#Mass Hysteria Entertainment

[sugarmuseum]

THE TRAITOR | N. JM

pairing: Na Jaemin x female!reader

genre: smut, horror, frat!au, halloween!au

summary: When your small town starts their annual -and intense– Halloween celebrations, you think there might be a case of mass hysteria as a witch hunt slowly rises when you caught the attention of the Founders, the campus elite members and their leader, Na Jaemin. 

content warnings: minor age difference (Jaemin is 2 years older), explicit sex scenes, explicit lenguaje, mentions and descriptions of death and murder, drug and alcohol use, mentions of past torture (not to any principal characters), physical violence, lots of blood. MDNI!

smut warnings: unprotected sex, creampie, fingering, oral sex (m and f receiving), overstimulation, slapping, spanking, squirting, minor breeding kink, dirty talk and pet names so i don’t have to use y/n.

word count: 18.k+

Disclaimer: english is not my first language so if there’s any mistakes or misspelling i’m sorry! Happy halloween!

‘’I fucking love Halloween,’’ Lee Donghyuck almost screamed, winning himself a push from an annoyed Renjun behind him. The little scene caught the attention of a group of sorority girls passing by, dressed as sexy witches, looking at Donghyuck while whispering between each other and giggling. ‘’Damn I love this town.’’

‘’Here we go again,’’ Renjun sighed, knowing what’s about to come out of Hyuck's mouth— doing this same speech every year. He decided to play along this time and entertained him while the rest of the group arrived. ’’What do you like?’’

‘’Everything! The spooky vibes, the parties! The girls in sexy costumes,’’ he listed with a smile, bating his eyelashes close to Renjun face, ’’especially the hot girls looking for a Founder to fuck.’’

Renjun groaned and pushed Hyuck again, rolling his eyes. They didn’t spend not even ten minutes together and he was already feeling overmelwed. ‘’Every time one of you calls yourself that something dies inside me, I swear,'' he pinched the bridge of his nose, then went back to scanning the crowd for Jeno, Mark or even Ten, whoever might come to his rescue. ‘’It’s so cringy.’’

Hyuck looked at him, porting a smug smirk. ‘’Why? We are the Founders. And it’s not like you don’t enjoy the benefits, my lovely Junnie.’’

‘’I didn't say that. I just think you're annoying when excited.’’ 

Before Renjun gives the third push of the day, a figure joined them resting his hands on his shoulders from behind as a greeting. Jeno's head peeked between them and he frowned down at Donghyuck. 

''Are you already bothering Renjun this early?’' He asked him and then turned to Renjun, maintaining the same expression. ''And you shouldn't you be more patient, you know, as a future lawyer?''

''Jeno, you on vice president duties already?'' A new voice joked and everyone turned to Chenle, who appeared making his way through the small crowd. Used to the dynamics of his fraternity brothers, he wasn’t surprised by the scene he encountered. 

‘’Seems like it, yeah,’’ the handsome man said, shrugging. He scanned the crowd around them. ‘’Since Jaemin is MIA.’’

Renjun frowned, pulling out his phone and checking the group chat, though there weren’t any new messages. He hasn't seen Jaemin since that morning, actually. ''Where is everyone else? The opening of the haunted house is starting.''

''Mark is helping hang the last of the decorations in the backyard with Jisung,'' Jeno reminded them as the music dropped a little and the sorority entrance lit up where Rosé, the president, took the microphone. She wasn't alone, as her vice president is with her besides a bunch of other girls, dressed as witches. ‘’They’re putting in the last pumpkins and then they'll join us. I hope they hurry tho, I don't want to wait in line to get in.’’

‘’When have you ever waited in line for something?’’ Renjun asked him with a short laugh, tone dripping with sassiness. 

''Where’s our leader?'' Chenle murmured as he adjusted his black glasses, checking his phone too, reading several messages from girls asking to join them in the haunted house and ignoring them. 

''Most likely stalking you-know-who,'' Renjun muttered with a sigh. He wasn't listening to Rosé welcoming and talking about traditions, culture and witches, but his suspicions were confirmed when his gaze landed on you. ''Ah, yes, we definitely won't see him until later, much later.''

Donghyuck, Chenle and Jeno follow Renjun's line of sight, three more pairs of eyes landed on you, recognizing and examining you from afar in your cute witch outfit, hat and all. Even though the frat boys know you're banned by Jaemin's order, that doesn't mean they can't look at you, right? And tonight you looked especially good, with your little black dress and those cute, innocent eyes looking especially bored too, making Renjun chuckle. You were so bad at pretending you wanted to be there.

''She looks so beautiful,'' Donghyuck lamented, staring at your body as he has done so many times and studying the way your striped stockings reach up to your thighs as an idea crosses his mind. ''Do you think Jaemin would share?''

Jeno snorted a laugh. ''Fuck no,'' is quick to respond, taking his eyes off of you for a second to raise an eyebrow in the direction of the major in Finance. He shaked his head. ''Definitely not with you, no.''

''You pulled the shortest stick out of all of us, Hyuck,'' Renjun commented with a satisfied smile watching his friend's face fall from his refusals and decided to give him a final stab. ‘’Maybe Jeno,'' he adds thoughtfully.

The named one neither denies nor affirms, maintaining a secret smile that made Hyuck sulk more and mutter things like I'm gonna put my stick in your—

''Don't be like that just because Jaemin has a girlfriend and you don’t,'' Renjun scolded him, having fun at the expense of Lee Donghyuck's tantrum.

Chenle shrugged, listening to the whole exchange in silence. And while he had to admit you were gorgeous, there were more girls like that on campus at the disposal of any of them at any moment, any party or class, eager to get not only an NCT brother but maybe a Founder. ''What's so special about her anyway?'' He asked aloud his thoughts.

He didn’t liked you, actually. It’s not that you did something to him on purpose, he just doesn't click with you the few times you two shared a space. Like that time at a party when you bumped into him, spilling his whole drink in his new shirt or the time he let you in at the frat and you stepped in his foot accidentally. 

''You should ask Jaemin, he's been obsessed with her for months,'' Jeno replied, thinking about how many times his best friend had chased you around campus, parties and even sneaking into some of your classes since the first time he saw you. He knew his friend could be quite intense, so it didn't surprise him that he acted that way when something - or someone - got into his head.

‘’That’s what good pussy does to you,’’ Donghyuck offered simply, as if it were obvious.

''We don't really know her, she's an outsider,'' Chenle continued, looking at you through his dark glasses with a sense of distrust that has him frowning. ''I don't get it.''

Renjun and Jeno shared a look, knowing that Chenle was one of the firmest believers about the family traditions they shared and that if things were to get more serious - as it seemed - with a girl outside their circle he was going to be the talk of not only the campus, but the entire town. And their families.

Neither of them said more on the subject, but they had to admit that Chenle was right. The girl who had stolen Jaemin’s heart and mind was a newcomer with no legacy or social presence in the town or university. While very pretty, a total nobody. No power, no connections. And that would be a problem, sooner or later. And she didn’t seem like the type to take advantage of the influence that came with dating Jaemin. She didn’t basked in Jaemin’s popularity, staying shy and reserved when people came her way; trying to make talk, being nice and getting on her good side. While polite, she remained unaltered in that attention, maybe a little anxious by it. 

Renjun wasn’t worried about it too much, knowing that just like them, Jaemin had not only an image to maintain, but a legacy too. It was just a matter of time until the frat’s president realized that.

You sighed as you reluctantly put on your black pointy hat, joining Yuna and Jia, who were wearing witch outfits similar to yours. A small crowd was gathering in your sorority area for the opening of the annual Witch Haunted Hunt, their activities to participate in the town's Halloween schedule. This year they were going to have a haunted house and sisters like you had been decorating the days before. 

''I can't believe I'm doing this,'' you mumbled so the president, Rosé, wouldn't hear, even if she was busy talking into the microphone. That girl had sensors all over her body to identify pledges and sisters complaining. ''I feel like a idiot.'' 

''Hey! You said you weren't going to complain anymore,'' Jia reminded you in a hushed whisper, giving you a little nudge to shut you up while she had her attention on Rosé. ''Sshhhhh!’’

You moved your body a little to avoid her elbow as you continued to speak between clenched teeth. ''That was before they made us witches. It's like being an Elf on Christmas,  but instead some kid is going to see me on the street and egg me on, I just know it,'' you sighed, pressing your lips together.

''What?'' Yuna asked in confusion, side-eyeing you from your right side. ''What are you talking about?’’

''Well... we're in a town that hates witches and the kids have grown up with that propaganda. It's only a matter of time before some of them put together an army and decide to do justice and put it on TikTok,’’ you explained.

''Being a witch is quite an honor in our sorority! We are the protagonists,'' Jia muttered trying to keep her face composed and not laugh. ''It's an ancient tradition and should be respected. Shush, babe!''

‘’Shush the non-believer!’’ Yuna whispered into your ear, laughing and pinching your ass making you jump and yelp, turning and staring at her accusingly, frowning when another sister shushed the both of you.

The town where you lived was nationally known as a major site of recorded witch trials and killings over three hundred years ago. Generations and generations had spent growing up with that scar on the town's history and over time they began to use the town's folklore as a tourist attraction. 

You didn't know how intense it was until you moved in as a teenager a few years ago with your mother, it was like the town turned upside down when October came around. The short time you had spent there you had heard everything from legends to scare children and rumors about ghosts lurking from the witches that burned in the woods, to beliefs that the town had been cursed by said witches and you had been surprised to learn that some of those stories not only scared adults but that they believed it.

And you also witnessed how the descendants of the founders still controlled the place. 

Owners of buildings, stores, the hospital, even politicians, the descendants of the wealthy and exclusive original founder’s families were considered royalty with a legacy that stretched through all the branches of their family tree and were still as powerful as... Well, ever. And they were the ones who for decades had been powering the Season of the Witch during the month of Halloween, filling the town with tourists, attractions and a lot of town spirit and effort to entertain their visitors. Although it had become a more commercial thing that attracted many tourists, that did not mean that the people who lived there were not in fact superstitious, because they were. Which never ceased to amaze you to this day.

You could have sworned there was satisfaction in some eyes when one and only time you watched as they reenacted the trials with volunteer actors in the central square and the witch was sent to the stake while the high school choir and band musicalized the bizarre scene.

''You people and your obsession with witches, I swear,'' you groaned in exhaustion. Having been chosen as part of the sorority group of witches, your schedule was full of activities, like posing at the haunted house opening, selling tickets for that, making sure no one trashed the decorations around the building and keeping an eye on the festivities in general while looking cute. You were like a car model but make it witchy. And kinda objectifying.

''Maybe that's the reason why Jaemin won't stop staring at you,'' Yuna said quietly, trying to dissimulate the conversation the three of you were sharing. When you heard her you turned your attention back to the audience and it only took you a few seconds to scan it until you found his piercing stare fixed on you. When their eyes met he smiled at you slowly, showing all of his perfectly sharp teeth. ''He seems obsessed with a certain little witch.''

Na Jaemin was the golden boy of the town and one of the descendants of the founders. He came from generations and generations of politicians and his father was currently the beloved town mayor, occupying the office until his son was ready to take his place in a few years and carry on the tradition as his ancestors had done before. No one challenged the Na's monopoly of power at elections simply because no one else was running for it. Nobody dared. They just let them win over and over again.

That was the way things were and the way it worked there. Jaemin happily participated in all the town's activities with a smile and a face that made everyone sigh with love. There was no one who could resist his charm and personality. Were there any homeless dogs? He would organize a responsible adoption day. An elderly neighbor needed help with his yard? No problem, he would mow the lawn himself without breaking a sweat and campaign for other neighbors to join in taking care of others town's seniors yards.

You heard thousands of rumors about him from girl's gossip too. He had a fame since highschool of a brutal fuckboy with a big cock who will destroy pretty girls and that image just grew more intensely when Jaemin matured more and became a man. Did you need tutoring? He would offer, of course, and then politely say goodbye after fucking you against a corner of the library. 

Well, in fact all that side of his reputation was over since the day both had officially met. 

Actually, you knew who Jaemin was because he was graduating when you entered high school for your last two years and he had a fan club that talked about him in class composed of your classmates, sad that they could no longer see him every day in the hallways or at play field making the team win. He was a celebrity at school along with his friends. You had seen him a couple of times in the hallways and noticed his heavy gaze on you on many occasions, but you didn't expect any movement from Jaemin. At all. After all, you were an inexperienced kid compared to the popular girls or the pretty cheerleaders he fucked- you didn't think he had that type on interest in you. Maybe he was looking at you because you were the new girl and that's it. You had paid more attention to other things, like studying and making friends - Yuna and Jia occupying that last position.

Jaemin had a whole group of friends who were known to be from founding families who settled the colony that grew into a town and hence the origin of the nickname people gave them, the Founders. They were the heirs, part of such an intimate circle that it was impossible to enter or leave. Obviously everyone wanted to interact with them, be their friend, cheer them on at their games, girls threw themselves at their feet- anyone wanted a piece of them. Invitations to parties, free booze and drugs- you name it, it was given to them. Shit, even the candy store downtown would give them a free bag every now and then.

They moved their reign from high school to college smoothly and effortlessly, and Jaemin had been handed the throne on a silver platter - the presidency of the NCT frat - thanks to Taeyong, who was graduating with honors and an incredible future thanks to the scholarship Jaemin's dad had given him.

To the neighbors he was a kind and charismatic guy, but you saw his other face, more intense but real, relaxed. Especially in those moments when he managed to capture you when you least expected it (or in fact you did, and hope for it), just like now- taken to an empty classroom where no one would interrupt. When both of you were together it was as if you could see him and not Na Jaemin, the leader of the Founders.

And the rumors turned out to be true. He fucked like a demon. 

Jaemin smiled at you with hungry, dark eyes after closing the door behind him. His hands roamed through your body, possessing touches marking you while leaving hot kisses in your lips. He kissed you like the two of you didn’t fuck that same morning; so desesperate and needy. You knew how clingy Jaemin could be, but you had a little suspicion that the witch costume may have something to do with his horniness, especially when his hands grabbed your ass, making you grind against his bulge, making you gasp when you felt how hard he was. 

‘’Jaemin!’’ You whined, trying to put distance between you and him, even when you keeped kissing him, not able to control yourself. You took a breather, knowing that you needed to compose yourself. ‘’We can’t fuck, baby. I have to go back,’’ you groaned, not really wanted to. But you knew your friends might start to look for you and dragged you back to the haunted house.

‘’Why not?‘’ He asked after sliding each of his hands on your waist and sitting you on the desk, caressing your thighs almost with fascination, studying the soft skin that peaks between the socks and your dress. He lifts some fingers and gently tugs the front of your hat until it falls in your field of vision. "Baby, I think you just bewitched me."

‘’Stooop,’’ you whined with a laugh, tapping on his hands away but not really, enjoying your horny boyfriend’s ways. ’’You’re gonna mess up my outfit and my hat! And then Rosé it’s gonna scold me.’’

‘’Awwww, baby,’’ he cooed at you in a fake sweet tone, even pouting. He ignored how you tried to get away from him. Instead, he cages you against the desk with his body with one firm push, making you gasp softly by his force, both hands grabbing your thighs and squeezing them. ’’Don’t tell me you’re afraid of little dumb Rosé, don’t you? That’s why you’re denying me your pretty pussy? I’ll protect you,’’ he mocked you, parting your legs and positioning himself between.

Your relationship with Jaemin went from strangers who looked at each other in highschool curiously to insane rabbits fucking everytime they could. Jaemin didn't waste any time when you stepped foot on campus for your first year, giving you an invitation to your first frat party. The crazy, popular ones everyone knew were filled with descontrol and fun at the Neo Chi Theta frat. You were doubtful at first, not really trusting him and his friends- but your friends saw it as a golden ticket for you and them. But actually it took a whole more year for Jaemin chasing after you until you were his.

‘’Jaemin, I don’t think even you stand a chance against her,’’ you pointed with a chuckle and the brown haired man laughed huskily in your neck as he started kissing it and biting- your body reacting at the feel of his mouth on you. Your mind clouded, trying really hard to be responsible but fuck, you wanted him so bad. Jaemin’s hand reached your lacy panties; feeling it's warm and wetness with his knuckles and making your breath hitch. ’’Not to mention Jia and Yuna will join too, they think this costume is sacred or something.’’

And oh boy, how stressed Rosé was. The disastrous day started early, first with the weather- it rained a little bit out of nowhere and your sorority sisters runned around the whole place protecting the Halloween decorations. Then, the electricity went out- some light fuses or something exploiting in the basement. So Rosé became more hysterical, because that meant that there was no sound system: so no sound effects, no music and no microphone to use. 

Luckingly for the entire sorority and Rosé state of mind, things became better: the power came back, the fusibles were replaced and everything went smoothly from there. But it was kinda strange, not happening ever before according to the maintenance staff who couldn't find an explanation of how it happened: the fusibles were brand new, just changed a few weeks ago.

‘’It is, it’s part of a large tradition,’’ he said while his big hands now grabbed your tits so possessively with a grunt, his distractions working-, ’’we take things seriously here, you still don’t understand that? I’ll show you.’’

You yelped when you felt a tug in your dress followed by a sharp sound of fabric being ripped. You stared in incredulity at Jaemin while he ripped your tiny dress from the neckline, liberating your breasts with a pleased, masculine groan. His long hands cupped your tits, holding them while his tongue slowly made circles around your nipples, hardening them before sucking them firmly, until they popped from his lips. In no time he had you moaning and tugging his hair while you rubbed against his cock, feeling it already hard in his pants. Jaemin makes a mess of saliva on your breasts, slurping it and spitting again, giving you small bites and succions; marking the sensitive skin of your tits, knowing exactly how to make your pussy throb with desire. 

‘’Fuck, baby, so fucking pretty,’’ he mumbled against your breasts, biting one of your nipples harder than before, making you complain with a high-pitched whine. His hand moved down your body to in between your legs again, feeling your wet pussy through your panties totally messed up by your arousal. ‘’Acting all responsible and shit, being a brat but letting me do anything to you like the slut you are.’’

Your breath is caught as your heart races, unable to control your body's responses that are trained by Jaemin to obey him. More moistness soaked your thighs and you squirmed into his body, rubbing yourself with not a care in the world as you get a friction to your needy clit. You can’t form a sentence, just looking at Jaemin desafiant, giving him another weak push. 

‘’But don't worry, I'm going to fuck that attitude out of you,'' Jaemin promised with a devilish smirk that makes you feel a hot sensation that thrills your belly with anticipation. Jaemin crouched down, shoving your damp panties aside, chuckling darkly when he noticed the way your folds shined with your slick, spreading them apart with his fingers. You felt his hot breath against you, making you squirm and moan when he lazily swiped his tongue in your pussy. ''This pretty, little pussy is all mine,'' he leaned into your dripping cunt, dying to taste more of you. His tongue traveled slowly, scooping up your slick in long, soft but firm licks that made you moan and claw at the edges of the desk. “So fucking messy and desperate.”

Jaemin keeps both hands spreading you apart and gripping your thighs close to your chest as he devours you like a famished man, tasting, licking and sucking your pussy in the most filthy way. He moaned into your center and shoved his face deep to your pussy, showering himself with your juices. His tongue circled over your clit and wrapped his lips around it, sucking it and causing your hips to grind against it, fucking his face.

‘’Jaemin, please, more,” you pleaded with a moan as he sucked harder, feeling your pussy clenching around nothing and getting more and more wet, your whole body burning with pleasure. You watched Jaemin pulled away for a second, strands of saliva connecting to your core, his lips, chin and nose looking glossy with your slick. He looked so fucking hot it almost hurts and as you stare at him you felt a wave of possessiveness making you even more horny... and wild. This man is mine, you thought in your cloudy mind.

His tongue shoved into your entrance, fucking you with it and then making you gasp gripping his hair as his nose bumped at your clit with every push of his face, causing you to see stars.

''Jaemin- fuck, don't stop,'' you cried out with another moan, feeling the pleasure flood your body, aching to close your legs around Jaemin's head but he maintained an iron grip on your thighs, leaving marks in the form of fingerprints. ''It feels so good, please,” you spluttered.

“Please what? Use your big girl words,” he said, his voice rough as he licked his lips, coated in your wetness and savoring you again. Jaemin started lapping at your cunt so he could catch a new rush of arousal with his tongue. You remained silent, just whimpering and mumbling nonsense. “Are you so fucked up already that you can't even speak? What a dumb slut.’’

He spanked one of your thighs and returned to eating your pussy, swirling his tongue around your clit in circular motions and then sucking on it until you screamed his name. His words were true, you were drifting as your mind went into black, slipping into that headspace where you didn’t think, you only felt. Jaemin was set to make you scream, thrusting two long fingers inside you up to his knuckles, stroking your velvet walls as he slowly pushed them in and out quickly. They reach so deep, finding that spot that makes you squeal and lift your hips, trying to fuck his fingers. 

He curved them in and kept stroking that sweet g spot, your body tingling with pleasure, facing the ceiling in blankness, a rush of heat building up in your core.

''Fuck, right there,'' you gasped, blushing a little as you notice the wet, loud sounds your pussy made as Jaemin drives his fingers inside you. ''Nana, fuck- I'm gonna cum-’' 

''Cum,'' Jaemin ordered, mouth pressed against your clit, still sucking and licking around it, ''cum on my fingers like a good slut for me.'' He continued to relentlessly fingering you, inhaling and exhaling your scent as he feels you tighten around his fingers. ''Pussy so tight and greedy, wanted to be stuffed and used.’’

You screamed his name and hold on to the desk with all your strength as you feel the orgasm overtake you, leaving you so breathless and so fucking satisfied as Jaemin holds you down, preventing your hips from rising again. Your legs trembled and you whimpered as you realized Jaemin hasn't stopped his fingers. 

‘'One more,’' he said as he slipped his fingers into your dilated hole, curling them in and making you moan. Jaemin smiled against your lips, kissing you again and drowning out your sounds of protests with his mouth, tasting you in his tongue.

''Jaemin-'', you started to beg again, but he shushed you with more kisses, whimpering against his mouth. 

“Still a brat, huh?” His free hand covers your under belly and applies pressure, in a way that feels so fucking good.  “Be a good girl and cum for me again, pretty slut.”

You felt the intense pleasure returning to flood you as his fingers did not stop. You moaned as you felt another climax rising, the overstimulation too much, squeezing around Jaemin's fingers as your hand found one of his wrists and you held on to it. Your eyes welled up with tears as you hid your face in the crook of Jaemin's neck, sensing your body so overwhelmed by so much delight and a little pain... that you snap.

‘’Fuck yes, that's it,” Jaemin praised you as you cum all over, squirting with a choked moan that sends you limp on the desk, ‘‘cumming like a good girl, making a fucking mess,’’ he smiled proudly, noticing how your legs are shaking and your breath is hitching. He cleans you with his mouth, tongue licking your tights and pussy, slowly tasting you until he gets the last drop of your cum.

Jaemin let you catch your breath as he sucked his fingers too, not getting enough of your taste. His mouth covered your lips, this time kissing you slowly, adoringly, more tenderly, making your insides curl but this time with a different sensation. His hands caresses your legs, your sides and even your tits gently, bringing a tired smile to your face. Typical Jaemin, tearing you apart and then treating you like a precious piece of crystal.

Jaemin helped you into a sitting position, kissing you gently again and stroking your cheeks, observing the state of you that he made. Your makeup was a mess, long smudges of your mascara, lips swollen from his kisses and marks covering your neck and chest, looking all fucked. So fucking cute, he thinks. Jaemin chuckled when he noticed your long forgotten witch's hat lying on the floor.

‘’Are you okay, baby?” He asked before removing his hoodie and putting it on your naked figure, which suits you large and covering just above your thighs. You nodded with a hum, exhausted and happy after two orgasms. ''You've done so well for me, my pretty little witch.’’

''Please don't remind me,'' you sighed, thinking of the heart attack Rosé would have if she could see you like this. He laughed against your cheek, giving you small kisses there while his hands massaged your thighs. You cuddled Jaemin, searching for his neck with your mouth and rubbing yourself on it, your hand slowly cupped his erection in his pants, but then a big, sudden sound startled you both and made you stop in your tracks.

A few moments later the classroom door opened and you both saw Renjun storming in, his usually relaxed face looked a little frenetic. “We need to leave right fucking now, Jaemin,” he said, preferring to ignore the smell of sex: he's was too used to you fucking all over the place, and he had more important matters anyway.

‘'What's the matter? Renjun, what's wrong?'' The frat president asked, motioning his body in a way that shielded you from his friend's view with alarm taking over his voice.

''Everything! The power at the frat house went out and the Jack-o'-lanters that Mark and Jisung put up exploded all over the place, all the way to the ceiling! They had to call the fucking fire department,'' Renjuns explained looking at his blowing up phone with the text messages coming. ''Ten and Johnny are downtown, apparently the city's Halloween sign blew up too or I don't know, but it caught on fire too and so did the decorations-''

''Fuck. Are they okay?’’ He asked and Renjun noded, looking unusually shaken. ‘’Okay, calm down,'' Jaemin tried to soothe his friend, then looked at you a bit confused and worried, ''what was that sound we heard earlier then? It's too far away from NCT here.'' 

Jaemin took out his muted phone, seeing so many messages from his brothers and his father too, calling him- fucking furious his precious and expensive sign is wrecked. Mark was on his texts, telling him that the fire department has extinguished the small fire on the roof, not major damage but Jisung was a bit freaked out. 

“I don't know what the fuck happened, maybe something electrical,” Renjuns sighed, and continued to explain, “but something blew up in the sorority's haunted house and the power is out too.”

You heard heavy, rushed footsteps down the hallway and a new figure entered the classroom to your utter fucking embarrassment, but at least it's not university staff, but Zhong Chenle with a mad look on his face and black glasses pushed up onto his head.

“Jaemin, someone set the witch dummy on fire!” He yelled.

One of the oldest traditions of the Neo Chi Theta frat was their kick-off Halloween celebrations, in which they would go into the woods on the first weekend of October, light a fire and burn a giant dummy, several feet tall and tie it to a giant stake dressed as a witch. It was a tradition that dated back a couple of generations, to the great-great-grandparents of the current Founders. Started by Jaemin's great-great-grandfather, in fact. 

The witch's dummy would burn all night while the DJ played music and people partied.

But apparently this year's dummy had been set on fire before its time while still locked in storage and no one knew how that happened, however Chenle and Donghyuck suspected that perhaps it was the prank of someone who had a death wish. The confection of the stupid witch dummy had been in the works for weeks, so Doyoung had to order a new one and the party had obviously been delayed at least one more week, so he paid more to get it ready sooner. And even though it had been a number of days, the NCT residents were still furious.

''I don't understand what's going on, but things are going all wrong,'' Yuna sighed, examining you, who were sitting on the bed sewing up a part of her skirt that had been holed after catching on a nail sticking out of the door.

''Don't be silly, I'm about to finish and it's barely noticeable,'' you murmured, running the needle quickly through the shiny fabric, ''we'll make it to the party on time, you'll see,'' you comment in concentration.

''I don't think she's talking about her skirt, babe,'' Jia joined the conversation, finishing applying her makeup in front of the mirror and looking at you both through it. ''Rosé is furious, the whole opening was ruined. Good thing the guys were able to work out the dummy witch thing for tonight.''

''And the NCT house! Can you imagine if it had burned down? That's so scary,'' Yuna continued, getting up from her spot and scooting over to sit next to you. She rests her head on your shoulder, watching you continue sewing with a pout. ''Thank goodness no one got hurt.''

''Mmmm,'' you murmured not really listening and startle when your friend pokes your side playfully with a frown, wanting your attention. ''Ow! What was that for?'', you asked and examine your finger, which you pricked with the sewing needle. 

''I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Let me see,'' she gasped your name regretfully, taking your hand and inspecting your finger carefully, feeling guilty. ''There's no bleeding,'' Yuna murmured, a little surprised after a few seconds of checking it. 

‘’It didn't go that deep, don’t worry’’ you assured her, taking your finger into your mouth and sucking the tip anyways while giving back Yuna her skirt. ‘’I already finished, anyways.’’

She smiles at you and kisses your cheek, quickly putting her skirt back on. ‘’You're the best, thank you! Now... Do you think Chenle will like this outfit?” she asked, posing and pointing her ass at you.

You spanked her, making her squeal and you both let out a giggle, catching Jia's attention. ''I don't think Chenle likes anything but basketball,'' you blurted, leaning back on the bed, ''you should go for someone else. Maybe someone who isn't the personification of a sour candy.''

''Ohhhh, so you admit there's some sweetness in him,'' Yuna joked, winking at you and you faked a gag, rolling your eyes. ‘’Stop doing that! He's cute,'' she insisted, and even Jia looked at her in amusement. ‘’He is! Okay, you should be nice to him anyway, you know? He's Jaemin's friend and-’’

''One of the Founders, yeah, yeah, I know,'' you sighed, ''and he's important and you'll marry him someday,'' you continued, reciting the words Yuna convinced you two to memorize in support of manifesting for her. She nodded and Jia snorted, thinking her delusional friend is cute.

The party and dummy burn was tonight, so you were getting ready with your two friends in Jia's room. It was also the first time you were going, not joining things like this since you moved to the town,  like any witches and trials bullshit. But this time Jaemin invited you and you couldn't say no to him- besides, you haven't seen him daily this week, like you've gotten accustomed to since you first met him. He was busy with frat stuff like the dummy and the exploding decorations in the house- Renjun thinking that somehow someone must have set off a firecracker as a stupid Halloween prank, and also with family matters like the reopening of a new Witch Season sign in town. That didn't mean you two didn't talk, actually facetiming and calling each other but it obviously wasn't the same. And you missed him a lot.

''Speaking of founders, I think I'll fuck Jeno tonight,'' Jia said thoughtfully as the three of you reached the woods, cars everywhere and groups of what you assumed were students yelling and cheering, some of them clearly already drunken.

''Okay,'' you started a little confused, guarding your steps even though there are pumpkin-shaped garlands of orange lights guiding the way, ''don't you do that every day? Like... you let him sleep in your room when NCT's roof caught on fire a few days ago.’’

''Yeah, but I haven't since then. I want to drive him crazy, you know? He still has not asked me out and we've been fucking for months,'' she sighed, but there is determination in his eyes when he looks at you. ''I want a relationship like yours, I want a Founder too, can you imagine? The three of us having a Founder. Everyone would envy us,'' Jia said, and Yuna giggled and agreed. 

You smiled and hoped none of your friends could tell it's fake. Comments like that started to become habitual weeks ago and it makes you uncomfortable, especially when you sometimes feel your friends' jealous eyes on you and Jaemin when the two of you are together. When Jia and Yuna saw Jaemin's interest in you, they urged you towards him at every opportunity, helping him. At first you thought they were just being good friends, trying to help you pick up a hot guy. But deep down you knew they saw you as the key to a social circle: the Founders' circle. When things with Jaemin got more serious, each of them set their sights on a specific Founder, which turned out to be Jeno and Chenle. 

Jeno and Chenle were of course interested, because Jia and Yuna were gorgeous, with nice bodies and amazing smiles, just two cute girls who could have whoever they wanted. But none of them acted like Jaemin had acted and instead they kept playing their own way, having girl after girl and partying and being the residents fuckboys of NCT. No settling down for now, but you know and your friends too know that at some point in the future they had to marry a good and worthy town girl. What better plan than to work towards that position now? 

Your thoughts were broken when the three of you finally arrived and the first thing you spotted was the biggest fucking dummy ever seen. Almost like the old trees in the forest, a huge figure covered in a big dress and witch's hat, stuffed with dried leaves and straw so it could burn faster. It was not yet ignited, but you could see from afar the standing bodies of Doyoung and Jisung preparing it, pouring gasoline at its feet. 

Yuna dragged you and Jia towards the movable bar where Donghyuck and Jeno are already drinking, screaming. “Let's get drunk!’’

You couldn't stop yourself from watching the dummy witch from time to time, thinking it looked kinda strange. This whole party felt like that, and you understand that it's a tradition but the meaning behind it is... problematic. The witches the town burned where innocent women persecuted for dumb reasons. And now people burned a giant dummy of one of them with a live DJ.

You lost your friends a while ago, Jia leaving with Jeno to God knows where and Yuna chasing Chenle who is more busy talking about the match they won last month with Jungwoo, another Neo Chi Theta brother. So you stayed quietly drinking for a while, checking your phone for a text from Jaemin. He had told you a little while ago that he was coming, but you hadn't seen him yet. Out of nowhere you felt a pair of hands come from behind and clutch your waist, causing you to jump. Jaemin chuckles behind you and draws you into his body, wrapping his arms around you and kissing your neck as he coos at you.

''What's got you so jumpy, mmh?''

''Nothing, you just scared me,'' you said as you turned around, bringing your arms to his neck and inspecting how he combed his hair, clearing his forehead. He looked so handsome to you, feeling the familiarity of his presence complete you. ''You look so handsome, Nana.''

He looked at you and grinned, that big tooth-filled grin that makes him look a little wild, but unbelievably cute. That's what his vibes were like. 

''I've missed you so much, baby,'' he murmured, not wasting any more time, and kissed you. His hands traveled up and down your frame, ruffling your skirts with his hands. You felt the heat radiating from his body and you feel better than earlier, knowing he was with you, desiring nothing more than to climb him like a tree and devour him. ''Fuck, I'm going to have my time with you tonight, angel.''

''Hey you two lovebirds!'' Donghyuck's loud voice suddenly cuted in and he grabs Jaemin and pulls him away from you. ''We need our leader to start the fire, but don't worry, pretty girl,'' he says, smirking flirty at you, ‘’I’m gonna keep you compa- ow!’’

Donghyuck holded the spot where Jaemin punched him and stared at him, while Jaemin did the same to Hyuck until he throwed up his hands in surrender. You can't deny that you don't love seeing Jaemin like this, acting as the dominating leader and driving Hyuck away. Once you and Jaemin are back alone, he gives you another kiss and fiddles with a strand of your hair by wrapping it around his finger, tugging lightly to get your attention.

“Wait for me, okay? Don't you leave with nobody, I'm going to light the fucking dummy and come back quick,'' Jaemin said using his ridiculous baby voice, causing you to giggle and roll your eyes giving him a soft shove.

''Yeah, go set that horrible thing on fire already,'' giving him another nudge as he pulled your strand of hair playfully, kissing you once again before leaving. 

He smiled at you and turned away, moving through the crowd. Some people waved at him and several girls stared at him with interest. You'd felt jealous but you know Jaemin is yours and he's proved it, but you can't help thinking about them stopping their stares. You went to the bar again and Kun, the frats house bartender, poured you the special punch he prepared, a dark red drink with a fruity flavor and definitely a lot of vodka.

You were torn between ignoring the dummy about to be burned or not, part of you wanted to see Jaemin in all his glory and power, and part of you wanted to not partake in this silly event. You saw part of the flickering garland of lights in the bar, drawing Kun's attention as well, but just at that moment your eyes were elsewhere as Yuna leaned on the bar with an annoyed expression.“You were right. Chenle is a stupid ugly candy,'' she mumbled, and you followed her gaze fixed on the boy's form. He was still talking to Jungwoo, but now some pretty girls have joined in, and you recognized some of the cheerleading squad. Chenle grabbed one of them by the waist.

Yikes.

''I don't think I'd quite say that,'' you commented as you take a sip of your drink and then hand it to Yuna, who picks it up and chugs it all in one shot. You know your friend very well, so you already know how the storm that was brewing in her eyes would eventually end. Probably with lighting and rain. And some cheerleader being threatened. You weren't really sure Chenle could handle a storm like that, but you sure as hell didn't want to see that. Yikes again. “You know what? I think I have to go to the bathroom-''

''Wait, no! They're setting the dummy on fire! Look, there's Jaemin,'' she exclaimed, shifting her attitude and tugging you along with her. You see him, holding up a lit up torch and creepily everyone falls silent, almost as if they're holding their breath. ''He looks so good,'' she sighed dreamily. She doesn't seem to have noticed that she said it out loud, brushing herself off right away. 

Even though the DJ stops the music, Yangyang is still with his headphones on and filming everything with his phone. All eyes turned to Jaemin, who was showing a serious face, escorted not far away by the other founding members. Doyoung, Mark, Johnny, Jeno, Renjun and even Chenle, who seems to have made it in time, all watch silently as their leader throws down the torch and sets the giant witch dummy on fire.

The dummy bursts into fire and the blaze consumes it so quickly that it rises up to the dummy's hat fast. The crowd erupted into a craziness as the music returns, creating an explosion of energy and cheering, everyone jumping up and down and singing the song that Yangyang remixes. You leaved without a word, feeling uneasy and a little pissed off at Yuna's words from earlier. You made your way through the crowd to leave the center of the party. It was too much. You needed another drink, you think, drumming your fingers on the bar as Kun fixes you the same punch as before, but now in the dark after one of the garland lights burned out. Luckily they had a spare, which Jisung was setting up. 

You saw Jia coming your way, looking a little drunk and her makeup not as perfect as when you saw her earlier. "Babe, I've been lookin' for you! We're having a private bonfire, are you coming?''

''This isn't the bonfire?'' You asked a little confused, signaling the burning dummy with your head.

''Yes, but the Founders are having a private one, Johnny brought good wine and Donghyuck has some blunts. We're gonna smoke and tell scary stories!''

''I don't know, Jaemin told me to wait for-'' you started but Jia doesn't listen to you, tangles his arm with yours and drags you, ''Jia!’’

''Relax babe, Jaemin is already there with the others,'' she assured you, and smiled at you.

You wrinkled your nose at your boyfriend when you reached him and saw him sitting on the ground near the small campfire, impatiently looking at you.

''See, your girlfriend is here,” Renjun said to him and Jaemin flashed his middle finger at him. The handsome leader hugs your legs once you're close to him and he pouts at you, his hands now caressing the back of your knees. ''I told you Jia was bringing her.''

''I'm sorry, angel. They pulled me in and wouldn't let me go, saying I'd get lost.''

''Aren't you like the leader or something?'' you said sarcastically, sitting on his lap. You hear a chorus of ''ohhhhhhhh!'' and laughter. Jaemin just smirks, removes his jacket and covers you with it, kissing your neck and wrapping his arms around you. You knew you were going to paid for that challenge later, and you hoped so. You loved it when he punished your brattiness. 

You heard your name being called and you realize it’s Donghyuck, who’s lighting up a blunt and taking a hit of it. ‘’So, I know the perfect story for tonight. Tell me, you don’t know much about our town history, right?’’

You shaked your head and shrugged, ‘’I don’t, not really. Well, just the dumb witch stuff and all that.’’

“So you don't know the full story? Like, everything that happened,'' Marks asked as he helped Johnny pull some bottles of wine out of a box, ''the entire timeline and the crazy stuff.’’

''What's there to know, really? People went crazy with mass hysteria and religious paranoia. They took innocent women and burned them at the stake,'' you remarked feeling a little shy afterwards as you notice the silence that forms but speaking your mind- but you can't help being honest. Jaemin rubbed your thigh, reassuring you, and you relaxed against his chest.

''Yeah, but,'' Renjuns joined in, taking the joint Hyuck offered him, ''they weren't innocent, they actually cursed the town. Everyone knows it started when Sarah, the middle witch, had her poor, evil heart broken.''

''What do you mean?'' You frowned. 

''Hyung, tell the story from the very beginning!'' Chenle told him excitedly, lighting a joint on his own and passing it to Jisung after blowing out the smoke.

‘’Yeah, hyung,’’ Jisung said, getting comfortable on the ground and sipping from Mark’s wine bottle. ‘’You always tell it so good.’’

Donghyuck smiled from the praises and waited until the rest find their places around the bonfire; Jia with Jeno, Johnny and Doyoung sitting next to each other and sharing a bottle of wine and Mark and Renjun on some old, falling tree serving as a chair.

‘’It all started when the mother of the seven girls died,‘’ Hyucks narrated. ‘’They lived in peace with other people, they were nice and all. The seven sisters were known in town for their beauty, but the middle one, Sarah, was on another level. Soft skin and shiny hair, eyes full of innocence,’’ he paused, eyes moving toward Jaemin. ‘’Of course it caught the attention of the widowed Mayor.’’ 

You sensed Jaemin tensing behind you, fingers tightening painfully against your belly and you caressed his hand, wanting to relax like he did before to you. It was a little weird knowing that a direct descent of that Mayor was cuddling you in his arms.

‘’His wife died one cold winter, so young just like him, so every girl in town wanted to take her place. Whorever, they didn’t stand a chance,’’ Hyuck said gloomily, ‘’he was bewitched with Sarah. That’s when everything started going to shit.’’

Everyone listened to him thoughtfully, you noticed, as the sounds of the party happening not far along fill the forest but are ignored by the Founders. They kept smoking and drinking, except for you, actually interested in listening to the whole story. Maybe it was the way Donghyuck was using his smooth, velvety voice, but it was alluring you nonetheless. 

‘’First, the fresh milk went sour, but that could happen, right? It was the old times after all. But then, some women started getting sick and weak, worrying the entire town. The unmarried ones started losing hair and having nightmares, so they turned to their scared mothers and told them what was causing it: the seven sisters. They saw them looking wickedly at them one afternoon after service, smiling like angels while cursing the poor girls like demons.’’ 

‘’That’s so ridiculous’’, you laughed, interrupting him and shaking your head. ‘’They were clearly having an intense fólie a deux, and sure most of them even faking it.’’

Donghyuck and the rest ignored your comment except for Jaemin, who you felt smile against your nape. Chenle, on the other hand, hushed you, signaling the teller to continue. He did, taking a sip of the wine Doyoung passed him. 

''So the men assembled one night and went to investigate. They went to the seven sisters' house, but it was deserted. Their things were all inside, so the men knew they must be somewhere else. But they weren't working on the small farm next to the house either, so they searched the woods. And that's where they found the witches,” he stopped again for a second, building suspense, ”they were dancing naked, singing in an unknown language and having a small bonfire in honor of the Devil. The smoke was red and they were laughing maniacally, some of them were even floating in the air, terrifying the group of men.''

''Then the town council held a meeting. They were sick of the witches and their spells, who were trying to bring ruin to the good people,'' Renjun interrupted knowing the story by heart and Hyucks whined at him, irritated by his intromision.

''The council?'' You asked and Jia muttered your name looking at you like you're dumb.

''The original founders, our past families,'' Doyoung explained as he opened another bottle of wine, ''commanded by their Reverend, of course.''

Mark remained silent, and you understan his lack of comment because there's gossip you heard after you arrived in town and Jia explained to you who was who. Apparently, well no, actually, Mark was a direct descendant of the first reverend, but he came from a bastard son. Obviously his ancestor had sacred vows and couldn't marry, but it didn't surprise you that he had sex. All men were hypocrites, especially in those days. However, he and his family were considered a Founder anyways.

''So they settled that it was time for a trial. The mayor at the time advocated for the sister's innocence and asked for fairness, so the reverend reassured him that they would do so, they knew how to determine if the girls were witches or not. But little did they know that the girls planned to escape after seeing how the town treated them, even beating one of them one afternoon here in the middle of the town's central square. Imagine how disappointed the mayor was with Sarah, his precious lover was a damned liar trying to run away,” the narrator shaked his head, ‘’but thankfully they were caught red-handed and the Mayor himself put Sarah in the dungeon,‘’ Hyuck proudly continued. 

You saw something moving in the corner of your eye catching your attention and turning your head to see better, but there’s nothing more than darkness in the forest. Someone was sneaking up with a girl, maybe? You swear you heard crunching leaves or maybe a branch. You curled more into Jaemins body who mistaked the movement for cold or fright, giving you a worried look as he hugged you more tightly. 

''So the trials began. They did tests for the sisters, information coming from high ranks of the Church that guided the reverend in the art of finding a witch,'' Hyuck stared at you and held his eyes on you while he told the next part. ''Witches don't bleed, so they poked their fingers with sharp needles to prove it but their veins were dry. Witches have the mark of the devil on them, so they looked for that and found moles on the sister's skin, pitching them with hot iron sticks afterwards.''

You can’t help the sadness extending through your heart, listening to Donghyuck telling it in horror. It was a horrible story that was real, not some shit made up- these people existed. You feel sick to your stomach, a pinch of anxiety rising inexplicably.

‘’Witches have light bodies, to levitate and fly, so they took some sisters and judged that, pushing them off the highest cliff into the cold water to see if they could float or fly away in the wind. They sank and drowned, so the people who gathered to watch prayed for their souls. But that didn’t end there, some of them were still being interrogated. Witches can’t cry, so they were surprised when the remaining sisters cried while tortured. But… it could all been a trick, right?’’

The whole group is silenced by Donghyuck's mesmerizing voice as he talks and you just look at the fire while listening, imagining everything that went down with the seven sisters. You couldn't even try, tho. That kind of suffering is too much to handle. How scared they must be, seeing their sisters die one after another? Sustain all that pain?

Donghyuck took a pause to take a sip of the wine, continuing. ‘’After all, the whole town was cursed by them. Strange things started to happen in addition to the old testimonies. Blood started to appear in the medic’s house walls, and the shared office of the judge and the notary caught fire. And weird things kept happening, like hundreds of death flies appearing in the church and the banker having the windows in his house explode out of nowhere one day, pieces of glass cutting his face. The commissioner saw with his own eyes how his cows started giving blood instead of milk. So they all had enough. The only sister remaining was Sarah, so it must be her doing.’’

You felt Jaemin's body tensing, reacting to your own body stiffening. You couldn't help yourself, scared for the story, seeing how far these people were with their believings. He pushed his hand underneath your sweater, stroking your belly softly, covering with his whole palm making you shudder. 

‘’So they decided it was time for her to pay and put an end to all this,’’ Donghyuck stopped and took his time in watching everyone, raising his eyebrows and smiling, the fire of the campfire making his eyes shine, ‘’she was declared guilty and condemned with death by fire, just like in hell. That same night they set up a huge bonfire and tied Sarah to the stake. The whole town went, some spitting on her and some scared of the witch too, but curious.’’

Donghyuck winked at you. ‘’And guess who lit the fire, my pretty, unbelieving cutie,’’ he asked, making Jaemin groan in warning, and you keep silent. ‘’You guessed right. It was the Mayor.’’

A breeze of wind pickups then, making you shiver and winding up the campfire in front of you. The top of the trees moves, the sound of its branches moving even despite the distant music of the party. But nobody seems to care, as is normal in a forest. 

"To our founders!" Johnny cheered, raising his bottle of wine in a toast.

"You guys are way too comfortable feeling proud of having burned people," you huffed, settling into Jaemin's lap, feeling cold, "sorry if I find this fascination you have for baseless murders bizarre."

‘’Didn't you hear the story? They had proof, the whole town was fucking enchanted,’’ Chenle raised an eyebrow, shaking his head and taking another puff from his blunt.

Marks speaked then, looking kinda embarrassed. ‘’It's not a fascination, it's just—our ancestors did what they believed was best.’’

"Oh God, you don't really think those women were witches, do you?" You started to laugh, but you immediately stopped when you saw that no one  was laughing with you. "You guys can't be serious."

"Well, but think about it a bit. Strange things were happening back then, it's written in the records, there are testimonies. Those women were accused for good reason, surely," Jia said, pushing herself closer to Jeno.

‘’Yeah? Like what? To have their dress better ironed? Or maybe they didn't make the butter salty enough for the founders' taste," you joked ironically, winning yourself some eye rolls and scoffs.

‘’Were you listening at all? They have motives, the witches were invoking the Devil and bringing dark shit to the town,’’ Johnny throwed you an unimpressed look. 

‘’You can believe whatever, but witches were real then,’’ Doyoung said, swirling his bottle of wine and shrugging. ‘’And probably are now, just hiding better.’’

Renjun stood up, stretching and taking another hit before heading towards the party, not without saying: "And nowadays, strange things are happening too, just like back then. "

Doyoung seemed thoughtful, considering it as he lowered his bottle. "Yes, you're right... too many strange accidents."

‘’You think a witch did it?’’ Jisung asked, looking very scared by that idea.

"Having electrical problems and an idiot running around blowing up pumpkins is not a rare accident," Jaemin denied, looking bored. He starts kissing your shoulder, more focused on touching you and warming you up than on the chills he feels running down your legs. He gave you a little nudge on your side indicating that you should get up, and  you obeyed instantly, happy to leave that place once and for all. 

‘’But you can’t deny that witches exist, right, Jaem?’’ Johnny said, teasing him.

‘’If you guys have bloody walls and sick cows, you should call the university staff,’’ you teased the Founders, taking Jaemin's hand, who also gets up and stretches with a grunt when his back cracks. You start to walk away with him, letting yourself be guided by your boyfriend towards the party again. ‘’Or fund the witch police, I’m sure there’s a budget for that!’’

That same night much later, you were in Jaemin's bed, wearing one of his t-shirts while you both watched an old horror movie on TV together before going to sleep, it's almost dawn. Curled up against his side, you look at him from beneath your lashes, studying the curves of his face in silence without paying attention to the movie until Jaemin feels your gaze on him and looks at you, smiling as he notices your expression and affectionately caressing your waist.

"Can I help you, angel?"

"Yes," you admitted immediately, moving on top of him to settle yourself on his lap. You cradle his face and kiss him, Jaemin's hands immediately grabbing your thighs and moving up to squeeze your butt with a sleepy grunt. "I want to ask you something," you murmured against his lips, pecking him softly.

"What is it?" Jaemin asked, tilting his head and playing with the edge of his shirt on you, lifting it slowly and caressing your belly but you stopped him before he distracted you with another session of sex.

You didn't know how to start, so you went straight to the point. "Nana... the story that Hyuck told, I was wondering…" you paused, straightened up above him. "Why do you think Sarah didn't take revenge on the Mayor like she did with the council members? Sorry, I know he's your ancestor and all… but I'm curious.’’

Jaemin studied you for a few seconds and then he smiled, slipping his hands under your big shirt to fully caress your skin, sliding his palms over your ribs and the edge of your breasts. "What do you think? They loved each other. I stole his diary a few years ago from my father's library and read it myself. They loved each other so much. The Mayor wanted to marry her even before he was with his first wife, but Sarah came from a poor family and his family insisted not to. That happened before the town was established, I think.’’

‘’What happened to him? Obviously he got remarried, otherwise you wouldn't be here," you asked with a smile, brushing his hair back.

‘’He married one of the girls who had accused Sarah, but because he needed an heir. It wasn't a happy marriage, according to his diary and... he always regretted betraying her," Jaemin responded, looking thoughtful for a moment. He bringed his hands to your back and pulled you back towards him, kissing you softly on your lips. ‘’He continued writing about her and…,’’ he stopped, eyeing your lips and biting his.

"And...?" you asked with curiosity, urging Jaemin to continue after he stops. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and then opened them, his face illuminated by the faint light of dawn coming through the window, giving Jaemin a soft appearance.

"And he always had nightmares, until he died. About her. He saw her hurt, crying for him, and burning at the stake... he regretted everything he made her go through, he wished he had helped her escape or hide," Jaemin explained, sitting with you still in his arms. He kissed you gently, hugging you by the waist. His nose brushed yours gently, making you smile. Then he added: ‘’He didn't believe she was bad, it was impossible. Sarah was the kindest woman he had ever known, according to him. He wrote about her until the day of his death, she is the last entry in the diary.’’

"But everyone sees him as a hero or something like that. He was the one who lit the fire," you murmured, unable to avoid thinking about how terrible it must have been for both of them... but especially for Sarah.

Jaemin sighed and pulled at the shirt you're wearing until he took it off, and this time you let him. "But people don't know the diary exists, baby. Everyone believes the story they've heard, the version Hyuck told last night. The official version of the town.’’

"Why haven't you told them, Jaemin? You know the truth, that Sarah wasn't an evil witch," you said, frowning, letting Jaemin change positions, lying you down on the bed and positioning himself on top of you, parting your legs with a tender but firm touch.

"And who said I won't tell it soon?" 

The leader of the Founders smiled at you, and for a moment, you can do nothing but just look at him, feeling your heart soften and explode at the same time, feeling so in love that you forget how to breathe. You felt the electricity inside you like every time you're with Jaemin and sparks fly, vibrating with anticipation when his touch becomes intimate and sensual. Your body arched against his as you both kissed deeply, your breath quickening with each passing second, unable to control some moans that escape you when you feel him hard against your stomach. His slow kisses traveled to your neck, kissing and sucking as well, causing your body to fill with shivers.

"Jaemin, wait-," you stopped him, having one last question before continuing, holding his face so he looks at you. ‘’The last entry in the diary... What did he write?’’

Your favorite smile from Jaemin appeared on his lips, full of teeth and tempting lips, but filled with a pure sweetness he has reserved for you, sporting that expression of bright and mischievous eyes that drove you crazy. He comes near your mouth again and kisses you slowly, full of love.

"That he wished they could be together in their next life."

The days went on, and so did the little accidents, as the townspeople and tourists tried to enjoy the various activities of Season of the Witch. The highschool choir lost their voices and couldn't participate in the reenactment of the burning of the witch Sarah in the town center, and in the middle of the play, the judge's table broke, causing the poor actor to fall and making the audience laugh. The haunted house of your sorority had so many problems that they weren't selling many tickets, so Rosé simply decided to cancel it, giving up after the damn fuses burned out for the tenth time in the little time that had passed in the month.

Chenle was determined to catch the one who had blown up his pumpkins at home, convinced that it was the same person who had blown them up at the frat and who also had a new prank, breaking the witch figures that the neighbors hung in their yards. The basketball team captain was sure that the culprit was some university student who had dared to take their pranks further and make an enemy by puncturing all the balls in the team's storage until they were deflated. Chenle was so furious that he was going to break the culprit's teeth when he caught him, as he had sworn to Renjun when the team couldn't have a practice game that day.

Renjun's room had flooded, ruining not only his university books but his entire personal library, the water reaching the place where he keeped his study sheets. So he had to spend the days leading up to Halloween redoing them to study for his exams the following week. He was convinced that one of his fraternity brothers, like Hendery or Yangyang, was playing pranks on him, because his new notes kept disappearing until it stopped being fucking funny.

Mark and Doyoung were becoming irritable because they were having constant nightmares and not sleeping well. Doyoung tried taking some pills to rest, but they were worse—trapping him in horrible dreams without being able to wake up and throwing them out the window the next day. Mark was grumpy and a bit paranoid, insisting that his cross necklace, originally inherited from the Reverend, had disappeared and that he heard noises when he was alone. But Johnny was sure it was because Mark had the messiest room and his system was full of Redbull and he was sleeping little. Mark had reached his limit when he found a couple of dead flies on his desk and freaked out. He refused to sleep in his room, now being Chenle's temporary roommate. 

Poor Johnny went through a few days of mourning when the shelves of his wine cellar gave way and broke without warning, shattering all the hundreds of precious, expensive wine bottles that he and his father had collected together. The worst part is that no one had noticed for a few days, so the wine was left there until the smell of rot filled the room and the floor had to be replaced. 

Donghyuck's car tires had been slashed, the fuel tank filled with water, and as if that weren't enough, they had scratched the entire exterior, leaving the crowbar perfectly wedged against the driver's side window after finishing the job. He had tried to look at the security cameras like Chenle, but just like his, they didn't work. The image looked blurry until it went black as if there was some interference, so he had to accept that his car was ruined without catching the culprit for the moment.

Jeno realized that his protein shakes tasted like crap and didn't understand why, maybe because he was trying a new brand and flavor. It wasn't until he realized that the milk in his fridge was sour and spoiled, which was confusing: the milk hadn't expired, but when he smelled it through the package, the rotten smell made him gag. He bought a new pack at another store—just to be sure—and when he tried his shake at the gym, he spat it out in front of everyone, feeling that disgusting rotten taste again.

A few days before Halloween and the NCT party, the six Founders barged into Jaemin's room unannounced and surrounded him. The leader raised an eyebrow and lowered his phone, pausing his game, looking at them all without understanding anything and annoyed by the interruption.

‘’What?’’

"We need to talk," Doyoung started, crossing his arms. "We have a problem."

Jaemin sat down and put his phone away, giving his brothers his full attention. ‘’What’s it? The TXT frat is fucking with us again? I thought I was clear when I punched the president at the spring party.’’

Chenle went straight to the point, sitting in a chair in his leader's room, face unreadable as he’s wearing his classic black sunglasses hiding his eyes. ‘’We have a witch in our hands.’’

Since you had woken up on Halloween day, you felt like everyone had reached their peak weirdness. The days before, when you saw Jaemin's friends around campus, they wouldn't even look at you; in fact, you thought they were avoiding you. Jia was acting similarly, making excuses about having a lot of homework and exams, which you understood. Your relationship with Yuna had been in a strange place since the night of the witch burning, and things had worsened when your ex friend started to take an increasing interest in Jaemin. Apparently, Chenle was a thing of the past and your friend wanted another Founder, with her eyes on the leader. Despite everything, it was strange to get ready alone in your room when you were used to doing it with your friends. 

Everyone on campus was going to the annual NCT costume party that night, known for being one -if not the most- wild of the year, epic and out of control. The Founders paid the university to look the other way and not interrupt, letting them do whatever they wanted. Of course, the deal worked successfully every year.

You had chosen a somewhat cliché outfit: a sexy fallen angel. You were wearing small black wings and a lace top of the same color to match your cute body-hugging skirt and high boots, definitely a sinful angel, as Jaemin had said when you sent him a photo before going out. You didn't really feel like putting too much effort into your costume, although you did want to look good. Bloody and terrifying costumes weren't your thing anyway, in fact, you didn’t like anything horror related- managed to just watch one movie like that with Jaemin.

You made your way into the NCT house, a bit surprised but not really by the party's budget. The broken decorations had been replaced with new ones, and the entire front yard had tombs, moving figures of ghosts and vampires, obviously a witch too; there was even a smoke machine that added a terrifying touch. It looked like it was straight out of a fucking horror movie, and people had followed the dress code to the max, the costumes you saw had high production value and quality. Everyone wanted to cause an impression, that was for sure. Jaemin hadn't told you he was going in disguise, but you had a slight suspicion after he sent you some racy tweets of Ghostface and asked if you liked the mask.

You entered the house with deafening music and purple colored lights, filled with people dancing, others playing games and drinking, and some even making out in the corners already. It was a typical frat party, but the night felt different... Maybe because it was Halloween. But somehow, it had a weird, electric vibe to it. Supposedly it was a night of witches and demons, right? The air felt tense, as if something were about to happen but you didn't quite know what it was. 

You were looking for Jaemin when someone suddenly crossed your path and said your name. Yangyang takes off his Art the Clown rubber mask to greet you, smiling wide. "What are you wearing? It's supposed to be Halloween, not the Victoria's Secret fashion show. Hey, not that I'm complaining, anyway! Are you sure you want to date Jaemin and not me?" He speaked quickly, looking at you mischievously without letting you get a word in. His pretty, big eyes were dilated as fuck, clearly high out of his mind… except he acted the same way he did everyday. 

You chuckled. "Yes, Yangyang, I'm sure," you responded immediately, without paying attention to his comments. "Have you seen Jaemin?"

‘’Nope! I haven't seen any Founders, actually.’’ He frowned as if he was realizing it at that moment and shrugged, lowering his mask. ‘’Anyway, don't try the punch! I put way too much rum in that shit when Kun wasn't looking," he warned, giving you a kiss on the cheek you didn’t quite felt because of his mask- and quickly leaving while laughing like an evil gremlin. 

You continued your way through the party and decided to skip some places, heading directly to the stairs to go to Jaemin's floor. You were walking down the hallway and didn't notice a door opening behind you as you passed, a black figure in a hood appearing. He followed you a few steps in silence, acting quickly when he realized you felt him behind you. You stopped in your tracks, slowly turning around and seeing him- the stranger grabbed you and pushed you against the wall after you made a move to run, making you scream in surprise, calming down only a little when you realize it's Ghostface the one holding you. His hand covered your neck and it squeezed slightly, feeling your pulse race with fear.

"No, Mr. Ghostface, don't kill me! I want to appear in the sequel!" you laughed, breaking free from his grip with a shove and running towards his room before he could catch you again. You opened the door feeling the adrenaline filling you and you were about to close it behind you when Ghostface put his foot in and pushed it open. You slowly backed up to the bed while the black figure locked the door, taking off his mask and tossing it aside.

''Do you think it's okay to keep escaping from me? Angel, angel... You never learn your lesson, do you?” Jaemin asked, moving towards you slowly, speaking in a tone of false sympathy. You felt excitement washing over you, your thighs rubbing together as you stared at him and he noticed, clicking his tongue in annoyance. “Kneel,” he ordered, resting a hand on your head to press you down in a quick move, impatient. “You didn't think I was going to forget the punishment I owe you, did you?”.

“N-no,” you replied, your knees hitting the floor. Jaemin's hand gently caressed your cheek until he pushed his fingers up to your mouth, rubbing them against your lips and past them, to your soft tongue. ‘’Nana-,’’ you tried to speak.

He slapped your face with his other hand, not too hard but firm enough to make you gasp and shut up. Dominance and fire filled his eyes, staring at you smugly. ‘'I thought so. Always so chatty, so defiant. But don't worry, angel, I know the best way to shut you up. Open your mouth, pretty slut.’’

You licked your lips and then parted them, looking up at Jaemin with pitiful eyes. He slipped his fingers into your mouth and you sucked on them immediately, swirling your tongue over them and sucking them eagerly, breathing through your nose as he took them deep into your mouth until you choked. He did it again and again until saliva began to drip from the corners of your lips, feeling it dripping down your cleavage. You inhaled air through your mouth as he took his fingers out, cleaning them and making you a wet mess. He grabbed your hair and held it in his fist as he shooted you a stern look while your hand had grabbed the bulge in his pants covered by the black robe of the costume. You gave him a sultry look, squeezing his cock with a needy, low moan. 

''So fucking needy, can't you wait for my cock, mm? You better not close your mouth, understand?” he said, releasing you to unbutton his pants. You obeyed him and kept your mouth open, tongue hanging out and feeling the saliva dripping down as you waited for him. He looked at you with satisfaction as he pulled his cock out of his boxers and rubbed it up against your pretty face, the thick, long cock rubbing your cheek and nose, brushing against your tongue as Jaemin stroked himself in front of you. 

You moaned when Jaemin let out a rough growl as he pressed his balls against your mouth and you flicked your tongue along them, feeling so powerful as you pleased him. Jaemin grabbed your head as before and drove his cock into your mouth, thrusting lazily as your lips wrapped around it and sucked on it, your tongue circling his thickness the best way you could- he was just so big. You sucked him at his pace, slow, deep lunges that made you moan around him, feeling him hard in your tongue and making you gag when he stayed too long at the back of your throat. 

He only pulled out when you blink and a few tears escape down your cheeks, smiling down at you from his height and letting you breathe for a few seconds before plunging back into the back of your mouth, pushing his cock until your nose bumps against his pelvis.

He placed both hands on your head and holded you down, fucking your face more rapidly, making you gag around his cock and reaching a hand between your legs, stroking your swollen, throbbing clit. ''Fuck, so fucking good, sucking cock like the whore you are,” he grunted, slamming it down your throat over and over as you gagged and tried to relax your jaw, taking his huge cock with your slacked mouth.

You breathed shakily as you let Jaemin continue to fuck your mouth, moving your fingers around faster on your clit and even sliding one finger into your aching pussy, moaning as you moved them in the same pace as Jaemin was using your throat and even sliding another one in.

''A dirty angel, getting her pussy ready to be fucked without my permission,” Jaemin scolded you, pushing his cock's tip against the inside of your cheek and slapping it, making both of you moan from the sensation. ''Get on all fours and lift that ass up like a good slut for me.''

Jaemin pulled his cock out of your mouth and you couldn't help but cough a little and swallow, feeling your throat dry. You stood up trembling and sniffling through your nose from the tears, hurrying to obey Jaemin. You slowly leaned over the bed, giving him a view from under your skirt as you position yourself, revealing that you were not wearing any underwear. Jaemin's breath catches when he realizes you're not wearing anything under your skirt, seeing your pussy glistening with moisture, swollen lips that you part with your fingers, moaning his name to provoke him.

"Jaemin, please, I need your cock filling me," you said, turning your head to look at him, resting your face on his pillow. You spread your legs to show him more of your dripping pussy, biting your lower lip and begging with your eyes. "I want you to fuck me full of your cum," you moaned, giving your clit little slaps, moving your hips to rub your fingers firmly against it.

You saw Jaemin's eyes darkening and you smiled pleased internally, knowing you had him right where you wanted him. You loved the way he dominated and fucked you, but you also liked to play with him and provoke him; pulling his strings until you got what you wanted. The way he positioned himself behind you and kneaded your ass made you moan in need, a possessive feeling filling you up as you know he is yours, feeling so overwhelmed that you can't help but shudder when you feel the tip of his cock pushing into your entrance, slowly driving himself into your pussy so deep. You moaned loudly, feeling the stretch of his cock, taking him all in. 

‘’Nana, you’re so big,’’ you cried in pleasure at the feeling of being full and a bit of pain sting, your walls getting used to Jaemin's size as they throbbed around his cock, scratching the sheets with your nails. You clinged to them when Jaemin started fucking you hard and deep, both of you moaning like two animals in heat while his hands grip your waist tightly. 

"Taking my cock so well, like this pretty pussy is made just for me,’’ he gives your ass a smack, causing more moans from you. Jaemin growled as he fucked you hard while rolling up your skirt, gripping the garment as he moved in and out of you quickly. "You’re never going to leave my side, always being filled up with my cock and cum," he breathed heavily, groaning hoarsely as he felt your pussy tighten at his words, feeling out of control. ‘’You’re going to let me breed you like the good girl you are-’’

Your eyes filled with surprise when he said that, and your body reacted to it; your pussy getting wetter and liking the idea, a sensation of pleasure forming in your stomach that has you whimpering with need while Jaemin railed you almost brutally.

‘’Oh my God- yes, fill me up, please," you begged, your mouth slightly open, drooling on his bed as he used your hole however he wanted, whining with each thrust of his big cock inside you. ‘’You fuck me so good baby, don’t stop- I can feel you so deep.’’

"Fuck, begging like the little whore that you are- I'm gonna fill you up so much," he promised while thrusting into you, feeling drops of sweat fill his nape. Jaemin slapped your ass again and grabbed the flesh of your cheeks, kneading them possessively and spreading them apart to see the small hole of your ass. ‘’Gonna fuck this tight hole full of cum.’’

He lets a thread of saliva fall slowly onto it, surprising you with the sensation and making you whimper, looking at him with imploring eyes as Jaemin begins to slide his index finger into your asshole, spreading his saliva on it. "I’m gonna fuck this pretty ass too, fill it with cum. And you’ll let me, right, angel? You’re gonna take my cock here too?’’

You moaned from the overwhelming sensations and nodded repeatedly, gasping and tightening around Jaemin's cock, feeling your climax approaching as he moved in and out the tip of his finger into your ass, making you gasp in surprise at the unexpected but welcomed touch.

‘’Mmmm yes, fuck, I’ll let you,’’ you gasped, moving your hips towards his; fucking yourself in his cock, until your eyes rolled back in pleasure. 

‘’I’ll open you real good, baby- training you to take my cock in all your holes,’’ he rasped, fucking you even harder into the matress. His balls slapped against your thighs, making you whimper when you pressed your hand against your lower belly, feeling him there-

‘’Nana, you’re too deep! Fuck- I can’t, I’m gonna cum,’’ you cried with a shudder, moaning loudly. ‘’Please, please, please- I’m-’’

"Come on my cock my pretty slut, milk me," he ordered, and you could only moan, feeling a tremor in your legs and your core fill with heat and moisture, soaking Jaemin's cock with your slick. "Beg for my fucking cum."

‘’Jaemin, please! I want all your cum, breed me," you said breathlessly, moaning non-stop even as you cum, a wave of pleasure hitting you and leaving you dazed as you enjoy the intense sensation. You stretched your hand back, caressing Jaemin's stomach and looking at him again from your position, smiling provocatively and moaning, squeezing hard his cock. "Fill me with your cum, I want it to drip from me for days, please baby-" 

‘’Take it, it's all yours angel, fucking take it," he moaned, finishing deep inside your pussy, making you whimper from the warm feeling of his semen filling you up. Jaemin clinged to you as he finished and tried to catch his breath, staring intently at his cock buried deep inside you, coating your womb with his cum. He gave you a gentle thrust and you moaned from the sensitivity, a masculine satisfaction filling him as he continued moving, some remnants of his cum coming out of your entrance and being pushed back in with the tip of his cock. ‘’Fuck, baby, that’s it. This pussy is so fucking perfect," he murmured as he continued playing with his cum, floating his cock between the folds of your pussy and then gathering the white liquid to push it back inside you again. ''Such a pretty hole, full of my cum.''

You made a small sound and let your body fall forward, closing your eyes with a happy sigh and a bit of tiredness. You felt your legs weak and needed a moment to recover, but still you moved your hand behind you, slipping it between your legs and gathering the remnants of cum in your pussy, spreading it slowly between your folds too while looking at Jaemin with lustful eyes and softly moaning. You could’t help yourself, you just were so fucking horny and your boyfriend was as well, fucking you so good like always. You swore Jaemin's pupils dilated and he lunged at you, kissing you hungrily while his fingers intertwined with yours, both slowly caressing your poor, used pussy until you sighed contentedly and looked at him mischievously.

"Put the mask on, I want to ride Ghostface now." 

You didn't know how your legs were able to after going at it two times- and riding Jaemin nonstop, but you found a strength in you to leave the bed and go down to the kitchen while the party continued. Jaemin followed after you, both hungry and thirsty after fucking like animals. Your angel wings were long gone, and thankfully Jaemin didn’t tear any of your clothes this time, but still you wore one of his oversized and comfy hoodies. It was way past midnight and the Halloween party was peaking, not noticing anyone you knew, not even your friends when you passed the living room scanning the people dancing. Jaemin was leading you by holding your hand, but you let it go when someone pushed with force against your body, making you move back a whole step. Rude.

‘’What's up, pumpkin?’’ Johnny smiled at you, you noticed first thing he was not wearing a costume. ‘’Are you enjoying the party?’’

‘’We do, man,’’ Jaemin answered for you, putting his arm to your shoulders. ‘’Are you going to the woods?’’

‘’Yeah, are you two coming? We’re having another bonfire, this time it's beer, tho. I haven’t had the time to refill my wine cellar,’’ the tall man said, winking at you as he murmured your name. ‘’You’re coming too, right? You know our leader won’t come if you aren’t there.’’

‘’I-’’ you started, but felt Jaemin squeezing you gently.

‘’Of course she’s coming, right baby?’’ Jaemin smiled at you, kissing your temple. You looked at him strangely but didn’t said anything, because that wasn't your usual routine. You two were the cuddling type, so after having sex both will lay in bed for hours, just making up and chilling. Going to another stupid bonfire wasn't part of that ritual, and you didn’t like the idea of another stupid Donghyuck story about witches like the last time. ‘’C’mon, it will be fun. You'll see, angel.’’

You saw the way your boyfriend and Johnny shared a smile between them before smiling at you, eyeing them weirdly.

You entered the same entrance in the forest where a few days ago the witch dummy was burned, but this time there wasn't any garland of light illuminating the path. So the forest looked dark and creepy, full of shadows, the full moon rising in the sky. You admired it for a moment, feeling the weird tension you felt early, like something was about to happen. Johnny and Jaemin didn’t seem to feel something was off the way you did, simply talking about sports but you don’t really hear them, uninterested. Feeling a little grumpy and missing the bed you were in before, ready for the night to end.

As the three of you came closer to the forest’s clearing, you noticed there’s no bonfire, but light up torches in the Founder’s hands. Illuminating their faces with the fire, Jaemin’s friends stand in a circle that it opens once they see you, in complete silence. You crossed your arms as you walked towards them, the tension thickening as you came closer, giving you chills. You side eyed Jaemin, feeling kinda uneasy and slowing your steps. None of the Founders or your friends who were there too weren’t talking, laughing or drinking, they just… stayed there, like they were waiting for something. 

But as you were about to say something to Jaemin, his hands pushed you hard to the ground, making you gasp in pain and surprise. What the fuck?! One of his hands grabbed your hair and yanked it roughly, forcing your eyes to see the Founders coming close to you. ‘’Jaemin, what the fuck! Let go!’’ You cried, trying to get away from him.

‘’You’re forbidden to speak, witch,’’ Donghyuck said, kicking the ground so the dirt landed on your kneeling body. ‘’This is a trial by the council. Bring the witnesses, Mark.’’

Trial? You could only stare completely frozen and confused, hysterically trying to catch your friend's attention, but while they seemed cautious about what was about to happen, you noticed they weren't scared or nervous as you were. Mark did as told, making a hand gesture to Jia and Yuna to come closer. They did, Jia looking shaken up and Yuna more composed, eyes finally shining at you with an emotion you can’t put your finger on. What the fuck was going on?!

You intended to speak again, but as you about to you felt a jab of pain to your face, Johnny giving you a strong slap to your cheek that already left a mark behind, so hard it cut your lip. Your fingers traced the cut, feeling the metallic taste of your blood in your mouth.

‘’Shut up witch, you can’t speak,’’ he grunted and then looked at the girls. He came close to Jia, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. When he speaked again, his tone was more calm, but still firm. ‘’Tell us what you told Chenle before.’’

‘’I saw her pinching her finger with a needle and didn't bleed,’’ Yuna's voice cutted the silence, fast to accuse you, staring down at you with disgust. ‘’And she- she never liked Chenle, she said that she wishes he could go to hell, too. She always was placing curses on him.’’

‘’What!? I never said-’’ a new wave of pain washed over your, this time being for the hand of the named before. Chenle growled at you with so much hate- you actually feared him. His dark eyes froze you on the spot, shutting you up. Then you tried to catch Jaemin’s eyes, begging silently, but he didn't even looked at you, stare still at his friend, listening carefully and studying his reactions. You could swear you saw a muscle in Jaemin’s jaw moving, tensing it. But his face composed itself into a mask of eerie calm, just as quickly the early reaction crossed his features.

‘’Stop playing dumb. This is your witch trial, fucking demon. You really thought you could fuck with us? You think you scare us?’’ Chenle said, smiling at you in a mocking way, shaking his head. He scoffed, shaking his head. ‘’You don’t have any fucking idea what you got yourself into.’’

‘’What are you talking about?! I’m not a fucking witch, have you all lost your minds?!’’ You yelled, terror filling your voice. You struggled against Jaemin again, but another yank at your hair stopped you, tears coming down your cheeks. 

‘’She’s always trying to seduce men,’’ Jia said, sending a quick look towards Jeno. ‘’J-jeno tolds us everything. How you always give him flirty eyes, even right after you come to town. Aren’t you ashamed? Being that young and taunting him with your short skirts?’’ She asked, voice filling with anger and jealousy, making you snort incredulously.

‘’Is this a fucking joke? I wasn't trying to seduce anyone!’’ you defended yourself, confused by that accusation, watching your friend like they were crazy and you frowned. ‘’Short- what? Jia, we had the same uniform,’’ you reminded her desperately, gripping Jaemin’s fingers in your head and trying to let go of your hair with a cry. ‘’Our skirts were the same length! We were sixteen! Are you even listening what you’re saying?’’

‘’Okay so you didn't try to seduce him after that, right? I am a witness myself, knowing damn well you’re a little minx, showing your legs and tits in your tight outfits,’’ Donghyuck said, his eyes scanning the short skirt of your costume and you cursed under your breath, pushing down the hoodie to cover yourself. ‘’I know you and your boyfriend do start some shit-’’

‘’Don’t drag our leader into this,’’ Renjun was quick to intervene and defend, silencing Donghyuck with his hard stare. ‘’Whatever happened between them was already discussed. He was, just like his ancestor, a bewitched man,’’ he reminded everyone. 

‘’But not for long. Jaemin did the right thing, quickly. He gave us the witch,’’ Jeno defended him too, coming next to your boyfriend. You felt his hand on your shoulder, squeezing hard and making you cry silently, scared of being hit again. ‘’Keep going. We have to end this.’’

‘’She always went to the forest to study,’’ Yuna continued, ‘’but now I know she wasn't doing that. The night of the bonfire I saw her and Jaemin! She was naked and dancing in front of him, s-she was speaking in tongues,’’ her voice cracks, hugging herself and seeming like she's about to cry at any minute. ‘’She was bewitching him! Witch!’’

You stared at everybody completely in shock, they’re all lost their minds?! You felt a new pair of hands as Johnny grabbed you easily away from Jaemin and Jeno, started dragging you across the ground. You were kicking and screaming until you were in front of what appeared to be the point where they burned the dummy witch last time. With a new stake. 

‘’You were behind all the shit going down, the fire and the explosions,’’ Renjun accused you, coming next to you, giving you a disgusted look. ‘’You knew what happened to the original Founders and you did it to us too,’’ another slap landed on you, shocked that a quiet, cold Renjun could act like that. You didn’t see it coming. ‘’You made fun of us, thinking we won’t realize, don’t you? You give us nightmares and tried to fuck with our minds.’’

‘’Jaemin told us he found Mark’s Reverend cross in your room,’’ Doyoung seethes and you shaked your head, making him more furious. ‘’Stop lying, fucking witch!’’

‘’I don't! I didn't steal anything, I swear!’’ you cried confused and scared. ‘’Nana, what’s all this?! Why did you say that?! He's lying!’’

‘’Our leader wouldn't lie or betray us, no matter how good your pussy is. He hates fucking, evil witches just like us,’’ Donghyuck said, voice proud. ‘’And we will clean our town of them, just like the founders did.’’

‘’This was his idea,’’ Johnny said, smiling at Jaemin. ‘’It wasn't difficult, right? You follow him around no matter what. Did you have fun at the party, doll? I hope you enjoyed, it was your last time.’’

You maintained yourself silent as the terrible realization hit you, what was about to happen. Your whole body felt cold, terrified and disappointed, feeling the betrayal  cut into you so deep you couldn't help the anguilish sob you let out. The accusations, the torches with fire, the stake- your eyes get bigger and your body trembles, realising you’re completely alone. No one knows you were in the woods, just Jaemin, the Founders and your friends. And none of them were gonna help you, you thought, starting to cry more desperately.

‘’By a fair trial by the council, you are found guilty of the crimes of witchcraft. The council has decided tonight you’ll burn for it,’’ Jaemin's voice filled your ringing ears, making you sob harder.

‘’Please, please! I’m not a fucking witch! You’re all insane!'’ You screamed in panic, your voice shaking while trying to convince someone. Your eyes found Yuna and Jia. ‘’Jia, please, help me. They’re gonna kill me, please make them stop,’’ you begged them, crying desperately.

Next to her was Yuna, porting the same sad face Jia wears, but none of them moved your way. Jia cried silently, staying still as she watched you beg. You shaked your head, realizing they chose their side and it was the Founders. 

‘’Yuna, please! You said you will never let me alone, remember? W-when we met on my first day in h-highschool, you said you’d take care of me,’’ you reminded her, your voice tainted with not just fear, but sadness and a boiling rage filling your chest.

‘’Shut up!,’’ Mark groaned, pushing you to the ground with a kick to your back. You landed fist face and felt seconds after the blood coming from your nose and mouth, slip lip. ’’Don't speak to them, witch. Don't try tainted them with your malice.''

You saw Jaemin standing a little behind and you cried in anger, immobilized to the ground while Marks tied your wrists tightly and you sobbed harder, thinking about your night Jaemin back at the NCT frat. How you two kissed, touched and fucked until you two were just one body. That was gonna be your last memory.

‘’How could you do this to me, Jaemin? Please, help me, please-’’ you begged once again, voice cracking with fear and closing your eyes when another sob tembled in your chest. ‘’Please, I’m not a witch!’’

Your sobs and desperate cries for help echoed through the forest without receiving a response, your cheeks soaked with tears that ruined your mascara. You lowered your head to avoid seeing Chenle starting pouring gasoline on the bonfire, hiding yourself behind your hair like a curtain. A few moments passed and your crying morphed into small laughs that interrupted your sobs, until you were laughing hysterically, throwing your head back and looking at the full moon that illuminated the night.

A fast, cold breeze started to sweep through the forest, growing stronger with each passing second, making the treetops and the flames of the torches shake violently to the rhythm of your crying. Mark, who was behind you, begins to step back and hold the cross around his neck, looking at the others who also tense up with your laughter, glancing at each other with distrust. Everyone felt it, their body filling with chills, hearts beating rapidly by the scene occurring in front of them. Something was wrong, their first confidence not being strong as before.

The scared and tearful girl was someone completely different, watching them with a maniacal smile as you slowly straightened up, sitting on your heels, and letting out a chuckle at the surprise on their faces. 

You looked completely insane, with your bloody face and the fear erased from you, a pleased, mocking grin in your lips. ‘’Well, well. Aren't you guys a couple of damn good detectives,'' you laughed, tilting your head to the side. ''It must run in the family, right?''

They all react differently, Yuna and Jia being actually gasping in a mix of shock and fear. Chenle and Doyoung looked like they wanna chop your head off at any minute, Johnny, Jeno and Renjun were porting similar stances, tense and looking cautious. Donghyuck, on the other hand, seemed conflicted and a little bit scared, just like Mark, who was praying with his voice low. All of them thought they had a witch in their hands, but didn’t through how powerful she could be.

But Jaemin…he just stared at you with an empty face. It’s like he was wearing a mask. No emotions, not the pretty glow in his eyes or his enchanting smile, no fear of hate radding off his body. He just… looked at you with the most blank face, making your heart twist with anguish at his disinterest. 

"Witch," Doyoung spited through clenched teeth, his hand trembling with fury as he holded his torch. "You’re a liar and a sinner, and you’ll burn in hell for it." 

‘’Me? I’m the one going to hell? Dodo,’’ you responded in a teasing tone, laughing to yourself, ’’you don’t think you’re going too? Or at least to prison, this looks like a group murder attempt to me. But I think we should ask the expert, where’s the future lawyer? What do you think, Junnie?’’

‘’Shut the fuck up, evil demon,’’ Renjun said in the iciest tone you’ve ever heard from him. His body was stiff, tense; hands slightly shaking.

You pouted, squinting your eyes at him. '’Sheesh, I just wanted free legal counseling, is that a sin?’’ You joked, laughing again when they stayed silent, letting out a surprised yelp when someone grabbed your tied arms from behind and lifted you up, dragging you to the stake. You turned your head to see Mark and you grinned at him. ’’Oh, the pastor’s son! Wait, are we having a moment just us or something? How does this actually go? I wanna confess, Father, let me confess!’’ 

You felt this body tensing at your mockery tone while you tried to shake his hands off you, fighting against him. Chenle joined in and grabbed your hair in his fist, throwing your head back with painful force until his face met yours.

He slapped you with the same force as before, done with your little jokes. ‘’Who are you? Why’d you came to this town?’’ 

You whimpered from the pain and licked your dry and hurt lips, tasting the new blood decorating them. ‘’Sarah,’’ you explained with a sigh, ‘’me and my mom- we have a coven. I'm connected to her, she’s my guide. She started appearing in my dreams, showing me everything,’’ you growled now, all the teasing and laughter gone from you. Your body shuddered with pure, red rage that made your veins and heart burn with anger. ‘’How the town treat them, how they tortured and her sisters too, how they… they took everything from them until the were nothing.’’ 

You let out some honest tears, and you didn't knew if they were yours or hers. You closed your eyes for a moment, thinking about all the violent scenes you’ve seen from years and years in your dreams. How the coven was betrayed by her friends, blinded by envy and jealousy. How they spend nights fearing for what’s next to come, who will be taken for tests or just tortured in the name of God. The way they burned their house and stole their animals, how they sent the youngest to her death by throwing into the deep waters with her ankles tied with rocks and watched how she drowned- and the way the people breathed in relief, knowing the town was being cleaned and guided by the lovable founders.

They weren’t just girls. They were poor souls, of course, and the Reverend reminded the people that they have to have mercy in their heart while praying for them, because the girls were tainted and marked by the Devil’s touch.

The same girls that helped the town in the best way they could, providing the pregnant woman special medicine to help their discomfort and even taking their late mom's place and help deliver some healthy babies. The same girls who gave milk and butter to the ones who didn’t get a good harvest before winter. The same girls that after a long day of work played like kids in the forest together, picking up flowers and singing to the moon.

None of that mattered. Everybody turned their backs on them.

The women accused them of seducing their sons, dancing provocatively and naked in the woods, having many testimonies about it. Their friends envying the way the girls caught the attention with their beauty and the sound of their laugh, the way the Mayor will look at Sarah with so much yearning. The men resented Sarah and her sisters, the way the girls lived alone and unmarried, like they weren’t dignified enough to take their hand and bless the town with more members. Even more scandalous was the way they did men's work, like taking care of the farm by themselves. Why did the girls have more land than them? Why did the sisters ignore them and their advances?

And the Reverend… oh, how he loved it. The way they all listened to his sermons, how they believed his words, the direct voice of God coming off him. He was the salvation personificated, taking his precious town into the blessed gates of heaven. That power was so intoxicating. And when the accusations started coming in, he was just ecstatic. He was taking care of the town, he continued to remind himself with satisfaction even his thoughts were interrupted everytime the girls would scream nonstop at the torture room.

‘’They were evil beings, just like you,’’ Jeno said in a venomous way with his hands pressed tight in fists. ’’Playing games like you do, doing witchcraft and tarnishing the town with it. You’re worthless.’’

‘’They were not! The town- they betrayed them! Just because you don’t understand what they did doesn't mean they were evil!’’ You screamed, fighting again against Chenle and Mark with fierceness, not caring if you could get slapped or pushed again. ’’And all of you are just like them, the mighty Founders,’’ you spited, ‘’fuck you!’’

‘’Shup the up fuck,’’ Johnny growled, coming to you and slaping you with more strength you ever felt, making you whimper and sob, feeling your cheek burned. ‘’You tried to curse this town again, just like Sarah. You bright harm to us, remember?’’

‘’I just gave you guys the real evil witch the town wanted for so long and I had fun doing it. But the final will be different this time.’’ 

You saw red, feeling so angry and hysterical, you couldn’t believe that after all this time, after centuries… they were still here. The judge, the banker, the notary and the commissioner, the medic and the reverend- even the major… They were still here, in the form of Renjun, Donghyuck, Doyoung, Jeno, Johnny, Mark and Jaemin. Even the accusers, who looked just like Yuna and Jia.

But I’m here too, you thought, trying to comfort yourself.

"All of you are just like them," you said with venom, looking at each and every one of them, ‘’believing yourself to be better, thinking of taking a life as if it’s nothing. The witches did nothing wrong, why was it a crime to appreciate nature and its gifts? But the council didn't care, did they? They locked them up, tortured them, and then staged that... fake trial, when they already knew what they were going to do with them.’’

Chenle and Mark tied you to the stake by the wrists, so tight it cutted your blood circulation. You didn’t put up a fight, your head hung low, tired and nervous. All the Founders rounded the bonfire, the smell of gasoline filling your nose after Johnny wetted the big wooden sticks placed on top of another and straw too. Their hot torches didn't come down yet, since they were waiting for their leader's command, just like they always did. He was behind you, his presence making you sigh. That was it. That was the end.

‘’Some last words?’’ Jaemin asked next to your ear, soft lips tracing the side of your neck and his hands caressing your arms for what you think it’s a goodbye.

‘’I love you,’’ you felt his hand grabbing the restraints on your wrist and the cold edge of a razor against your skin there. You sensed the warmth of the fire from the torches coming close to you, ready to burn you the moment their leader said so. You turned your face to the side, wanting to see him as you whisper your words to him. ’’Jaemin, I love you.’’

‘’I love you too, my pretty witch,’’ he whispered, cutting the rope in a swift, quick move and taking a step back, freeing you. For a second nothing happened, not until your ropes touched the ground. 

He turned around just in time, his body collided hard against Chenle, who saw the whole thing and was rushing to the stake to stop it, with no success. With no words, Jaemin simply lifted his hand and in a fast and unexpected motion he cutted the Founder's throat, slicing it open with the razor.

Everything happend so fast at the same time.

Chenle started coughing and splashing blood everywhere as he fell to the ground, the majority of the red liquid landing in Jaemin while Yuna and Jia screamed their lungs out. Just like his friend, Jeno lunged for the leader’s body tackling him as Mark and Johnny were in shock and unmoving, Mark letting go of his torch on the ground to cover his mouth and screaming in pure horror. Renjun runned to his dying friend, trying to apply pressure to the wound, but it was impossible, the blood coming too fast outta the sliced throat. Donghyuck followed Renjun, throwing his torch without a thought as he rushed to help his friends, turning hysterical while watching Chenle drowning in his own blood and there was nothing they could do about it. Doyoung reached them too, pale as a dead body, gagging and dizzy with the scene in front of him, so much damn blood it was horrifying.

No one paid attention to you for a moment, or how you moved your fingers in the dirt, making symbols as you sing softly but hurrying, the familiar warmth of power coming to your body. Everyone was in their own world for a moment, Jaemin and Jeno fighting on the ground, the sound of their fists hitting the other being so brutally and loud, you were sure they were about to kill eachother soon. You curled your fingers into the ground and sang more fierceling, casting a powerful, dark spell until your eyes turned black. When Johnny realized what you were doing was too late, not able to take a few steps towards you when his body was suddenly freezing and his hand covered his aching throat in pain, gasping for air.

Everybody else followed, feeling their throats closing as if somebody was choking them with so much force, making their faces red and desperate right away. They tried to fight it but it was impossible, the invisible touch squeezing so hard until they started losing consciousness and noses bleeded, eyes coming out of their sockets, hands falling down just like their weakened bodies.

Your nose bleeded too from the power you’re using, body shaking but unable to stop, feeling deep inside you an intense satisfaction as you saw how the Founders were dying slowly, just like the seven sisters died so long ago; suffering. The muffled sounds of the Founders started to fade- even Chenle, who took his last breath. 

Your body laid on the ground after everything comes to an end, trying to breath and feeling so exhausted. The whole thing left you completely weak in a way you never felt before, but then again, you never used your magic to something like this before. You didn’t know if you were gonna be able to do a spell like that, so powerful and consuming, taking a lot of you but you did. You were powerful, yes, but this was a different type of magic that took almost too much energy. You could swear you felt them, your past coven members inside you and of course, Sarah. In the middle of feeling completely drained you also felt a peace that warmed your heart. You suspected it was her.

While you blinked hard trying not to go into unconsciousness, for a second you thought you saw the witches running through the trees of the dark forest with their hands intertwined, a distant chorus of laughter dying in the wind until the place was silent again. You didn’t bother to look around to see the bodies of the Founders and of your two friends, dead too.

You heard footsteps rapidly coming your way and the next thing you knew Jaemin was taking you in his arms, eyes darkening with worry and desperation, searching your face and body for injuries, afraid for the first time in the whole night.

‘’Fuck, baby,’’ he breathed, hugging you tightly against his body, shaking like a leaf just like you. ‘’You scared the shit outta me,’’ Jaemin closed his eyes and inhaled in your neck in a mad manner, a need to feel your perfume so consuming it made him whimper against your skin. ‘’I thought you were really hurt- fuck.’’

You smiled, feeling a little pain on your face from the blows you took before, now dried blood stains decorating your skin. You felt so out of it, your energy completely drained from your body, leaving you pale and weak. ‘’I’m okay, Nana,’’ you said, hardly leaning backwards so you could saw his face, ‘’I’m just- I feel so tired.’’

Jaemin hissed seeing the blood in you, some parts of your pretty face already darkening in red and blue, no doubt there will be ugly bruises tomorrow. His face wasn’t that different from yours, even worse. Jeno beated the fuck out him. His brow had a cut and his bloody lips too, an eye and cheekbone painfully swelling.

‘’Shit,’’ he started, his voice full of disgust and disappointment, guilt rushing to his heart and destroying it seeing you hurt. ‘’Baby, I’m so sorry. I take it too far?’’ He questioned, frowning and doubting himself. ‘’I’m okay,’’ you repeated, kissing him gently on the lips. Your boyfriend kissed you in the same way, raising his hands to your face and holding it so softly and carefully- it melted your heart. You tasted some blood too, noticing the splatter of it in Jaemin’s face and clothes when you separated a little bit, your movements slowed as you felt totally drained. ‘’You did so well, Nana. It had to look real, remember?’’

Jaemin kissed you again with a sigh, his thumb caressing your cheek like it was the most delicate thing in the world. He studied you intensely, a faint smirk in his mouth. ‘’You looked so fucking hot back there,’’ he murmured with a full evil smile, eyes starting to sparkly naughtily.

‘’Oh my God, Jaemin! Please shut up,’’ you laughed incredibly scandalized at his words, a little bit ironic knowing what you just did, killing in revenge a bunch of people. You shaked your head, blushing a little. ''You're insane.''

‘’What?’’ He laughed, that pretty smile full of millions of white perfect teeth showing. ‘’I can’t adore my pretty witch?’’ He calmed a little, still smiling but now more like the lover you know. ‘’I'm sorry for pushing you early-’’

‘’Nana, it had to be done, we plan it to be as real as possible. They couldn't suspect you,’’ you repeated one again, smiling to calm him down. You knew how hard it must have been for him, being unwilling to your plan from the beginning because he didn’t wanted to hurt you in any way, let alone watch others do that to you. 

‘’I know baby, but still,’’ he sighed, still sensing a little bit of distress, trying not to think about the whole night and the blows you took. It hurt him watching you suffer, even if he knew it had to happen that way. ‘’I can’t ever see you hurt again like that, you understand?’’

‘’Okay,’’ you promised easily because it was true, wanting nothing more than a peaceful life with Jaemin. This time you kissed him, and you shivered with cold and excitement. 

You were walking down the road with Jaemin, glued to his side, still feeling weak and exhausted, wishing for two or three days to spend only sleeping. You felt like passing out at any moment, but you refused to let Jaemin carry you home, who has already done so much for you tonight, besides taking a bad beating.

Jaemin lets you, staring at you and knowing damn well that you would end up in his arms in no time when you faint, you seemed so sick and pale, like a ghost. Luckily it wasn't anyone around, either sleeping or partying, as the night isn't over yet; but you and Jaemin wouldn't stand up suspiciously anyway, your bloodied and beaten figures looking like a fucked up zombie couple costumes or something.

''Thank you,'' you said out of the blue, looking at your boyfriend, ''for everything, tonight. I meant it, Jaemin.''

Jaemin stopped and so did you, unable to help the smile on your face as he kissed you tenderly, taking special care with your wounded lips. You felt his arms around you and pulled you closer to his body, you melted into his chest with a deep sigh. You snuggled against him, enjoying feeling so safe and loved in his embrace. His hands grabbed you carefully, stroking your hips and your back, palms extended so he could touch you completely.

‘'There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you, baby,'' he said against your ear, beaming at you as he nuzzled your bruised cheek adoringly with his. '’I knew it from the first time I saw you at school, my little witch. The girl of my dreams, literally.”

You can’t help but laugh, feeling a little embarrassed thinking about the young you, still baby face and everything, pretty different from how you looked now. Jaemin told you once that he dreamed about you for years, seeing you between the rising flames of Sarah’s burning and calling for him. 

‘’I will never forget that day,’’ Jaemin muttered. ‘’It felt like my heart recognised yours, angel. You were finally with me after so much time, it felt so right.’’

You felt your eyes well up with hot, thick, love-filled tears that threatened to escape and Jaemin wiped them away with his thumb when they did, smiling down at you. “I would do anything for you too, Nana. I just love you so much,” you whispered to his lips, “so damn much.’’

''I love you, my pretty witch,'' Jaemin said as he gave you a small kiss, a sealed promise. ''This time I will never let you go.’’ 

[piratefishmama]

Stevie Harrington who always had a weird little crush on the town freak but was too much of a chicken shit to really do anything about it.

Like she'd heard the stories from Cass an Nicole, what he was like, how he treated them (wonderfully apparently), they giggled and bragged and maybe for a brief half an hour of gossiping with the girls she'd entertained the idea of maybe going and seeking him out herself... but then Carol had rolled her eyes, called them both gross, called Eddie trailer trash and then Tommy had told them point blank that they should probably go get tested.

Stevie put her little crush into a box and just kind of. Hid it there for fear of judgement, for fear of exclusion, expulsion from her friend group for daring to want someone who didn't fit their 'image'.

It wasnt like Eddie ever really made any attempt to talk to her anyway, looked at her occasionally, they traded glances across the hall, which he'd quickly break and hide behind his hair (cute), she lent him her pencil once and never got it back. Saw it on occasion, resting on his ear, pointing out from within his mass of unruly curls.

Cute.

But then they graduate, Eddie taking a little longer to do it but he does it, to the mass cheering hysteria of his chaotic group of nerdy gremlins, given his 'only Munson to Graduate' status, the chaos was a given really.

And then he's gone. Got out of Hawkins as fast as his legs could carry him leaving his incredibly proud uncle behind to cheer him on from a distance.

An it should have been easy really, to move on from her little crush, the one she'd hid in a box for safe keeping, it should have been easy to find someone else, she was never unnattractive, in fact she was probably one of the most sought after women in Hawkins, but... she just doesnt.

She has flings here and there, meaningless one night stands, dates that dont really do it for her. Laments to her new best friend and sister she never knew she needed, Robin, about how she'd let popularity screw her out of what could probably have been something really good. She'd let fear of exclusion stop her from going for what she wanted.

Robin had scoffed, called Eddie three wet opossum in a trench coat, but it'd never been with quite as much judgement or disgust as her old friends had talked about him, so it was safe for her to talk.

But Robin also knew Ronnie from band, and Ronnie, had Eddie's current phone number. And so Robin, now had two VIP tickets to the brand new location on Corroded Coffin's most recent tour that they've only just very spontaneously added to the list because Eddie is, and always has been, a fucking simp.

So, y'know. Maybe harbouring that crush for as long as she had, wasnt the worst idea in the world.

Eddie still hides behind his hair. It's still very cute.

[byjove]

I think a lot of people don’t know or understand that the Salem Witch Trials weren’t the only mass hysteria witch event and similar ‘trials’ occurred all over (Western?) Europe throughout the Middle Ages and into the 18th century. Like, that wasn’t just a “Wow, those crazy Puritans!” moment, it was a large cultural phenomenon, there witch-hunters all over England and Spain. Plays and pamphlets about it and everything. It was a tool of oppression and, from first hand accounts I’ve read, a type of sick entertainment.

[wifetomegatron]

thinking about how dratchet would be the best girl dads (fluff)

just imagine a first contact au where cybertron's beyond repair, and so whoever's left after the war has to migrate & reintegrate into earth society ( including the lost light crew ). And of course, the first thing drift does is adopt a human daughter.

ratchet was initially against it and didn't even want to entertain the idea. and yet, drift had signed himself up for a foster program (specifically catered to cybertronian conjuxes as part of an assimilation project.) he tells ratchet it's only temporary: a couple of months until she finds a forever home with someone else.

'they're not pets.' 'i know they're not.'

ratchet continues to firmly disagree. until he realizes he had no say in the matter, returning home one day to find her on drift's lap: ridiculously small in his arms even with the mass displacement. around drift were pamphlets, magazines, and datapads scattered open, detailing a step-by-step guide for 'first-time fathers'. the boxes of human groceries and soft, padded furniture scattered around the shared space showed ratchet that primus—drift was serious. and so the medic only sighed and joined cross-pedes on the floor, the corner of his mouth quirking up against his will when she squealed in delight. 

'i don't want to hurt her.' 'you won't. we won't.'

she's four and a half, wide-eyed and curious, just learning to speak her language. drift finds himself occupied: spending the mornings dropping her off and picking her up at daycare, while ratchet goes back and forth between overseeing relations in the local autobot facility and teaching at the local all-women's university — cybertronian medicine, to his surprise, was a popular choice of study. she makes a mess on the dinner table and refuses to eat her vegetables, arms crossed and pouting as she turns sharply away from her fathers. the once reluctant medic had to intervene, cleverly tricking the girl into a bargain: an extra hour of television time in exchange for three spoons. ratchet has to tell drift to stop smiling at him the entire night.

all of a sudden, she's ten and sitting on uncle rodimus's shoulders, smearing cupcake icing on the side of his cheek as he misspells her name with the frosting. the promise of 'a couple of months' was swept under the rug as ratchet hung a string of decorations, eavesdropping on the conversation drift was having with the mothers of the soon-to-arrive guests on the phone. the autobot facility wasn't the most ideal place to have a princess-themed birthday party, but the girls had a fun time decorating first aid and velocity with stickers — they were also fawning at fortress maximus's guns for legs, not that their mothers needed to know — and by the late afternoon, their daughter was already asleep against ratchet's shoulders. arms looped around his neck as she mumbled a chorus of sleepy thank yous. ( in that moment, whirl decided to topple glitter all over the table. and ratchet had to scrub for days to get every, single, glimmer out of his systems.)

then she's twelve, and that's when the chaos begins. the mood swings, the crying, the attitude — ratchet hated catching himself playing 'bad cop' while drift gets to be 'good cop': always the one putting his foot down while she runs to her other dad complaining. and suddenly, it all made sense when she and drift called him in the middle of his lecture, screaming over the phone about how she was bleeding. and her stomach hurts. and it's everywhere. his students stifled a laugh, smiling sweetly at the exchange. ratchet thanks years of experience with humans for teaching him to keep his composure. i'll stop by on my lunch break with pads. ratchet wasn't surprised to find that drift was the one in near hysteria, while she only seemed mildly disturbed — if not embarrassed. 

puberty is a monster, all teeth and fangs, stubborn and terrifying, unlike anything he has ever seen — that was saying something considering that he knows megatron — housing itself in the body of his fourteen-year-old. he feels at a loss, and every time he's in a room with her, they will always find a way to dissolve into an argument. drift is sulking at how she never wants to be hugged any more. and how she always tells him to pick her up a few blocks away and never by the school entrance. he's worried. they both were. humans are relatively different than cybertronians. human children, even more so. in a society where they spent millions of years without sparklings, without children — there was a chasm spanning between two battle-worn mechs and her, and it was hard to get anything across when the words seemed to dissolve midway. lost in translation, swallowed by the echo. it seems like the more he pushes, the more she pushes back. 

so when she had her bedroom door ajar, which was unusual considering she would always have it shut or locked, ratchet tentatively peeks in — nearly withering at the sight of her lying on the bedroom floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. the vinyl player he had bought her for her eleventh birthday, slowly spins a familiar tune. he joins her the way he did when drift first brought her home, sprawled across the floor, hands and servos nearly touching. it's almost funny how simple the answer was: pull not push. drift was the one who found them embracing, quiet with only the music humming in the background. it took ratchet sixteen years to really understand her.

then there's the whiplash of teaching her algebra by the kitchen table, to attending her university graduation — bouquets from nearly everyone: swerve & velocity, cyclonus & tailgate, chromedome & rewind, rodimus, minimus & megatron, another one from 'favorite uncle rodimus' cradled between her arms. the photographer had to jog backward and up a few flights of stairs to fully capture the moment and fit both dads in the frame. then it became a mantlepiece by the fireplace. coincidentally, the night after was her twentieth birthday. university finished. at such a young age — it helps when she's got geniuses for fathers and uncles. in the morning, ratchet listens to her talk with her mouth full: leftover birthday cake atop the table as she laughs with drift at the memory of swerve pouring her first drink, only to debunk that this was, in fact, not her first shot.

( may write a part 2 !)

[bananaofswifts]

01 - Taylor Swift

No one in the music industry wielded more power over the past year than Taylor Swift, who made history at stadiums, movie theaters and on the Billboard charts, leaving even the most seasoned executives speechless. While they’d long celebrated her staggering popularity as a singer, songwriter and performer, her force as a strategic business leader suddenly came into sharper focus — and industry veterans took notes as they watched some of her bravest and most innovative business risks reap remarkable rewards.

At 34, she is one of the music industry’s most charismatic and influential leaders — and she rewrites the rules.

“The piece of advice I would give to the other executives on this list is that the best ideas are usually ones without industry precedent,” Swift tells Billboard. “The biggest crossroads moments of my career came down to sticking to my instincts when my ideas were looked at with skepticism. When someone says to me, ‘But that has never been done successfully before,’ it fires me up. We have to take strategic risks every day in this industry, but every once in a while, you have to really trust your gut and take a flying leap. My rerecordings are my favorite example of this, and I’m extremely grateful to my team and fans for taking that leap with me because it absolutely changed my life.”

Sage advice for an industry in which instinct has largely been supplanted by metrics and data analysis.

In December, Time named Swift its 2023 Person of the Year. In September, after encouraging her 279 million Instagram followers to vote and linking to vote.org, the nonpartisan nonprofit said it received over 35,000 registrations. She appears on the cover of this issue of Billboard and in the No. 1 spot of our annual Power 100 issue because her force across the business of music is now unparalleled — and because she models commitment to innovation that the rest of the business will need in order to tackle the big challenges ahead.

Swift’s gambles have paid off handsomely over the past year.

Her massive The Eras stadium tour, which began in March after she controversially put all the tickets on sale at once, crashing Ticketmaster and sparking mass hysteria, grossed an estimated $906.1 million in 2023 and is poised to become the highest-grossing global tour of all time before it wraps in December, according to Billboard.

The Golden Globe-nominated Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour film, taped during her six-show run at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., in August, has grossed over $261.6 million worldwide since its October opening, according to AMC Theatres Entertainment. In January, the publicly traded movie-house chain announced that the film’s box-office take made it the highest-grossing concert/documentary picture ever released, surpassing Michael Jackson’s 2009 This Is It. Once again blazing a new path, Swift made a groundbreaking distribution deal directly with AMC Theaters instead of linking with a film studio.

Swift has shaken up the catalog market, too. When Scooter Braun infuriated her by acquiring the master recordings of her first six albums through his Ithaca Holdings and then sold them to investment firm Shamrock Capital at a profit, Swift rerecorded the albums with loving precision and added bonus tracks to the new releases. They performed phenomenally well, as she deftly used her tour to promote them. When her latest rerecording (and 14th studio album overall), 1989 (Taylor’s Version), spent its fifth week at atop the Billboard 200 at the end of 2023, Swift beat Elvis Presley’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 by a solo artist. Her industry market share last year was 1.72%. If she were her own genre, she’d rank ninth for 2023 — bigger than jazz.

“She’s the smartest artist I’ve ever worked with,” says Messina Touring Group’s Louis Messina, who promotes Swift’s tours and has worked with her since 2005. “She outworks everybody and she has always had this vision. If you’re around her, you can’t help but believe in her.” —Melinda Newman

[shiralol101hehe]

Beatles Monthly — 6/01/64

TRANSCRIPT OF:

I VISITED THE BEATLES ON THE SET - Elizabeth SACKS

“I was lucky enough to be invited by Mr. Shenson, the film producer, to come and watch some scenes for the Beatlefilm being completed in a London theatre. Of course I was thrilled and excited beyond all comprehension. The interior of the theatre had been changed slightly, to give it the appearance of a television studio. On both sides of the stage, large glass booths had been erected, there were several monitor sets at the front of the stage, and the floor was a mass of tangled wires from the cameras, guitars and other electrical equipment. The only people that were on the stage were connected with the film, but, even even so it appeared to be crowded with technicians, electricians, continuity girls, clapper boys, make-up men, stand-ins, hairdressers and the like, not to mention the producer and director! One would never have guessed that the Beatles were in the building from the air of relaxation and friendliness which pervaded the theatre. I, however, felt at a point of near-hysteria, and I struggled to control my nerves with a very "put-on" smile!

"All of suddy", I noticed Paul, standing in the aisle, giggling quietly to him-self. I hastily put my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream and I fairly goggled at the sight of darling PAUL! so near that I could have reached out and touched him. He saw me, suddenly and waved cheerily, calling out "H'lo, Juv!". As I started to sink through the ground, birs. Shenson called him over to meet me. Well, what can I say? Just that he is about twice as goodlooking as the photos make out, and extremely easy to get on with. To my surprise, I found my nerves starting to calm down in his company and I was soon perfectly relaxed. I was able to talk to Paul for several minutes, and then I went along to the canteen to meet George and have a cup of tea.

George was in the thick of an interview with a reporter from a musical paper, and I could not interrupt it, but when it was over I was introduced to him. Mrs. Shenson told him that he is my fave Beatle, and he pretended to go all shy, and hid his face in his jacket! George is a lot quieter than Paul, and he also looks better "in the flesh" than on paper. He is, in addition, fab, gear, great, and...oooooooooooooooooo!!! (CENSORED)!

After tea with George, I went back to the stalls to watch a scene being shot.John had to lie still on the ground at the side of the stage while Lionel Blair and his dancers went through a short routine. This took, in fact, HALF AN HOUR to film, during which time John did not BUDGE! He lay as if in a coma on the stage. After this, he got up, pensively rubbed his head, walked across the stage, and casually began combing his hair, apparently none the worse for his long "kip"! As John walked up the aisle (l) to the canteen, Mrs. Shenson stopped him to show him that he had been quoted in yet another American magazine, which he read with some interest. Then he was introduced to me, and he said that he liked me for reading his book, which he autographed with a funny little cartoon: a head on two legs to be exact (any suggestions!).

John is a very entertaining person, and a completely lovable character. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet Ringo, for he was playing cards with some engineers in the canteen. I think he must have been losing, as Mr. Shenson walked up to him and said; "Snap, Ringo!", to which he replied: "You must be joking".

The Beatles then prepared to shoot a number for the film. Stand-ins were used before the Beatles were called, to make sure that lighting, focus, "and that were just so. Then a man walked up and down, calling "Ringo. Ringo please", through a megaphone, but how was he to know that Ringo was still playing cards! The true wit and idiocy of the Beatles was well portrayed in their goonery on stage between takes. For instance, John would bawl: “HeeeeellIlIppppp!!!" to the accompaniment of Mr. Starr on drums while George quietly strummed a Spanish-type guitar solo to himself and Paul fiddled with a camera. No-one, however, paid much attention to the Beatles fooling around (I expect they're all used to it) but I watched the Beatles like a hawk!

When, at last the Beatles decided to get down to shooting the number, I was more than ready to hear it. I heard it about five times I) and though I am not allowed to give any details like its title or anything, I can tell you that it's really great, and, if it's anything to go by, the film will be a SMASH!!! My day at "Beatlestudio" was a day that I shall remember forever, due to the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Shenson, who are really kind, helpful people, and also to the surprising sweetness and patience with which I was treated by the Beatles. This I particularly appreciate, because they are always very pushed for time, and it was really fab of them to make time like that to talk to me.

Bless you, Beatles. You're the gear.”

[grungekitty-77]

Speaking of "twilight phases" my mom reminded me of a story.

I was PEAK target audience for the movie when it came out. I had just begun middle school and everyone was raving about the book.

I was a little biblio-phobic at the time due to a bad teacher handling my neurodivergence in the worst way possible (Something a very good high school teacher fixed later on DW)

Point being: I didn't read the book. I didn't want to read the book. I didn't care about the book.

I had a friend obsessed with this book. When the movie came out, things shook out where my mom and grandmother were chaperoning her and me to see the midnight release.

I did not know anything about this movie. I was going in blind.

That said, I was free from the internalized misogyny branded hate. I literally did not know what the fuck this was. I just wanted to hang out with my friend that had been distancing herself away from me. (The reasons why may become glaringly apparent to everyone with the gift of hindsight once this story ends, but understand I was in the dark at the time.)

I was watching this movie. Following the plot. Thinking "This is ok. Nothing to write home about, but it's entertaining enough I guess."

Meanwhile, Mom and my grandmother have looked around and noticed the audience. They, in all their adult wisdom, had figured out what this was. They keep glancing at me and wondering if I knew what this was, because there was no tactful way to ask me if I did.

Then Robert Patterson took his shirt off and they got their answer.

The entire theater screamed in delight and excitement. As you would expect.

They look over to me.

The word that popped into their heads to describe my face in that moment was: "help."

I thought something had happened! I was looking to mom and silently asking if we needed to evacuate the theater? Why did everyone scream!? That wasn't a scary scene!! He just took his shirt off! Why is my friend drooling? Somebody please tell me what's going on!!?!!??!?

I did not in fact know what this was.

When we left the theater, I still didn't get it. My friend was asking me what I thought and gushing, but I was just "meh" about the whole thing. I continued to be perplexed as to why everyone was so obsessed with this movie! I eventually got told the actors were hot, but I just didn't see it. I didn't understand anything about this entire craze and figured it was just mass hysteria or something.

Anyway looking back the whole asexuality thing was actually obvious.

[bluwavez]

˗ ˋ 🌊 HOT NEWS ! ﹕ DEEPDIVE OFFICIALLY LEAVES FLOWERBANK!

By THEENEWWAVE | MARCH 3, 2024

"We're out of there," Finn Lee says in a selfie with Kiwoo outside of the Flowerbank Entertainment building. After months of a silent legal battle that erupted with the postponement of Noah Son's highly anticipated solo debut "GUILTY" also known as Flowerbank's Biggest Fumble that resulted in the idol exposing Flowerbank for improperly managing the once chart-dominating boy group.

Since DeepDive was acquired by Flowerbank in 2023, the group has had a singular comeback, which was later revealed to have been funded by the members themselves. The album "The Lagoon" would become the highest-selling boy group album under Flowerbank by selling an astounding 2,740,000 copies within the first day but that apparently didn't matter to the professional bag fumblers, Carmen and Iseul.

After the postponement of Guilty, Noah would file a lawsuit to terminate his contract with Flowerbank, backed by Son Jinhwa, the CEO of Mydol Entertainment, and his father. A day after Noah filed for contract termination, Finn Lee and Bae Kiwoo filed their notions for contract termination. Four days later, the rest of DeepDive Hwang Jisung, Jacob Lee, Kang Woobin, and Park Woojin would file to terminate their contracts, all being represented by Mydol-funded lawyers.

Just a few short weeks later, Flowerbank would relinquish all rights to DeepDive and release all seven members from their contracts. Within the same week, Sirens would be invited to attend DeepDive's Mydol contract signing, following the newly founded tradition of public contract signings

All seven members of DeepDive would debut new hairstyles at their contract signings. Finn's new long blond look would cause mass hysteria on Twitter.

"It's an honor to have DeepDive back. We're already discussing their comeback and the release of Noah's solo mini album. Please, stay tuned and give them lots of love and support," Son Jinhwa would announce at the contract signing to the excitement of Sirens in the crowd.

A majority of the DeepDive members seemed pleased with the fourth company transfer of their long winded career. Kiwoo, Woojin, and Jacob remained silent on social media while the other four members would celebrate through Instagram posts.

  [ +1029, -384 ] this group has been through seven wars, 24 different members, flopism, musical terrorism, and so much more

      [ +863, -271 ] flowerbank will burn for separating venus and deepdive...sick bitches

      [ +726, -485 ] mydol is going to try to buy venus next at this point lol

      [ +620, -139 ] jinhwa is such a good dad!! weird guy and a shotty business man but he loves his kids so much

      [ +578, -387 ] flowerbank is soooooo stupid for fumbling these guys. their one album under them literally outsold haute pink's entire career 💀

      [ +502, -208 ] FINN LOOKS SO GOOOOD!!

      [ +458, -139 ] why are we acting like jinhwa didn't verbally abuse these boys for years 😭 this is not a good thing and he should be in PRISON...

      [ +453, -87 ] do you realize how overworked they're going to be again? sirens hate these boys so much. why are they celebrating this??

      [ +324, -108 ] i cant believe the last venus and deepdive interaction we got was a stupid ass klara and jacob vlog...

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Matt Gertz at MMFA:

Fox News host Sean Hannity praised President Donald Trump on Monday for overseeing a mass purge of FBI agents. Hannity had previously stated — on dozens of occasions over years of monologues — that the overwhelming majority of FBI personnel are heroes who “keep us safe” and that only the “upper echelon” should be punished for their purported antagonism towards Trump. The Trump administration has “ordered the firing of at least eight senior FBI executives and a sweeping examination of the work of thousands of other bureau employees” that could include “potentially hundreds of FBI agents for possible termination,” The Washington Post reported Friday. Officials are seeking to identify agents who worked on special counsel Jack Smith’s Trump cases, as well as those assigned to investigate January 6 rioters for potential firing.

“A mass exodus is in the works inside the halls of the DOJ and FBI,” Fox correspondent David Spunt reported Monday. He quoted a current FBI agent saying of the prospective purge, “We took an oath to protect the American people and the Constitution and now we are being targeted for it.” But Hannity touted the administration’s actions during a monologue later that night.  “While President Trump is reasserting America's dominance on the world stage, he is harnessing DOGE right here at home, to drain the swamp, firing politicized bureaucrats, at both the DOJ, the FBI, those that weaponized and politicized their institutions is simply being escorted out of the building, as they should be,” he said. Hannity then mocked how “the state-run legacy media mob of the Democrats erupt into a predictable and entertaining fit of hysteria” before airing a clip of MSNBC host Joe Scarborough saying that the result of Trump “gutting the FBI” is a win for “our enemies, those people who seek to do harm to America and to kill American citizens.” The apparent glee of Fox’s resident Trump political operative at the potential dismantling of the FBI comes in stark contrast to how Hannity previously described his yearslong campaign targeting the bureau’s investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign and other probes related to Trump. Over and over again, Hannity stressed to his viewers that his criticism was limited to a handful of decision-makers at the very top of the bureau. He frequently touted his respect for the FBI rank and file and called attention to the FBI pin he said he wore in solidarity with its agents. 

[...] This isn’t the first time Hannity has abandoned his defense of law enforcement in favor of his status as a Trump lickspittle. Hannity repeatedly told his viewers that Trump’s long-stated promise to pardon what he termed the “J6 hostages” would be limited only to nonviolent offenders who participated in storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. But after Trump pardoned or commuted to time served every person convicted in connection to their actions that day — including those who violently assaulted law enforcement and participated in seditious conspiracies — Hannity gave Trump a friendly platform to downplay the attacks.

Sean Hannity, who has repeatedly praised the “rank and file” of the FBI, celebrates Trump’s wholesale authoritarian purge of the agency.

[numbwhileintertwined]

(ongoing) Youtube videos to watch (uncategorized)

(note: most things here have links attached, but the ones that failed will have the channel name)

Overconsumption is keeping you POOR

Let’s talk ‘Tiktok made me buy it’ culture.

Code Orange Hysteria: Is Halloween Consumerism Out of Control?

The Terrifying World of Temu

How Dropshipping Ruined Online Shopping

TikTok Shop is a Nightmare

fast fashion has ruined media consumption

tiktok's obsession with the it girl aesthetic & consuming in the...

designer brands are for broke girls

How Consumerism Ruins Our Planet and Finances

Your Perfume Obsession is Keeping You BROKE!

Shawna Ripari

TikTok’s Rage Bait Problem..

Gen Alpha is Absolutely COOKED

Millennial Parenting Videos Keep Getting Crazier...

performative cleanliness & the hygiene olympics

Gen Z Has a HUGE Problem With Commitment..

kids ACT like adults because they want to be TREATED like adults

Why Do We Hate Women After They've Cut Their Hair Off?

poor spoiled rich kids on tiktok

the scammers of manifestation tiktok

you’re 12, not 21

Let's talk social media's 'aesthetic' obsession.

Gen Z's Aesthetic Obsession & Search for an Identity is Tiring...

the cult of unschooling

How World War 2 Began

Exploring The Old Internet

How to Perform an Exorcism

why Brandy Melville can't be cancelled

The Conspiracy Theory Iceberg

CC Suarez

Disturbing Internet Anomalies

Is CRAB the final form?

Advice for time traveling to medieval Europe

The Weirdest and Most Obscure Side of the Internet

Government Cheese Tunnels & The "Got Milk?" Conspiracy

How to Eat a Human Being

Something Strange Happens When You Follow Einstein's Math- Veritasium

The Beautiful Horror of Deep Space- Curious Archive

The Complete Extraterrestrial Encounters Iceberg Explained-Zoanfly

Math's Fundamental Flaw- Veritasium

Midsommar - The Complete Guide (Everything Explained)

Entertainment Made By North Korea

BobbyBroccoli

Plagiarism and You(Tube)- hbomberguy

Disney's FastPass: A Complicated History- defunctland

Evermore: The Theme Park That Wasn't- jenny nicholson

The Amberlynn Reid Show! 8 HOURS STRAIGHT DELUSION!- lil cringe

ImAllexx's History of Controversy & The Current Allegations- Mike's Rhetoric

Reviewbrah: Food for Thought - Documentary- Mr. Snowflake

Anna Stubblefield & The Pygmalion Delusion- Andrew van der Vaart, MD, PhD

The Internet's Most Notorious Scammers- TheGamerFromMars

Who's Lila? - Story Explained- Flawed Peacock

The Religion & Cult Iceberg Explained- Wendigoon

The Mass Hysteria Iceberg Explained- Wendigoon

The Cult of Scientology- Philion

Sinking in Scandal: A Canadian Tragedy- BobbyBroccoli

The Monsters Beneath Us: The Monument Mythos- Wendigoon

The Entire History of Video Games

The Biggest Ideas in Philosophy

Life's Biggest Paradoxes

The 8 Greatest Philosophical Theories You Need to Know- Aperture

Here is Everything We Don't Know (Extended)- Arperture

The Lost Books of the Bible- Wendigoon

100 Strange Cases of Lost Media- ShaiiValley

Your Entire Human Existence from Birth to Death- Arperture

The Bizarre World of Fake Video Games- Super Eyepatch Wolf

10+ Hours of Backrooms Level Explanations... (400+ levels)

536 AD: The Year That The Sun Disappeared | Catastrophe | Real History

The Siege of Ruby Ridge - An American Standoff, Story, & Controversy

The Complete History of Rome, Summarized- Overly Sarcastic Productions

The Mass Extinction Debates: A Science Communication Odyssey- Oliver Lugg

These Paradoxes Keep Scientists Awake At Night!- Destiny

Foundation: Are We Predictable?

The Paleozoic Era (That We Know Of) Compilation | Lindsay

How capitalism destroyed community for profit || Motherhood In Progress

Let's talk Water Bottle Culture.

Money: Humanity's Biggest Illusion

End of the Road: How Money Became Worthless

why is everything so bland now?

Thrift Store Prices ARE RUINING Thrifting..

How Dollar Stores Quietly Consumed America

How Central Banks have Seized Power over our Societies

The Return of ElsaGate | It’s Worse Than I Thought

The MOST ADDICTIVE Snack: Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Toxic, Tasty, and Targeting You: Dark History of Fast Food

The Horrible Aftermath of the SHEIN-pocalypse

1984 Tried To Warn You- Moon

Disney World is a Dystopian Nightmare

Let's Talk About The Horrible State of The Internet- Tsunul

Inside China‘s T*rture Camps for Teens- fern (the title isn't censored)

Fear of Forgetting

Why Quantum Computers Will Break Reality

What Is The Biggest Thing In The Universe?- History of the Universe

The Star That Can't Exist

What Is Beyond The Edge?- History of the Universe

Beyond the Observable Universe [4K]

The Mystery of Spinors

Two robots debate the future of humanity

[iwanthermidnightz]

1) Taylor Swift

No one in the music industry wielded more power over the past year than Taylor Swift, who made history at stadiums, movie theaters and on the Billboard charts, leaving even the most seasoned executives speechless. While they’d long celebrated her staggering popularity as a singer, songwriter and performer, her force as a strategic business leader suddenly came into sharper focus — and industry veterans took notes as they watched some of her bravest and most innovative business risks reap remarkable rewards.

At 34, she is one of the music industry’s most charismatic and influential leaders — and she rewrites the rules.

“The piece of advice I would give to the other executives on this list is that the best ideas are usually ones without industry precedent,” Swift tells Billboard. “The biggest crossroads moments of my career came down to sticking to my instincts when my ideas were looked at with skepticism. When someone says to me, ‘But that has never been done successfully before,’ it fires me up. We have to take strategic risks every day in this industry, but every once in a while, you have to really trust your gut and take a flying leap. My rerecordings are my favorite example of this, and I’m extremely grateful to my team and fans for taking that leap with me because it absolutely changed my life.”

Sage advice for an industry in which instinct has largely been supplanted by metrics and data analysis.

In December, Time named Swift its 2023 Person of the Year. In September, after encouraging her 279 million Instagram followers to vote and linking to vote.org, the nonpartisan nonprofit said it received over 35,000 registrations. She appears on the cover of this issue of Billboard and in the No. 1 spot of our annual Power 100 issue because her force across the business of music is now unparalleled — and because she models commitment to innovation that the rest of the business will need in order to tackle the big challenges ahead.

Swift’s gambles have paid off handsomely over the past year.

Her massive The Eras stadium tour, which began in March after she controversially put all the tickets on sale at once, crashing Ticketmaster and sparking mass hysteria, grossed an estimated $906.1 million in 2023 and is poised to become the highest-grossing global tour of all time before it wraps in December, according to Billboard.

The Golden Globe-nominated Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour film, taped during her six-show run at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., in August, has grossed over $261.6 million worldwide since its October opening, according to AMC Theatres Entertainment. In January, the publicly traded movie-house chain announced that the film’s box-office take made it the highest-grossing concert/documentary picture ever released, surpassing Michael Jackson’s 2009 This Is It. Once again blazing a new path, Swift made a groundbreaking distribution deal directly with AMC Theaters instead of linking with a film studio.

Swift has shaken up the catalog market, too. When Scooter Braun infuriated her by acquiring the master recordings of her first six albums through his Ithaca Holdings and then sold them to investment firm Shamrock Capital at a profit, Swift rerecorded the albums with loving precision and added bonus tracks to the new releases. They performed phenomenally well, as she deftly used her tour to promote them. When her latest rerecording (and 14th studio album overall), 1989 (Taylor’s Version), spent its fifth week at atop the Billboard 200 at the end of 2023, Swift beat Elvis Presley’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 by a solo artist. Her industry market share last year was 1.72%. If she were her own genre, she’d rank ninth for 2023 — bigger than jazz.

“She’s the smartest artist I’ve ever worked with,” says Messina Touring Group’s Louis Messina, who promotes Swift’s tours and has worked with her since 2005. “She outworks everybody and she has always had this vision. If you’re around her, you can’t help but believe in her.” —Melinda Newman

[asknarashikari]

One thing that's always bothered me about episode 46 is that...yeah, I know Sara getting brought back is supposed to be the most impactful for the characters (Keiwa anyways) but... what about the OTHER victims stuck on that tree? Did the other riders just go "Oh yeah, these unfortunate victims don't deserve to be saved and can rot in hell for all we care" or something?! Were THEY were saved at all?

Speaking of which, I'm also not really a fan of how in Kamen Rider Geats, no one could really give a shit about bringing back the victims that lost their lives in the DGP. (It's not like these people died in some random accident or a serial murder...no, these were people that forcibly lost their lives in some fucked up competition started for entertainment by some outside source) Were they REALLY beyond saving even WITHOUT the wish granting at the cost of other's happening? Did no one really bother try to find a way to make it happen? It didn't that early in the show, it set expectations with Keiwa making that goal to bring back lives lost in the DGP only to stop caring about doing that...besides, I don't think that WASN'T even Keiwa's fault that deceased horrible riders were brought back WITH ACTUAL DRIVERS AND DGP MEMORIES they shouldn't have access to. (Sara didn't get the same treatment and Toru never returned oddly enough, like wtf?)

Long rant ahead. Not for the Geats fans lol

Well, in a show that literally just shrugged off one of the main characters being complicit in the murder of hundreds (including the main & secondary riders) in a sadistic game, what else would you expect? Of course the NPCs are barely spared a second thought by anyone, not even the writer it seems.

We're even shown Keiwa being reported missing by Sara, which should imply that everyone else who was also killed in the Heaven and Hell round were also MIA (read: dead), and yet we don't even see similar reports for other people. Hundreds of people don't just go missing without mass hysteria and people demanding answers from the police and government, even with a fucking conspiracy to cover it all up involved. But nope, nothing for the plebians 🤷‍♀️

For your second question... I'm sure they can BS some reason for why they can't revive all the victims. Heck, even Riders get shafted. All the other Riders who were killed onscreen (Taira/Ginpen, Tooru/Togetchi, Yukie/Letter and Takeshi/Shirowe) stayed dead, along with countless others who died offscreen. Fuck them all and anyone who would be looking for them, I guess?

Tsumuri revived Ace just by wishing and subconsciously using her goddess powers, Keiwa was revived by Kekera using Mitsume's power probably, and Sara was revived through wish shenanigans and/or Daichi's Jyamato Potion... But they're the exceptions to the rule somehow. What made them the exception? Plot armor, is that all?

I'm unconvinced that the Riders who caused chaos in the wake of Keiwa's wish were even ones who died in the DGP to begin with. We're told they were revived Riders.. by Jiit, aka the last person who I would expect to tell the truth about anything.

As it was, we know someone had to supply those Riders with Drivers and ID Cores because no one else who revived got their Drivers and ID Cores back automatically except for Ace (who's practically the exception for every goddamned rule this show attempts to set).

But of course, it's way easier to blame Keiwa for "reviving" those nasty people, than it is to think of a scenario where Jiit and his cohorts never bothered reviving anyone other than Sara and Keiwa's parents to lull him into thinking his wish worked, and just gave Drivers to all the worst (but living) people they could find.

[skopostheorie]

I came to the “The Count and Oscar are so very divorced” conclusion months ago somewhere deep into my general Muppet Autism groove, and I gotta say it has been extremely entertaining (in a good way) watching you become obsessed with The Count and slowly reach the exact same conclusion. The beef those two puppets have with each other is literally unreal.

I'M SO GLAD IT'S NOT JUST FOLIE À DEUX WITH ME AND BUTCHER BUT FULL ON MASS HYSTERIA. FANDOM WIDE THEORY BASED ON NOTHING

[jlshadows]

I am posting this for notes purposes, because we are going to be contacting many of these companies to pitch SIX Of Crows! ;)

The following companies are looking for new TV pitches for development & production.

Campaign - Production Companies

20th Century Fox Television

20th TV, Fox and MyNetworkTV

2C Media

3 BALL PRODUCTIONS

3 Ball Productions/Eyeworks USA

3 Ring Circus

360Production

40 Partners

720 PR

8790 Pictures,Inc.

ABC Cable Networks

ABC Entertainment

ABC Studios

Abrams Artists Agency

Adept Entertainment

Alan David Group

Alchemy Television

Alchemy Television Group

Alcon Entertainment

Allan McKeown Presents Ltd

Allan R. Smith Productions

Ambush Entertainment

American Media Television

Anne Carlucci Productions, Inc.

APA

Arclight Films

Arjay Entertainment Television

Artist International

Asylum Entertainment

AT IT Productions

Atlas Media Corp

Automatic Pictures

Avalon Television USA

Axelson-Weintraub Entertainment

Banner-Caswell Productions

BBC Worldwide

BCII

Beth Grossbard Productions

Big Cattle Productions

Big Hill Pictures

Boulevard Pictures

Boxing Cats Productions

Boz Productions

Brian Graden Media

Broken Lizard Industries

Buck Productions

Buck Productions Inc.

CAA

Cakehouse Media

Capestany Films

CartoonNetwork

Cataland Films

Cavelight Films

CBS

CBS Entertainment

CBS Films

CBS Interactive

CBS Paramount

CBS Paramount Network Television

CBS Studios International

CBS Television Distribution

CBS Television Studios

Central Artists

Champion Entertainment

Clear Pictures Entertainment

Codeblack Entertainment

Codeblack Films/Lionsgate

Collins Avenue

CoLours TV

cosmic pictures

Creative Chaos Inc.

Creative Convergence

DASH Networks

DatsEntertainment

De Line Pictures

Digital Alchemy Entertainment Inc.

Disney Channel

diverse talent group

Dragonfly Film and TV

E'lan Productions

Echelon Studios

Echo Lake Productions

Echo Production Company, Inc

Edmonds Entertainment

Edward Saxon Productions

Electric Entertainment

Elkins Entertainment

Ellman Entertainment

Enchanted Rock Pictures/MTS Entertainment

Endemol USA

Endgame Entertainment

Ensemble Entertainment

Entertainment Studios, Inc

Epic Level Entertainment

Epiphany Pictures

Espiritus Productions

Evatopia

Eventime Productions

Evolution Entertainment

Eyeworks Belgium NV

Fauci Productions, Inc.

Faultline Films ltd

Film 44

Film Garden Entertainment

Firehorse Pictures

Fireworks Enterprises

Fisher Entertainment Group

Forward Entertainment, llc

Fox Broadcasting

Fox Interactive Media

Fox International Channels

Fox Searchlight Pictures

FOX Sports

Fox Television Studios

Frontlot Productions

FX Network

Generate

Goliath

Grand Productions Inc

GRB Entertainment

Greene & Associates Talent Agency

Greenspan Kohan Mgt.

Handmade Films

Harper Winslow Productions

HBO

HDNet

Here Media

Homerun Entertainment

Honest Engine Films

Hope Enterprises, Inc.

Ideas Unlimited - TV (Denmark)

Idiomatic Entertainment

IKA Collective

Imbroglio Pictures Inc. / Scott & Cooper Entertainment Ventures

Innovative Artists

insomnia media group

Inspire Films and Television

International Creative Management

Intuitive Entertainment

IWV Media Group, Inc.

Jackamo Television Ltd

Jane Street Entertainment

Jeff Ross Entertainment

Jupiter Entertainment

Just SInger Entertainment

Kaplan-Stahler Agency

Ken Ehrlich Productions

Kickstart Productions, Inc.

Kingfish Productions

klasky csupo, inc.

KoldCast TV

Komixx Entertainment

Konigsberg Company

Kritzer Levine Wilkins Griffin Entertainment

Laika Entertainment

Legion Entertainment LLC

Lionsgate

Lionsgate Television

Little Dog Productions

LITTLE STUDIO FILMS

Litton TV

Lucky 8 TV

M Creative Group, Inc.

Madeline Films

Madhouse Entertainment

Madison Road Entertainment

Magical Elves

Magnet Management

Magnolia Entertainment

Mandeville Films Inc

Mandt Bros. Productions

Mango Tree Films

Manville Media

Mark Yellen Productions

Mashaal Media Corp.

Mass Hysteria Entertainment

Matrixx Prod.

Mayhem Pictures

Media 8 Entertainment

MGM

Michael Berk Productions

Michael Grais Prods.

Michael Levy Enterprises

Microsoft Corporation

Moniker Entertainment

Moxie Pictures

MPH Entertainment, Inc.

Mpower Pictures

Mt. Vernon Entertainment

myriad pictures

National Geographic Digital Media

National Lampoon/ Comedy Cocktail

NBC/Universal | Mun2

Neon Television

Network Entertainment Inc.

New Wave Entertainment

Noble Savages

Nu Image

Nu Image / Millennium Films

Nu Image/Millennium Films

Oceanside Entertainment

Ocular Production Inc.

One Entertainment

PalmStar Entertainment

Panic Productions, Inc.

Paradigm Agency

Paramount Digital Entertainment

Paramount Network

Paul Schiff Productions

Paulist Productions

Phoenix Pictures

Pie Town productions

Planet Grande Pictures

Planet Pictures

Playboy Entertainment Group

Plymouth Rock Entertainment, Inc.

Pogo Pictures

Popular Arts Entertainment

Porchlight Entertainment

Port Magee Pictures, Inc.

PorterGeller Entertainment

POW! Entertainment

preferred artists

Principal Entertainment

Principato Young

Principato-Young Entertainment

PrizmHead Pictures

Rain Management Group

Rainstorm Entertainment

RDF USA

RDS FILM

Red Baron Films

Reel Entertainment

Reid Media Group, Inc.

Revelations Entertainment

Reyes Entertainment

Right Brain Media

ROAR

Rob Gallagher Literary Management

ROBBINS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Rudolph Films Inc

S.L Entertainment

SB Productions Inc.

Scream Films (UK Based)

Shatner Universe

ShineReveille International

ShootersTV

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment

Sigh Griffin Management

Slate of Eight Productions

Smash Media

Smoke and Mirrors Creative / Pandemonium Films

Solar Films Inc

Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures International TV

Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures TV

Sony Television

SPEED Channel

Sports Branded Media

Starz

Starz Media

State Street Pictures

Station3

Storytime Films

Stowaway Films

Telecast productions

Tell Tale Productions

test

The Corsa Agency

THE GERLER AGENCY

The Gersh Agency

The Gersh Agency, L.A.

THE MAK COMPANY

The Sterling/Winters Production Studios

The Televisionaries

The Terminal

The Wolper Organization

The Wolper Organization / WBTV

Thousand Hills Productions

ThunderBall Films, LLC

Touchdown Television

Trevino Enterprises

Trilogy Entertainment Group

TV Guide Network

Twentieth Century Fox Television

Twentieth Television

Underground Films

Underground Films and Management

Union Entertainment

United Talent Agency

Universal Studios

UTA

Valencia Corp

Venture IAB

ViacomCBS

VPR Media

Walt Disney Company

Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production

Washington Square Films

Wayans Brothers Prod.

Weller/Grossman Productions

Wide Angle Productions Group, Inc.

Wildbrain Entertainment

William Morris Endeavor

Wolf Moon Films

Zero gravity

Zero Gravity Management

Zilo Networks Inc.,

Zucker Productions

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Please list all the sugars in the mainstream media including but not limited to journalists influencers tv hostscelebs who bullied POW and fed into the mass hysteria. by u/eyenation

Please list all the sugars in the mainstream media including but not limited to journalists, influencers, tv hosts,celebs who bullied POW and fed into the mass hysteria. I consider everyone who was bullying Catherine and William to be a sugar because if they are bullying the Waleses I firmly believe they are probably chummy with M&H or at least buy into their lies. So I hope this thread doesn’t get locked again. There should be names listed succinctly of those who participated in this bullying campaign. Stephen Colbert Kim Kardashian Blake Lively Andy Cohen post link: https://ift.tt/1zW5dS7 author: eyenation submitted: March 22, 2024 at 08:05PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[theloneliestblackgirlblog]

forgive me for getting a little bit controversial but it’s kind of concerning to me that people are ignoring Drake Bell’s own allegations and trials and misdeeds because of the Quiet On Set documentary. I am obviously aware that victims go onto hurt other victims. But that doesn’t mean you should make a martyr out of him whilst harassing other Nick stars into whatever weird narrative you’ve developed about them (think Josh Peck and Amanda Bynes). Forcing them into making statements because you’re desperate for some kind of entertainment. These are people’s real lives and experiences, they may not look the way we as the audience have no right to go speculating beyond what they give us. Especially when it could cause harm/feed into conspiracies.

To be quite honest it represents the very polarized way of thinking people have. It’s like only one thing can be true at a time and they act accordingly. This, matched with mass hysteria + mob culture leads to bad outcomes.