Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Veera's Spectacle Part 4: Media

Maria Stone, with her green suit and matching hair clicked the remote in her hand. "And speaking of public freakouts, did you all see the videos from this afternoon? If you haven't here is a small clip." She gave the camera a devil-like smile.

The screen transitioned to a cell phone video taken from a crowd. Standing on a stage was the slender dark skinned and silver clad form of Veera Deva with a finger wagging towards someone unseen. "... I should kick your worthless ass out and charge you for the trouble. That's what you'd deserve, punk. Like, do you even listen to yourself?..."

As quick as they cut to the clip, they cut back to the show's host.

"Ouch." Maria gestured with her hand as if she had burned it on a stove. "There is the beloved Veera Deva exploding on a helpless fan. It seems touring has really gotten the best of her. Maybe she should take a step out of the limelight. This isn't the first time we've caught her raising her voice at the crowd either. If you look at this clip from-"

Veera grunted and turned off the tv. "That's not fair. They cut off the rest of the clip! I was defending another fan that you can see standing behind me!"

Dwight buttoned his suit jacket around his stomach. "You know better than this Veera. It doesn't matter what you do, you're popular, so they're going to do whatever they can to make you look bad. So, my god, you have to stop giving them so much ammo! You don't have to be so involved with every fan that you -"

Veera scoffed. "That kid was making fun of her. I could see she heard what they said and how it bothered her. These people wait for hours in line to see me. They buy tickets as soon as my events are open - months in advance." She contorted her face into a pained smile. "I can't just stand there like a wax figure. They're coming to see me. They come to spend what time I can with them. Not someone who looks like me. If I just take 20 seconds to say hi to them as a person, then I might make their day. Their week. Maybe they talk about it for years."

"You're getting too invested." Dwight shook his head.

Veera made a face at him as he walked out. Still angry, she pulled out her phone, opened social media, and started streaming a video. Thousands of people immediately joined her and spammed the live chat with all sorts of messages. She didn't read any of them, she had her own message to deliver.

"So listen everyone. I'm sure some of you have seen a clip going around and being talked about. Specifically the asshole Maria Stone brought up the clip. I want you all to notice how short it was. Like really? Was that all that happened? Oh. No. It was a much larger conversation. The person I was scolding - yes scolding - was a young kid who made fun of another fan of mine. If you watch the full clip - go watch it -Ii started out defending her, and then after that clip, I have him apologize. And then another thing. After that, I had a talk with him and told him why what he did was wrong. We parted amicably. Why? Because they were both fans. And they need to get along. This bitch Maria Stone isn't my fan. She doesn't get to talk about how I resolve conflicts with my fans. I do."

Veera sighed and thought about ending the stream. She didn't. More thoughts were lingering.

"And onto my second topic for today. Though it's related. I've seen the full clips. I see the comments. I see people taking the side of the fan who insulted my other fan. They're saying that he was right to make his comments. Listen. Like. For those of you who don't know, the kid was making fun of the other fan for being fat. And I won't accept that in my community. A fan is a fan is a fan. What difference does it make that you're skinny or fat? Makes no difference to me. I wont tolerate bullshit like that. Hashtag body positivity, hashtag respect, hashtag hot take. That's uhh - that's all I have for you all tonight. Now go forth. Be kind to each other. Be kind to yourselves. Peace. Bye!"

She ended the stream and sighed. Her phone buzzed with social media notifications. In the wave of popups one she cared about came in: a message from her dear friend, the Secret Advisor.

"I saw the media blitz. Are you doing okay?"

Veera laughed and thought about it for a moment. "Annoyed. I was really happy with how I handled the situation and now people are clipping a small part and making a massive deal about it. It's annoying. But I tell myself that it won't affect people liking my music. Not seriously. If someone stops listening because of it then I bet they didn't listen that much to begin with."

"People like to be angry. I saw the video and honestly I'm proud of how you handled it."

Veera snuggled into her couch, feeling warm and fuzzy. "The stupidest part of it is - I think she was beautiful: The woman I defended."

"You were right to defend her. I'm sure more than just that one kid has made mean comments. I'm sure your confidence made her day, if not more. It must have meant the world to her."

"I hope so..."

"I'm sure of it."

"With so many fans, I wish I could mean something to all of them. Or even a lot. To most of them I must just be the model they see on stage. I wish I could be more. I regret how I yelled at the kid."

"I can see why. But I think in the whole picture you helped him."

"The reason I came off so... Bomb like... I felt attacked. Like... his comments were at Lilly ( the fan's name) but I felt them too."

"Why?"

Veera's cheeks were hot and her heart was thumping in her chest. Her recent joking with the Secret Advisor about her eating and gaining weight had been getting very close to the truth of her feelings. She gulped and spilled it on the screen. "Hah. It's funny. I keep talking about food. Joking, really. And weight. And everything. And well I thought Lilly was so beautiful. I was a bit jealous. Not like super envious and spiteful. But there is a part of me that wishes I was much bigger. Like her. That's part of why I got so angry. Because they were attacking how I want to look." She sent the text without thinking about it so she couldn't delete it and write it again.

She gulped and typed a follow up. "That's it. Out on the page. That's my fantasy..."

"You have to know I already guessed at least some of it."

Veera sat up straight staring at her screen. "What! And you never said anything!"

"I didn't think it would make you feel good to be called out like that. That's not why I talk to you. And I'm just a guy, and you're world famous."

Veera chuckled. "Okay. That's fair."

"But if you want to talk about it, I'm more than open. How many people have you told about this?"

"No one. Except tv show stream services I guess..."

"Well, if you think it'll make you feel better, you can tell me about it. I'm not about to judge you for what you like. You know me."

Veera hugged her knees to her chest and debated what to say. She was nervous. Excited. A little bit aroused. "Alright. It was her belly. Like - she was all big. But what I liked the most was her belly. It was really massive, SA. I mean that in such a good way too. Not an insult or anything. Her bellybutton was showing - meaning she'd probably been getting bigger too. I wish I could have kept staring at it. It was sooo round too. I'm not making a lot of sense. Sorry."

"What if I told you I knew exactly what you mean. I know some people with the same opinions as you."

"What? Really?"

"I do. I could introduce you if you want. I trust them to be discrete. For publicity reasons."

"I - maybe. Sure. Don't you pull one over on me. It's risky, but I'm really interested... haha"