#still a very slow process as i am currently back in the closet for safety reasons

[lynkss]

it's my transiversary 🥳

[homeimpgyk532]

Top Ways To Make Moving Less Stressful

Moving? Really feeling a little overwhelmed or tension? Yeah, I have existed. Today I am sharing several of my finest ideas for moving without as much stress and anxiety. While I desire these pointers could guarantee no anxiety, sadly, I assume anxiety may just come with the relocating territory.

My family simply relocated. https://rainbow.coop/community/coop-resources/It was quite a quick choice, and we really did not relocate much, however we relocated from our 1300 square foot apartment, to a 2200 square foot home. It was a huge decision for our family members that we needed to make because remote learning in our tiny area did not work out in the springtime.

Relocating is STRESSFUL! It was interesting, but demanding. Did you recognize that most grownups agree relocating from one home to one more is exceptionally stressful? Some individuals even claim it is one of the most stressful things they have actually experienced. If you are preparing to move, you might currently feel stressed out over the job that you will need to put into this process.

How To Make Moving Day Less Stressful?

When trying to find methods to get with the relocation effortlessly as well as without shedding your peace of mind, have a look at the stress-free moving ideas below. Luckily, having actually relocated numerous times, and also having talked with buddies that move a great deal I had some wonderful pointers that aided make moving less difficult.

Get a headstart on packaging as quickly as you recognize that you are moving. If you wait until the eleventh hour, you are mosting likely to experience even more stress than you need to due to the fact that you will obtain stuck trying to do everything at the same time. While you may still require particular points till you are all set to officially relocate right into the new location, such as your sofa and tv, there are other areas that you can begin evacuating right into boxes.

Load great deals of products inside clear storage space containers with lids and after that area labels on them. If you make use of clear containers, you can conveniently translucent them, so you will certainly know what you have actually packed without needing to open the lid of package.

How To Make Moving Less Stressful

I was super grateful our discomfort medications remained in a clear container and also simple to identify the very first evening in our brand-new home, since I needed them after moving throughout the day. As well as, it is even less complicated to recognize what goes where when you have actually labels connected to each of your containers.

The last point you desire to shed throughout the step is any kind of essential files you might have. These papers would include your birth certification, social safety card, home mortgage info, as well as a lot more. Area each of these products inside a safeguarded folder and after that take it with you when you are lastly all set to move right into your new house.

Do you have a lot of your clothes hanging up in your storage room? You might dread the concept of drawing them off the hangers only to hang them back up in a closet in the brand-new house. The good news is that you do not need to do every one of that.

Easy Moving Tips To Make Your Move Less Stressful

Leave the hooks socializing from the top of the trash bag. You may then tie the bag shut. Once you move into your brand-new place, all you'll need to do is simply reduce the trash can off and hang your garments right within the brand-new closet. Not just is this a creative relocating hack to assist save some additional time, but it is likewise one that will certainly assist you keep those clothing clean.

Maintain your kitchen area items together by placing all your favorite seasonings and also little utensils inside your slow-moving cooker. If your slow-moving cooker is huge sufficient, you ought to have no problem suitable lots of things within it. Most notably, you can cover the slow-moving stove with the lid to maintain those spices as well as other points safe during the relocation.

Order moving boxes from a moving company for long moves. So this tip was repeated over as well as over by my pals who have actually made cross nation relocations. I am the individual who discovered free boxes from people for our brief, half mile move, but numerous of my good friends duplicated this, I felt it was essential to place in right here.

can make such a big difference when you are relocating. Or maybe they can assist with amusing your youngsters, assisting you unload, or perhaps cleaning the old or new area up a little bit. Not sure who to ask? Simply ask those that are closest to you, such as your moms and dads, brother or sisters, and also good friends you chat to frequently.

A few of your enjoyed ones might even have products that can make the relocating process a lot more manageable, such as hand vehicles for carrying heavy furnishings and boxes and protective covers for your furnishings. Our friends helped us on relocating day. Their teenage daughter captivated our kids, also taking them to our new community park, while the older youngsters helped us move and also do the heavy lifting.

Although, our buddies' kids declined payment, I rejoiced I at the very least provided. Incentive Idea: Make sure to call and alter over all energies at the very least one week before moving. Make a listing of all the utilities you need to activate as well as those you need to turn off as well as examine them off as you go.

How To Make Relocating Easier And Less Stressful

Moving is stressful for the majority of people. It is not unusual for people to feel aggravated over everything they need to do when it comes to relocating from one place to the following. While relocating takes time, initiative, as well as hrs of effort, there are ways to make it a little bit much less stressful.

Once you resolve into your new area, all the work that entered into moving deserves it.

When it comes to moving homes or houses, many people probably wouldn't have it on their list of leading 10 favored points to do or perhaps on their list of top 100 things to do. Besides being difficult, it's costly as well as taxing, not to discuss several various other not-too-positive adjectives you can most likely think about.

How To Make Moving Less Stressful

Then, when something added pops into your mind, compose it down right away. Points to detail out are disconnection days for energies, leaving your cable box, organizing donation center pick-ups, as well as a lot more. As soon as the list is quite complete, include the jobs to your calendar. A number of tasks each day will certainly make it much less overwhelming than if you have 30 things to do a week before you move. Making use of a relocating list is another vital method to reduce anxiety on relocating day.

This assists you keep things organized and saves you whole lots of time later on when you unpack. If you normally have a tendency to hesitate when doing things, when it concerns moving, do not. Beginning earlier, not later on. Packaging to relocate is not as easy as packaging for a vacation it always takes two times as lengthy as you believe it will. Start immediately by sorting as well as loading products that are not required and used on a daily basis.

That task is demanding enough, so do not complicate it with packaging, wrapping, as well as disassembling furnishings. While several of things you're moving will normally be larger than others, when it involves the majority of your things, it's finest to utilize boxes that coincide dimension.

How To Make Moving Less Stressful

But if you proceed a much less popular relocating day, it'll save you both cash as well as stress and anxiety. If you have a versatile schedule, experiment with prospective moving days and search for the most inexpensive day to make a consultation. Moving business are busiest on weekends, so if you can skip Saturday as well as arrange your step for a weekday, you'll be checking out a respectable price cut as well as prevent the insaneness. Schedule your movers ASAP, approximately six weeks beforehand.

Obtain help and also do not overstate your own capability. It is much cheaper to hire a number of movers than to spend the day in the emergency space. However suppose you can not afford professional movers? If your spending plan will not enable traditional moving companies, there are more low-priced methods to get assistance.

Stress can be lowered, but can not be prevented one hundred percent. Since of this, you require to have a great deal of energy, which originates from obtaining enough rest and also good-for-you food. Although it's tough to maintain excellent type all the time, it is very important to try to take great treatment of your well-being before the step given that you'll need the advantages of doing so.

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Ways You Can Make Moving Less Stressful

Most of us know that moving can be demanding. There are a great deal of things to do as well as it always seems like you may be neglecting something. Likewise, changing your residence implies a great deal of psychological stress also. So here we will certainly tell you some points you can do to make moving much less difficult.

Relocating is stressful for numerous people. The stress and anxiety of a relocation is so notorious that you can find investigations as well as articles such as divorce? That's not as stressful as moving house. But why is moving so difficult? The psychological anxiety of relocating is well-known because altering house is a complicated experience.

Tips And Tricks For Moving Faster And Easier

However, we do not agree with that. Relocating suggests a little bit of tension because it is an important choice. There are likewise several points you have to do as well as make certain you total properly. In addition to that, like virtually whatever, it indicates adjustment and also some unpredictabilities. That is why we are followers of making moving much less difficult.

Numerous things demand your attention as well as it can overwhelm you sometimes! However, remainder ensured that it is entirely feasible to make the experience less stressful. Approve that tension is a regular part of the relocating process, The very first step to getting over relocating stress and anxiety is approval.

Things You Can Do To Make Moving Less Stressful

You will be prepared for it. Assume regarding it like this: anxiety is an all-natural human feedback to a demanding circumstance. However, you have a say in how you respond to that anxiety. You can take it as something adverse and also suffer. Or you can function your way with it and achieve excellent things.

That way, you can actually collaborate with it instead of being controlled by it. One of the most essential point is to acknowledge the tension without letting it prevent you from the jobs available. Remain organized! Something that will certainly aid you a great deal previously, throughout, and also after your step is to be organized every action of the way! For this, a checklist will be an excellent ally.

Simple Ways To Make Moving Less Stressful For You

Keeping every one of this only in your head might bring about extra stress and anxiety and also to forgetting some details. So to minimize tension as well as minimize forgetfulness, creating whatever down will certainly make a large difference! There are lots of sources on the web that can aid you. You can have a look at packing checklists or moving checklists to obtain some ideas.

Honor the journey, all of it. Moving is also a heavily emotional process. Besides all things you have to do, relocating implies a great deal of modification will certainly involve your life. You leave points behind and you fulfill new people. This can produce both stress and also enjoyment. So, honor that procedure as well as live the trip completely.

Fantastic Storage Tips To Make Moving Out Less Stressful

Do not concentrate just on what you are leaving behind and also just how that makes you unfortunate. You can likewise look forward to all the new, trendy things awaiting you! Attempt to keep a favorable mindset. Maintaining a positive frame of mind makes a large difference in every facet of your life, not simply moving! Scientific research has shown that favorable thinking assists with tension monitoring as well as can also enhance your health and wellness.

Embrace it, accept it, endure on your own. And also try to see the silver lining of points. This will most definitely make a distinction for the far better. It is likewise very crucial to search for assistance in buddies as well as family members rather of dealing with every little thing by on your own. Speaking to others will certainly aid you keep your feet grounded and also not obtain brought away by the stress and anxiety.

Expert Tips To Ensure A Stress-free Moving Experience

Regardless of where you are moving to, you are more than likely to experience a terrific deal of stress and anxiety. Stress is somewhat normal yet some things are better done when you are unwinded. Moving is among those points. It is the only method to make moving much less stressful.

Make the strategies before it is also late. A checklist is a necessity. Get expert assistance. Do not move during the active season. Probably one of the most typical blunder is not beginning promptly.

How To Make Moving Day Less Stressful?

If you lack time, whatever will be in a rush and also there is no area for you to catch a breath. That indicates that you will be worried and that is something that you want to avoid. When you have enough time, everything becomes possible. You can inspect numerous moving companies, examine several storage options, and so on. Of training course, you can constantly ensure modifications however the core need to continue to be the exact same. Obtain professional assistance. If you have expert long-distance moving companies on your side, you are going to be more kicked back. Relocating on your very own is certainly a lot more stressful than when having expert assistance.

[hollowcrovvn]

The Ostensive Fumblings of Being Human (part 8)

Note: I keep up with chapters much faster on ao3. This fic is up to chapter 13 there for those who want to jump ahead.

Pairing: Connor x female!reader

Rating: T

Summary: January 2039. The aftermath of the revolution continues to shake the city of Detroit. Androids are living in government provided communities while efforts are being made to integrate them into society. You are a grad-student volunteering with the Detroit Crisis Response Unit (DCRU), working to help with relief efforts. Set within the backdrop of the slowing growing Android Rights Movement, Connor, newly deviant, is trying to understand what it means to be alive while many others like him seek equality and justice.

Chapter Summary: A clandestine meeting with Jericho begins with the exchange of ideas regarding who might be responsible for the attack.

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) (part 6) (part 7) (ao3)

Tagged: @shaydeevee33 @easy-and-steady @goldie516 @house-arya @untilwearestarsinthesky @rainbowsithlord

The housing site was unavailable as a meeting point, given your current status suspending your access, but nothing stopped you from meeting with the four Jericho leaders on neutral ground. Now, you weren't completely breaking any rules, because you did have a support meeting lined up for later that week, something you couldn't say you were looking forward to.

Meanwhile, the androids that had been injured, including Simon, were repaired, moving out of the Cyberlife facility and back to the DCRU site. Some androids and their families however, had refused to return.

You'd heard faint rumors of concerns of androids leaving in fear of their safety, but the numbers were still small. The "neutral" ground selected was an abandoned home, one of many in Detroit's further neighborhoods. These areas with their empty homes were being looked at specifically for conversion into android communities, but seeing them in all their decrepit state made it obvious how long it would take to make that a reality.

You weren't sure if the four had invited you simply to get Connor to attend, or if there was some other motivation behind having a "clandestine" meeting with a human. Maybe you had just earned their trust? You hoped that was it, exiting the cab and taking Connor's hand when he offered it to help you out. The sting of the burns had completely gone and you were left now with spots of pink new skin on your palms. Your shoulder still ached sometimes, but other than a slight ringing in your ear that came and went, physically you were in good shape.

Connor had traded in his usual DPD attire for something more unassuming and casual. His LED was covered with a Tigers baseball cap that he had happily expressed that Hank bought for him in preparation for a promise made to take Connor to a game this summer. The rest was something you'd seen any guy, lazily headed to their next class on campus, wearing.

He looked positively, unmistakably human, which was the point.

You tried not to stare too much, but you were still doing some processing of your own. When Connor had finished telling you the details of those few days before November 12th, you had chosen not to ask questions during the retelling and just to save them for the end. You had quickly found yourself at a loss of where to even start. At the time , he had waited, patiently where you'd left him at the counter while you were half hiding out in the bedroom, staring at your clothes hung up in the closet, but nothing on your mind was about what to wear.

What was on your mind, was dealing with the knowledge Connor had been not just hunting deviants, but hunting Jericho to eradicate deviants entirely for CyberLife. The feeling was best described by the flutter in your stomach and the tension in your brow.Uncomfortable. It was hard to mask and you hated it because he'd been right—your opinion would need some time to change.

Connor had so calmly told you how his deviancy was planned by CyberLife, that he was sent to infiltrate Jericho but then Markus brought on his conversion. His voice had taken on that same distant tone, his expression passive and unfazed.

Now looking at him, standing outside in the gray day, he smiled back at you, interested and curious as ever and no trace of that mechanical coldness.

"Did you think of a question?" he asked.

"I was just wondering how... safe it is for you to be around Markus? Sorry, that feels so shitty to ask, I know it wasn't your choice."

"It's fine." Connor said, "I am perfectly safe. Even if CyberLife were to attempt to re-establish the connection, I know the way out."

"The garden." you said, confirming, "Tricky of Kamski. Conveniently , tricky."

"He is, in essence, my father." Connor said, keeping an eye out for anyone lingering around the street and once he confirmed no one was around, carefully trudged a path through the snow towards the front door of the house, "It makes sense he would know more about my software than even I do."

You followed, stepping into the footprints he left behind. The snow had built up in spots to knee height, with no one to clear the sidewalks in this part of town it wasn't surprising.

"Gosh—what's that like? "Meeting your maker"?"

You had reached the front door having successfully navigated the tundra. Connor waited before knocking, parting his lips slightly as he was poised to answer. Your breath came in faint clouds, his did not appear at all. He seemed to still be thinking of a good answer.

"Discomposing." he settled on at last, eyes flashing as he caught your gaze, "He did try to have me shoot a girl in his swimming pool to establish my humanity, so I have doubts about his proposed divinity."

"Doubts? How? That sounds bona fide Old Testament of him..." you said, and Connor grinned, turning his attention back to the door which he rapped in sequence. There was a click and Connor opened the door.

Inside the house had as much snow as parts of the street in spots above the staircase that had collapsed in. To the left was a living room, a fire started and tended to by a blond man you immediately recognized. Connor let you in first and then closed the door, locking it behind him. North had let you both in, moving back over to take a seat on a moth-eaten couch. Markus was standing, leaning against a far wall, but he pushed off and smiled the moment you both entered.

"The prodigal son returns." Markus said and you shot Connor a look.

Biblical references 2, Connor 0.

"I didn't ever leave." Connor said, crossing the room to take the hand Markus offered him. They touched at the wrist, skin fading back for a moment.

"You've been busy." Connor said, dry and unimpressed.

"And you've been put on restricted duty and before that were too busy with deviancy cases, so we have had to do our own detecting."

You had a distinct feeling you were missing something, shivering in your quickly dampening boots. North waved you over.

"This fire isn't entirely for our benefit, ---."

You were happy to come over, sitting on the ground by the fireplace. Simon set another log onto the flames, stirring up a new wave of pleasant heat.

"We haven't met yet properly." he said, offering your his hand, "I'm Simon."

That he had two hands at all was a miracle in itself, and he was seemingly having very little difficulty using them. You took his hand, noting that there was a jagged "scar" of sorts along his jaw, reaching back into his hairline. It was a flash of white, showing his inner casing.

"Did everything go well?"

Simon nodded, "Very well and better everyday. Some cosmetic software programming issues, but nothing I am too concerned about."

"Some say we should go without skin all the time anyway." North added, fiddling with a bouncy ball, rolling it along her thigh. You looked back over to Connor and Markus, noting they spoke together quietly in low voices. Markus looked resigned, Connor looked frustrated.

"I don't want to interrupt, but—has this "detecting" got anything to do with when you warned me about investigating the bombing yourself, Markus?" you said, kicking out a leg so that your boot could dry off in the heat of the fire. Simon, who was the only one whose expression you could properly see, shot Markus a surprised look.

"Oh c'mon, I'm not stupid." you said.

"Debatable." North said with a scoff and when you shot her a look she quickly defended herself, "We heard about the mishap the other night. That was stupid. Nothing personal."

"Josh told you?" you asked, not recalling giving him any specifics.

"No. He sends his well wishes by the way, he had another assignment." North said.

"Okay, so how did you know?"

"I'm curious to know the answer to that too." Connor said, shooting North a narrow look.

"Relax, Fido. We put a tail on her. We put a tail on all of them. For a second, we thought you'd fooled us all and were playing both sides." North said, reminding you that this did mean a tail had followed you all the way to an anti-android rally.

"Those people were disgusting." you said, tensing.

"You don't have to defend yourself, we know you weren't there as a participant clearly."

"We do want to know what you found out." Markus added and Connor suddenly looked a bit panicked.

"Hold on—this was why you wanted her to bring me along? I'm not supposed to give you information on these cases, Markus, and even if I could, we've seen already the contamination your people are bringing into scenes. The last gathering spot was practically useless as evidence. They ransacked the place."

Connor had mentioned that before that the DPD was struggling with contaminated scenes. You knew it had probably meant this, but hearing it confirmed was another thing.

"Why on earth would we pass up getting information from you? You're the perfect double agent, Connor." North said, "Or triple? I can never remember."

Connor didn't appreciate the joke, his jaw clenched slightly, but he kept his attention focused on Markus, who put his hands out in a sign of relenting.

"Connor... I know that in order to live together, we will have to abide and trust inmutually beneficial laws and rules—but we aren't there yet. All I'm doing is making sure that we know who our enemies are. We won't be retaliating."

North sighed very, very loudly at that. Markus gave her an impatient look.

"I got it, I got it." she muttered.

"We have in exchange some information that might be beneficial to the DPD." Markus said, "Simon?"

Simon got up, brushed off the dust and ash and took a tablet out from his backpack. He flipped a few screens and then presented the device to Connor. You got up to follow, coming to stand to look over Connor's shoulder. No one seemed to mind your presence, so you didn't question the trust.

"Michael Graham." Connor read.

"Do you remember him?" Markus asked.

"Yes." Connor said, "He was killed by a WR400 "Traci" android that went deviant at the Detroit Eden Club. I was assigned to the case November 6th, 2038. Mr. Graham was physically abusing the Traci models. He ordered two and killed one. The other, rather than submit to being destroyed, fought back."

Connor flipped the file, landing on a crime scene photo. You suddenly knew why Hank had advised you not look at them. Casting a look at you over his shoulder, he quickly skimmed by it.

"...There was another Traci model. They were lovers. I caught them at the loading bay and... I chose to let them go."

You remembered this part of the story he had relayed to you, how in that moment he began to truly question whether they, as androids, had no value outside of machines. Whether they could love.

"What does this case have to do with the bombing?" you asked, looking up at both Markus and Simon.

"Michael Graham was from an affluent family. The eldest son of Walter Graham of Skylar, Graham & Besop, LLC. A company that designs and sells parts for self-driving automotive vehicles. We believe his brother, Lucas Graham, is funding the extremist group the "Red Bloods." "

"Markus Christ, they have a name now?" you said, surprised by the sudden silence of the room. You looked up to find Markus giving you a very concerned look, while Simon smiled. Somewhere over your shoulder, you heard North snort. Connor was doing his best not to express an emotion at all, but you could see it in the way his LED flickered.

" Anyway ." Markus said, "They were just a typical hate group, but recently they have become organized and their ranks are padded with people from outside the city and even the state. Biker gangs, other extremists—you name it. They are recruiting and they are paying. "

"Sounds familiar. DCRU had to start paying volunteers for the housing initiative a month or so in just to get a blip of a head count."

"I don't think they have the same reasons." Simon added with mirthless humor.

"We have all this information regarding the Red Bloods at the DPD too, but how are you connecting Lucas Graham to this? Because of his brother?" Connor asked, looking up from the tablet.

"At the rally they were talking about deviant crimes a lot." you said, recalling the night in a factual way made it easier to process.

"We know, because there is one android serial number that has perpetually been brought to our attention when the DPD asks for updates on the turning over of these people for prosecution." Markus said, "After several attempts, we declared we did not know where this Traci android was and we were ending our efforts to find her. Two days later was the attack."

Markus touched the tablet, pulling up another bulletin you recognized immediately from DCRU's heading.

"Mr. Lucas Graham is also on the board for the Detroit Crisis Response Unit, giving him access to guard rotation schedules, fence perimeters... any security features." Markus concluded, watching Connor as he continued to look through the files, taking time to upload some to himself with the touch of two fingers. You couldn't help yourself, you suddenly grabbed Connor's arm, drawing his attention down as you looked at him wide eyed.

It fit.

"This... could be a good lead." Connor said.

“Is there something you want to add, —?” Markus said, turning his attention to you as it was hard to miss your reaction. You looked at Connor, not for approval, but for some sign of his opinion. Connor was silent, but then after a second he gave a hesitant nod.

“One of the men at the rally knew about my promotion to division planner before it was officially announced.” You began, “If this Lucas guy is involved, it would fit with how they got that information.”

Markus took a sharp breath, letting it out slowly. Restrained. He seemed to quiet whatever rage the confirmation of his fears had brought and let it pass through him.

“Thank you, —. With that in mind, we will take care.” Markus said, looking more than disappointed.

“Take care?” You said, noting that Simon looked equally grave while North had joined you looking unsurprised.

“We are considering other means of forming a community for androids, should these endeavors fail.”

Oh.

“What do you mean? Like— leave?”

“More like make our own space.” North said, “With our own security and our own plans— no offense.”

“None taken.” You said faintly, looking at Markus and feeling your stomach flip with anxiety at the idea of what might happen to the androids if they elected to take matters into their own hands in this. So far, the public opinion had been positive and the government compliant in giving the androids their most important demands, but if the androids were to refuse this requirement of keeping the shaky new peace? It could all go back to recycling camps in the blink of an eye.

Connor shut off the tablet and returned it to Markus, who refused it.

“Keep it. We simply transferred the data for ease of your human detectives.”

“Before we break, there is something else, Connor.” Simon said, but Connor seemed to already have an idea what it was about.

“Josh informed me.” He said, “I maintain that it is not a good idea for me to be too involved with the community at this time.”

Simon sighed, looking to Markus with an expression that read please talk to him.

“We have only barely scratched the surface of the bond created between an android who awakens another android, but it is there, Connor. You are important to them. To us.”

Connor however, seemed cold to Markus’ words, taking on that appearance of indifferent detachment you had seen before.

“I am better served where I am. I apologize, but we do not have time to go into it further. — has an appointment to keep.”

“Yay group therapy.” You said, false enthusiasm palpable. North’s interest peaked.

“Therapy? For the explosion?”

“Yeah, turns out I might be, “mismanaging my trauma” ” you said, air-quoting.

“Forget some human group, come to ours.” North said, “You know exactly what’s gonna happen with humans. They are going to get all interested in your job, ask you a billion stupid and offensive questions and nothing they’ve been through is going to compare at all to what you have.”

North managed to successfully hit on every concern you even had, remembering that not many humans had such close contact with “deviants” and that in a victim’s group where people were dealing with robbery mostly and the death of loved ones, you did kind of have a niche incident.

“Lucille runs it. Hell, Josh might even finally go if you’re there. All the androids that go were there that day.” North looked around at the other three, noting Connor’s expression she slipped into a bit of a defensive tone, “What? I’m right. Better to be with people who actually understand.”

“It’s not my call.” Connor said.

“Good! How about it? Unless being the only human would bother you.” North added.

“I mean… as long as it doesn’t make anyone else uncomfortable?”

“Anyone has a problem they can bring it to me.” North said, “I imagine some folks will not like it, but I think you can take it.”

That was probably the nicest thing North had ever said to you, which definitely said something in itself, but you chose to take it as it was given.

“And it gives Connor a chance to visit with the androids who he freed.” Markus added, reminding you of the part of Connor’s story earlier that you hadn’t even really thought about. Connor had infiltrated Cyberlife and awoken hundreds of androids… was this bond Markus talked about some kind of link they all shared? It seemed overly personal to you somehow, so you kept your questions to yourself for now.

“I will think about it.” Connor said, non-committal.

“Well, if you come you come. I’ll send you all the details, —.” North said.

Somehow, the idea of going to therapy seemed a bit less intimidating and oddly you even felt a bit of eagerness for the first time instead of dread.

With the meeting adjourned, Simon and Markus left you both with North who walked you out of the home through a separate entrance so as to avoid any attention from anyone who might have been watching outside. She took her job of security seriously.

“I wanted to thank you again for Simon,” North said, smiling with faint fondness, “I honestly don’t know how we would do this without him. He’s always been… a voice of reason.”

She looked up at you and you could see the sincerity in her eyes.

“He’s like a centerpiece. The one that calls Markus to action and keeps me from making an idiot of myself."

“He’s your glue.” You said, nodding with understanding, “I’m happy to have been able to help.”

North turned her attention to Connor, who’d been doing his best to avoid speaking to any of the others more than necessary.

“What about you, Con? You find your center yet?”

You couldn’t help but think you were missing something with the way the two of them exchanged stares, Connor’s intense and warning and hers teasing, eyes silently laughing. She pulled her pack from her back to the front, unzipping it and pulling free a container filled with vivid blue liquid. She offered it to Connor, who accepted it.

“Monthly ration for you. Try to keep him from getting shot at too much.” North said, giving Connor a light punch to the arm as she walked past you both and disappeared into the snowy, urban landscape.

You walked a ways through the neighborhood to the cab call area. You silently made a "grabby" gesture, indicating to Connor you'd put the thirium into your own messenger bag out of sight. He handed it over, calling the cab with a touch of his palm to the sensor.

"How much of this stuff do you actually have to drink?" you said, stepping a bit in place to keep warm and get some of the snow off your boots.

"RK800s are very efficient models, so I only need to replenish in the event of an injury. Some older models require bi-monthly changes of their thirium stores."

"You planning on getting injured?" you asked, meaning it to be light-hearted.

"I was injured." Connor stated simply, "I was grazed on my right thigh by a nine millimeter bullet during the incident at the bar. It caused minimal thirium losses, but given recent events, I messaged North privately before our arrival and asked if she would bring a canister."

"You... you got hurt?! Are you okay? You didn't seem hurt at all!" you asked as the cab drew up to the curb, doors opening. Connor offered you his hand and though you didn't need the help, you still took it, letting him guide you into the back seat. He joined you and you found yourself watching how he stepped in for any sign of the injury at all.

"I am fine. Androids do not feel pain." he said with a smile, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze. The doors closed, shading the harsh winter light outside with the tinted windows. Warmth rushed from vents, immediately setting the temperature to a nice dry heat. You huffed a sigh, leaning back into the soft leather and without thinking, smoothed your glove covered thumb over his hands, looking with interest.

"Right. I knew that... You know, I've always been curious—exactly what do you feel?"

"It's different than how it was. Certain sensations were only prioritized if needed. Now it's a bit more consistent."

Connor allowed you to turn his hand this way and that, taking it back only to remove his glove. He then rested his bare hand palm up on his thigh for further inspection. You traced the tip of your middle finger from the tip of his own down to his palm, watching his fingers curl involuntary inward.

"What does that feel like?" you said.

Connor seemed to struggle to find words and trying to be helpful you slipped your own glove off and laced your fingers with his, oblivious to the effect your touches were having on his LED.

" Good ." Connor said, the word coming too quickly and breathlessly. You froze, suddenly feeling all too warm.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have—" your hand went lax and you attempted to draw away, but found your hand caught in his own.

"It's pressure. Also warmth. I know your core temperature on touch alone. It's.... soft. Or smooth I suppose." his thumb traced over the back of your hand for emphasis, smoother even than your own skin with its lack of ridges and fingerprints.

"Is that what you meant?" Connor asked, looking at you sheepishly.

"Yes, but—" you held his hand in both of yours now, "The uh—the other part... is important too. The emotional."

"I used to not feel anything, "emotional" or otherwise, when anyone touched me." Connor said, "Hank hugs me often, or puts his arm around my shoulders. It makes me feel... real. More so I mean."

Connor took a deep breath.

"He called me "son" once. That was also good." Connor smiled, risking a look over at you and when he found you were looking back he met your eyes, "But different from this."

"I would hope so." you said, laughing nervously. You let him take his hand back, shuffling to find where your glove had gotten to when the touch of the back of his curled knuckles just barely brushed your cheek. Your eyelids fluttered several times, resisting every urge to close and lean into the touch.

He did it only once, looking at you for approval or disapproval, hand hovering. You didn't ask him to stop, in fact, the only thing you remember saying was his name, soft and breathless as his own had been a few moments before. You were suddenly aware of how close he was, spreading your leg just slightly and finding your thigh flush against his own. The touch of his hand returned, slipping behind your neck and smoothing through the hair at your nape and then back. His thumb brushed over your cheek, cupping your jaw—and then the cab abruptly stopped and the doors slid open with a mechanical hiss. It was like someone flicked a switch, merciless daylight flooding the private space and the sounds of the construction machines jarring you from your stupor.

Connor was already up and out of the cab, his glove back on.

"This is where North said the meeting would be." Connor said, mask back in place as he helped you out and then broke the contact as soon as it was right to do so.

"Are you familiar with the location?" Connor said, pinging it to your phone. It was just one of the housing buildings, near where your own offices were on alpha site.

"Yeah. I can find it. Do... do you need to get going?" you asked, trying on your own mask to hide the disappointment.

"Yes, I am returning to Hank's residence for the time being. I need to replenish my thirium and return my operating capacity to 100%."

With that, you pulled the container out of your bag and handed it back to him.

"Will I see you later?"

"Certainly."

You were not entirely sure what that meant, but it was enough of a confirmation that you didn't feel like pressing for details. You stood, feeling a bit awkward about how to say "goodbye" and noting, to your extreme jealousy, that if Connor felt any such awkwardness, he was doing a damn good job hiding it.

"Okay well—uh. See you later."

"I hope this meeting is helpful to you." Connor said, sincerity returning to his voice, "If it does not work out, there is always the DPD organized one."

You nodded with understanding and watched as Connor disappeared back into the cab, the sleek black vehicle engaging and driving away. You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding, huffing an animated sigh.

"Weh-elp. You started it ." you said to yourself, bracing hands on your hips as if that might help "ground" you from whatever the ever loving hell that was and why your heart now felt like it existed somewhere in your stomach. When you'd had more time to process it, you made a mental note that it may be time to address—well, whatever it was that was going on between you two. For now though, there was a meeting to attend and the new-found eagerness you had that morning had faded to something still eager, but also anxious. What if the androids did not want a human there? What if you acted super weird? Weirder than normal?

You flashed your ID badge to the guards, finding North had informed them of your visit so the usual securities were taken for a “civilian”. Once the search and metal detector bit was over you headed into the housing site, catching an automated cart that served as a low grade shuttle around the complex. You entered in the modular unit number to the cart’s navigation system and sat facing backwards in the back seat as the cart sprung to life and began its trek across the lot.