contact and got in the car as fast as he could.

***

The drive home was patchy in Connor's memory files. Hank kept checking that Connor wasn't fully in rest mode, seemingly worried about something Connor couldn't understand. At some point, they arrived home, and at some point, Connor got out of the car, but he couldn't tell when or in what order.

The next sensation he was fully aware of was the soft leather of Hank's couch under one cheek and Sumo's tongue slobbering on the other. Connor mumbled and rubbed at his cheek. Someone - Hank - was making noise in the kitchen. The TV was on, volume at 12% and set to the latest basketball game. Connor's jacket was draped over the back of the couch but Hank's was still drawn over Connor's shoulders like a blanket.

Sumo nosed at Connor's hand before helping himself to the prime napping spot that was Connor's lap. Connor gently stroked at Sumo's fur, movements sluggish.

4.54 minutes later and Hank was sitting next to them, coffee mug in his hand and disapproving look on his face. "Start from the beginning."

"It started with the deviant case a few days ago. My charging port was damaged and I have been unable to repair it. I consulted with Markus and searched the station's storage area but haven't found a suitable replacement part." Connor blinked, trying to keep his eyes open. "My energy levels are at 2%."

"And when they reach zero?"

"My systems will enter a temporary shut down mode until they can be supplied with energy via my charging port." Connor shifted, guilt sparking in his chest. "I...did not mean to be such a burden, Lieutenant. I apologize."

"You're not a burden, Connor. If you need a new part, you gotta tell me so we can go get it." Hank placed a hand on Connor's knee, making the android look up. "You deserve new parts or thirium or whatever keeps you running just as much as I deserve food or water. Got it?"

Connor nodded, dizzy with relief. "Now go to bed and I'll go grab it in the morning because I don't think you're gonna be able to go with me." Hank disappeared to somewhere behind the couch before chucking a blanket at Connor. "Night, kid."

Connor draped it over himself and Sumo, pulling Hank's jacket so it was around his shoulders and covering his head, blocking out light and noise. "Goodnight, Lieutenant." He replied, voice muffled by the fabric. Sumo woofed softly and tucked his head under Connor's chin.

***

Hi hello yes im not dead, just really tired what do you mean im projecting on connor haha what are you talking about

Don't tag as ship!!

#my fic #request #connor and hank #connor dbh #connor #connor and sumo #dbh fic #hank dbh #dbh #connor anderson #hank anderson #detroit become human #sleepy android #mood #i wanna take a nap #sick connor #kinda #what am i doing anymore #too many tags

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civilcoconstruction · 3 years

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These Home Design Trends Took Off During COVID-19

During COVID-19, certain renovation projects became even more important for homeowners

(Above) A Sweeten homeowner turns the garage into a living room

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to take a hard look at our homes. Many were grateful for the security and comfort our homes offered. But many more made note of the features that their homes lacked. At a time when almost half of the workforce was working from home and schools relied on distance learning, renovation projects became top of mind.

But the renovation mindset may be a little different going forward. Jean Brownhill, the founder and CEO of Sweeten discussed the current state of renovation on Design Time, a podcast hosted by Domino editor-in-chief Jessica Romm Perez. One trend they discussed is the emergence of practicality and functionality.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Everyone’s goal is to make their finished project picture perfect. But to actually live in the space, other things may be more important. Here are some top projects Sweeten saw grow in popularity over the last year.

Top COVID-19 renovation projects

Creating new living areas

With people spending so much time at home, they adapted their living spaces to new uses. Many people upgraded their outdoor living areas by adding outdoor kitchens and other living spaces. Also, it wasn’t clear if a vacation away would be possible, so outdoor living space became more important. It also makes it possible to socialize with others if indoor entertaining isn’t an option.

Because health clubs and gyms were closed, many people looked for ways to squeeze a workout space into their living areas. People adapted spare rooms or unfinished areas like basements to create home gyms.

Kitchen and bathroom remodels still in the spotlight

Kitchen and bathroom renovations are still popular. Although kitchens have always had many uses, their multitasking ability became more important during the pandemic. Kids often did their remote learning there, and adults used them for makeshift home offices. That’s in addition to the regular cooking, eating, and cleaning that goes on in a kitchen. The National Kitchen and Bath Association reports that in addition to upgraded appliances, there was an increase in requests for easy-to-clean surfaces, video watching ability, and device charging stations in the cook space.

Bathrooms became personal sanctuaries more than ever before. After a few weeks that turned into months into the pandemic, people came to value self-care more than ever. Even those who had not considered bath renovations undertook them to improve on their self-care routine.

Some bath update trends include oversized showers that feature multiple spray heads and body sprays, as well as a steam option. Voice commands can activate preset water temperatures and start music from a personal playlist. Ventilation fans do more than removing moisture: some have LED lighting that helps prevent mold growth. Others feature multi-color lights to change the mood of the room. Many spa-like features can be controlled by smartphones.

One thing that most renovations had in common was ease of maintenance. You can renovate a space that looks great, but you have to live in it. “I think that is one reason why porcelain tiles and planks are so popular,” said Jean. “They are easy to clean and they can be made to look like any material. “

Reworking existing spaces

By now, we can relate to how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our work habits. The typical household can get hectic with everyone vying for counter space where they can work, as well as computer time. The problem was frequently solved by setting up work and play areas throughout the house.

Jean mentioned the trend of installing temporary glass panels in the home. These solve the noise problem that happens when someone is on a video call while someone else is unloading the dishwasher, other people are having a conversation, and kids are running around playing. Panels and interior windows give people acoustic separation. “We’re not looking for visual separation, but what we do want, and need, is acoustic separation,” she said.

A closet organizing system that lets you store things neatly and efficiently may be of more use than a room straight out of the pages of a magazine. “As someone doing a renovation, you don’t rise to the level of your goals so much as you fall to the level of the systems you put in place,” said Jean. While we usually want our homes to look fashionable, the emphasis for homes was on function for 2020.

Using unused space

As floor plans were reconfigured, any unused or underutilized areas became prime real estate. Guest bedrooms became home offices or study lounges. But the real stars were spaces like basements, attics, and garages.

Attics became playrooms for children. Basements were also used as play areas, but many were converted to home gyms. Some drywall and flooring, and maybe a little weatherproofing, turned these storage areas into useful living spaces.

In some places, such as Los Angeles, people are adding ADUs. An ADU is short for accessory dwelling unit. It is a new living space added to an existing building. Garages are being converted to home offices, but also studio apartments. The apartments can be rented out in the future.

The pandemic presents new reasons to think creatively about our living spaces. Although we hope the pandemic will stay a once-in-a-lifetime event, we can all take cues from these COVID-19 renovation projects to inspire our own spaces at home.

Looking for a licensed, expert general contractor to help you with a renovation project?

—

Renovations can take place at any time of the year. Here’s what you need to know about financing your remodel.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

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from CIVICLO Construction & Interior https://civilco.construction/these-home-design-trends-took-off-during-covid-19/

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mujeeburrehman · 3 years

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These Home Design Trends Took Off During COVID-19

During COVID-19, certain renovation projects became even more important for homeowners

(Above) A Sweeten homeowner turns the garage into a living room

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Top COVID-19 renovation projects

Creating new living areas

Kitchen and bathroom remodels still in the spotlight

Reworking existing spaces

Using unused space

Looking for a licensed, expert general contractor to help you with a renovation project?

—

Renovations can take place at any time of the year. Here’s what you need to know about financing your remodel.

Source link

source https://civilco.construction/these-home-design-trends-took-off-during-covid-19/ from Civilco Construction & Interior https://civilcoconstruction.blogspot.com/2021/04/these-home-design-trends-took-off.html

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prgrmmr · 6 years

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Naren - The Escape

Naevys Melith’enddare brushed her long red hair over her shoulder as she rushed down the stairs. She came to the door to the basement and pushed it open. There was a short corridor with three doors, one at the end and two on the sides. Most of them were used for storage. She knocked slowly three times on the door on the left, following with two quick knocks. The door opened just a hair before being fully opened. She walked in.

“Naevys, where have you been?”

Of course, he was angry. She was supposed to be here over twenty minutes ago. It wasn’t her fault that Madame Copley wanted to discuss her future with her. She had just passed her exams and Madame Copley wanted her to consider applying for an assistant teaching position. Naevys had feigned mild interest at the time, but now in front of him, she rolled her eyes. “Onaetil, I was listening to Madame Copley go on and on about the benefits of remaining locked up in Thril Gandir forever.”

“How exciting,” he said in his least excited voice. “Are you sure she didn’t suspect anything?”

“She’s as clueless as she ever was.” Naevys smiled as she spoke. Most of the teachers were clueless. It was only due to Mr. Waterfall’s insistence that she would be a good teacher that Madame Copley wanted to speak to her at all. What she really wanted was to be assigned an adahi and get out to see the world, or at least go home, like her brother had, but she had too many marks on her record, including disappearing for three days when it was time to return to Thril Gandir the last time she had a temporary adahi a couple of years ago.

It was that last mark that had sealed her fate. She was stuck in Thril Gandir, at least for the time being if they had their way. They had made a special concession due to her status as the daughter of Mage-Lord Athimas Melith’enddare of Elenduil. If she could keep from getting any more marks for twenty years, then she could start applying for an adahi.

Twenty years was a long time. She wanted out now.

“What about your brother? He didn’t cause any trouble with his visit, did he? I told you not to ask for his help.”

She frowned. She had tried to get his help at first. It would have been much easier with his assistance. He was better with warding and translocation spells. While she wasn’t sure how good he was at unweaving wards, he had to be better than she was. Onaetil could do it, but it would be faster with two. Not to mention how much easier it would be to have someone helping from the outside. Unfortunately, he had said no and threatened to tell on her if she tried. That was a year ago. She had planned alone with Onaetil since then. “He left this morning. He didn’t bring it up, nor did I.”

“Good. The last thing we need is him interfering. Were you able to get the focus stones in place today?”

“Yes. Right after my brother left, I went and put them in their spots. That’s when Madame Copley found me, right after I placed the last one in the library.”

“Yes, and now we have to hurry because the boat will be leaving soon.”

Naevys nodded. She had warded each stone. When it was found she would know. Her wards would also strengthen any spell passing through it, until it was broken. All it would take was one touch of the stone. That was her job, to warn Onaetil when to switch to the next stone. Onaetil’s job was to channel his spell through the stones to make it look like the ward was being unraveled from somewhere that they weren’t. Naevys felt it was a great plan, and now it was time to put the plan in motion.

“The stone in the children’s dorm is first, right?”

Naevys nodded again. She focused on the ward around the first focus stone as Onaetil started whispering his spells. She could feel his magic poking against the wards that kept them imprisoned in Thril Gandir.

“Gently, Onaetil. There’s still enough time to do this without being reckless.”

Onaetil said nothing, but she knew he had heard as his spells lessened in intensity. She continued her focus on her ward around the focus stone. She felt the snap as it broke only moments later. “Crap. Already? Switch to the second year classroom, quick!”

Onaetil frowned and mumbled, “You couldn’t have placed them further apart? The children are all on the north side all the time.”

“Just switch,” Naevys replied with a twitch of her ear.

She focused on the ward on the next stone. Again, she felt Onaetil’s spells pushing hard against the city’s wards. “That’s probably what made them find the first one so—” Her ear twitched again, “Next stone, cafeteria. Calm it down this time. They’re finding them too fast.”

Onaetil’s ear twitched as well as he switched his spell to the next stone. She could tell his spells were lessened in intensity again. She waited nervously. She couldn’t tell how much progress he had made if any at all. Was he almost done? Had he barely touched them? Only a few minutes later she felt the ward around her stone break. “Switch to the teen dorm.”

“They’re going too fast.”

She frowned. She guessed not much progress had been made. “We still have a few more. Just keep it steady. They didn’t find that one as fast.”

She wasn’t exactly sure who ‘they’ were. The mages who earned high positions within the city usually did so in secret. The only person they knew of who was in a position of power was the adahi captain, and adahis were not the ones keeping the wards up.

Again, only a couple of minutes passed before her ward broke. “Shit! Next stone. Stables.”

Onaetil looked at her. His expression said everything without a word from him.

“Keep going,” she said. She agreed it wasn’t looking good. They only had two stones left, and Onaetil didn’t look like he had gotten far with his task. She felt a burst of anger at her brother for not agreeing to help. They could be out of here already if he had done something.

She forgot about her anger as the ward around the stone in the stables broke. “Switch to the Deturian Chapel.”

Onaetil didn’t even bother giving her a look this time, but she did feel his spells ramping up again. If he was close, maybe it would give them the advantage they needed so she refrained from telling him to work more slowly.

Again, it was only a few minutes before her ward broke. “Library,” she said. It was the last one.

“Be ready to grab the stuff and get out of here.”

She looked at him. Clarification would be nice, but he resumed his spells. Did he mean he was almost through or he wasn’t even close? If the ward on her last stone failed, they would have to leave. They had been finding the stones fast, it was possible they knew where the next one was as soon as they found one, and if they did, then as soon as they found this one— “Crap.”

“They found it?” Onaetil asked.

“Yes.”

“We need to go. I’ll head to the cafeteria. You head to the library.”

“What about our stuff?”

He picked up both packs and handed hers to her. “People carry books around in their bags all the time. Just act natural.”

She nodded. He was already heading towards the door. She followed behind him, both of them taking two stairs at a time as they rushed out of the basement. The split at the hallway at the top, and she headed towards the library, her pack on her back.

She was the most likely to run into the people who had found the stones as the last stone was in the library. Had Onaetil planned that? It was too late to turn around and not look suspicious now as she turned down another hallway. This one had other people in it. She matched the pace of the others. Most of them were other mages, like her, but she saw two adahis and an older mage walking quickly down the middle of the hall.

Act natural. She glanced around. Everyone else was looking at the mage and two adahis so she did too. They walked briskly past her. She joined the others in gaping at them for a few seconds before returning to their own business.

She walked at a normal pace towards the library, swearing in her head to give Onaetil an ear-full later on for sending her this way.

#Naren #Short Story #Character of the week #Naevys #Escape #MC EWEN #Knights of Naren #Writing

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catanddave · 7 years

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What it’s really like to live in a tiny house (from the perspective of two over-educated millennials)

It’s been over one year since Cat and I started living in the tiny house. Your suspicions are correct: sometimes it sucks. It has not always been the whimsical, cozy, handcrafted dwelling often portrayed on this blog. The truth is, adapting to full-time tiny living was difficult, and we have no intention to continue living in this thing forever. That being said, building and living in the tiny house is the greatest thing we have ever done, and it’s hard to imagine a person who wouldn’t benefit from this experience.

Here are some things I have learned this year.

Building a house is hard as shit. No, you can’t just “Youtube everything.” These skills take practice, and you will spend time and money learning them. You will waste materials, break tools and make terrible design flaws. I learned early on to accept failure and start over. I once spent an entire day building the couch, only to discover that night that it was about as comfortable as a medieval torture device. Rather than accept this fate, I swallowed hard and spent the next day-and-a-half tearing it out and rebuilding it, only to make even more modifications in the future. I learned that if this house was really going to work, I had to be willing to start over.

It’s expensive and takes a long time. We bought our trailer in January of 2015, began serious construction in May, and were not “completely” finished until August 2016, a period of 20 months. I don’t have an exact figure, but the total cost of materials for our home was well over $17,000. That might seem reasonable, but chances are if you’re the type of person who wants to build a tiny house, you don’t have that kind of dough. Catherine’s parents let us live with them and even paid some of our bills during the build. Cat’s father, Don, not only a walking encyclopedia of construction knowledge, had a basement full of tools and materials he bestowed on us. Without their aid, our build would have been much more difficult, if not impossible. We paid for materials as we built, working part-time for most of the process, draining our savings and accruing a small bit of credit card debt towards the end (since paid off). We spent several months of essentially living in a construction zone. Sweep the sawdust off the counters before dinner, move the hammer off the coffee table. Although it was stressful at times, in hindsight I would still do a live-in build, because the design unfolded organically. We learned quickly that intuition can totally fail you in the design process, and things that we deemed ‘necessary’ were often impractical or irrelevant. No, you won’t use that cute fold down table or those nesting stools for guests.

Less is more. Going tiny forces you to let things go. There is physically no room. I think I speak for Cat as well when I say this caught us off guard. We anticipated that the paring down process would be easy for us, but it wasn’t. In our short lives, we managed to accrue a lot of stuff. It piled up in Cat’s bedroom in her parent’s house, their basement, and in the primitive log cabin we built when we were seventeen. It’s been over a year, and we are still paring down. Well after the build, I discovered The Minimalists, and their work has been very useful in adopting this lifestyle. And it is a lifestyle, not a “stuff diet.” You have to work at it every day, but it pays major dividends. Reigning in our spending on “stuff” has allowed us to reallocate funds toward things that really bring us joy like good food and beer and fun weekend trips. I can recall many things I bemoaned letting go: pieces of backpacking gear, kitchenware, tools etc., but throughout this year, I have never once thought to myself, “I wish I still had that.” I haven’t missed a single thing I let go, and we are talking trunk-loads of stuff. All those years I held onto things that didn’t add any value to my life, just weighed me down, and since we donated it all, maybe it will bring value to someone else.

We talked at length last night about things we really miss from a brick-and-mortar home, and found again that our initial instincts failed us. My first reaction was “full-size appliances: fridge, oven, dishwasher.” But if I’m being honest, my life isn’t more difficult without those things. I can fit a 12-inch pizza in my oven or a decent-sized chicken. I can easily store one to two weeks of food for the two of us. No, I can’t churn out Christmas cookies like Mom, or host Thanksgiving dinner, but do I need to fundamentally alter the structure of my daily life to accommodate traditions that occur once or twice a year?

Cat said “a desk/office area” would be nice, but upon further reflection, she decided that her workspace in the secondary loft was completely adequate after all. I shared this sentiment, with romantic visions of penning letters on an antique roll-top, but I do most of my work on the couch or at the kitchen table, even when I lived in homes with desks. Now, I have an iPad and a laptop, and our television doubles as our computer monitor for the tower, I have more than enough computing power and space to get my work done, no desk required.

There are a few things we really do miss, some obvious, others not so much. Flush toilet made the top of the list. Bagging and trashing your own poo is not romantic. The setup is basic: 5-gallon bucket lined with a plastic trash bag inside a cedar box. We have a dedicated fan constantly venting to the outside, so there is no smell in the house, but… a composting toilet it is as bad as it sounds. I’ll conserve water in other ways, just let me flush my shit down the toilet. There is a reason the success of ancient civilizations is measured by the sophistication of their sewage systems.

The next thing we really miss is a full-sized shower and bathtub. I am taller than the showerhead (one of those design flaws I mentioned) and that is more inconvenient than I imagined. Cat likes her baths, which she can still have in our tiny RV tub, but it’s not the same, she says. Before we moved in the tiny house, we showered together almost every day, and now we can’t without one of us uncomfortably plastered against the wall or clinging to the shower curtain. We miss that time together more than we thought.

We have a small, semi-automatic washing machine with a spin function, but it can only handle eight pounds of clothes at a time (two outfits, basically). We can do our bed sheets, but barely, and we don’t have a drier, so things hang outside or above the woodstove depending on the weather. Laundry is an ordeal, and I spend more time doing it than I would like, so a full-sized automatic washer would be nice. Note, we have the room for one, just not the money!

I want to dwell for a moment on the things we don’t miss, because many of them are deal-breakers for would-be tiny house people. Storage for clothes and shoes is usually the sticking point for most folks. Cat and I each have a shelf next to the bed, a few things hanging in the closet along with our shoes, of which we each have seven pairs, including boots. I’ll just come out and say it: if you can’t fit your clothes into a tiny house, you have too many clothes! People pay way less attention to what you’re wearing than you think. Picture the last person you talked to: what color were their shoes? Chances are you don’t remember, and they don’t remember your shoes either. Surprisingly, paring down our wardrobes was one of the more difficult things we did (and are still doing) especially for Cat. Maybe we lack fashion sense, or maybe mass-market clothes just suck, but getting dressed in the morning is way harder than it needs to be. Nevertheless, it is possible, albeit difficult, to build a minimalist wardrobe and shouldn’t discourage you from going tiny.

Our relationship has changed and improved since we moved in. For context, Cat and I have known each other for ten years, have been a couple for eight, and been married for two. We do damn near everything together; that’s just how we roll and it works for us. Tiny house living didn’t change our proximity, but it has worked on us in other ways that have bled into how we treat each other. It’s hard to pin down, but I think it has a lot to do with the lack of distractions and the “simple life” we try to lead here. Some couples say that tiny living would drive them crazy, and I think if you are the type of person who likes space and autonomy from your significant other, it might. However, I think the benefits of efficiency outweigh the lack of privacy, and the proximity can afford a deeper connection.

It’s illegal. Yes, there are laws in our state that ban permanent tiny-house living. These laws are not enforced, we think they are antiquated, and we have every intention of ignoring them. Cat is an engineer and I’m a biologist, we don’t need the government to tell us if our house is safe or sanitary. We are considerate people, if our neighbors have a problem with the way our home looks, we can handle that on our own, too.

It’s temporary. I mentioned earlier that we had no intention of living in the tiny house indefinitely, and I meant it. One day, we want to build a brick-and-mortar, get a dog, have a couple of ugly-ass kids; the whole deal. That being said, we will always be “tiny house people.” Unconventional, efficient, simple. That’s how we do. In my mind, the tiny house movement is like being a grown-up with training wheels. It’s a smart alternative for emerging adults who are reluctant to put down roots. It gives you choices you wouldn’t otherwise have about what you want to do, where you want to live and who you want to spend your life with. Unless you landed a sweet entry-level job, you are a slave to your apartment, dishing out a grand or more every month in most cities, or you live with your parents (not that there is anything wrong with that [cough]). Think of it this way: you build a tiny house for 24 grand, if you live there for two years, it’s paid for itself. That’s a high figure, if you live alone, you could fix up a little camper for next to nothing, but I digress.

We’re not as naïve as we look. Cat and I have realistic expectations about how our lives will change as we get older. At some point in the next few decades, we simply will not want to climb up and down ladders to take a piss at night. We’ll want privacy if we have kids. We’ll want a dinner table that seats more than two. We’ll want a flush toilet. We know this, and when we build our next house, the design will reflect these needs, but one thing we will not do is waste time and money building a house we don’t need, we can focus on what really matters, and that is what this is all about.

-David Nielsen, Asheville 2017.

#writing #journal #tiny house #tinyhouselife #tinyhouse #growing up

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samuelfields · 5 years

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KonMari Your Lifestyle And Finances: Marie Kondo Will Save You Time And Money

If you’ve ever been curious about what Sam’s wife Sydney is like, well you’re about to get a peek into her, oops I mean my, personality and – gasp! – my drawers.

I’m a lighthearted, patient (most days), happy homebody who has to know where everything is in the house and on my computer. But staying organized can be really hard, especially with a toddler in the house, and if you’re going at it wrong.

The exciting news is there’s a refreshing new way to organize known as KonMari. I’m sure some of you have heard about it or are already addicted to it like me.

Since I’m also a personal finance fan, I’m going to share why it’s beneficial to KonMari your lifestyle and finances.

The Six Rules Of The KonMari Method

Before I reveal my own recent adventure in organizing, I’ll give you the rundown on KonMari.

What is it? KonMari is a method of organization created by Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant and author who has a new hit show on Netflix, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.

I stopped watching reality TV shows seven years ago, but had to make an exception for this show. It’s addicting in a good way and has inspired me to make some refreshing changes.

The organizer in me that’s been away on leave ever since we had a baby has re-emerged thanks to this show. I had so much fun watching all of season 1 that I admittedly started watching it over again.

I also really enjoy Marie’s personality and mannerisms. I’ve traveled to Japan over a dozen times or so to visit family and friends, and the aura Marie gives off reminds me of my second “home.”

The way she speaks Japanese is very eloquent, polite, and respectful – something we could use more of in American language and culture imo.

KonMari isn’t just about tidying up one’s house either. It’s a lifestyle improvement technique built upon six key rules.

Rule 1: Commit yourself to tidying up. Without a sincere commitment to getting organized, you’ll either never get started, quit too soon, or only stay organized temporarily. Identify why you want to get organized and hold yourself accountable.

Some example reasons from the show include a couple moving into a new home together for the first time, a family wanting to get their house in order before committing to having a third child, and a widow looking to start a new chapter after her spouse passed away.

Rule 2: Imagine your ideal lifestyle. A clear vision of the results you want is a crucial motivator. I love how Marie takes a few minutes to greet each home she visits. She encourages each family to sit with her and silently talk to their house, as if in prayer.

Have you ever taken a few minutes to thank your house for protecting you and for all the memories you’ve had there? Envision the changes you want and take a moment to give thanks.

Sam and I spend so much time in our house every day working and as full-time parents with our son. We owe so much to our home – thank you dear house!

Rule 3: Finish discarding first. The meaning of this rule is to move forward with purpose. If you clean up your house’s visible areas by just stuffing everything into closets or storage, that isn’t truly effective.

Why? Without going through your items one by one and only keeping the things that you truly want in your future, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to stay organized. Things will inevitably get chaotic again.

Discard items first, then work on properly arranging and storing the remaining things you wish to keep.

Rule 4: Tidy by category, not by location. Traditional organizing is typically done room by room, one closet at a time, one drawer at a time. I’ve always decluttered and organized this way.

The KonMari method, however, is all about tidying by category (ex. clothes, books). The benefit of this approach is seeing just how much you have of each category all at once. Gather each category from all the nooks and crannies in your house and put everything in one big pile.

This shock factor can be quite a big wake up call, especially if you’ve developed a habit of scattering things around. If you love clothes, you might have a dresser and closet full in your bedroom, the guest bedroom, the basement, garage, etc. Making one big mountain of clothes shocks you to how much you actually have and probably don’t need.

The downside of decluttering by category is things will get super messy before they get better. Call it temporary increased chaos, but it’s worth it.

Rule 5: Follow the right order. Marie recommends tackling your tidiness goals in a specific order: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items) and lastly, sentimental items.

Clothes tend to be the easiest to go through for most people, sentimental items the hardest. Tackling categories from least to most emotional creates momentum and a higher chance of completion.

Rule 6: Ask yourself if it sparks joy. This is my favorite rule. It’s made a huge difference in my ability to let go of things, clothes especially.

How do you know if something sparks joy? Sift through your pile of clothes and find something that you love. Hold it or put it on and capture how it makes you feel. Chances are it makes you smile and feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Next, find something you don’t want to keep and compare the difference in your emotional response. If you get stuck, you can always come back to an item later or have a maybe pile.

Additional guidelines. Marie recommends saying thank you to each item we choose to dispose. How sweet! This brings a sense of peace and gratitude to the process.

After you’ve finished discarding items in a category, store them so your items are more easily visible. This is best done using boxes of various sizes and improved folding techniques.

For example, most of us who take the time to put folded clothes in drawers do so horizontally, ie one item on top of another in a stack. But, Marie Kondo folds most items vertically! Pick up a stack of shirts and turn it 90 degrees. Voila – vertical!

To help items fit best, Marie typically recommends folding in thirds instead of in half. You can see an example of my t-shirt drawer before and after below.

Lifestyle Benefits of KonMari

Completing the KonMari process takes a lot of time, but I think it’s worth the effort. The more I practice and progress, the more I appreciate KonMari as a lifestyle improvement. Here are some of the benefits.

Have a renewed appreciation for your home

Realize how much you’ve accumulated over the years

Feel more gratitude towards your belongings

Learn to let go of items that can better serve someone else

Create more useable and open space

Less stress and frustration

Find things faster

Ways KonMari Can Help Your Finances

The KonMari method of organizing has a lot of principles that can be applied to your finances. Here’s my financial spin on the six rules.

Rule 1: Commit yourself to financial independence. Growing wealth doesn’t happen by itself. You have to be proactive if you want to become and stay financially responsible.

Rule 2: Imagine your ideal retirement. Retirement planning is too underrated in our country. Visualize what you want your retirement to look like, don’t fall for retirement myths, and make a detailed roadmap that will lead you there.

Rule 3: Get out of debt. The sooner you can get out of debt and earn more than you spend, the better. So many more opportunities open up when you’re debt free. Sam’s slogan says it perfectly: Financial Freedom, Sooner Rather Than Later.

Rule 4: Don’t forget to zoom out. Regularly look at your overall financial health using a bird’s eye view to avoid missing things. It’s fine to use multiple accounts for different purposes if you actively monitor all your assets. Keep your overall portfolio allocation in line with your risk tolerance.

Rule 5: Earn, save, then enjoy. Order matters if you want to avoid debt and financial stress. Earn your money, save/invest part of what you earn after expenses, and enjoy some or all of the rest.

Rule 6: Identify positive reasons for growing your wealth. Identify specific reasons why money matters to you and how you want to spend it in the future. The clearer your visions and goals, the more motivated you’ll feel.

More finance benefits. The KonMari method can also help you save money by curtailing unnecessary spending. Think about exactly where you would put something before you buy it. No space? Don’t buy it. Your drawers and closet space become a lot more valuable after you’ve gone through the work to get them organized.

You’ll also avoid accidentally buying something you already have. Here are two silly examples. I bought twice as much maple syrup and olive oil because I thought we were running low. The bottles I’d already purchased were buried behind a bunch of stuff.

Sam recently made a dupe goof too. He bought a new basketball last month because he thought he didn’t have one.

Low and behold when we were cleaning out the garage he found one he’d barely used collecting dust in an old laundry basket buried below some bags and our son’s old car seat.

Organizing Is Addicting

I’ve always been know as the obsessively organized one amongst my closest friends and colleagues. But when full-time parenting took over my life, my ability to stay organized went out the window.

I frequently felt frazzled and frustrated. Our house also looked like it had been turned upside down most of the time, which often drove Sam and me crazy.

But this year, I finally feel like I’m back. Our son is starting to play more independently giving me more breathing room, I’ve been able to do more part-time work late at night, and I feel happy and more balanced. Bit by bit our house is returning to order.

Prepare For Big Changes With KonMari

I’m also highly motivated to give our house a complete KonMari makeover because we’re expecting big changes on the horizon. As many of you know, we might move to a bigger house this year or relocate to Hawaii.

Even though a bigger house could easily accommodate everything we have, packing up any size house is a royal PITA and the less we have to bring, the better.

I’m also amazed at how quickly our son outgrows things especially his clothes. Since we’re keeping all of his things for a few more years just in case we have another baby, our storage space is continually diminishing.

Clearing out space is so satisfying. I highly recommend you give it a try!

Before And After Examples Of KonMari

The worst room in our house has always been the kitchen. As one of the center spaces in our house, a messy kitchen is frustrating. The three of us spend so much time in and out of the kitchen throughout the entire day, 7 days a week.

It’s the last place we want to be chaotic, yet it’s constantly getting bombarded with stuff: papers, toys, cough drops, food, delivery boxes, our son’s clothes, and other random stuff. The good news is KonMari is helping!

Here’s a before and after pic of our countertops.

The countertops went from disarray and cluttered to manageable and orderly.

Next is an after shot of one of our kitchen drawers. I forgot to take a before pic, but you can trust me that it was a disaster. I repurposed some empty iPhone boxes.

And here’s a before and after pic of my t-shirt drawer.

Even though I folded my shirts in the before pic, the difference is night and day. I like the KonMari folding technique so much better.

A Few More Tips On KonMari

Get your family on board. You’ll need each other’s support.

Don’t expect to finish in a week. It’s time-consuming but worth it.

Bend the rules a little if you need to. I won’t tell anyone.

You don’t have to become a minimalist, unless you want to.

Anticipate and push through setbacks. Everyone has them.

Stay committed for the long term so your hard work isn’t wasted.

Reuse take-out containers, shoe box lids, jewelry boxes, etc for storing items neatly in drawers.

Dislike folding? Put on spa music and approach it like meditation.

Organizing and folding are great skills for kids. Our son now eagerly asks me to help fold his socks and he’s not even 2 years old yet!

Call ahead and check for overcapacity before dropping off donations. KonMari is popular now and people are donating like crazy.

Don’t forget to grab a tax receipt when you drop off donations.

Take pictures of your before and after progress!

If you want to learn more about the KonMari method, Marie Kondo wrote these two books all about it:

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up)

Regards,

Sydney

Readers, what’s the messiest room in your house? Have you tried to KonMari your lifestyle and finances?

The post KonMari Your Lifestyle And Finances: Marie Kondo Will Save You Time And Money appeared first on Financial Samurai.

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mcjoelcain · 5 years