#Creators First Spotlight

[fredfilmsblog]

Casey Gonzalez - Creators First Spotlight

Casey Gonzalez shares a look behind the scenes at FredFilms, discusses the importance of vulnerability in creativity and the inspiration parenthood provides.

I owe so much to Casey. I was lucky enough to have her as my supervisor when I started as an intern at Frederator, and now have the privilege to be developing shows right along side her at FredFilms!

Having Casey in my corner for my entire professional career has been such a gift. I’m so grateful for her guidance and advice as both my mentor and my friend. She is wicked accomplished and has a deep wealth of knowledge from working in almost every part of the storytelling industry!

I remember discovering First Second's Science Comics series and being excited to tell Casey about them only for her to tell me "Oh, you know I started that series during my time at First Second." She has done so much and I'm excited to be there too as she keeps doing more!

-Flip Sarta

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So tell us about yourself. What’s your story?

I’ve been a ravenous consumer of media since I was a kid. I can find something to love in just about every genre and medium. Books, comics, movies, radio, music, YouTube explainers, video games, mind-numbing mobile games—you name it, I have indulged in it.

I started my career in publishing working mostly on comics. I fell in love with collaborating closely with artists and writers, helping them bring their ideas into the world. I noticed that many of my favorite creators were exploring animation and I decided to do the same. I eventually landed a job at Frederator, which kicked off a decade of working for the legendary Fred Seibert. After a stint at Crunchyroll, I joined Fred again to lead development at FredFilms. I’m so grateful to get to do what I do. Thanks Fred!

Outside of my work at FredFilms, I’m a writer and crafter. I’m always working on some sort of craft project—usually something I can do while watching way too much TV!!

[Panels from Paul Pope’s Battling Boy]

Why do you want to tell stories?

I think storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have as humans. It’s how we build connections with one another. That's fundamentally what I think storytelling is—a connection to our shared history. Whether it's a handprint on the wall of a cave that says, “I was here,” or a creation myth passed down over millennia. Stories have this inherent power and value. Now more than ever it is vital to share what we're experiencing with each other and to document it for future generations, and that's what drives me to tell stories.

How do you go about telling stories?

I get ideas spontaneously, just reacting to things I see or experience, but when I'm actually sitting down to write a story I find the scaffolding to be really important. A well-structured story can almost write itself.

I also like to get to know my characters really well. Anyone who has worked with me will know that I'm a stickler for detail. I think the best characters blend the universal—traits anyone can relate to—with the specific—things that only this character could experience, and that only one person could write. Personal experiences really come through in those vivid, wonderful details.

How do you take a story from the seed of an idea to a fully developed story?

Describing the beginning of a story as a seed is really apt, because it takes a lot of nurturing and care. It’s a balance of being disciplined and being gentle with yourself.

One thing that I try to do in my personal work, and that I work on with our creators, too, is stepping away from any shame. Making art can be a very vulnerable act. In fact, I think you have to be vulnerable to make great art. So I often remind myself and the folks I work with that we have to be kind to ourselves as we're creating! A first draft doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, a tenth draft doesn't have to be perfect. Shaping a story is like cutting away at a block of clay. You can't just do it all in one motion. It's a lot of repetitive action, revisiting and revising.

I think one of the best things you can do if you're stuck on a story is put it to the side, and take a short break or go on a walk. If you need a longer break, take a week off and indulge in another medium, like music or movies or something that's totally different from what you're working on, and see where you find inspiration and then go back to it.

What’s something you do that people might not realize about your work?

I think what I do is made possible by what makes Fred Films so special. We get to be very hands-on and deeply collaborative with our creators. I work closely with creators on everything from writing their first scripts to preparing them to present their work—especially if that’s outside their comfort zone.

Building relationships based on mutual respect and trust is central to my work. From the outside looking in, my role might seem invisible—and I want it to be. My job is to help creators express themselves in the best possible way without overshadowing their voice or vision.

[Casey and FredFilms' creator Elyse Castro finally meet in person after working together on Zoom for years!]

What is an unexpected source of inspiration in your day-to-day life?

I’m going to sound like the typical new parent, but watching my daughter learn about the world is incredible. That vulnerability that I talked about artists having to access, that is the vulnerable state that all children live in all the time. There's a reason that we are so drawn to childhood. There is a reason that nostalgia has such a powerful hold on us. Children live in what’s called the “absorbent mind” stage up until around age six, where they take in information effortlessly and without judgment. That mindset is so intrinsic to the creative process. I think every adult taps into that childlike state when they create, but seeing it firsthand in my daughter is amazing—and, of course, very inspiring.

Our motto here is creator first, original always. Who is the creator or what's an original you’ve been into lately?

I just watched Psycho Goreman, which was really fun, like a mix of Power Rangers and Gremlins. I’ve also been enjoying playing Animal Well!

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Creators First: Spotlights is a new interview series in which we interview creators about their lives, their work, and what they love! Stay tuned for more from artists, writers, musicians, comics creators, executives, and other friends of FredFilms!

Thanks for reading and Fred Still Loves You!

[maraschinotopped]

ive been staring at the naqtube channel page just doing analysis thoughts in my head for like 15 minutes and ive just been hit with the realization that Damn this is not normal. normal people dont do this. either the mental illness or the mild sickness is doing something to me right now.

[imperiuswrecked]

So I just found out that Jason Aaron (aka the worst Namor writer in the long 80+ years history of the character) is writing Namor.

I'm doing fine (lying).

[kakairu-rocks]

Hey guys! Our Creator Spotlight is back, but this time we’ve changed things around.

Firstly, we’re no longer seeking out individual creators for interviews, as the process of finding someone willing to participate, interviewing them, and then sharing their answers in our posts was particularly time-consuming; and whilst we’re glad that we were able to highlight some amazing people and their creations, it just wasn’t a sustainable thing for us.

So now, we’d like to open up the Creator Spotlight to all KakaIru creators, to find out a bit about everyone; and hopefully (most definitely) find more creations to add to our bookmarks & indulge in!

We will be doing this every three months, as opposed to monthly; and unlike last time, when there was a standard set of interview questions, this time, the questions will be themed!

And the theme for our very first Creator Spotlight of the year is… Firsts!

What was your first ever KakaIru creation? Do you like it, or is it at least meaningful to you in some way? How long ago did you create it? And how much has your style changed since then?

Let us know HERE!

You don’t have to answer all the questions, they’re only a guide - just tell us whatever you like about your first creation! And please, please don’t hesitate to link anything!

Note: if yours is NSFW or Dark, as per our guidelines, and you want to share it, please do so on our 18+ thread!

[departmentq]

Fans celebrate the casting of Nichelle Nichols as Uhura as a moment for actors of color, which they should be.

But I also wanted to spotlight the casting of these iconic guest starring characters, seen in episodes of TOS.

Percy Rodriguez was cast as flag officer Commodore Stone, who was Kirk's superior in the chain of command. Stone is one of the officers that presides over Kirk's court martial.

Booker Bradshaw was the original Dr. M'Benga, seen in two episodes of TOS. at the time, M'Benga was Starfleet's first and only medical specialist in Vulcan Physiology, having spent a year's residency on Vulcan.

One of the finest minds in computer technology in the 23rd century, and creator of the duotronic computer, Dr. Richard Daystrom, was played by William Marshall, whose work in Shakespeare, and his roles as Paul Robeson and Frederick Douglass, added to the gravitas of his portrayal.

A flag officer, a specialist in Vulcan medicine, and one of the finest minds in a field of technology, played by actors of color, during the turbulent 1960s.

[bemusedlybespectacled]

what's happening with James Somerton right now: a probably-incomplete primer

TW: suicide, including suicide as a threat and a manipulation tactic.

The short version:

James Somerton is a former Youtube essayist who focused entirely on queer history, queer media criticism, and queer issues in general. He is also a flagrant grifter who has made tens of thousands of dollars via fraud, both directly (lying about his finances to beg for money and getting donations for films he never even started making) and indirectly (stealing whole essays and articles and books, reading them out loud verbatim for his videos without indicating they were anything other than his own work, and then using the prestige he gained from using their work to get Patrons and sponsorships).

The story as told James and James apologists was that James attempted to apologize twice, was hounded mercilessly on the internet for weeks, and then, driven to the end of his rope, he posted a suicide note on Twitter, was MIA for several days, and from then on has been avoiding the internet.

The actual story, as revealed yesterday, was that James used two sockpuppet accounts to defend himself and parrot his talking points (again, while publicly claiming to be trying to take responsibility for his actions), using one to try to rebrand the con under a different name and another to deliberately stoke the panic caused by his suicide note. He was not only aware of the pain and anxiety he was causing people, but he encouraged it on one alt while hornyposting about his favorite movies on the other.

He is an unrepentant con artist who successfully used a suicide threat to prevent further interference with future cons. The only reason he was caught is because he is apparently incapable of going more than a couple of weeks without trying to get back in the internet spotlight, allowing people to tie his alts back to him. He lies for fun and profit and he should not be taken seriously, ever.

The long version:

In December 2023, Youtube essayist Hbomberguy (Harry Brewis) put out a four-hour-long video about plagiarism on the internet, and devoted two hours to addressing as much of JS's plagiarism as he could. I strongly recommend watching the entire thing, as the first two hours build on the concepts that he uses later in the video.

He also blew the whistle on James' fraud surrounding Telos, a studio James founded using thousands of dollars of IndieGoGo money that never actually produced any films despite him definitely working on them! Any day now they'll be released! Don't you worry!

A day later, Todd in the Shadows, a guy whose entire thing is music reviews, posted his own video debunking multiple outright lies that James had told about history, especially queer history. A few more days later, The Ace Couple, who run a podcast about asexuality, released an episode detailing how they'd lost $1.5k donating to Telos.

I have put the videos, Twitter threads, Patreon posts, and Reddit posts by other people discussing different aspects of James' fraud under the cut.

Every other time James was caught plagiarizing, prior to Harry's video, he would lie about it. Either he'd have some excuse (easily proven to be a lie) or he'd retreat to his favorite deflection: "I'm just being harassed because I'm gay."

This last lie was one he'd use not only to deflect accusations of plagiarism, but all criticism in general, no matter how trivial. Every time, the critic or someone associated with them would somehow dox him, or harass him, or send him death threats, or threaten to falsely accuse him of sexual assault.

This happened to The Ace Couple (who'd tried to correct him on something extremely acephobic in one of his videos), Jessie Gender (who'd tried to correct him when he claimed that there were no queer content creators on Nebula, given that she and a bunch of other queer creators were definitely on that platform), and the person who first blew the whistle on him stealing from Tinker Belles and Evil Queens by Sean Griffin (who was accused of being behind death threats he'd received, and hounded so harshly they had to leave Twitter).

It is important to note that every time James faced potentially damaging criticism, or even just a threat to his ego, suddenly he would claim to be harassed by people connected to the critic, including threats to his life. There has never been any proof of any threats being directed at him, nor evidence that, if the threats were real, that they are actually from people connected to the critic.

In the original video by Hbomberguy, Harry makes a compelling argument that James brought on a friend of his, Nick, as a co-writer specifically as a shield against accusations of plagiarism. "How dare you accuse me of plagiarism! Nick would NEVER do that!" This is even more apparent given subsequent developments which I will get into.

When evidence started dropping about different aspects of his fraud (not only Harry's video, but Todd in the Shadows' video debunking his misinfo, The Ace Couple's podcast about their experience donating to his fraudulent film studio, and Dan Olson's tweet thread about James' obvious lies about his finances), he went into hiding for two weeks, and then put out the first of two apologies. He then deleted that one and put out another one a few weeks later. And then he immediately deleted that one.

While his first apology was rambling, vague, and dramatic (lots of sniffing/crying), and his second was more measured, thought-out, and totally batshit (lots of hilariously and bizarrely implausible excuses for why he'd done what he'd done), they had roughly the same points:

Not ALL of his stuff was plagiarized! Actually, a lot of it wasn't! No specifics as to what, though!

Most of the stuff that was plagiarized was just a failure to properly cite sources, as he had no idea that putting someone's name in your end credits or video description (without specifying what parts are attributable to that person or disclosing that you are using their words verbatim) is not sufficient credit,

Also, he totally had permission, in some cases, to use their work verbatim prior to publishing the video (this is not true, and is disproven both in Harry's video and his own screenshots);

He definitely didn't commit fraud with Telos and would soon have a good explanation for where the money went! (he did not)

He was going to keep the videos up so that he could either donate the funds from any monetization to the fund Harry had set up for his victims or to "help Nick's portfolio" by showcasing his work;

He lost his best friend (i.e. Nick) over these allegations, who absolutely definitely wasn't a scapegoat, except Nick was also responsible for a lot of the stuff James was being criticized for;

He was going to keep the videos up so he could either donate the advertising proceeds to Harry's fund for his victims (first apology) or to "help Nick's portfolio" by showcasing the work he'd done; and

As a result of this entire ordeal, he had attempted either self-harm or suicide (he merely alluded to "doing something stupid").

Again, his response was to 1) downplay the severity of his actions or flat out ignore allegations against him, 2) come up with ridiculous excuses for his behavior, 3) throw Nick under the bus, and 4) claim to be in mortal danger. As far as I am aware, he has never taken any concrete action to make amends to any person, not even donating money to charity.

This was coupled with some kind of attempt to profit: monetizing his apology videos, closing and then reopening his Patreon right before the monthly charge cycle happened (totally to let people unfollow him, not at all as a grab for that money), creating a new Patreon under a different name, and changing his Twitter and Youtube handles to distance himself from the controversy while gathering new followers.

At one point (I forget if this was on Twitter or Instagram), he also said that someone had broken into his apartment due to the notoriety he'd received from Harry's video. I believe that was after his first apology, when people started to point out that he'd just changed the name of his Twitter and Youtube channel and had restarted a new Patreon under a pseudonym. (BTW, the pseudonym he used for his new Patreon was "The Gay Raconteur"; this will be important later).

It had what I think was the desired effect: any attempt at pointing out that he was rebranding his grift now came across as weirdly fixated on minor things he was doing, which certainly wasn't worth putting him in physical danger. (Again, he has never provided any proof of this happening, nor provided any evidence that these people allegedly threatening him were, in fact, in some way inspired by Hbomb).

So along comes March 5, 2024, and James posts a suicide note on his Twitter, saying that he is going to set up his videos to automatically publish (for Nick's portfolio), provide in some way for the ad revenue to go to a suicide prevention nonprofit, and then kill himself.

The immediate response from the internet was compassion and totally chilling any further criticism, since you might be callously criticizing a dead person. Harry and Kat worked for a couple of days to get a wellness check for him while a substantial section of the internet called them murderers.

On March 6, a day after the note was published, Nick tweeted that that he had cause to believe James was fine. Kat confirmed that James was safe on March 11. Due to the drama of the "suicide attempt," however, the chill on criticizing James stayed in place for months.

And then yesterday Lady Emily, one of the cowriters for Sarah Z., drops two more bombs:

James has not one but two alt accounts that he was using to rebrand and start over.

The first one was created between his first and second apologies, and originally was for "The Gay Raconteur" until he changed it to "Will"/"thatgayyouknow" and, later, "The Achillean Boy."

The second one was much older, under the pseudonym "Mikey JB," and used stolen pictures from Grindr instead of his own face. However, it is pretty obvious that it is, in fact, a sockpuppet account and not just some other person who happens to like James, as detailed below.

Both accounts, both between apologies and after his "suicide," talked about how criticism of James was unfair because the plagiarized stuff was "like a decade old" and repeating the same excuses that James had also made.

The "Mikey JB" account not only supported James, but actively threw Nick under the bus, saying that a criticized part of a video "reeks of his co-writer."

On March 6, the day after James' main Twitter posted the suicide note, The Achillean Boy account was hornyposting about Ryan Phillipe. James didn't even take a day or two off of Twitter. If he had been completely off Twitter for a couple of days, that could have been an indication that he really had hurt himself and was unable to access his phone, or at the very least unaware of the panic. But he wasn't. He was aware of it and did nothing. Actually, no! Worse than nothing!

On the same day (March 6), the Mikey JB account was actively contradicting Nick saying he was okay (they "haven't spoken in months" so there's no way Nick could know if he was alive) and saying that "people like you" i.e. his critics, "drove him to it." Not only did he ignore the panic he'd intentionally created, he actively drove it.

He saw people going emotionally through the wringer over the idea that they might have somehow caused his death, and intentionally made them keep thinking it. He say people calling his critics "murderers" for "driving him to his death," and he joined in.

Why am I explaining all of this? I want to make a couple of things extremely clear, and the context is necessary to my ultimate points, namely:

James Somerton didn't merely "credit people improperly;" he conned his followers out of more money than some people make in a year with the Telos con, while raking in thousands more per month on Patreon and buying expensive equipment, while claiming to be near insolvency and in desperate need of money.

James Somerton has never taken full responsibility for his actions or attempted to make amends. He has only ever tried to dodge responsibility, particularly by throwing Nick under the bus.

Every time he has ever been criticized, for any reason, he has lied about threats to his life to gain sympathy and quell criticism. This is a standard part of his MO. He has done this over and over and over again. At this point, I think if he says the sky is blue, someone should go out and check first before doing anything.

"But BB, what if he really is getting harassed/threatened or really is suicidal?"

So, okay: people who are attempting to manipulate you may use legitimate problems as a tool. It doesn't need to be fake to be effective - in fact, it might be more effective if it it's true. An abusive ex who says "if you leave me, I'll kill myself" and genuinely means it and actually attempts it (and possibly even succeeds!) is a lot harder to leave than someone who says the same thing but is clearly just bluffing, because the threat is real.

My rule of thumb in these cases is to treat the threat like it's real, without caving to the intended manipulation. Whether your ex is lying or telling the truth when they say, "I'll kill myself if you leave me," the appropriate response in both cases is to immediately call a mental health service or supportive family member. If it's fake, it's inconvenient for them; if it's real, you reacted appropriately. Your response needs to be the same regardless.

You don't get back together with them because it's a real threat (presumably you wouldn't do that if you knew it was fake and they were never in any danger), and you don't tell them that they're a piece of shit who should be dead (HOPEFULLY you wouldn't do that if you knew for a fact that they were telling the truth).

In this case, I am extremely confident in saying that he was coldbloodedly lying the entire time and was never once threatened, and certainly not to the degree he claimed to be. But even if he wasn't, that does not and should not change anyone's behavior in terms of holding him accountable.

And I mean actually holding him accountable: making sure he doesn't try to start a new con on new people, continuing to point out that he hasn't paid anyone back for his previous con (so long as it's still true), that sort of thing. It doesn't mean people should tell him he should go die for real or, I don't know, try to get him fired if he gets a job at Tim Horton's or Target or something else that's not fraud. That would be wrong regardless of whether he's actually in danger or not. The point is to avoid being cruel without negotiating with terrorists.

Video sources and links under the cut:

Links:

It's like Breaking Bad, but backwards: a brief history of how Somerton successfully screwed himself Dan Olson's Twitter thread about the financial fraud My Year With James: Todd's post explaining the backstory of his video (Patreon-locked) DJSO#: Dan Olson's breakdown of James' second apology (Patreon-locked) Lady Emily's Twitter threads revealing James' alt accounts, part 1 and part 2

[cas-couture]

cas couture.

cas couture is an upcoming community-based sim magazine focused on fashion. what sets cas couture apart is that we will not allow permanently paywalled cc to be featured in the magazine and aim to highlight the numerous, talented cc creators in the community :)

we are looking for simblrs who would like their stories/cc/creations/sims/pretty-much-anything ADVERTISED (for free, this is not a cash grab) in the APRIL 2025 ISSUE!

as cas couture is community driven, we need YOUR participation!

( more info under the cut !!! )

we want to put the spotlight back on this community and appreciate active simblrs. we want to encourage blog interaction and actually make the community ~feel like a community!

what will advertising look like?

sponsoring might look different across different spreads, it might be an ad for a movie/ tv series (i.e., this would advertise a sim story), an ad for a product/ designer (i.e., this would advertise a CC creator) and so on.

we're pretty much open to advertising anything! :) if you have any ideas for how you would like your creation advertised, let us know!

what are the requirements to sponsor?

you must be 18+ to apply

this is for fun!!!! pls remember that :) and also pls don’t be zionists or trumpies or homophobes or racist or anything else awful because :( and that’ll be another reason why we can’t have nice things :(

submit this sponsorship form (set aside 10 mins to fill this out, if your sponsorship is accepted, have some pictures/content ready that you would like us to use!)

reblog this post so i know ur for real about wanting to advertise!!

you would reblog and boost and interact with the April issue when it releases on April 11 :) (this would run on an honor system because I'm not a weirdo, but........ like if not enough people do it, it probably won't be worth the effort of making all the ads if no one's going to read the first issue/ interact with it? the point of cas couture IS blog interaction!!!!)

deadline to submit a sponsorship form is April 1. if you are making your own advertisement, it is April 10.

faq

i'm an editor for the magazine already, can I apply to sponsor?

yes, you totally can! we would just request you still fill out the form and once we confirm your sponsorship, we would just ask you to make your own advertisement, as it would probably be the quickest method :)

can I make my own advertisement as a sponsor?

yes, you totally can! once you're accepted as a sponsor, we will send you more information on the canvas size and other regulations <3

how many advertisements are you accepting?

there is no set number, it's more like... how many advertisements we can crank out in time for April 11 :) if you are willing to create your own advertisement and submit it by April 10th, the chances are 99.999% that we would accept :)

why is reblogging this post a requirement in order to apply for sponsorship?

because it'll show that you're truly willing to ruin your impeccable feed with simblr community content! if you're not willing to do it now, you probably won't want to later :( cas couture can only fuel itself on my hopes and dreams for so long until it burns out :( the aim is for blog interaction, making (age-appropriate) friends and having a good time!!!!

thank you for supporting cas couture! you're helping fund the nepo babies'-- i mean, interns'-- matcha addictions-- i mean, education!

asking da community for some support <3

as this is totally a community project, i'm going to tag some community members who really helped the last post reach the masses (I'm sorry, I'm annoying for tagging!!!) and current editors (I'm going off the top of my head, I'm sorry if I miss anyone!!!) on the team for the April issue!!!! if you don't like to be tagged, I'm sorry!!!!! <3333

@householdbinary @jokiyo @simafrassx @olivetelfie @my-kwy @southernfriedsims-blog @ratwoman161 @harvestsims @mmonetsims @kdplayssss @liyahssims @fairytailtow @crazy-hazy-sims @aliengirl @strangegrapefruit @thebramblewood @thefoxburyinstitute @missatan

psst, we're still accepting editors for the April issue!!! learn more about the roles available here!

[sinsxo]

losing it. —itoshi sae

cw. mdni! suggestive content, implied sexual content, teasing, boyfriend!sae x fem!reader, aged up.

note. HI AJSKS THANK U SM FOR THE REQUEST! this was such a fun scene to imagine, creds to you for the idea!! i didn't know to what extent to write it til (im so sorry), so i ended it right where i stopped at. i will happily write a part 2 if requested though! need that lil push ykwim? it's my first time writing something spicy so i hope you like it :(( <3 update: part 2 is out! full nsfw, mdni!

synopsis. picking the right outfit shouldn’t be this hard — especially with sae helping.

wc. 540 words, not proofread.

"how’s this one?" you asked, twirling around in front of the mirror. sae glanced up from where he was leaning on the doorframe, one arm crossed as the other scrolls idly through his phone.

he hums. “looks nice. still prefer the other one.”

of course. his expression gives away nothing, as usual.

you huffed softly and reached for the next outfit. he doesn't look away, but says nothing as you shimmy into a flowy off-white dress — pretty, romantic, definitely not the vibe for a neon-lit birthday party hosted by one of his rowdy teammates.

"what about this?" you asked, giving him a hopeful glance.

he scans your figure, eyes flicking up and down before returning to his screen. “cute, but not for tonight. should save that for one of our dates.”

you blinked. that was... almost sweet. almost. because apparently, this man was hard to impress.

still, you moved on, grabbing the last outfit and throwing a jacket over it as you turned around again. "okay, last one. be honest.”

this time, he doesn’t speak right away. his eyes trail over you slowly, lingering a little longer than before.

"it’s going to be crowded. you won’t need a jacket."

you slide it off hesitantly. “what if i get cold?”

he doesn’t miss a beat. “you can wear mine,” and again, his gaze is back to his phone screen. “tights are too fancy.”

you hesitate again, fingers at your waistband. “really?”

he nods, still scrolling — or pretending to. you slip the tights off, folding them neatly and setting them aside.

“you’re so hard to impress, and stop looking at your phone.” you muttered. “done, tights are gone. what else?" you asked, standing there in your top and skirt now.

there’s a pause.

“the skirt.”

you blinked with a confused expression displayed on your face. “the skirt?”

he still isn’t looking at you. “mhm.”

you stared at your reflection in the mirror, twisting a little to see the full fit. “if i take that off, i’ll just be in my top.”

“exactly,” he murmured, and when you glance over your shoulder, he’s not at the door anymore — he’s right behind you.

his phone is gone. so is that distant look in his eyes.

"i’m not hard to impress," he says lowly, voice brushing the back of your neck. "you just don’t know what you do to me."

his fingers ghosted over your waist, thumbs slipping under the hem of your skirt before tugging slowly.

"sae—"

he presses against you from behind, the warmth of him, the heat, unmistakable.

"i tried to stay still," he says, tone edged with restraint. "but you just keep testing me, don’t you?"

your breath hitches when you feel the growing bulge against your backside. his hands sliding over your hips, pulling your back flush against him.

"we’re gonna be late," you whisper, barely audible.

his lips brushed against your ear. "they’ll survive. it’s not our party, we’re not in the spotlight."

then his mouth trails lower — along your neck, down your shoulder — as his hands begin to explore your body, stopping at the end of your top before tugging on it.

"now be a good girl and lose the top too, hm?"

© all written works are created and owned by @sinsxo. do not plagiarise, modify, repost or translate any of my content on other platforms under any circumstances.

all images, aside from the dividers, do not belong to me. credit belongs to their original creators on pinterest & xhs.

[5starwitch]

Astrology Observations: Lilith Edition

Lilith in Aries may have felt growing up like they couldn’t be themselves and they couldn’t be assertive. Their intense, bold energy may have been stifled in some way. So, when they get older they might either become overly rebellious, but try to hide it or they might act in passive aggressive ways. That energy has to come out one way or another.

Lilith in Taurus may have issues with food. They may have some form of an eating disorder or just eat emotionally. They also might have a tendency to hoard because maybe when they were younger resources were scarce.

Lilith in Gemini might have grown up feeling like their ideas or thoughts were stupid. Someone might have made them feel dumb for expressing themselves. So they usually find other ways to express themselves like writing blogs, tweeting, poetry etc.

Lilith in Cancer might have been made to feel unsafe in their home environment, so as adults they might cling to anyone who makes them feel safe or brings them comfort. They crave comfort and safety more than anything.

Lilith in Leo craves attention and drama secretly. They might have grown up in a household where they weren’t given attention, or the spotlight was always on someone else. So as adults they might pretend to not care about attention, but constantly do passive aggressive things to get attention and drama secretly.

Lilith in Virgo was made to feel like they had to be the “good girl” so they rebel in other ways. They might have two sides to them. The “good” one and then the one that does “bad” things. They’re constantly conflicted because they have a difficulty integrating their shadow side.

Lilith in Libra may act rebellious in their relationships. They might cheat, cause drama, and just be difficult to get a rise out of their partner. They crave that good relationship, but a lot of times sabotage it because they secretly want their own autonomy, and feel like having a partner takes that away from them because they give so much.

Lilith in Scorpio may have grown up feeling like they didn’t have control or power. They might have grown up in a toxic household where they felt victimized, so when they grow up they crave power and control. They always need to be the person with the upper hand. They might read a lot of books on psychological manipulation so they never fall victim to anyone again.

Lilith in Sagittarius probably had a lot of difficulty in school, especially higher learning because they feel stifled in a controlled environment like that. They learn from experience. They might have grown up in a religious household, and have trauma from that. Due to this feeling of constantly being controlled, they crave freedom above anything. Not wanting to settle down with a person or in any one place.

Lilith in Capricorn may have had to grow up early on in life, and this causes them to have their wild teenage days in their adulthood. They felt like they always had to be the responsible one, so now it’s their turn to be the wild one having fun.

Lilith in Aquarius may have grown up feeling misunderstood and made to feel like they were weird. Maybe for the way they dress, act, or their interests, but as they grow up they tend to attract friends from all walks of life who accept them. They also tend to have a lot of online friends. They thrive on social media.

Lilith in Pisces may have had to deal with addiction within their family and this could affect them in two ways: the first way being that they could fall into the cycle of addiction as well and the second is they could completely be against drugs and alcohol. They have escapist tendencies regardless. They might be very spiritually powerful, but get sucked into a lot of maladaptive daydreaming.

...

Purchase a $30 general birth chart reading or a $60 Lilith persona chart reading from me

[art]

Creator Spotlight: @themetalhiro

Hi, I’m Metal! I’m a freelance artist from good ol’ New Jersey. My favorite things to work with are a lot of bright colors, exaggerated poses, and candid scenarios. I try to farm sensible chuckles whenever I can, so I’m also big into comics. I love making them about my life, and the media I’m into, and one day I’d like to publish my own series!  Thank you to everyone who has gotten me this far!!

Check out Metal's interview below!

Did you originally have a background in art? If not, how did you start?

I guess so! It’s funny, I don’t remember a single time in my life that I wasn’t drawing as a hobby… somewhere in middle school (a little late, I know.) I put the pieces together that animated movies were made by artists, and that it wasn’t just for fun, they were paid to do it. The moment I discovered people could be paid to make art, I decided I would do that, too. Now I’m here!

How has your style developed over the years?

I think the best way to answer this would be with an example! Over the last few years, I have made more of an effort to draw more intentionally, which sounds silly. Now, I put more thought into my poses and step out of my comfort zone with shape language and composition. I had a phase where I drew everyone with a huge, perfectly circular head and no nose. That definitely did not lend much variety...

Which 3 famous artists (dead or alive) would you invite to your dinner party?

Ack! I’m so terrible at history! I’d love to give a well-thought-out answer about fine artists of old, but I don't think we’d have much in common… Most artists I admire and who have driven me forward creatively are the people behind comics I’ve read. Andrew Hussie, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Eiichiro Oda... these guys have inspired me greatly and had a heavy influence in developing my art style and sense of humor. I’d love to ask them questions about their processes and upcoming projects. I think it would make for an entertaining night!

Over the years as an artist, what were your biggest inspirations behind your creativity?

Outside of pure aesthetics like searing bright colors, layered clothing, and loud noises…. the best and most inspiring moments in my life were those surrounded by friends and loved ones! I cherish the hell out of memories of hanging around in fun locations, trying weird food together, and impromptu midnight walks... so I try my best to capture that atmosphere and my own memories in my work when I can, even if I’m imposing fictional characters on top of them. That’s always the core of it.

What is a medium that you have always been intrigued by but would never use yourself?

I would never permanently refuse a medium, but every time I pick up clay, I’m like a baby using its hands for the first time. Absolutely dreadful. If one day I could make and paint a figurine like the ones I admire in videos, that would be awesome... But for now, I’m not counting on it.

How do you want to evolve as a creator?

I’ve had an absolute blast drawing fanart over the years, and it’s certainly played a massive role in my growth as an artist. But my dream has always been to publish my own stories for y'all to enjoy! I have lots of worlds I want to introduce to you before I’m old and gray. I want to get faster, work harder, and get better at drawing interesting settings so I can get the wheels turning as soon as possible. I also want to stop avoiding the color blue like a coward.

What do you wish you knew when you first started out creating art that you know now?

Pay your taxes quarterly. Tablets will break at the exact moment you need them most, so have a spare. Wear your blue light glasses. You’re going to need to wear a brace on every joint on the right side of your body. It can be lonely sitting at your desk all day. The car on the side of the road that costs $1000 cash….. don’t trust it!!!

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

@cranity—They use absolutely beautiful colors and weighty line work. Everything looks so sharp and clean! I wanna put it all up on my wall!

@vewn—Their ability to crank out quality short films and illustrations packed with detail is incredible. The off-kilter perspective they use really sells disorientation and catches your attention like nothing else.

@nelnal—They have absolutely banger character designs again and again, I can’t believe one person’s mind can come up with so many creative ideas!

@jinx88kc—They have a beautiful and recognizable style, and the way they incorporate animation into their illustrations sometimes is SO cool!

Thanks for stopping by, Metal! For more of Metal’s work, follow their Tumblr, @themetalhiro! If you haven't seen their Meet the Artist piece, be sure to check it out here!

[ladcedes]

lowkey - ln4

lando norris x reader

request Hi could you write a lando Norris x younger mexican/irish gf reader (21) fc (rae cambra )where they keep things private because she doesnt want hate and her instagram is private too and shes always seen with lando and they went on holiday together smau pls.

note first request ever omg... thank you so much for this anon! pretty sure whoever requested actually forgot abt it atp... im sooo sorry this took me like half a year to get to I actually never check my inbox 😭😭😭

set in the summer bcs why tf not!

paddockwags 14hrs ago | 4hrs ago

paddockwags 3hrs ago | 3hrs ago

paddockwags

liked by dhsj.77 and 32.887 others

paddockwags lando norris and his girlfriend, yn ln, seen in monaco 📸

view all comments

starlandos how did they even meet bruh 😭

⤷ bownorris exactly she has like zero social media presence how are they even together

⤷ paddockwags @.bownorris lots of athletes meet their wags through mutual friends so it’s likely that

amourln4 i give them another week 🥱

f1.wagspot

liked by 41.826 others

f1.wagspot lando norris’ girlfriend, yn ln’s, instagram account revealed!

view all comments

favspiastri hold up does anyone think they meet through alex?? since they follow each other…

lncult WAITTT if u look back at some of alex’s posts u can find a glimpse of her

⤷ fourclaren so what she used her friend to get herself a famous bf? social climber 😒😐

f1.wagspot

liked by f1wagsfashion and others

f1.wagspot lando norris spotted enjoying the sun with his girlfriend in mallorca ahead of the azerbaijan gp!

view all comments

4norrism are him and charles in the same place??

⤷ princeleclerc omg lando and charles vacation meetup?!?

silverstonel4n icb he’s stayed this long with a girl who’s so hidden from the spotlight

⤷ mcl4ren she’s so different from his past gfs it’s crazy

yourusername

tagged: alexandrasaintmleux, landonorris, charles_leclerc, and 5 others

liked by riabish and 216 others

yourusername when your schedules all line up >>>>

view all comments

alexandrasaintmleux bestie holidays ❤️

liked by creator

⤷ yourusername cheers to more! 🥂

landonorris hope you liked your graduation gift ml ❤️

⤷ yourusername calling it a graduation gift really isn’t helping the allegations yk…

⤷ landonorris @.yourusername well in your defense i only paid for the plane and the guys split yacht costs so i think we’re good 🤓 you deserve it anyway 🤷‍♂️

landonorris trip finally made it out of the gc!

⤷ alex_albon stop trying to be relatable your trips always make it out of the gc. you're rich.

⤷ landonorris @.alex_albon then how come our golfing trips rarely happen :(

⤷ georgerussell63 @.landonorris have you thought about not planning them spontaneously, during race weeks, in a range halfway across the world?

⤷ yourusername @.georgerussell @.landonorris were you silent, or were you SILENCED

landonorris

liked by georgerussell63 and others

landonorris sun’s out… summer break!

view all comments

ln4tion don’t be shy lando… finish the phrase 😁

⤷ formulamclaren fr when did this guy get pr training 😂😂

fourrari is this finally the official hard launch

⤷ gr63atest does it count as a hard launch if her face still isnt visible 😭😭

⤷ fourrari @.gr63atest 😭 at least we got confirmation tho

ladcedes keeping up with the 'comments as an author's note' tradition: I really hope this one meets expectations! I think it's a bit short but I didn't rly know what to do...

slightly suggestive bonus :]

[lordprettyflackotara]

easy silence || sam golbach

smut minors dni 18+. this is the fluffiest shit i can produce guys sorry

You were the best thing in Sam’s life.

He glanced down at you sleeping, your eyes fluttered shut and chest rising and falling slowly. You were curled up against his chest, ever so often nuzzling your face against his bare skin. His arm was securely wrapped around you, holding you as you blissfully danced in dreamland. Sam brushed some stray hairs out of your face, listening to the slow and even breaths you took.

In a world full of chaos, particularly one that Sam lived as a content creator, you seemed to be his peace. He found refuge when he was with you. You were a normal girl, one that opted to stay out of the spotlight. Your identity was hidden, your desire for clout and fame nonexistent. You stayed behind the camera, giggling ever so often at one of the boys jokes. You adored Sam for what he truly was, a young man with aspirations and wild adventures. You even got along with Colby, who you also took care of. It wasn’t a question with you as to whether or not you could handle his friendship with him. When you cooked, you always cooked for the three of you without a second thought. You always asked how Colby was. When both him and Colby were sick you took care of them both without question.

You created easy silence in a life full of overstimulating constant noise.

Sam pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, admiring your beauty. You stirred ever so slightly, your eyes slowly blinking open. “Hi Sammy,” You greeted, your throat dry. Sam felt bad, having woken you up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” He apologized. You gave him a sleepy smile, shaking your head. “Relax, you know I always sleep in. It’s probably noon by now anyways right?” You asked. The two of you were in a hotel near the Lizzie Borden house, the boys investigating it until dawn the night prior. You were their enthusiastic cameraman, who passed out from exhaustion the moment you both returned to your hotel room. Sam struggled with consistent sleep, his mind always running a mile an hour. Somehow sleeping beside you made it easier, but he always woke up first out of habit.

Sam grabbed his phone, checking the time. You playfully hissed at the brightness, hiding your face in his chest. “It’s about 1:30,” Sam concluded, tossing his phone aside. You re-emerged from hiding, yawning. “Sounds about right, you shower yet?” You hummed. Sam shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. His morning had already been stressful, twitter having a field day with attempting to cancel him for the prices of his and Colby’s merch. “Hey stop it, you’re overthinking again,” You say, poking at him. You’d been with Sam so long you knew his facial expressions to a T. His eyebrows would furrow and eyes would harden whenever he was deep in thought. To anyone else he looked concentrated, but you knew he was spiraling on the inside. “Sorry,” He mumbled. You threw the covers off of the both of you, grabbing his hand. “Cmere, let me take care of you,” You said, delivering a small smile. Who was Sam to deny that?

He followed after you, the cool hotel AC making him shiver. You turned on the shower, tossing your oversized shirt over your head. Sam was mesmerized as he watched you undress, shrugging your panties down your thighs before discarding them on the floor. He could feel his cheeks turning a tint of pink. Somehow the sight of you doing the most mundane things always made him giddy inside. You stepped into the shower, soaking in the warmth as Sam undressed himself. He followed in behind you, his hands finding your waist with ease. You turned around to face him, smiling at the sight of his eagerness to kiss you. It was always like this with you, so relaxed and happy. Temporarily all of Sam’s stress was subsided, his full attention on you. His lips met yours with a passion, your lips eager to keep up with his.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, the warm water sliding down the two of you as you entangled in one another. You didn’t know if you could ever get enough of this. Sam snaked his hand down to your folds, opening his eyes to admire you. “Open your legs for me,” He mumbled lowly. The submission in your eyes sparked, your thighs spreading apart at his very word. He rubbed slow circles around your clit, bringing his lips back to yours. Playfully he nibbled at your lower lip, chuckling as you whimpered, Your core was throbbing with desire, Sam knowing all of your sweet spots without even trying. Your noises became louder and less controlled, causing you to pull away from his lips. “Cmon baby, be loud for me. I know you want to,” He encouraged. Your eyes screwed shut, your forehead leaning against his and you bucked your hips against his hand desperately. Sam took the hint, dipping two fingers into your eager cunt. You moaned his name, allowing the blonde to push you against the tiled wall for support.

He curled his fingers inside of you, your gummy walls clinging to him desperately. He tilted your head to the side, nibbling at your ear lobe. “There we go, such a good girl for me,” Sam praised, his breath hot against your ear. You grabbed his wrist as he mercilessly finger fucked you, abusing your g spot as he pleased. “Aweee what’s wrong? Can’t handle it?” Sam asked teasingly, water droplets falling in his face from his soaking wet hair. You loved when he did this. You loved when he teased and mocked you, your walls telling you everything he needed to know. “If you can’t handle my fingers, how are you gonna handle my cock?” He asked, licking his lips. He watched your nipples harden, looking down to watch you grind on his hand. You could feel yourself getting closer to the edge, the delicious euphoria you craved coming closer and closer. “Sammy it feels so good,” You whined. Sam used his spare hand to grab your chin, causing your soft eyes to flutter open.

“Look at me baby. Look at me as you cum for me,” He ordered. Your lips were parted, the blonde taking the opportunity to slide his thumb into your mouth. You began to suck on it, the action causing Sam’s cock to grow hard. You cursed as you released on his fingers, your walls spasming and thoughts incoherent as you let go. Your vision went white, your heart pounding as Sam slipped out his fingers. He brought his lips back to yours, your lips meeting his in a dazed state. “I’m sorry you’re just so beautiful, I could kiss you for the rest of time,” He confessed. You felt heat rash across your cheeks, the warm water not helping. “Sammy…” You say, your voice trailing off. Sam brushed your hair over your shoulder, swallowing. “I’m serious. You make everything feel so easy, I mean, fuck, I love you,” Sam rambled. You gave him a toothy grin, kissing him deeply. “I love you too,” You panted, briefly pulling away from him. His eyes met yours curiously.

“Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you please fuck me now?”

You giggled at the blunt question, causing Sam to chuckle. “Oh does my little whore wanna be fucked now? I see,” He mused. In a swift motion he picked you up by your thighs, your legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. He rubbed his shaft up and down your slick, watching you whimper as his tip brushed against your clit. It was then Sam pushed inside of your entrance, your head tilting back as he bottomed out inside of you. You both took a moment, your walls adjusting to his girth while he focused on not cumming right then and there. You were perfect in every way. You and your cunt. You always milked him so perfectly, so much so it took Sam lots of training to not cum quick. You were blissfully unaware of this, that being Sam’s only secret. “Feel good?” He asked. You melted under his touch, his hips beginning to move. You groaned in agreement, his large hands grabbing your waist.

He firmly held you into place, picking up the pace and fucking you into the wall. His thrust were slow and hard, the blonde in front of you wanting you to feel every inch of him during every second. Sam bit his bottom lip, both of you watching your cunt eagerly swallow his cock. “Fuck, Sammy,” You whined, gripping onto his shoulders for support. The blonde began to fuck you faster, determined to make your body tremble beneath his. The shower water was beginning to run cold, neither of you seeming to notice as Sam fucked you. “Thats it, you can take it,” He grunted. He brought himself closer to you, nuzzling into your neck. The only thing louder than his groans were your unholy moans of his name, curses, and incoherent babbles. “There we go. Taking me so well,” Sam panted. He continued to snap his hips into yours, your breast bouncing with every thrust.

Sam could feel your walls milking him, an indication you were getting close to your final orgasm. Sam knew your body better than you did, knowing exactly where your sweet spot was deep in your cunt. “You wanna cum for me? Hmm? Wanna be my good little whore and cum for me?” Sam asked, knowing the teasing would only provoke you further. You whined as you met his icy blue eyes, nodding profusely. “I wanna cum, please let me cum, oh- oh fuck!” You cried, your eyes rolling into the back of your head as you came on Sam’s cock. The blonde adored the feeling of your gummy walls clinging to him, his hips twitching as he came deep inside of you. You both were cold, panting messes, Sam reluctant to set you down. He knew that your legs tended to give out on you after cumming. “Let me get you cleaned up,” He murmured. He held your waist firmly, guiding you to stand on your own. You leaned against his chest, the blonde not failing to notice the goosebumps that were spreading across your skin from the cold shower.

You looked up at him, your eyes big as you admired your lover.

“I think it’s time for me to return the favor,” You said, lowering yourself onto your knees.

[dualityvn]

I would like to address a recent trend I am seeing pop up in the yandere community. I feel that people are kind of pointing fingers at each other trying to decide who is more morally correct than the other. And I find it a little silly. We're here for hot stalkers. None of us are consuming moral fiction.

I sympathize with Fantasia and the backlash she is getting because of her recent update to her game. I still stand by my belief that devs should write what they want before they let themselves be influenced by outside opinions. It is her choice and her game first and foremost. Not to mention it's her first one and being thrown in the spotlight while you're making your first game is a pretty horrible experience. Because you don't know much about the process of making games or what you even ultimately may want to do with your game. It's a trial and error type of thing. And you can't make everyone happy. I still support her and encourage her on her creative journey and I hope the finished game is something she will be proud of.

I also understand that the game originally looked like a yandere romance game and it did not turn out to be that. So people are upset and feel betrayed. Some have spent money thinking they'd enjoy it and the recent update may have changed that. I understand, but I ask them to be understanding themselves and give their feedback without harassing or insulting the dev.

At the same time, I'm observing some weird new mentality in this attempt to support Fantasia. Now, we are claiming that "realistic" yanderes are superior? And that people who enjoy softer yanderes are delusional idiots who don't belong in the yandere fandom? And don't get me started on the word "romanticize." Can we please stop the holier than thou attitude?

We are all in this pig den together. We are all muddy. We are all consuming dark content. One isn't more moral than the other. You are free to prefer yanderes who are cruel and awful and psychotic, but do not belittle the devs and fans who prefer a softer alternative. If someone outside the yan fandom were to look at us, they'd judge us all the same: people who like toxic obsessive love interests. We all know real life stalkers are bad. I am afraid of them everyday. None of us are delusional children and it's insulting and ridiculous to claim so.

Likewise, it's a little silly to claim you can't have darker content in dark fiction. Dark fiction is here to explore the awful parts of humanity without having to worry about morality. It does not reflect on the type of person the creator is. It does not make them an advocate for murder, stalking or sa.

Please be mature. If you wish to criticize, do so in a well thought out way. Do not simply throw around words.

[prettygirl-gabi]

Do I Look Like Her?

Fandom: Women’s Basketball (WNBA/NCAA)

POV: A’dahlia Bueckers- Paige Bueckers (OC Daughter)

Summary: A’dahlia Bueckers, navigates legacy, pressure, and identity while forging her own path—on and off the court.

Inspired by “Do I Look Like Him” by Tyler, The Creator

🏷️: @paigeshirleytemple , @cowboybueckers , @unknowgirlypop , @yailtsv , @nicebellee , @sitawita , @thatonesuschix , @vamptizm , @elalfywhore , @starfulani , @authentic-girl03 , @paxaz535 , @azziswrld , @jadasogay , @paigeluvvr , @melpthatsme , @lessi-lover , @courtsidewithlani , @elswhore , @italyyy , @lightsgore , @private-but-not-a-secret , @aubreygriffin , @issilovesherself , @graceeeeeesblog , @sayurireidotcom

She said that I make expressions like her.

My legs to my shoulders and my chin like her.

My waist and my posture like her.

But I’m not her.

I never had a dad. Never needed one either.

Mama always said I was made with love—and science.

IVF, a little planning, a little hope.

And two women who loved each other enough to raise someone like me.

And still—sometimes—I stare in the mirror and wonder:

“Do I look like her?”

The answer depends on the day.

When I was five, I liked watercolors more than sports.

At six, I was a menace on the monkey bars.

Seven? Softball. I quit after two games.

Eight? Soccer. I was too aggressive.

Nine? Volleyball. I liked the shoes more than the game. And maybe because mama, played it professionally.

But ten… ten was basketball. And that stuck.

I’d always watched Mom—Paige—on TV. Even the grainy high school tapes. Her passes, her footwork, the way her eyes scanned the floor like she saw the game in slow motion. It was mesmerizing.

But I didn’t start playing for her.

I started because it felt right. Like home.

By middle school, people already had something to say.

“She moves like Paige.”

“She has her jump shot.”

“She’s probably been training since diapers.”

Not entirely wrong. But they never mentioned Mama. Never asked if she taught me how to box out or scream for rebounds or ice after games. Never asked if Mama was the one who dried my tears when I missed open layups.

The spotlight was always angled at my mom.

The echo of her name louder than mine.

It got worse when film started circulating. Scouts clipped highlights. Blogs started making “Next Bueckers?” videos. Videos of side-by-side footage comparing my no-look passes to hers.

I watched one of those videos in my room late one night. The screen split down the middle: Mom in her UConn days on the left. Me on the right.

We both drove left, spun, step-backed, pulled up.

We both made the shot.

I should’ve felt proud.

Instead, I whispered:

“Mama, I’m chasing a ghost. I don’t know who she is.”

Mama came in holding a basket of folded laundry. She didn’t say anything at first. Just looked at the paused video.

“She’s not a ghost,” Mama finally said. “She’s your mom. And you’re not chasing her—you’re learning from her. Big difference.”

“But everyone thinks I’m chasing her,” I muttered. “And sometimes I do too.”

She set the laundry down and sat beside me on the bed.

“I’ve never lied to you, baby. And I never will. But you need to believe me when I say: you are your own person. You came from both of us, but everything you’re building is yours. Not Paige’s. Not mine. Yours.”

The first time I cried after a post-game interview, I was sixteen.

I’d dropped 31 points, 8 assists, and 6 steals in a playoff game. We won by twenty. But the reporter smiled and asked me:

“So, what’s it like trying to fill your mom Paige’s shoes?”

I laughed at the time. Polite. Poised.

But the second I got home, I slammed the bedroom door.

“I’m not filling anyone’s shoes,” I said through tears when Paige came to check on me. “I’m wearing my own.”

Paige sat on the floor with me, her knees pulled to her chest.

“I know,” she said. “I know how hard it is when people don’t let you just be. I went through that too… I just had to prove myself as Paige. Not as someone’s daughter. But you—” she looked up at me, eyes soft, “you have to prove yourself as more than my daughter. And that’s a whole different fight.”

I wiped my nose with my sleeve.

“I’m tired of feeling like I’m not enough unless I’m you.”

She pulled me into her lap.

“A’dahlia, I don’t want you to be me. I want you to be you. And for what it’s worth… I think you’re already better.”

I don’t think people realize what the last name Bueckers carries.

In airports. In gyms. On game day programs. It’s a crown and a curse.

A brand I never asked for, but one I refuse to run from.

Because somewhere deep down, I’m proud.

Proud that Paige Bueckers is my mom.

Proud that Mama believed in me when I didn’t.

Proud of the late nights, the tears, the drills, the ice baths.

So yeah, I started watching film again.

Not to compare—but to study.

I watched mom’s vision, her feel for tempo, her movement. I broke it down, built it back up, and mixed it with my style.

I’m stronger than she was. Faster in transition. More vocal on defense.

And I pass like her, sure. But I shoot like me.

Senior year came like a thunderstorm—loud, fast, and impossible to ignore.

Every school you could think of wanted me.

Stanford. LSU. South Carolina. Duke. UCLA. Oregon. UConn.

The hardest part? Nobody asked if I wanted them.

They just assumed UConn.

Assumed it was destiny.

Assumed I wanted to wear Paige’s number and relive her legacy.

But I didn’t tell anyone my answer.

Not mom-Paige.

Not Mama.

Not even myself—not until the night before Signing Day.

I was in the kitchen, sitting at the counter, staring at the five hats on the table. I’d narrowed it down to UConn, Stanford, LSU, South Carolina, and Duke.

Mom walked in and paused.

“Need help?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“Already decided.”

She sat beside me. “So why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

I chuckled softly.

“Because maybe I have.”

She didn’t respond, just waited.

“I’ve spent so long asking myself if I look like you,” I said. “Not just my face, but… how I play. How I lead. How I move on the court. But what scares me most is that people won’t see me. Just… the ghost of Paige Bueckers.”

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look hurt. Just said gently:

“You gave me love and affection, attention, protection. I would never miss something I’ve never had.”

I looked at her, surprised.

“That’s the song I’ve been listening to.”

She nodded.

“I know. Mama played it the other night. She cried.”

I swallowed hard.

“I would never judge you,” I whispered. “Cause everything worked out. I mean it.”

A long silence passed.

“You’re not my shadow, A’dahlia,” Paige finally said. “You’re the sun. Bright as hell. Blinding sometimes. But always yours.”

I didn’t announce my decision until the cameras were rolling. Gym packed. Teammates buzzing. Five hats on the table.

I stared at them, hands steady, mind clear.

And I picked up the navy one with the silver letters:

UCONN.

Gasps. Cheers. A few people even stood up. The cameras snapped. Mama cried.

Then I saw mom bury her face in her hands.

And I smiled.

Not because I was following my mom.

But because I was writing the next chapter of my story.

That night, we sat on the back porch. Me, Paige, and Mama. Just us. Moonlight cutting across the yard, a breeze teasing the hem of my sweatpants.

“I didn’t choose UConn because of you,” I said quietly. “I chose it because it’s where I can become the player I want to be. The leader. The person.”

Paige leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Then you picked right.”

Mama nodded, voice thick with emotion.

“You’re everything we dreamed of,” she whispered. “And nothing we expected.”

I smiled through a sting of tears.

“I’m everything I strived to be,” I said. “So, tell me… do I look like her?”

They looked at each other.

“No,” Mama said.

“No,” mom echoed.

“You look like you.”

So maybe I make expressions like her.

Maybe I move like her.

Maybe our footwork is twins.

But I’m not her.

I’m A’dahlia Bueckers.

Made with love.

Built with fire.

And chasing no one but myself.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

                 -Thank You For Reading!💚💙

                             -prettygirl-gabi✨️💗

[seriallover]

Why certain people capture the spotlight?⭐️

1. The luminaries, the Sun and Moon naturally draw attention in a birth chart. People with strong Sun or Moon placements tend to light up any room they enter, effortlessly standing out.

Just like everyone loves capturing the beauty of a sunrise or the glow of a full moon, those with these placements have a magnetic energy that people can’t help but notice.

It’s almost like they’re always in the spotlight, which is why they often feel the need to look their best.☀️🌕

Beyoncé, Purva Phalguni Sun, Chitra Lagna and Venus.

Michael Jackson, Magha Sun and Shatabhisha Lagna.

Bella Hadid, Purva Phalguni Moon and Lagna.

There's not much to say about Beyoncé and Michael that isn't already well-known—they're icons in their own right, the biggest stars of our time. Bella Hadid has become the most photographed model off-duty and in 2022, she was named Model of the Year.

Gia Carangi, often hailed as the first true supermodel, paved the way for all the other supermodels that followed. She had a Shravana Sun and Lagnesh, with Hasta as her Lagna and a Shatabhisha Moon.

Britney Spears, Shravana Moon, was one of the most photographed stars for a while. The crazy amount of media attention even led to harassment and really affected her mental health.

Gisele Bündchen, Pushya Sun and Purva Phalguni Lagna, the only "Ubermodel"-that means being more than a supermodel.

Lauren Hutton, Pushya Moon and Lagna, holds the record for the most Vogue covers—26 in total.

I previously explored about how lunar-dominant people often achieve significant success on social media.

2. Chitra Nakshatra, known as the "Star of Opportunity," carries the Shakti of "accumulating merit." The word "Chitra" translates to "wonderful" and "pleasing to look at," as well as "illusion."

The deity of this nakshatra is Tvastar, the celestial architect who designed the universe. The symbol of Chitra is the "pearl" or "bright jewel," symbolizing beauty and uniqueness.💎💍

"Chitra" also means "picture," so individuals with this nakshatra are often naturally photogenic. 📸Tvastar, as the creator of Maya (illusion), grants those under Chitra the ability to craft captivating personas, making them talented models, photographers, actors, and successful on social media.

Kim Kardashian, Chitra Sun, built a career centered on her image. As one of the first influencers, she's become one of the most prominent and influential figures on social media. In 2015, she released “Selfish”, a book featuring a collection of her selfies.

Cindy Kimberly, Chitra Moon and Shravana Lagna, shot to fame because of her striking beauty. Her big break came when Justin Bieber posted about her on his Instagram. Now, she’s a major beauty influencer and a well-known model.

Anna Nicole Smith, Chitra Sun and Hasta Moon, made a name for herself as a model, completely based on her image. She was once one of the most photographed women in the world, and photographers loved working with her, often saying she was one of the easiest and most exciting people to capture on camera.

The thing with Chitra individuals is that, because of Tvastar, the celestial craftsman, their features often become iconic. For instance, Kim drew the attention to the BBL, Cindy’s nose has become a major inspiration for many women, and Anna Nicole brought attention back to curvy bodies at a time when the "heroin chic" look was in vogue, reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's era.

3. Dhanishtha🌟 Shakti is "power to give abundance and fame," meaning "the most famous," "the most heard of." This nakshatra is recurring in the charts of people who usually marry famous individuals, making them well-known as well, often attracting more attention than their partner.

Princess Diana, Dhanishtha Moon and Magha Lagnesh, was the most photographed woman in the world, holding the record for the most sold-out paparazzi pictures, including one that sold for 6 million dollars.

Marilyn Monroe, Rohini Sun, Dhanishtha Moon, and Ashlesha Lagna, was also one of the most photographed women of her time.

4. Shatabhisha, meaning "hundred stars" and represented by a veiled star and an empty circle, is a nakshatra ruled by Rahu. ⭕️

This nakshatra is associated with illusion, the power to effect radical change, innovation, the foreign, esoteric influences, and trends. The empty circle can also symbolize the idea of a cult or community, like the Navy for Rihanna.

Rihanna, Shatabhisha Sun, stands out as one of the most influential artists and fashion icons. She has consistently set trends in the fashion world, with her style serving as an inspiration to many. Recently, her maternity looks have redefined how celebrities approach their appearance during pregnancy, bringing a stylish twist to the norm.

Demi Moore, Lagnesh in Shravana and Jupiter in Shatabhisha in the first house, set a trend for nude pregnancy photoshoots. At the time, this was quite controversial, but it has since become a common practice not just among celebrities, but also for non-celebrity women.

Elizabeth Taylor, Sun in Shatabhisha, was also a major target for paparazzi. George Hamilton once remarked:

"I remember when the word 'paparazzi' came along, and it just meant a bunch of guys who were all photographers looking for Elizabeth Taylor. Desperately looking for Elizabeth Taylor! And that was the beginning of paparazzi. They were not going for glamour anymore. They were going for the destruction of glamour."

[stewpidcheescatarinabluu]

Dummy

Synopsis: Y/N, a small-time streamer, has always dreamed of becoming famous, streaming to just 10-15 viewers. One day, their favorite streamer, Karina (aka KatarinaBluu), starts watching and interacting in the chat, eventually building a connection. As their friendship deepens, Karina confesses that Y/N has been her comfort streamer, and their bond turns into something more. The two grow closer, with Y/N eventually joining Karina's streams, nervously taking his first steps into the spotlight. Together, they navigate their blossoming relationship, becoming a team both on and off the stream.

Word Count: 2,404.

Ever since you were a kid, you dreamed of becoming a famous streamer. You worked hard—posting videos, streaming for hours on end—but life wasn’t always kind. Still, as you grew older, so did your determination. You kept streaming, often for even longer hours, though your audience never grew much—just about 10 to 15 viewers in total.

But it wasn’t really about the numbers. You streamed because it made you happy. It made you feel productive, like you were chasing the dream you’d held onto since childhood. And even if it was just 10 to 15 people watching, having the privilege to share your world with them was enough.

Of course, you had your fair share of favorite streamers. But one of your all-time favorites—if not the favorite—was a streamer named KatarinaBluu, or just Karina. She was a mix of everything: a gamer, lifestyle creator, and vlogger, with a following that skyrocketed to over 7 million in just three years. She wasn’t just popular—she was one of the biggest streamers today.

You’d wake up at 10 a.m. and stream until 10 p.m., grinding through hours of content, mostly RPGs—your favorite genre. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was your dream, and you lived it every day.

The thing is… your favorite streamer was watching you almost every time you went live.

You were in the middle of a Souls game, on your last sliver of health, about to beat a tough boss. One more hit and it would've been yours—but you failed. By a pixel.

Then you heard the notification sound.

A message popped up in chat.

CatrinaBlue: "Aww, nice try! You’ll get him this time!"

You stared at the message, a little stunned before breaking into a smile. It was always nice knowing people were actually watching—even better when it was her.

"Thanks, KatarinaBluu. I’ll get him this time—for you!"

You went in again, more focused than ever, and this time… you won.

You let out a cheer, leaning back with both relief and pride.

CatrinaBlue: "Good job! You deserved it."

[CatrinaBlue donated $5.00]

"Yoo! Thank you, Catarinablue, for the $5! You didn’t have to, you know?" You said, grinning ear to ear. It felt surreal, like this was your moment—your break. As time passed, the games kept coming and going, but there she was. "CatarinaBluu"—always in the chat.

Sometimes, you’d get 3 or 5 viewers, but most of the time, it was just her. Just CatarinaBluu, talking with you, engaging with you, and forming this unique connection between you both.

"Hi, Catarinablue! Welcome back! I’m playing another Souls game, and look—I made my name similar to yours." You typed with excitement.

She replied almost immediately in chat:

"Wow, you didn’t have to! But thanks! Are you planning to finish it today? If so, good luck!"

You grinned, fingers hovering over the keys.

"I’m planning to! Why? Will you stick around until the end of the game?"

Her response came quickly:

"Mhm, yes."

Time passed by, and eventually, you and Catarinablue started having more personal conversations—talking about how your day was going, what your plans for the future were, and sometimes just sharing random thoughts. One day, you even asked her if her name was inspired by KatarinaBlue, the famous streamer you admired. She chuckled at the question and told you it was just a coincidence.

"Funny thing," she typed one night. "I actually get asked that a lot. But nah, I just liked the name. It’s not inspired by anyone."

You laughed, relieved that it wasn’t some weird coincidence. The two of you started to get even closer, talking about your hopes, your struggles, and what it meant to chase dreams.

"Hey, Y/N," she texted one night, "What are you planning to do in the next five years?"

"I want to get better at streaming, keep growing, you know? Maybe even hit the big leagues someday."

"I believe in you. You’re gonna get there."

"Thanks, Catarinablue. You’ve been such a huge support."

"No problem. You’re doing the hard work. I’m just here cheering you on."

The conversations grew more frequent, and the connection between you two deepened. Eventually, you exchanged phone numbers, which felt like a huge step. Your small circle of viewers, mostly just her, was growing into something much more meaningful.

But then, one day, it all changed.

You defeated the final boss of your playthrough, heart pounding as the screen flashed with victory. You leaned back, exhaling a sigh of relief, and looked at your chat, eagerly waiting for Catarinablue to send her usual encouraging message.

But what you saw instead made your world freeze.

A verified username—KatarinaBluu—appeared in your chat, sending a simple message:

"Congrats, Y/N! I knew you’d do it!"

What? KatarinaBluu? In your chat? Knowing your name? Huh? How? What? Why? Your mind went into overdrive, a million questions swirling through your head. Was this a prank? Was it real?

On the other end, Karina—KatarinaBluu—was having a full-on panic attack. She hadn’t meant to message you from her main account. She’d been caught up in the moment, and now her personal account was connected to your stream. Her heart was racing as she watched your stream explode with activity.

Your viewer count, which had been around 5, jumped up to 45K active viewers in seconds. The chat went wild:

"Who is this?"

"Why is Karina messaging this guy?"

"Isn’t that THE Karina?"

"Is she collabing with him?"

"Wait, how does he know her?"

You stared at the chat, overwhelmed, but it was the message from Catarinablue that snapped you back to reality.

A private message popped up on your phone.

Catarinablue:

"Hey, Y/N. I know this is crazy, but it’s me—Karina. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just wanted to congratulate you, but now everything’s a mess. I didn’t expect my personal account to pop up. Please don’t freak out, okay?"

You blinked, sitting back in your chair, staring at the message. Karina. THE Karina, the one you admired, had just messaged you. Your fingers hovered over the keys, unsure how to respond, the magnitude of it all sinking in.

You sat there in shock, your hands shaking as you read her message again. Karina. The Karina. KatarinaBluu. She wasn’t just some random viewer anymore. She had been following you, supporting you from the very beginning.

You clicked on her message, still unsure how to process everything that was happening, but then another message popped up from her.

"I know this is a lot, but I want to be honest with you. The truth is... I’ve been watching your streams for a while now. And I didn’t just watch because I thought you were entertaining, though you are. It’s because you’ve been my favorite comfort streamer."

Your heart skipped a beat. You read it again, slowly this time. Was this real? Was Karina really saying that? The person you had admired for so long, the one you’d always looked up to, was telling you that you were her comfort streamer?

"I’ve had a lot of tough days, and your streams... they’ve always been there for me. I loved how you kept pushing forward no matter what. I felt like I wasn’t alone when I tuned in to watch you, especially when everything around me felt like chaos. So... I guess I’ve been cheering for you longer than you know."

Your mind was racing, your fingers trembling as you typed your response.

"Wait, what? Really?"

Her reply came almost immediately.

"Yeah. Really. You don’t know how much it means to me that you’re still doing this, even when it feels like no one’s watching. I just... I just wanted you to know that I see you. And I care."

You sat there in stunned silence, the weight of her words sinking in. Karina, the one who had been your idol for so long, was telling you that you were important to her. That your streams—your journey—had helped her when she needed it the most.

You looked at the chat, now flooded with a mix of excitement and confusion from the 45K viewers. But the only thing that mattered to you at that moment was the private conversation between you and Karina.

"I... I had no idea, Karina. I just wanted to make people smile. And now, here you are, saying that... I don’t even know what to say."

"You don’t have to say anything. Just... keep doing what you’re doing. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be."

At that moment, everything felt different. The nervousness from the sudden surge of viewers was still there, but it didn’t matter anymore. You realized that, even if this moment was overwhelming, it was also the beginning of something new.

Things had changed in the best way possible. What started as a random stream chat between two people turned into something much more. You weren’t just her fellow streamer now; you were her constant companion—on screen and off.

A couple of months later!

Things had grown naturally between you and Karina. What started out as late-night gaming sessions and private chats turned into something deeper. She had become more than just a favorite streamer to you. Now, she was your girlfriend, and you were becoming a part of her world in a way you never thought possible. But today was different.

Today, you were finally going to join her on stream. It wasn’t anything big—just sitting with her during a casual playthrough. But for you, it felt like a big step. You were nervous, even though she reassured you a hundred times that it was okay.

“Alright, chat,” Karina said with a grin, adjusting her camera. “We’ve got a special guest today. Guess who it is.”

She glanced over at you, sitting just off-camera, already looking a little too shy for comfort. “Come on, don’t be shy. You’re gonna do great.”

You were just sitting there, practically invisible behind her, fiddling with your fingers. “U-um, hey, chat,” you said quietly, voice soft, unsure of how to act. It was your first time on her stream, and you weren’t used to the attention. You could feel your heart race as your name popped up in the chat.

“Y/N? Wait, is that really Y/N? OMG.”

“He’s here!!! I can't believe it!!”

The words flowed faster than you could process them. It was overwhelming but also flattering.

“Hey, Y/N,” Karina said, her voice playful yet encouraging, as she nudged you gently. “Say hi to everyone. They’re all really excited to see you.”

You smiled awkwardly, feeling a little overwhelmed by the sudden influx of attention, but you managed to wave at the camera. “Hi, uh… I’m Y/N. I don’t really stream anymore, so... yeah.”

The chat exploded.

“OMG, he’s adorable.”

“Y/N is shy, this is too cute.”

“Karina, you’re breaking the internet!”

Karina laughed softly, catching your nervousness. She reached out, resting a hand on your arm, her voice low so only you could hear. “You’re doing great. Just be yourself. They’re gonna love you.”

You nodded, trying to relax, but it was hard with so many eyes on you. Karina’s stream had a massive following. At the moment, you were just another part of the show. You had to get used to it, but it felt like a lot all at once.

She kept playing, and you just sat beside her, watching her play through the game. The comments kept coming in, and the pressure didn’t ease up. “I’ll let Y/N play in a bit, chat!” Karina teased, glancing at you with a raised eyebrow. “He’s just shy right now, but he’s gonna be awesome when he gets in there.”

You blinked. “M-me? Play?”

Karina smiled, the way she always did when she was trying to encourage you. “Yeah, you can do it. You’ve been practicing, right? I’ll help.”

You swallowed, glancing at the game. It didn’t seem so hard when you watched her play, but now that it was your turn, your palms started sweating. “I-I don’t know if I’m ready,” you muttered, feeling a little embarrassed.

Karina giggled softly, turning to you with a warm, reassuring smile. “It’s okay to be nervous. I’ll be right here with you. Just remember to breathe.”

You nodded, trying to steady your hands. The chat was filled with messages of encouragement.

“You’ve got this, Y/N!”

“Don’t worry, you’ll do great!”

“We’re all rooting for you!”

Finally, you took a deep breath, picked up the controller, and started playing. Your hands trembled slightly, but Karina’s presence beside you helped ground you. “Okay, here we go...”

You weren’t flawless, and it took you a few tries, but each time you failed, Karina was right there, supporting you, giving you advice, and even laughing at your silly mistakes. “It’s alright, you’ll get it next time,” she said, her tone light and encouraging.

“I’m sorry I’m messing up,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t be sorry,” Karina reassured you, giving your arm a gentle squeeze. “Everyone messes up. You’re doing great.”

And just like that, the anxiety started to melt away, little by little. You focused on the game more than the camera. You focused on Karina’s calm, encouraging voice, and soon enough, you were making progress. The chat was buzzing with comments, but this time, it felt less like an overwhelming storm and more like a friendly buzz of excitement. “OMG, Y/N’s doing it! He’s gonna win!”

“I love how supportive Karina is, they’re a perfect team.”

When you finally beat the level, you couldn’t help but let out a triumphant laugh. “I did it! I actually did it!”

Karina leaned over, giving you a playful kiss on the cheek. “I knew you could do it,” she said, her voice warm and filled with pride. “See? I told you you were ready.”

You smiled shyly, still not used to the attention but feeling proud of yourself. “Thanks, Karina. I… I couldn’t have done it without you.”

The chat was still going wild, but you didn’t mind it anymore. You felt more at ease now, knowing that you had Karina beside you, making this moment something special.

“You’re doing so well, Y/N. I think you just earned your place in the stream world.” Karina smiled at you, squeezing your hand. “Next time, let’s do it together. I’ll be your backup.”

You smiled back, feeling a sense of accomplishment and contentment. “Yeah. Let’s do it. Together.”

And from that moment on, you knew that whether you were on stream or off, you’d always have her by your side.