#ive been kinda burnt out and also really busy with work

[junebugdunes]

it's a beautiful medium, and you are a horrible painter.

[missingn000]

[shrewmingledotcom]

Hello hii Lira here (fear not, this is just my main account)

Miscellaneous question, just because I can

1. What was your first anime ? Also what is your favorite one ?

2. Other than the music franchise, do you have favorite music artists ?

3. Oh and you write as well, right ? Do you have a favorite piece of your own (some work, dialogue, scene, idea whatever)

ooh thanks for the ask lira^^ (ive never gotten these before lmao) 1. my first anime ever was probably yu yu hakusho, probably because i had an older cousin living with me and we had to share the TV all the time and cuz he was older he would be in charge almost every time we watched so i just watched whatever he watched. my favorite anime is jojo's bizarre adventure i've been a fan for a very long time (probably cuz my cousin also introduced me to it) but i've watched the anime and all of the rohan spin offs and im currently reading the manga (im on the last few chapters of part 7) and im saving up money for diavolo tomonui tbh i actually used to be obsessed with jojo before hypmic/paralive 2. besides paradox live and hypnosis mic, i actually really like "The Orion Experience" they are probably my favorite band and i absolutely love their albums "Sugar Deluxe" and "Children of the Stars" im also a theater kid so besides hypmic and paralive i actually listen to a lot of musical soundtracks (recently i did a class production of mean girls where i played janis!!) my favorite musicals are Ride the Cyclone and Beetlejuice 3. i do write but not as much anymore, a couple years ago i did write a lot but i guess i got really burnt out. one of my posts before mentioned that the last fanfic i wrote was like 2 years ago but if i did have a favorite i guess it would be a fanfic idea about kantaro and reo, where it focused on both of their insecurities towards each other. kantaro attempting to deal with his social media obsession, insecurities and now jealousy towards reo, while reo on the other hand was dealing with the possibility of his fans "abandoning" him for another idol and feeling insecure/jealous about it like kantaro my ideas for the fic was that it was gonna be fairly dark with psychological horror and angst in general. i called the fanfic "Copycat" and honestly i might consider writing it but for the time being im kinda busy so maybe sometime in the future i will^^

sorry if my english and grammar is bad i kinda have a little struggle with it and also if the post itself is a bit jumbled up^^

[wizkiddx]

I would for sure read a continuation of the birth photographer fic if you feel comfortable writing it/have time! Xx

a/n sorry I kinda combined these two together, I hope this is okay!! sorry ive taken so long too!! my requests are still open, just going a bit slowly :)

summary: literally just birth + harry

dad!tom x reader

warnings: childbirth, mentions of fainting, squint for suggestiveness too

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“Your doing so good darling, just keep breathin’ like that for me, in-out-in-out”

That had pretty much been the soundtrack to your last 3 hours. And yes it was MORE annoying than it sounds. Of course, that’s also ignoring the insane amount of pain your uterus was putting you through - as it spasmed while the little bug in there was wriggling away. Giving birth was not easy but giving birth with a husband-turned-midwife wittering away in your ear? Un-fucking-bearable. 

“Tom…. I love you but..” Everything had really been starting to ramp up in the last half an hour, you were a panting sweaty mess now. “Please… SHUT THE FUCK UP” Tom would’ve recoiled completely away from the bed because of your tone, if it wasn’t for the absolute death grip you had his right hand in. Instead,  Tom settled for straightening straight up and staring helplessly and dejectedly across the room at his brother - who of course was trying to hold back laughter, knowing it would be very easy for you to switch your target to him. 

Clearly it wasn’t a social call to the hospital, Harry was here under the premise of taking photos when the baby arrives for Tom;  but really to stop his brother from having his own breakdown - as commissioned by you. Lets just say, however scared and mortified Harry was of this ‘event’ he was taking a lot of enjoyment from how his brother was acting currently. 

“It’s okay sir, if you were pushing a watermelon out of hole that normally was the size of a whiteboard marker, I’m sure you’d be a bit tetchy too.” That lady was your favourite midwife and in a lull between the sets of contractions, you actually managed a laugh. Wide-eyed, Tom just nodded jerkily, murmuring some sort of agreement. It was at this point a flash of light reverberated around the whole room, causing you to breathlessly laugh, Harry’s face informing you the picture he just got of Tom was priceless. 

The laughter didn’t last long though, the next contraction had you bearing down on the bed, face contorted in pain as you sucked desperately on the gas and air tube. 

“Okay Y/n I think we might be getting there, let me call the senior midwifes in okay?” The midwife had your legs hiked apart, a blanket attempting to cover your modesty - but at this point she was basically sticking her face in your noon. Modesty was out the window. 

“Already?” Tom was shocked to say the least, from all his reading and research he’d learnt that the average labour time was more like 5 hours. Lets just say, Tom never exceled in school, never much enjoyed reading - which made the hours of highlighting baby books and pregnancy leaflets all the more extraordinary. 

“Babies don’t stick to the script sir.” You could tell she was proud of the pun there, because you know, Tom’s a moviestar. “Professional improvisers, the lot of them.” 

The cream walls of the hospital room very quickly filled with more and more people - Harry staying like a fly on the wall, now nervously biting his nails as he watched an obscene amount of medical people all take their turn oggling his sister-in-law’s bits. This was a weird ass situation. 

Almost immediately it was at the point the midwifes were telling you to push, which after 9 months of holding a baby in (as well as your ill functioning bladder) sounded like an absolute dream. But it was also absolutely terrifying and exciting and horrifying all wrapped in one. Naturally then, after nodding hesitantly at the midwife between your legs, you’d craned your neck across to tom .You might’ve just told him off, for trying to encourage you, but now? You needed his encouragement. 

What met you though, was his face completely drained of colour, mouth hanging slightly open as he hadn’t moved - still staring intently at the midwife. She followed your gaze, only taking half a second to survey the situation before knowingly smiling. 

“Can we get a bit of help for dad please?” Immediately one of the more junior looking midwives was directing (pushing) Tom into the chair next to the floor. Suddenly actually concerned, you looked with wide eyes to the lady between your legs, who you felt bad for not remembering her name. With a comforting squeeze of your ankle she reassured you he’d be right as rain after a few moments of having his head between his knees. Also sensing you needed your support, she arched up, beckoning over to Harry who had an equally bemused look on his face. 

“No - I-um I’m not.” His squeaking protests were interrupted by a large scream on your part, as another contraction tore through your body. Helplessly Harry glanced between Tom, who was still hunched over on a chair with a nurse squatted infront of him; and you, writhing around on the mechanical bed. He didn’t hesitate then, in jumping right to your side, allowing you to start crushing all the bones in his hand too. 

And then it was all happening, a blur of activity and screams. It didnt take long for Tom to pull himself together and then you were flanked on both sides by Holland boys - both giving cheesy encouraging words (which you would’ve again told them to shut the fuck up for, if you’d been able to), Tom also stroking the top of your head. He found it pretty impossible, watching the woman that he loved go through such immense pain - especially when he was technically half the cause. Well… actually more that that, it had been him who had been… well shall we say *needy* those nine months ago. 

“Okay Y/n the heads crowning, I know you’re tired but we need a few more big pushes, can you do that for me?” 

Merely 5 minutes later and the most beautiful sound in the world echoed through the 4 creams walls. You were absolutely spent, eyes closed as you panted, knowing tears were flooding down your face too. Immediately though, familiar hands cupped both sides of your face, a forehead resting on yours. 

“You did it Y/n/n.” His eyes were glassy, watering and red and the way he scoffed a smile in disbelief had you mirroring him exactly.

“We did it.” Your voice was hoarse and scratchy from all the yells of pain but it didnt matter. The midwife calling you by the name ‘mum and dad’ got both of your attention, a title you’d no doubt start getting used to. 

“Meet your beautiful baby girl.” Another choked sob escaped your throat, as  this little roughly wrapped up pink alien looking thing was placed onto your chest. Both you and Tom just gazed at her, completely transfixed at the way she wriggled her head slightly, nuzzling into your chest. Tom gently hovered his palm against her little head, while you pressed down the blanket gently, just so you could see all her features. 

Then a flash echoed around the otherwise silent room, making you all look up to Harry who was gritting his teeth in apology. “Do mum and dad want to smile for the camera?” The question was posed so hesitantly and quietly, really it wasn’t funny either. That didn’t stop you and Tom both pulling out the biggest grins and chuckling away, allowing Harry to capture the perfect moment. Being referred to as mum and dad - it was bloody comical. 

“You gonna tell me her name now?”  You looked from Harry to Tom, nodding in approval for him to spill the beans. 

“Amber. She’s Amber.”

You’d squabbled for months before ending on Amber. It had been a long relentless process, Tom claiming that your baby might just have ended up as ‘as yet untitled’ which you and your hormonal state had stormed out at. It hadn’t taken much to forgive it though, Tom had long since worked out that Ben and Jerrys was the way to your heart. 

The nurses took Amber back to do some tests, properly cleaning both you and her up and after that everything was weirdly calm. Harry had left to give the twothree of you a moment alone and Tom was about to do his turn of skin to skin. 

“This really is it isn’t it?” He murmured, whilst carefully scooping Amber from your arms. 

“Mhmmm… your stuck with two girls who’ll go psycho on you without a moments notice.” He seemed to accept it though, just nodding in response. 

“And I still can’t bloody wait.” His eyes penetrating deep into you, had you blushing like a nervous teenage girl. “ ‘m still so proud of you, you grew this little human.”

“Your not allowed to call her little because you didnt have the ‘little’ thing rip your insides apart.”

“Hey! I’m upset about it too! Was like I had to watch my favourite pub being burnt down.” Of course, trust Tom to make a dirty joke at a time like this.

“Don’t kid yourself, you weren’t watching, too busy fainting.”

“I didn’t actually faint!” This time he protested a bit too loudly, causing Amber to mewl a little and bury her head into the crook of her Dads arm. “I think Ambers just told you to shut it too.”

“You annoy the hell out of…” Your grumbling was interrupted by an impressive, ear-splitting yawn. “ You annoy the hell out of me.”

“But you love me?” He sing-songed, now back to a hushed tone. 

“I hope so, otherwise we’re in a bit of trouble.” He scoffed, but nodded his head, taking the hand that wasn’t cradling Amber to tuck some sweaty, knotted strands of hair behind your ear. 

“I do owe Harry though, he was at least able to stay on his feet.”

“He was a better birthing partner than you too, much much less condescending and annoying.” You sniggered, making Tom pout once again, only wiping the look off his face when you yawned again, rubbing an your eye like a toddler would. 

“If your done insulting me… get some rest love, I got you.” All you did was nod, with a small groan (because below your waist still hurt like a bitch) rolled over so you could fall asleep to sight of the two of them. 

“Got you both, my two beautiful girls.”

hope you enjoyed, would love to hear any thoughts <3

taglist: @hollandfanficlove @hallecarey1

[silverandarsenic-hcs]

Could you please please please! Do Papas/cardiac and ghouls reacting to S/O being nervous to do anything because their trans, or coming out to them? (FTM and MTF)

First post in a long time and it’s not even my work! This is something @solofreakk answered for us FOREVER ago that I never even go around to pressing the 8 buttons to post it. How absolutely lazy can I be. But please enjoy (-kat) 

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*cracks my knuckles* alright Oingos and Boingos and Those Who Are Neither i’m gonna do my best at this as a trans/nonbinary guy but i definitely don’t speak for everyone’s experiences, so… if you don’t like this i apologize. I want everyone to be supportive of you so if they sound repetitive I’m sorry! And I apologize in advance for not including MTF :( I just feel like trans women and men can have some similar experiences but in the end I don’t think it’s my place to write for them. If there are any trans women out there writing stuff for Ghost i would say Please Shamelessly Shout Yourselves Out In The Replies Ladies.

Papa I: He’s a bit too old for most activities that would reveal you being trans imo. A pride parade is too crazy for him, he doesn’t have the energy to go to the pool or something. If you did he’d just lay there in the sun with a ghoul waiting to open an umbrella when he’s about to start getting too crisp. So if you didn’t go swimming, or take your shirt off, it literally would not raise any questions. He’s not in the water. He might make an offhand comment about how you should enjoy yourself but you could very easily tell him you’d prefer to be sitting with him, and you melting his old man heart like that kills any other question he might’ve even had. If you do end up explaining it to him later, he kindly reminds you there’s nothing wrong with knowing who you are. Encourages you to feel comfortable around him, you shouldn’t feel like you have to hide who you are because of your past. No further questions asked. You can say what you’d like about yourself but he won’t press or get in your business.

Papa II: This man is totally comfortable with nudity. You being opposite is… weird. He’ll ask. Are you insecure? You can say it’s something like that. He’ll be able to tell that you’re kind of dodging the question and he’ll leave it alone. But you’ve piqued his curiosity now. He’s gonna watch you just a little bit closer than he did before. He’ll suggest you guys take a swim, or go to the beach, and when you shoot that down too, he’ll ask. “Is there a reason why?” You can try to make excuses, or be vague, or say a half-truth, but those mismatched eyes see right through you. He probably already knows. When you ask him if he does, he’ll just wrap you in a nice strong Papa II Rare Tender Hug™. “It’s nothing to be ashamed about, you know. It’s okay to decide you’re not what everyone said you were. It’s part of becoming your own person.” Would probably be more bold in asking what your future plans are for yourself. Later on quietly reminds you not to bind for too long, or helps you with shots, or is making sure you’re laid up in luxury if you get top surgery. Supports you even if you’re gnc and don’t bind or don’t plan to transition and would impart his death glare upon anyone who dared to misgender you or treat you poorly.

Papa III: Hope no one shoots me down for saying “Papa III trans man” but *eyes emoji*. He’s gonna recognize your behavior immediately. You sweat at the idea of going to the pool or the beach, you don’t wanna change in front of him, you get nervous if someone calls you pretty instead of handsome. He’ll see you very very discreetly tugging at your binder, or taking deep breaths. And he just knows. And he’s elated. He’s like “OH I AM GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL SO HANDSOME.” Immediately deploys plan “Compliment Anon ‘Til He Dies”. He’s telling you that your hair looks great today, your laugh is so masculine, I love the way your arms look, That shirt is so handsome on you, I’m lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life. Anything it takes to have you know how great you are. If you’re busy melting over the compliments, you might not immediately realize he’s caught on. You’ll probably think he’s just doing his regular Papa III schmoozing. Eventually, it clicks in your head. He’s lauding on you ‘cause he knows. So because he seems so cool with it, you finally work up the nerve to tell him. And he smiles at you and he’s taking his shirt off and whoa whoa WHOA HEY IT’S WORK HOURS MAN- oh. Oh. I see. That’s why. He buttons his shirt back up and pats you on the head and asks if you wanna get top surgery too, and if you say yes he’s literally writing you a check on the spot. He wants you to feel as comfortable in your body as he does in his and if you have any dysphoria woes he is all ears. He’s seriously like ride or die for you bro.

Cardinal Copia/Papa IV: He thinks your nervous behavior is totally normal, only because he is also nervous all the time. So he doesn’t even read into it. He’s totally clueless. You don’t wanna go swimming? Okay, yeah, actually he doesn’t really want to do it either. He’s pale, he’d just get burnt. Let’s stay inside all day in our pajamas. You don’t wanna put your pajamas on in front of him? That is also ok, hell let’s change in different rooms. You don’t even have to explain yourself, he just Gets It™. Eventually if you start wondering why he hasn’t asked about your odd behavior, you’ll just ask him. “Did you notice that I’m kinda… weird, about some stuff?” He’ll say he’s weird about stuff too, why should he pry into your personal business? So you press on and tell him you’re trans. You don’t want anyone else to know, for a myriad of reasons. You might start rambling about it, complaining about stuff, talking about what you want. And he’ll just… listen. Nod sometimes to let you know he’s hearing you, and you can keep going if you want. Finally you’ll end it with an exasperated and maybe slightly embarrassed sigh, but before you can apologize he’s pulling you into a hug. You are free to talk about it as much as you want, especially if you don’t tell anyone else. You’ve got all this stuff weighing on your mind and no one to vent it to, and he’s flattered you finally felt comfortable enough to let him know something so personal. 

Dewdrop: Dare I say it… I headcanon Dewdrop as trans too… He’s much more like me though, feisty and kinda gnc. Like III, he’s gonna catch onto your behavior immediately. He’s not gonna make any moves to let you know that he knows, though. Just quietly be in your corner. Well, as quiet as Dew gets. He’s gonna… violently be in your corner. If he finds out someone misgendered you or committed some related act he considers a heinous crime, they’re losing some teeth. He’ll take a chunk out of them if someone isn’t there to rein him in. Eventually when you confide in him that you’re trans, he’s telling you that’s cool. You ask him why he’s so chill about it and he’s just smirking at you. “What…?” You ask. “Seriously, what? Why- ooohhh…” You’re free to not bind around him because most of the time, he doesn’t. He’s not gonna judge you for anything. Whether you wanna be traditionally masculine or be lax about gender norms, he’s gonna tell you you’re cool as Hell no matter what. Admires your courage in coming out to him and will take your secret to the grave.

Aether: First may I start this off by saying I may or may not have asked Aether, like irl, if he said “trans rights”. To which Aether kindly and genuinely said, “Does [Aether] say “trans rights”? Of course trans rights!” So there you have it Fosters and Peoples. Mr. Quintessential Ghoul himself did indeed say trans rights and I’ve never been happier to have asked someone that. I digress… He’s not gonna focus too much on odd behavior or nerves. It’s not because he’s got his head in the clouds, it’s just because this is a Judgement Free Zone™. If and/or when you come out to him, expect him to say, “Hell yeah, you do what’s right for you!” He’s got your back. If you want help with something, say an outfit or you need a new binder, he’s gonna help you figure it out. If you ask him not to tell anyone else, his lips are sealed. 

Mountain: He is so used to being taller than everyone else so if you’re a short king (like me 5’3 man gang rise up [but not too high]) that does not make him ask any questions. He’s also out of your business when it comes to how you dress, or messing with your shirt, or not wanting to do certain activities, etc. He just… it’s not that he doesn’t care, it’s that he’s chill about everything. So chill in fact that eventually one day you just casually mention it. And he’s like, “Neat, you have lore.” Which is hilarious. He’s probably likely to ask if you’re making sure not to wear your binder for too long. He wants you to take good care of yourself, y’know, you’re really cool and you should treat your body kindly. He’ll ask if anyone else knows and if you tell him you’d rather they not find out immediately, he’s already giving you a thumbs up and making sure any question directed at your gender is immediately shot down.

Swiss: Swiss is too focused on having a good time and being good to everyone who deserves kindness to worry about why or why not you don’t want to go to the pool with them. You’ve got your reasons and that’s enough, although he’ll sorely miss you because he could use the extra help in fending Dew off in the water gun fight that most definitely will end in bloodshed if Aether doesn’t step in. Eventually he’ll convince you to maybe go, but not before you cave and tell him you can’t be seen with your shirt off. He’s smart enough to know what that means. No worries! And you know what? In solidarity he just won’t take his off, either. Will support you regardless of how you choose to present yourself and will sometimes casually gift you a new shirt or something, “because I think you’d look really handsome in it.”

Rain: Tender boy. He literally would not pry or push you to tell him anything you didn’t seem like you wanted to say. If you come out to him, that’s completely on your terms. I think he might eventually have a feeling, but he’s not going to make assumptions about you and will let you tell him when you’re ready, and even if you never do, that’s ok too. When you do tell him, he’s completely supportive and won’t make you feel any less of a man about yourself. Is a bit sad to know that you may struggle with dysphoria and he wants you to know that you’re a wonderful person, inside and out, even if you don’t always see it.

Cirrus: She notices your odd behavior, but she’s polite and chooses not to say anything about it. She doesn’t want to make you feel like she’s judging you or scare you or make you uncomfortable. She probably doesn’t flat out make assumptions about you, but she does think about it occasionally. Eventually when you come out to her, she completely understands. Sings her praises about how nice it is that you trust her enough to tell her something so personal about yourself, and says she’s thankful to have such a great person in her life. Also she’s always been your protective mom friend, but if you need anyone to get punched for saying anything transphobic, just let her know. Mama bear has got you. Mama bear has got claws. Hell, Cumulus will even help beat someone up. She doesn’t even need to know the reason. If Cirrus is verbally or physically abusing someone that’s good enough reason for her. You now have two powerful and protective mom friends, use this power for good.

Cumulus: She’s not gonna notice if you’re acting nervous or weird about anything. She’s focused on hanging out with you and having a good time and making sure you’re having a good time and that fun things are happening. If you go to the beach and don’t take your shirt off, not weird. Neither of you are even in the water, you’re probably making an impressive sand castle on top of a sleeping Mountain. If you’re at the pool, she’s okay with sitting on the side talking your ear off about anything under the sun (which currently includes all the other ghouls as it was a family trip to the pool). She wouldn’t notice if you tugged at your binder or had a higher voice or anything someone might think would be conspicuous. If and/or when you eventually come out to her, she’s like “Ooohhh, okay!” And honestly? She might forget. And then remember. And then forget again, and remember again. It’s just another thing about you, like your hair colour or what music you like. Doesn’t make you any less wonderful to her, and wouldn’t change anything about your relationship.

- @solofreakk

[xxthewolvenstormxx]

Hey! I hope this isn’t horrible and obnoxious but are you going to update What Lurks in the Wolfswood soon(ish)? I am already SO into that story after even one chapter!!! I love everything about it!!!!

LMAO! Not Horrible or Obnoxious. The fic is not abandoned. I promise. I just have 5 other WIPs that Im working on and I write tediously slow. Plus like real life and shit. I swear I write everyday on my lunch break.

Next thing to be updated will be The Burnt World. Im sitting at around 70% on that. The lovely and talented @justwandering-neverlost just gave me some preliminary beta notes on my action sequences. Really challenging me to just beat the shit out of Jon rather than letting him super soldier through. After I update that, that Ill probably swing back around to What Lurks in the Wolfswood.

But I also have a zero-g Nolden smut Ive been itching to write, so that might be in the queue after before s4 of The Expanse comes out. I may have promised it to @jamesholden I love my space beans and their healthy relationship and how they dont just murder their partners in canon. Plus, l just saw City Island and lemme tell you: Steven Strait's chest hair. HATCHI MATCHI HALLELUJAH!!!! THAT MAN 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤. I thirst. I want to write Naomi building herself a birds nest out of it. (Not really but kinda sorta. You know me...)

Anywhooosical-themusical. Thank you for the ask. None of my WIPs are abandoned. Im just... particular about the words I put on paper and have a busy life. Thank you for your kind words and support. Im so glad you like my weird weird niche ass stories.

[writeouttaluck]

I started writing this with the intention of entering a contest but i accidentally made it too long. So I'm gonna post it here instead.

(the prompt was to write about an abandoned corner store. this is based off true events but i have changed the names for privacy sake)

As me and Connor walked down the sidewalk in our small town, the heat was practically dripping off our skin from the hot summer day. In the horizon, past the top of the street we were on and over a house in the distance, the sun started to go down.

I could thank god for every sunset and every cool night it brought with it. The summers always seemed so intense nowadays. I rubbed the back of my neck to feel the light sunburn i had been working up. My black Poison t shirt seemed to collect the heat like a big frying pan. The surface of it would probably stay at least semi warm for another hour to come. God damn, it was uncomfortable sometimes.

“Hey, Lanz” Connor addressed me, “Thats the house I was talking about earlier. The one we’re gonna get into today.”

He pointed at a house across the street that looked quite run down. At least, it looked like a house. There was a large porch with fancy cut wooden beams out front, old fashioned decorative beams, I'm sure. Above the porch was a big sign that stretched horizontally to cover the front of the building. The painted on logo was so faded that I could hardly recognize what it was trying to say.. All I could make out was the end of it, which said: “& SONS” in big black and yellow letters. The windows were boarded up and it looked like there was just a big slab of wood being used for a door. If I squinted, i could see the shiny padlock thrown on to keep people out. Paint was chipping off on all sides of the building but I could still tell it was yellow at some point.

Me and Connor both went through our standard procedure for these things. We looked around for people on sidewalks and listened for cars going by. I made a special note of looking into all windows on the block facing the old house, making sure there wasn't any old people or concerned onlookers waiting to call the police on two sketchy kids standing outside.

“I think we’re good at for the moment” I said to him.

“Alright,” He started with all seriousness in his voice, “I'm gonna run across the street, kick the door in, then when I give you the signal, I want you to run across the street and get inside. Got it?”

I nodded my head in response. While Connor was kind of a dumbass at times, He was surprisingly good at doing this stuff without getting caught. He had a plan that he always kept simple, and knew how to keep people calm and in line when the pressure rose. I can't help but think of the few times we ran from cops or house owners.

I stood stock still and pulled out my Ipod, just messing with the touch screen while I waited for Connor to do his thing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him glance to the houses again, Double checking that we weren't being watched.

With newfound confidence, He got down into a runners position. Aimed at the house across the street, He let out a deep breath. With that, he took off.

He sprinted across the street quickly. I watched him run right up to the front door and, using all of his momentum, drove his foot into the center of the door, blowing it right open. With a loud bang, it swung open so fast that the top part broke away from the hinge. Connor clumsily caught the door just short of hitting the floor and propped it up real quick.

I put my Ipod in the back pocket of my jeans and watched Connor stand in the door frame. He peaked out and looked both ways across the street. After checking the coast was clear once more, he waved me over.

I took a quick glance around and was about to zip across the street myself when I heard a car coming up over the hill to my right.

I froze for a second and looked at connor across the street. I motioned frantically for him to shut the door while also trying to point out the car again. He took a glance and saw it before quickly shutting the door. I whipped out my ipod again, trying to make myself look busy out there on the sidewalk by myself.

The car went by and turned at the next intersection. I could hear the door scrape across the wood floor as Connor opened it again. He waved me over.

I ran across the street as fast as I could. Which, really, wasn't all too fast. I could only really run when I was being chased.

I zipped across the road, over the lawn, over the porch, and right inside the building.

As soon as I got in, Connor slammed the door shut once again, propping it so it would stay in place. I took a moment to stop and catch my breath. It was darker in the building for obvious reasons. I stood upon a creaky wood floor that was covered in dirt and dust. Looking up, I saw an old countertop without any trim or glass. It was the only thing in there that even came close to resembling furniture. The floor was littered with a bunch of old square looking cans and a few beer bottles. I took one more deep breath before walking over to one of the cans.

The cans were all rusted and looked pretty rough. I picked up one and flipped it over to see what it was.

KEROSENE

What the hell?

“Woah” Connor spoke beside me, walking over to one of the beams holding up the next level of the building, “Check this out”

The beam he was looking at was charred black. I followed it to see that most of the beams were at least a little charred and floor in the center looked burnt.

“Jesus. It looks like someone tried to burn down the place.” I stated.

“What do you mean?” Connor asked.

I flipped the can around to show him what it said.

“Holy shit!” He exclaimed.

I dropped the can to the floor to investigate the burns. It looked like the fire started mainly in one corner below and spread to particular areas. Considering how open the bottom floor was, I'm surprised the whole place didn't light up. I had never messed with Kerosene so I wasn't sure how effective of a fuel it was to burn a place down, but it seemed like it had a hard time staying lit after the fuel itself was burned away.

From the looks of things now though, all the wood was so dry that this whole place would probably go up in flames if someone happened to drop a lit match. Out of all the abandoned places I've broken into, this one was the most interesting. It felt like something real serious happened here. It really made me wonder what was upstairs…

I looked to the staircase to see that, while it looked flimsily made like it was thrown together in a single afternoon, it also looked untouched by the fire.

Connor made his way to the staircase to try it out.

“I'm gonna check this out first and if it seems safe then we can try to get you up here” Connor said to me.

I nodded and kept looking at the cans. There must have been about 20 of them all spread out. Around the floor. Either this type of fuel was really bad for burning places down or the person who tried just really sucked at being an arsonist.

“Hey...They're safer than they look..” Connor spoke from the stairs.

I walked over and tried to put my weight on one. I weighed at least a hundred pounds more than Connor so I knew this was risky. The stair creaked and warped with my weight on top. Feeling a bit braver than I should, I set my other foot on the one above and pushed myself up a step. It held me so I made my way up the rest of the stairs slowly.

When I got to the top, we reached what was probably once a storage room. I say this because the four walls were outlined with older looking boxes. I’d have to say they were either late 90s or early 2000s but it was kinda hard to tell. Most of the packages were sky blue. Whether they were faded from the sun or not, I couldn't tell. They each had a General Electric logo in the corner.

They were random hardware appliances. There were a lot of globes for overhead lights, boxes of light bulbs, house fan kits, power outlets and covers, and other random items of that sort.

Out of curiosity, I had to know if these boxes were just empty or if there were actual appliances still inside. Walking over to one of the boxes carefully, I crouched down in front of it and gently pulled the top of the box open as not to rip it. Sure enough, sitting right in the box was a glass globe wrapped in bubble wrap with a plastic bag around it.

Why were all these left behind? Was burning down the building an attempt to collect insurance money for the place?

Either way, after Connor had checked a few more, we decided that they were all brand new products still in boxes after all this time. It was strange that these were left here and even stranger that there had been a new padlock on the front door. Something about all of this was shrouded in secrecy and I was oh so curious to figure out why.

Suddenly, I heard a police siren at the end of the street. Me and Connor both looked at each other and froze.

We listened to the police car. The siren got louder and louder indicating it was getting closer. Me and Connor both ducked our backs to the walls away from the window. The blue lights flashed frantically through the glass and illuminated the room. It was a terrifying sight if ive ever seen one. The siren hit its peak volume, almost deafening in my ears and competing with the sound of my heart getting ready to burst from my chest.

The lights passed by the house and the sirens followed down the street away from our location.

Me and Connor both looked at each other and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. That was fucking close…

…

So after running out of the house, much in the fashion we ran in, Me and Connor walked back to my place and were currently sitting in my room, sipping a soda.

“Ok, so I think someone tried to burn the place down to collect the insurance for it” I started to explain.

“Really? Why do you think that?” Connor asked.

“Well, It's simple, really. I think the owner was probably in too deep over their heads or something. They weren't selling their stock like they hoped and they knew the only way to make it out without getting into debt was to burn it down and collect the insurance money. Because as long as it looks like an accident or that someone else did it, the insurance is there to pay everything off.”

“Well they didn't do a very good job.”

We both laughed at that.

“I wish we had a car or something so we could take that stuff in there. That stuff is still new! It'd be good to have around in case something breaks or needs to be fixed, ya know?” Connor said.

“I hear ya” I replied, “we could also just smash some of it if we get bored.”

We both laughed again and enjoyed the cool night air blowing in through my window.