Stacy Johansson, a Cosplayer.

Stacy, aged 26 had been cosplaying for five years, ever since she got into the hobby during college where she took on the name “Starlight Joy Cosplay”, a play off of her own name and one of her favorite things in the world, the night sky.

Since then things were great for a while, she attended dozens of conventions, some as an invited guest cosplayer, even gave a talk at some about the right way to stain leather or make cheap chainmail, she got a few small jobs posing for various companies to promote crossovers or new games coming out, making decent money for what she considered a fun hobby, but over time her spotlight faded.

It’s been over a year since she even attended a con, let alone was invited to one as a guest, her last modeling offer was some pervert just wanting her to wear a wig and some sexy lingerie for his collection…which she did honestly consider once she saw what he was willing to pay, but in the end, turned it down.

And now she finds herself laying in bed staring at her recent Bluesky and X posts, showing off an attempt at cosplaying Belle from Zenless Zone Zero, to… middling views and likes.

“Maybe it’s time to give it up..” She murmured to herself as she rolls over, sighing and staring up at her ceiling covered in convention posters.

Soon she left to take a shower, thinking of any potential ways to revive her former success.