Hey! I'm looking for a mid-level luxury shoulder bag. Somewhere under $300 would be great (that's luxury to me lol). I want it to match a pair of Naturalizer Vera dress sandals in either Crème Brulee or Frappe. I'm also a plus size girly so a slightly longer shoulder strap would be amazing. Some bags just end up awkwardly in my armpit lol. Right now I'm looking at this Coach bag, this Coach bag, or this Kate Spade bag but I'm not really sold on any of them yet.
If you folks could help me out that would be amazing!!

A feice girly her ability is signature Steel Plated turns Jade's fur as hard as steel (I named her Jade)

Wanted to find my next signature fragrance and so set off my journey with this Studiowest Cities gift box. Available on Westside and TataCliq for 1999. Can get it for as low as 1850 or something because you can get 5% off for opting out of online returns on the Westside website.
WARNING: This is gonna be a LONG post.
Tl;Dr: Ratings:
Ibiza 1/5
Bali 3.5/5
Bora Bora 3/5
Cancun 5/5
Mykonos 3.5/5
Rio 3/5
Paris 2.5/5
New York 4/5
London 1/5
Packaging is quite lovely
The box has 10 glass bottles of 9ml perfumes. Very nice to hold. There are tearable covers over each of the bottle, kind of like a Christmas advent calendar. I loved this.
It's a great gift to give someone, even if they aren't into fragrance at all, simple because it feels like a premium gift.
I am by no means a reviewer or a person who knows much about fragrance in general. So I apologize in advance for my descriptions.
The fragrance notes are from the Westside website. There's nothing mentioned on the bottle or the box so i guess we will have to take their word for it.

One Night in Ibiza

1/5
Floral - Bergamot, Cardamom, Coconut blended with Tiare Flower, Tuberose, Ylang Ylang and base notes of Musk, Benzoin, Heliotrope.
Top: bergamot
Mid: Heliotrope
Base: Vanilla
Dupe for: ?
Review: You can really smell the coconut in this. It's a nice gourmand smell, but the spiciness of the cardamom makes this smell like a sabji made with amrutanjan balm.
It settles down to just the smell of the musk and the coconut. Pleasant but smells like it could be odomos.
Didn't like this.

One Night in Bali

3.5/5
Grapefruit Lemon, Mint and Pink Pepper mixed with middle notes of Ginger, Nutmeg, Jasmine and with base notes of Incense, Vetiver, Cedar, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Labdanum and White Musk.
Top: Grapefruit
Mid: Ginger
Base: Sandalwood
Dupe for: Bleu de Chanel
Review: the first burst is definitely very heavy on the alcohol and smells a lot like men's aftershave, you definitely get the citrus and the mint. As it dries down it turns into an inoffensive, soft, mainly musky smell.
Okayish. Might consider wearing it again. Good for day wear.

One Night in Bora Bora

3/5
Floral Ambery - Citrus, Pear, Melon blended with Rose, Freesia, Lily of the Valley and base notes of Amber, Musk, Patchouli.
Top: Pear
Mid: Lily of the valley
Base: Patchouli
Review: Too patchouli heavy for me this one. I can only smell the rose and the patchouli. Couldn't smell the citrus. I'm more into fresh scents so I hoped highly for this one. Settles down to a soft floral scent. Nothing mind blowing. Might consider wearing it in evenings.
Dupe for: CK Eternity

One Night in Cancun

5/5 <3
Floral Fruity - Peach, Plum, Honey blended with Lily of the Valley, Nectarine, Petitgrain and base notes of Musk, Vetiver, Amber
Top: Peach
Mid: Petitgrain
Base: Vetiver
Dupe for: Elizabeth Arden Red Door
Review: Now this one is definitely interesting to me. I am not a fan of fruity scents but this is a wonderful one. At first you can really smell the plum and the peach scents, and the sweet nectarine but it's not sickly sweet. Settles down into what I think vetiver is supposed to smell like (I don't know what vetiver smells like, but it's not musk for sure). It smells... delicious?
I think this one is my favourite. Might even consider getting a decant of EA Red Door because of this.

One Night in Mykonos

3.5/5
Citrus Floral - Aqueous, Lemon, Green blended with Rose, Jasmine, Pear Blossom and base notes of Amber, Balsamic, Musk.
Top: Lemon
Mid: Rose
Base: Amber
Dupe for: CK One
Review: Initial burst of citrus is really fresh, and not in a ambi pur car fragrance kind of way. Settles down well. The rose and Jasmine would feel very hair oil fragrance but it's not that offensive. Left with a musk scent at the base. I don't know where the balsamic is supposed to sit.

One Night in Rio

3/5
Floral Chypre - Citrus, Fresh blended with Peony, Rose, Jasmine and base notes of Patchouli, Musk, Amber.
Top: Citrus
Mid: Peony
Base: Patchouli
Dupe for: CK Eternity Eau Fresh
Review: Opens with a floral scent that I can't seem to catch which flower it's supposed to be. Didn't get the citrus top note. Too much patchouli for me. I guess I just don't like patchouli. It settles down into a sweet smell, again, of just patchouli, and peony I guess. But I've never smelled a peony so I can't tell. The smell of this I can only describe as the floor cleaners they use in airport bathrooms at Kempegowda or a mall washroom that was just cleaned.
Not a fan of this one.

Studiowest Paris

2.5/5
At the forefront of this fragrant journey, the delightful blend of plum, raspberry, and pear dances on your senses, creating a luscious and playful olfactory experience. As the fragrance continues to unfold, the heart reveals musk, vanilla, and sugary notes, adding depth and complexity to this captivating aromatic symphony
Notes from TataCliq
Top Note
Vanilla
Middle Note
Jasmin, Orchid
Base Note
Sweet, Musky
Review: Vanilla opening, definitely fruity but I didn't get the plum I was expecting. Definitely a girly fragrance. The label is pink and it's definitely the vibe of this one. Very high school, winx club, Blossom from Powerpuff Girls. It's a nice one but I don't think it's for me.
Dupe for: ?

Studiowest New York

4/5
At the top, vanilla takes the spotlight with its sweet allure. In the heart of this fragrance, jasmine and orchid add a delicate, floral dimension. Finally, the scent finds its soothing base in the notes of sweet and musky, leaving a lasting impression of sophistication and charm.
Notes from TataCliq
Top:
Plum, Raspberry, Pear
Middle Note
Lily Of The Valley, Jasmine, Rose
Base Note
Musk, Vanilla, Sugary
Dupe for: ?
Review: Opens quite fresh, fruity but not too sweet. Settles down into a musky, jasminey, vanilla smell which isn't sweet. I'm saying this over and over because I detest sickly sweet frags, they make me gag.
I liked this one.

Studiowest London

?1/5
The scent journey begins with passion fruit, leading to peony, italian pine, and a lasting base of vanilla and orchid, ensuring a memorable olfactory experience.
Notes from TataCliq
Top notes:
Passion Fruit
Middle Note
Peony, Italian Pine
Base Note
Vanilla, Orchid
Dupe for: ?
Review: struggling to describe this one. Not sure if it was just my bottle or what but it smells like... nothing? I wanted to keep a constant or a standard for measuring the smell and the stay of these EDPs so 2 sprays per were enough.
I ended up spraying 4 to 5 sprays for this one, and yet it smelled like nothing. There's a hint of pine in there but that's it. Not sure what is supposed to deliver.
A fail.
OVERALL:
A good gift for someone who would like to get into fragrances. Not very long lasting, nor very outstanding scents tho. Maybe it's the Cities line of fragrances that aren't very good. I keep hearing Goddess as a good one, maybe I should've just got that to try instead.
I sprayed just a couple of times to keep it even but even so not good projection, sillage or staying power. It's gone within the hour but settles on the skin for maybe 2 hours.
Anyway.
I might revisit this post in the future to update how these have aged or if I've grown to love or hate any of these.
Tl;Dr: Ratings:
Ibiza 1/5
Bali 3.5/5
Bora Bora 3/5
Cancun 5/5
Mykonos 3.5/5
Rio 3/5
Paris 2.5/5
New York 4/5
London 1/5
I'd love to hear from y'all. This was my first review ever. I'd also like to know your experiences with Studiowest perfumes, and if anyone knows what the Paris, NY and London ones are dupes for.
My current signature fragrance is actually Nude by Skinn by Titan. Has been for 5 years. The journey to find a suitable love continues for now.
Love, light and health!

Wanted to find my next signature fragrance and so set off my journey with this Studiowest Cities gift box. Available on Westside and TataCliq for 1999. Can get it for as low as 1850 or something because you can get 5% off for opting out of online returns on the Westside website.
WARNING: This is gonna be a LONG post.
Tl;Dr: Ratings:
Ibiza 1/5
Bali 3.5/5
Bora Bora 3/5
Cancun 5/5
Mykonos 3.5/5
Rio 3/5
Paris 2.5/5
New York 4/5
London 1/5
Packaging is quite lovely
The box has 10 glass bottles of 9ml perfumes. Very nice to hold. There are tearable covers over each of the bottle, kind of like a Christmas advent calendar. I loved this.
It's a great gift to give someone, even if they aren't into fragrance at all, simple because it feels like a premium gift.
I am by no means a reviewer or a person who knows much about fragrance in general. So I apologize in advance for my descriptions.
The fragrance notes are from the Westside website. There's nothing mentioned on the bottle or the box so i guess we will have to take their word for it.

One Night in Ibiza

1/5
Floral - Bergamot, Cardamom, Coconut blended with Tiare Flower, Tuberose, Ylang Ylang and base notes of Musk, Benzoin, Heliotrope.
Top: bergamot
Mid: Heliotrope
Base: Vanilla
Dupe for: ?
Review: You can really smell the coconut in this. It's a nice gourmand smell, but the spiciness of the cardamom makes this smell like a sabji made with amrutanjan balm.
It settles down to just the smell of the musk and the coconut. Pleasant but smells like it could be odomos.
Didn't like this.

One Night in Bali

3.5/5
Grapefruit Lemon, Mint and Pink Pepper mixed with middle notes of Ginger, Nutmeg, Jasmine and with base notes of Incense, Vetiver, Cedar, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Labdanum and White Musk.
Top: Grapefruit
Mid: Ginger
Base: Sandalwood
Dupe for: Bleu de Chanel
Review: the first burst is definitely very heavy on the alcohol and smells a lot like men's aftershave, you definitely get the citrus and the mint. As it dries down it turns into an inoffensive, soft, mainly musky smell.
Okayish. Might consider wearing it again. Good for day wear.

One Night in Bora Bora

3/5
Floral Ambery - Citrus, Pear, Melon blended with Rose, Freesia, Lily of the Valley and base notes of Amber, Musk, Patchouli.
Top: Pear
Mid: Lily of the valley
Base: Patchouli
Review: Too patchouli heavy for me this one. I can only smell the rose and the patchouli. Couldn't smell the citrus. I'm more into fresh scents so I hoped highly for this one. Settles down to a soft floral scent. Nothing mind blowing. Might consider wearing it in evenings.
Dupe for: CK Eternity

One Night in Cancun

5/5 <3
Floral Fruity - Peach, Plum, Honey blended with Lily of the Valley, Nectarine, Petitgrain and base notes of Musk, Vetiver, Amber
Top: Peach
Mid: Petitgrain
Base: Vetiver
Dupe for: Elizabeth Arden Red Door
Review: Now this one is definitely interesting to me. I am not a fan of fruity scents but this is a wonderful one. At first you can really smell the plum and the peach scents, and the sweet nectarine but it's not sickly sweet. Settles down into what I think vetiver is supposed to smell like (I don't know what vetiver smells like, but it's not musk for sure). It smells... delicious?
I think this one is my favourite. Might even consider getting a decant of EA Red Door because of this.

One Night in Mykonos

3.5/5
Citrus Floral - Aqueous, Lemon, Green blended with Rose, Jasmine, Pear Blossom and base notes of Amber, Balsamic, Musk.
Top: Lemon
Mid: Rose
Base: Amber
Dupe for: CK One
Review: Initial burst of citrus is really fresh, and not in a ambi pur car fragrance kind of way. Settles down well. The rose and Jasmine would feel very hair oil fragrance but it's not that offensive. Left with a musk scent at the base. I don't know where the balsamic is supposed to sit.

One Night in Rio

3/5
Floral Chypre - Citrus, Fresh blended with Peony, Rose, Jasmine and base notes of Patchouli, Musk, Amber.
Top: Citrus
Mid: Peony
Base: Patchouli
Dupe for: CK Eternity Eau Fresh
Review: Opens with a floral scent that I can't seem to catch which flower it's supposed to be. Didn't get the citrus top note. Too much patchouli for me. I guess I just don't like patchouli. It settles down into a sweet smell, again, of just patchouli, and peony I guess. But I've never smelled a peony so I can't tell. The smell of this I can only describe as the floor cleaners they use in airport bathrooms at Kempegowda or a mall washroom that was just cleaned.
Not a fan of this one.

Studiowest Paris

2.5/5
At the forefront of this fragrant journey, the delightful blend of plum, raspberry, and pear dances on your senses, creating a luscious and playful olfactory experience. As the fragrance continues to unfold, the heart reveals musk, vanilla, and sugary notes, adding depth and complexity to this captivating aromatic symphony
Notes from TataCliq
Top Note
Vanilla
Middle Note
Jasmin, Orchid
Base Note
Sweet, Musky
Review: Vanilla opening, definitely fruity but I didn't get the plum I was expecting. Definitely a girly fragrance. The label is pink and it's definitely the vibe of this one. Very high school, winx club, Blossom from Powerpuff Girls. It's a nice one but I don't think it's for me.
Dupe for: ?

Studiowest New York

4/5
At the top, vanilla takes the spotlight with its sweet allure. In the heart of this fragrance, jasmine and orchid add a delicate, floral dimension. Finally, the scent finds its soothing base in the notes of sweet and musky, leaving a lasting impression of sophistication and charm.
Notes from TataCliq
Top:
Plum, Raspberry, Pear
Middle Note
Lily Of The Valley, Jasmine, Rose
Base Note
Musk, Vanilla, Sugary
Dupe for: ?
Review: Opens quite fresh, fruity but not too sweet. Settles down into a musky, jasminey, vanilla smell which isn't sweet. I'm saying this over and over because I detest sickly sweet frags, they make me gag.
I liked this one.

Studiowest London

?1/5
The scent journey begins with passion fruit, leading to peony, italian pine, and a lasting base of vanilla and orchid, ensuring a memorable olfactory experience.
Notes from TataCliq
Top notes:
Passion Fruit
Middle Note
Peony, Italian Pine
Base Note
Vanilla, Orchid
Dupe for: ?
Review: struggling to describe this one. Not sure if it was just my bottle or what but it smells like... nothing? I wanted to keep a constant or a standard for measuring the smell and the stay of these EDPs so 2 sprays per were enough.
I ended up spraying 4 to 5 sprays for this one, and yet it smelled like nothing. There's a hint of pine in there but that's it. Not sure what is supposed to deliver.
A fail.
OVERALL:
A good gift for someone who would like to get into fragrances. Not very long lasting, nor very outstanding scents tho. Maybe it's the Cities line of fragrances that aren't very good. I keep hearing Goddess as a good one, maybe I should've just got that to try instead.
I sprayed just a couple of times to keep it even but even so not good projection, sillage or staying power. It's gone within the hour but settles on the skin for maybe 2 hours.
Anyway.
I might revisit this post in the future to update how these have aged or if I've grown to love or hate any of these.
Tl;Dr: Ratings:
Ibiza 1/5
Bali 3.5/5
Bora Bora 3/5
Cancun 5/5
Mykonos 3.5/5
Rio 3/5
Paris 2.5/5
New York 4/5
London 1/5
I'd love to hear from y'all. This was my first review ever. I'd also like to know your experiences with Studiowest perfumes, and if anyone knows what the Paris, NY and London ones are dupes for.
My current signature fragrance is actually Nude by Skinn by Titan. Has been for 5 years. The journey to find a suitable love continues for now.
Love, light and health!

[Note to mods: I am SO SORRY to break the rules, but my comments are too formatting-heavy - Reddit keeps giving me error messages when I try to post them, splitting the length changes nothing, and the formatting (embedded links, etc) DOES NOT carry over when I copy-paste and try again. I've been at it for an hour. I decided to just make a separate post before I lose my mind - hope that's alright.]
(Continued from Part 4.1.(https://www.reddit.com/HobbyDrama/comments/1ckor6b/musicbook_emilie_autumns_asylum_pt_4_the_great/))

“MIXED MEDIA AND ACRYLIC PAINT ON CANVAS”

You're so easy to read But the book is boring me (“Misery Loves Company”, 2006 🎵)

It is June 2023. An alert pings on your Instagram. Butter my muffins – your problematic teenage fave just posted! What has she been up to?
It's been almost a full year since EA's last communiqué. She was going to do an AMA on her new blog, Stark Raving Sane. Fans would submit their burning questions, and she would select twenty of them to answer in her next post. You could fill out a form with your name and email and question. Clearly, she didn't like some of the questions.
(Since then, the one interesting that's happened in the Asylum was when EA was listed as the opening act for one single Maroon 5 show in the Netherlands 📝, but that turned out to be – most likely – a Spotify glitch.)
You tap the notification to check out EA's comeback post. The caption reads:

Introducing 'My Heart Is A Weapon Of War,' and I painted her and I love her. Medium: Mixed media - digital (Procreate, Maya 3D Sculpting) and acrylic paint on canvas.” 🪞📝

The art style is yassified-oil-portrait-realistic, unlike anything EA has ever drawn or painted before.🪞 It's a pastel-colored portrait of a button-nosed, elven-faced woman shaped like a Rococo centerpiece. She's got an ethereal smile, a sheer pink heart on her cheek, flowers in her towering hair, and rockin' anime titties. The gold lamé of her skin-tight top blends with her actual skin at the neck, and her arms are non-existent.
You rub your eyes. This surely isn't... no. She can't possibly be serious.People in the comments are trying to be diplomatic:

EA, I've always loved and defended you, but this is clearly AI.

EA does not respond to the diplomatic people in the comments. Instead, she posts another portrait of a diaphanous woman with a cheek-heart and a weirdly levitating necklace. In another post:

Oh, if anyone is curious about my general process, I'm happy to share, as I'd love to see other artists try it. It is thus: I start in Procreate with an Apple pencil, move over to Maya/Zbrush and do some 3D sculpting and lighting to flesh things out and create otherworldly elements in incredible detail, go back to Procreate and... 📝

Commenters are now having mostly civilized back-and-forths over the ethical implications of AI. Many hope EA is reading, wondering if she is aware of those issues. Many say everything would probably be fine if EA would just admit to using AI.
EA admits to nothing and apologizes to no one. No: EA posts more art, in a slightly different, less generic style, that still looks nothing like her own. “Digital painting”, she maintains. Many are imploring EA to please end this charade and stop insulting her fans' intelligence. But then again, some fans are defending her (“She literally just explained that it was digital painting!”), so maybe she's right to do it...?
EA posts a picture of a “buried treasure” that she just randomly chanced upon – a pencil drawing from her teens, once posted on her website in the early 2000s. (It's the one I linked to earlier – the one with the “EAF” signature, and the false age, and the fire reference. Yes, this is the context in which she was posting that.) She's posting it, à propos nothing, because she literally just noticed that she still draws eyebrows the exact same way to this day! In fact, you can clearly, definitely, unmistakably see a very similar eyebrow shape in her most recent art! See?
People are gobsmacked, and dragging her to filth. Desperate loyalists are gently pressing EA to please just post a Procreate timelapse of one of her new “digital paintings”, so that people will stop calling her a fraud.
EA is happy to oblige, and posts a mini-timelapse 📺📝 of what looks like color splotches and blurs being removed from the top layer of a finished piece with the eraser tool.

I'm shriveling with second-hand embarrassment on her behalf. How is she not mortified...? 🐀

EA keeps posting. More generic AI girlies with pale skin and sad eyes, more abstract sploshes that she calls her “morning pages”, but also more Asylum member-berries (“...the original Unlaced violin part... someone please learn this!” 📝) – and more of the massive, medical-themed mixed-media sculptures that she started making the year before, even presenting a few pieces at Art Basel 2022. The difference in style is obvious to everyone but her.
She ignores the peasants screeching about AI, won't even deign address the existence of such a thing; it's all EA, OK? OK. She makes it look easy, because it is to her:

4 hours start to finish in Procreate only with Apple pencil. Did you know that [the art for a card deck she released in 2019] was the first thing I drew on an iPad, because I was recovering from a disastrous TMJ jaw surgery and my face was bandaged and I couldn't get out of bed? I didn't either until just now. 📝

...Because... because you just made it up...??
People are going full tinfoil hat now – she has to be doing this on purpose, right? She just has to.

I can’t help but find it extremely suspicious that she came back after a year of inactivity just to drop the very obviously AI-generated art pieces, refuse to forwardly acknowledge the controversy, and then immediately move on to posting a bunch of artwork that is very clearly hers. A part of me is genuinely convinced that this is some sort of publicity stunt... 🐀

What other explanation could there be to this madness?
Not everyone loves the modern art sculptures, but those are definitely her work. Some of them really have The Vibe. About a piece entitled “Manic Phase” 📺📝:

This is (...) a blueprint of brain activity during a very... interesting period. Just one of many over several years, until a very particular combination of chemicals conspired to bury them just below the surface (...) Every single day, right now, I am afraid of going back there.

Hoop, there it is. Girl... you just spent days covering every inch of a canvas the size of a patio table with spirals of text from your decade-old journals written in minuscule all-caps, after a disastrous three-week bender of trying to pass off obvious AI art as your own. Is it perhaps possible that you may be “there” already...?
The more art EA posts, the angrier people get, and the harder she doubles down. Some AI pieces are accompanied by lengthy blog posts where she elaborates on their meanings. Mostly old Asylum talking points and metaphysical ramblings (that, in some cases, only seem loosely related to the art), but also some concerning news... and another spoonful of denial for the road:

Biscuits has no tits and neither do I at present. I’ve lost them, along with my arse, and most of my muscle mass, because that’s what happens when you’ve got an auto-immune issue and it hurts to eat because your body is attacking itself. (I never say auto-immune “disease” because it’s an ugly brown and I don’t like the way the “s” that is really a “z” feels in my mouth, and it also sounds unnecessarily dramatic and that embarrasses me). I prefer not to talk about this. With anyone. I will fix it. I am fixing it. And I will be able to sing and dance. And that is all.” (“Biscuits” - Blog entry 📝)

...Well shit.
Despite her track record and the context of this disclosure, not many fans accuse EA of malingering (well, okay, some are really pissed and they do 🐀). An auto-immune disease does line up with things she has mentioned in passing for years (bad blood-works, diet restrictions, hospital visits...) – and she did look so thin in those Art Basel pictures that some people accused her covertly creating thinspo.
In light of this, some fans choose to cut EA some slack, or at least temper their disappointment with earnest sympathy and concern, as she is clearly struggling in more ways than one, and has been for some time. Others are less forgiving, pointing out that it's pretty manipulative of her to pull out the chronic illness card in the midst of the ongoing AI controversy. Everyone, everywhere, is shaking their head in sadness and disbelief.
And by everyone, I do mean a few dozen people tops. It's pretty echo-y in the Asylum halls these days.
This goes on for two months, into August 2023. The AI art drops eventually stop, but the controversy does not. EA soon restricts the comments on her Instagram. For two weeks, she shares more artworks made from old lyrics 📝 and partially melted medical supplies. Using a syringe, she glues a bazillion crystals onto a pink hospital gown. Then, one day, mid-project, she stops posting.
And as of this writing, that was the last we heard of singer-songwriter, author, actor, visual artist, and world-class violinist Emilie Autumn.

AFTERMATH

Other than broken hearts, bad health, and dwindling career prospects...?
I mean, what usually happens when a semi-obscure solo artist tells tall(ish) tales about... mainly their age and name? It took me three write-ups to explain why EA's absurd but ultimately harmless lies are relevant to anyone on Earth at all. TMZ is not interested.
Because most of EA's fabrications were so self-contained and irrelevant to anyone but her fans, most of the “consequences” remained strictly internal to the fandom. They never (as far as I'm aware) affected her interactions with the press, for instance.
In fact, there was a weird overlap between 2011 and 2014 when she still got a fair amount of new and positive media coverage, but it had become common and accepted knowledge within the active fanbase that she made stuff up. And no one beyond the walls of the Asylum cared, because why would they? Overall, EA is great at interviews: she's charming, funny, and gives amazing soundbites. Sympathetic outsiders were happy to print whatever wondrous things the dazzling lady had to say – about her connection to Alice Liddell, her artistic process, her larger-than-life projects, whatever – without much critical distance. She wasn't famous enough to fact-check or call out, and her creative license with truth made for exciting interviews. It was a frustrating time to be a grumpy EA fan!
Since the press was in on it, and the Asylum forum was strictly under EA's thumb, bitter Plague Rats took their whistleblowing elsewhere. Unofficial forums opened in the name of free speech; anonymous confessions, receipts, and snarky meme blogs started blowing up on Tumblr. But that wasn't public enough for some fans, who felt that EA should be shamed and exposed, lest anyone else “fall for her lies” like they had. So eventually, among other things, they took to Goodreads.
During the never-ending delay of the Asylum audiobook (okay, it was two years; but it felt really long) there was a noticeable influx of one-star reviews, some of which barely addressed the book at all, but went into great detail about the lies and crimes (and personal info) of its dastardly author. I don't have solid receipts for these, there aren't any screenshots – possibly because most of those reviews, while they were ad hominem attacks more than book critiques, weren't quite abusive enough 🐀 to go against Goodreads TOS. But things did escalate enough that Anne Rice felt the need to step in.
In 2015, the author of “Interview with a Vampire” – who takes cyber-bullying against novelists rather seriously... no matter what kind of novels they write 🔍 – shared someone's Facebook post 📝 about the “conspicuous, blatant personal attacks” targeted at author Emilie Autumn, along with a direct link to one such egregious review.
And that, my friends, is how EA's Goodreads page was durably purged of the really pissed-off comments, and TAFWVG's rating stabilized at a cozy 4-star-something. A bunch of indignant Anne Rice fans (or should I say, fangs? (no)) swooped in to mass-report the Asylum's most virulent escapees 🐀, while loyal Plague Rats flocked in with the 5-star reviews. Truly a bizarre week in the greater goth community.
As far as her fabrications go, that's about as intense as “open” fan retaliation against EA ever got. But it is sadly clear that ten years of successive call-out waves from her own supporters (and the mental gymnastics it must have taken to shut them out and not admit to anything, ever) have taken a toll on her general well-being, to a point where she no longer feels safe online... and seemingly can't engage with her audience, at all, in a healthy and honest way.

Slander and dissension They're parlor games to me Papers overrun with lies too mad to mention You say they never hurt you? No consequence, I'm happy We're much too far above it all – But oh no, that's not true! These wicked pastimes take their toll These tyrant vices break your soul Deliver me from all I am And all I never want to be I love you, doubt me not Re-write this plot for all to see (“Willow”, 2004 🎵)

As you can surely guess, it takes more than a handful of unsavory book reviews and anonymous call-out blogs to kill a fandom (and an artist's fighting spirit). In truth, I don't think that many people turned their backs on EA solely for her fabrications; a lot of fans were just low-key annoyed by them for years, and then it was something else that finally broke the camel's back.
There were so many something-else's to choose from.See, while EA's phony stories were an unending source of frustration, they were a mere backdrop to the years of actual, hands-on, ever-evolving drama that eventually brought the Asylum down.
And that's where we're headed in our final installments. Hope to see you there.

hi everyone! i’m a lesbian (she/her) and i like presenting really masculine with my still feminine features getting in the way. i’ve never wanted a very short haircut but i have a medium wolf cut. im wondering advice on dressing better. i want to basically look like the physique of an average teenage boy lol 💀💀 (skinny and lean) but im 190 pounds and 5’8 which i know in retrospect sounds ‘skinny’ and im not denying that i am not classified as ‘overweight’ but i carry a LOT of weight on my hips and have love handles really badly. and i have double d’s and have yet to find a binder that helps me. I’ve tried GC2b and lotsss from amazon. Any fitness tips that don’t require the gym bc i can’t get a membership lol? Fashion/style tips? Every outfit i wear just makes me look extremely large and big and since i have a wolf cut, I have bangs and when i put it up in a bun (my signature hairstyle) it makes me feel very girly and clashes with my whole look. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Hairstyle tips or fashion or fitness. please throw any advice my way to help me feel more confident!! i’m going back to my home town for the summer and i am embarrassed of the way i look right now.

Just ordered a bunch of decant samples from Fragrance Line looking for a new signature scent. I use Glossier You right now but I’m almost out and I heard they changed their formula since my last purchase. I was looking for something warm and floral but also with some vanilla and a hint of smokiness. Here’s everything I got (plus some fun extras) and my thoughts!
Side note: I used to just want one fragrance for every day since that’s east but after smelling all of these decants I feel like I want a different one each season at least Can’t wait to discover more via decant sites!!
Here’s what I got:
Byredo Bal d’Afrique - like a fruity Dior j’adore
Byredo Sundazed - intoxicating candied oranges with floral and earthy notes
Byredo Pulp - summer berries and coconut
Byredo Vanille Antique - woody vanilla but a tad powdery and pretty subtle
Replica Beach Walk - summer flower shop, salt spray, sunscreen
Replica Coffee Break - deep coffee gourmand with a sweetness to it, both intoxicating and comforting, a good everyday scent
Matiere Premiere (MP) Encens Suave - sexy church, I’m obsessed
MP Parisian Music - sage, coconut, herbal/floral
MP Vanilla Powder - indistinguishable from Byredo vanille antique
Tom Ford Electric Cherry - cherry cola in the best way
Tom Ford Vanilla Sex - very vanilla extract and almondy, too strong for me but I could see myself wearing this around holiday baking time
Gucci The Last Day of Summer - smells exactly like it says, it’s like wind blowing through a wildflower field and dying leaves, there’s a girly smokiness to it
Guerlain Tobacco Honey - I love this but it is very smoky, it smells like mead because of the honey but I can feel the dark tobacco surrounding me too in a really intoxicating way
YSL Babycat - very similar to Encens Suave but a tad more leathery/posh which is what many on here have said, I personally love it but would probably purchase Encens Suave just bc of price tag and availability
Mugler Alien Goddess - I don’t love this at first spray but over time it’s a very good warm floral vanilla go to in my opinion
Aedes de Venustas Cafe Tabac - absolutely obsessed with this. It’s like the guerlain TH but less sweet which I prefer
Chloe (signature scent) - great for summer IMO, smells like you just got out of the shower on a bright sunny morning

Hello! Back to spam some more with my reviews :) If you haven't seen my previous post, one thing to know about me is that I'm very picky and love heavy, cloying gourmands that aren't too unisex (my favourite notes are cherry, blackberry, chocolate and booze).
A lot of the time I'm just complaining about the samples I'm trying, but hey if you have opposite tastes to mine, or perfumes stay on your skin for longer than on mine, you might still find something you like!
Kilian Angel’s Share - I am convinced that those who think this smells like apple pie have brainwashed themselves into believing this to cope with paying so much money. I don’t say this as a hater. I think AS is actually quite nice, but the gourmand profile has definitely been overhyped. I definitely smell the cognac note the most, it pretty much stays on my skin the whole time I’m wearing it. And while I’m partial to boozy notes… this might be a bit too much. I was a little worried people would be confused why I smell of alcohol to be honest. But I don’t think this projects that well anyway, so no worries there. Longevity is also pretty mediocre, especially considering the price! On average it lasted around 5 hours on me, after that I just got very weak whiffs. Overall 3/5 you can tell it’s well made, but it’s not as gourmand as I’d like, the alcohol note is too strong, and it’s a bit of a grandpa scent tbh.
Sweetness 2/5 Longevity 3/5 Femininity 1/5
Simone Andreoli Vicebomb - this perfume would be amazing… if it lasted more than 1 hour on my skin, if even that!!! While it smells lovely (the sour cherry is amazing), I am not joking when I say that it has zero development because it vanishes from my skin in no time. I was so disappointed because most reviews said that it’s very long-lasting and has good sillage. And, not going to lie, I really liked the look of the bottle. The smell itself I’d rate a 4/5 but unfortunately it’s not full bottle-worthy because I’d have to reapply every hour. Definitely test this one on your skin first...
Sweetness 3/5 Longevity 0/5 Femininity 4/5
Lorenzo Pazzaglia Sugar Kisses - the smell itself is so lovely, it reminds me of stracciatella. Very gourmand, whipped cream and chocolate kind of smell but at the same time it’s very wearable. It’s pretty linear and it doesn’t develop much on the skin, which I don’t mind anyway. Unfortunately, this doesn’t last long (4-5 hours), and the sillage stays very soft the entire time. Not to mention the bottle is pretty kitschy and cheap-looking - once again, the price of this perfume is cheeky considering the poor performance and presentation. Only buy this if you feel like wasting money, or if you have better skin chemistry than I do. The scent itself is 5/5 though
Sweetness 5/5 Longevity 2/5 Femininity 5/5
Indult Tihota - I don’t have much to say because this smells pretty much like Escapade Gourmande (which I already reviewed in my previous post)… or rather, EG smells like Tihota. To my nose, this is the exact same perfume - sweet, heavy vanilla with lots of musk and a plastic undertone. I honestly can’t tell the difference. The plastic undertone and the vape-like smell are off-putting after a while, unfortunately.
Maison Tahité Vicious Cacao - love this little thing. When I sprayed it for the first time I was put off though because it smelled sour in a very unpleasant way. I gave it another go last night and it was lovely. It opens with a small blast of raspberry and then settles into a cocoa and caramel scent. I can’t smell the rum though, which is a shame because I love boozy perfumes. It doesn’t seem to have the greatest projection but it’s surprisingly long-lasting - I wore it to bed and was still getting little whiffs in the morning. I’m considering buying a full bottle, but I’m going to hold my horses for now because I’m furiously panning my collection so I can have a small, curated perfume wardrobe! Overall 4/5 (taking one off for the missing rum note)
Sweetness 4/5 Longevity 5/5 Femininity 5/5
BDK Parfums Rouge Smoking - oof, this was disappointing. After all the hype, I was hoping for some nice spicy cherry. Instead, it opens extremely peppery and reminds me of throat medicine. But not the flavoured, fruity kind, just plain throat spray - it smells so clinical, bitter and cold. It immediately takes me back to my childhood when I used to go to the doctor with my nan. I would also compare the smell to that of a deodorant. Neither of the two associations is particularly appealing to me. The longevity also leaves much to be desired, with RS lasting around 4-5 hours (although in this case I really don’t mind, considering I don’t like the smell). This is yet another one of those perfumes I've tried that don’t really smell like much and are pretty pointless to wear. 0/5
Sweetness 0/5 Longevity 1/5 Femininity 0/5
Xerjoff Italica - again, oooooooooof. I was looking forward to trying the sample because - milk, toffee, almonds - what’s not to love?! Gosh, this smells disgusting. I don’t understand people who claim this is a realistic toffee/baking scent and I’d like to know what kind of sweets they’re used to eating. This smells painfully artificial and plastic, almost rubbery - I think the milk note is completely off in this perfume. I’ll let it have a few more points than Rouge Smoking because at least it’s sweet, and lasts longer (in fact, couldn’t scrub this bastard off)… but I don’t think this is particularly wearable, or pleasant to smell at all. In fact, it smells kind of cheap. 1/5
Sweetness 4/5 Longevity 5/5 Femininity 4/5 i guess
Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl Glam - once again, I was fooled by the promise of the non-existent cherry. It’s just not there. The opening is extremely sour and citrusy - I guess this is supposed to be the sour cherry note, but it just doesn’t smell like it, rather it reminds me of grapefruit. I don’t like citrus notes in my perfumes, but if you do, this one might be more up your street - just be warned that the citrus note is VERY strong here. After the citrus settles down a little, the rose comes out. I don’t know how to describe it, but the rose is very ‘bright’ and fresh. VGGG essentially remains a two-note scent, which is not necessarily a bad thing if you like those two notes. Be warned that it does come across as a bit mature, too. Overall I’d rate it a 1/5 subjectively because it’s just not my kind of perfume and it’s too much of a freshie (I can’t stand freshies), but it’s an interesting perfume for someone with diametrically different tastes to mine I suppose.
Sweetness 2/5 Longevity 3/5 Femininity 5/5
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Suprême - this one smells really nice. It’s a sweet vanilla scent, and weirdly enough there’s something salty in the opening?? which is fine with me, it reminds me a bit of Pure XS For Her which I like. This is a very simple, and fairly linear scent though - it’s pretty much pure vanilla with some saltiness at the start. Very girly and pleasant, but ultimately a little… boring? With pretty mediocre longevity, too. Overall 3/5
Sweetness 4/5 Longevity 3/5 Femininity 5/5
Guerlain Fève Gourmande - THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. Seriously, this is the first time I was actually wowed by any of my samples. It’s so well-blended that at first, I find it a little difficult to pick up the cacao note, but it’s definitely there. It’s not too sweet or bitter - just right. The spices and incense give it a lot of depth and heaviness, so overall it smells like a beautiful, heavy cloud of cocoa smoke with a generous dose of booze. Such a beautiful and unique scent, this is my favourite of them all and I want it to be my signature scent (but first I need to downsize my collection, lol). I ordered a 10ml decant to test it out some more, as the only thing that could be a let down about FG is the longevity. It’s definitely not extremely long lasting, but it’s not abysmally short-lived either (looking at you, Vicebomb). Maybe I just need to overspray a little. I have a feeling I’ll get a full bottle regardless of whether the longevity is good enough or not. Overall, 5/5 <3
Sweetness 4/5 Longevity 3/5 Femininity 5/5
So to sum up, I'd say my favourites from this batch were Fève Gourmande (obviously, hehe), Vicious Cacao and Sugar Kisses :)

The perfect low effort high results no make make up. I’m new here and i see the girlies asking about minimal low effort makeup. so here are the non-negotiables.

• skin care!! Find a solid routine, doesn’t have to be twelve steps but it should leave your skin well moisturized and glowy.
  
• go to hairstyle. go on pinterest and find a girl with your similar hair type who’s wearing simple hair style that still looks put together, then go find a youtube tutorial on it and practice it/play around and adjust it to you. for me that is a high ponytail with baby hairs. a slicked bun with a few curly pieces flying out. right now I have knotless braids and do different styles. before I had a signature pixie cut that would take me 10 mins to style.
  
• brows. They frame the face. find what shape works best for you and stick to it. pluck any hairs that grow out of place weekly. I always use elf brow gel to lay my brows down. I don’t fill them in, just keep it simple.
  
• BB/CC/Skintint. any super light weight coverage that also has SPF in it! this is optional but make enhances your skin tone and gives you an even look while also protecting your skin.
  
• Mascara! I personally have shorter lashes so i ALWAYS wear mascara. and I think this helps with my look the most. I have lighter eyes so it helps enhance that feature. Some girls have naturally beautiful long lashes and may just use clear mascara + eyelash curler. Brushing your lashes with castor oil at night helps them grow!
  
• BLUSH or Bronze. I always use one or the other when doing a simple look, never both. Blush for days I want to feel cutesy and bronzer for days I want to look a bit more snatched.
  
• lipgloss! a girls best friend, find a signature color and stick to it.
  
• Jewelry. small to medium plain gold hoops and one single pendant necklace.
  

These aren’t laws, so you don’t have to stick to them exactly but I hope this helps 💌

Bitches- it’s spring and it’s time we get out there on our bikes. You’ll be fitter, glowier, happier and more productive. Plus it’s a great way to really be in tune with NYC. We got amazing bike lanes we just need more women on them-cause there are hardly any! So this post is my advice for women.
Here’s a post https://www.reddit.com/bikecommuting/comments/18f99x5/tips_for_cycle_commuting_as_a_girly_girl/ I made on other subreddits on how to not give up style when you cycle. I called my other posts how to cycle as a girly girl/professional woman, but I think it equally applies to bitches with taste.
About Me:
I suspect women aren’t cycling cause we don’t want to give up our style. I'm not a great cyclist- only been commuting for about 6 months and never really cardioed much before, I started like a slow old lady poodling along but can now do 1 hour each way, like 3-4 times a week / 11 miles roundtrip (+ tons of short 15 min to and from gym, local stuff, trips).
I needed to do more for my health and even now I'm a slow cyclist just chugging along enjoying the ride. I just started one day promising myself I'd take an uber XL back home if it sucked, or get on the metro, or just dock the bike since I mostly use citibike nowadays. Since then, I have cycled in professional clothes to go to very professional meetings, in costumes for several costume parties (with lots of bits hanging off me), in fancy dresses and makeup to get to glamorous holiday parties, and in business casual just to work. I've always cycled partially dressed in the style I need for the day and hardly ever gone to the bathroom to change. Most of the below is for winter cause I started in Fall and I might eventually make a summer version but it still applies.
TIPS
These are the things that helped me and are female specific:
- SKIRTS: I wear skirts/dresses most days, often tight pencil ones I don't want to stretch. I just hike up my skirt or dress up to my waist and bought very very wide leg pants with a stretchy waist (normal ones for summer, fleece ones for winter, not cinched at ankles) that I can put on and take off without taking off my shoes. This is the easiest solution. I often don't even go the bathroom to take them off, just take them off before taking off my long coat, pull down my skirt and then take off my jacket. I also like really strong tights, trying out sheertex now. The cheapo stretchy wide leg pants are the best things I've bought.
- MAKEUP: Urban decay all nightery / Ben Nye Final Seal (what theatre people use) and MAC fix spray (for drier girls) are great to keep my makeup on and looking fresh. I also need primer for my eyelids. I cycled to my holiday party in deep December in snow with a full face of makeup that took me 30+ minutes to get on and my makeup was fine. Use a very strong moisturizer and of course, sunscreen. If it's really cold I use vaseline around my nose and on my lips and apply lipstick later.
- SWEAT: I use Maxim antiperspirant once a week which prevents sweating all week. There are lots of these hyper-powerful antipersiprants made to be used once a week at night, Odaban is another brand- they all burn the first week or so, and then normalize. We are not in the Sahara, we won’t die from not sweating. I don't cycle fast so sweat has not been an issue for the months I've been cycling. Will cross the summer hurdle when I get there. I also put Maxim on the back of my neck to prevent sweating there and ruining my hair. I have not had much of an issue with sweat (see below). In addition, I use normal deodorant every day out of habit. I have cycle commuted in 100 degrees but not to work yet, only for personal holiday stuff where I didn't have high standards. What I will say about heat is, don't underestimate air flow on a bike. It is a natural air-conditioner. I suspect in the summer I will need to change for work though, going 1 hour each way. Maybe I'll do another post in the summer when I figure out more tips.
-HAIR: I have very tempermental hair and the helmet has been great for it! I style it once or twice a week. I have a helmet with very tight almost non-existant ventilation holes and I prefer that to shield my hair from wind, rain, humidity, and pollution. I have a few bobby pins that I keep on teh strap of my helmet at all times and take them off before cyling and french twist my hair up and use the helmet almost like a shower cap. My hair looks better now than when I was walking to train station with just an umbrella. A Velcro headband is good for ears in winter, not stretching it over your fact saves makeup, and it catches sweat from going into hair.
-CLOTHING: I'm a professional and really can't be fussed with schlepping loads of clothes or changing. So I usually cycle in my top (usually a sleeveless or tight top situation) and keep the blazesweatebutton up in my bag. They are too hot to wear and act as natural layers when you get to the office. If skirt, see above. I have switched off my standard black work pants for ones that are halfway between sporty and professional. Kohls has a commuter line called FLX, which is an Athleta knockoff – but you can go to any of the high-end athleisure brands if need be. No one has noticed at work. But most trousers are fine, really. I also keep a pair of nice shoes and spare blazer at my desk. My wardrobe is very designer (Helmut Lang, Sezane) and honestly, almost all of it has been adaptable to cycling. Really you're just sitting there. I'm not breaking much of a sweat so far cause I keep jackets very light or just use a super thin high vis that comes off and takes no space in my bag.
-OUTERWEAR: Again, cannot be bothered with too much cycling specific stuff. I bought the thinnest bright green jacket / high viz I could find, it folds or crumples into the palm of my hand, and just throw it over my nicer coats/ even thick ones when cycling. That way if I want to go somewhere nice I'm not stuck with a neon jersey. I just take it on and off my standard coats. The jacket I had before I started cycling was long with an inner short highneck coat inside, I zip the short one and keep long open. It's accidentally been perfect for the winter. Here's a link so you get what I mean: https://www.colehaan.com/signature-40in-taffeta-down-coat-with-hood/647080321375.html?src=googleshopping&glCountry=US&glCurrency=USD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=ACQ_SEM_Google_USA_Performance+Max_Women&utm_id=%7bdscampaignid%7d&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4NWrBhD-ARIsAFCKwWs0R7YVB9oW0mbDxTURHPStuQO3b5XbPJjCqvoHYZABWmjijmdPH2gaAhFCEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I'm also experimenting with cycling specific rain ponchos instead of rain jackets. Just to let you know it's an option but not necessary. Mostly I've been able to just skip cycling on rain/stormy days.
-HELMET&BIKE: I use the Closca foldable helmet (its certified) so I can throw it in my bag if I go elsewhere in the day without a bike. I have my own bike but prefer the citibikes cause I prefer the flexibility, can go drinking and take a ride-share home if I'm tipsy or its very late. Or use electric if I'm esp fatigued. Though I prefer to keep to regular bikes for exercise. Every other form of cardio has bored me in life but if I’m cycling to meet someone, I won’t just stop (like with running), I’m gonna get to them. I listen to podcasts enroute cause I can hear traffic through my headphones.
-SKIN: cycling does wonders for my skin. I think I look more glowy and alive post a light zone 2 workout. Besides that I use my regular sunscreen and a very heavy moisturizer.
-SHOES: In wintecold I cycle in full boots with 1 inch heels. That's what I normally wear in winter anyway. I guess if I were to wear heels I'd be carrying them anyway- even before I cycled. So I cycle in the my mostly flat-ish shoes that I wear all the time. They don't get messed up. I did buy some waterproof overshoes in case it rains but never really needed them. Leather or weather-resistant normal shoes are just fine and most of what I own anyway. I like a bag with a shoe compartment for shoe changes. As a lifelong heels wearer, they haven't seemed very professional/stylish post-pandemic, so I stopped wearing them a while ago. I do have some fancy shoes I keep at the office or in my bag with 2-3 inch heels.
-BAG: My bag is big enough to fit the pants, helmet, top up makeup, an extra layer on cold days, gloves etc. I've never used handbags and always been a backpack kinda gal so don't have much to add to this part. What I use is not what most women use and never has been. I used to use the NewFeel Backenger from Decathlon (switches backpack to messenger -in front of clients) and have recently upgraded to a crazy EDC bag, but can't recommend yet, and it's so extra, I don't think it would appeal to the women who read this far given the title of this post. Bags are the one area I've never been girly and just stuck to functional stuff.
-JEWLERY: I always wear a double back on my earrings, ever since I lost a favorite one years ago NOT on a bike. So I guess I'd recommend that. Everything else is fine. You can buy earring backs at pharmacies, online.
Cycle commuting has made a bigger difference to my quality of life and my happiness and my love for NYC than anything else. I hope more women join me on the road, and don't feel they need to compromise any style that works for them. There's loads of other advice you can find on the nycbike and bike commuting and women cycling subs (like winter cycling) that isn't women specific so here I tried to cover just the stuff you might need if you have style considerations for wherever you are going. These tips have covered me from a high of 100 degrees down to about 29 degrees F.
Here's hoping this leads to more bitches on the road!

Guess who back again!!!
Greetings, fellow Popheads, we're your cohosts, u/nt96 and u/Ambrosia42 (aka Catalyst and BaconShoes) and welcome to the 90s R&B Princesses rate!!
This month we're going to be rating three of the most influential and beloved artists of the genre, each establishing themselves in the teens: Aaliyah, Brandy and Monica! Without further ado, let's take a deep dive into their albums!

Aaliyah - One In A Million

If your girl only knew
That you was tryin' to get with me, What would she do?
If your girl only knew
That you was dissin' her to talk to me

Marking her debut at the tender age of 15, Aaliyah instantly became a household name her trademark “street but sweet” character, but it wasn’t until a mere two years later that she’d meet Timbaland and Missy, when the magic really began. Jermaine Dupri, Vincent Herbert, Craig King, and Rodney Jerkins (more on him later) would also go on to help record songs with her.
Enter One In A Million. Released in 1996, the album blew audiences away with its sound, shaking the very foundations of tried and true R&B sound of the time and adding a futuristic edge to it. The album opens with the title track, "One In A Million," where Aaliyah's sultry voice effortlessly glides over Timbaland's signature stuttering beats complete with cricket chirps, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Tracks like "If Your Girl Only Knew" and "4 Page Letter" showcase Aaliyah's ability to blend soulful melodies with a modern edge, creating an irresistible, unique sound.
With production credits from Timbaland and Missy Elliott, One In A Million boasts a futuristic sound that was ahead of its time, incorporating elements of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic sensibilities ranging from DnB to Trip Hop. The album's standout tracks include the infectious "Hot Like Fire," the dreamy "One In A Million," and the seductive, two halves bop "Choosey Lover (Old School/New School)."
Aaliyah's vocals are at their peak on this album, effortlessly switching between sultry whispers and powerful belts, showcasing her versatility as an artist. Her lyrics delve into themes of love, heartache, and empowerment, making "One In A Million" a relatable and emotionally resonant listening experience.
The album was a massive success, selling over three million copies in the US and eight million worldwide. It's credited for elevating Timbaland and Missy to mainstream attention; adding Aaliyah to the mix, the trio became as something akin to the Midas touch for the pop landscape for years to come. It helped re-establish Aaliyah's status to being a trendsetter in the music industry, sporting many, many, MANY iconic looks in the process.
Its unique hybrid of electronica and R&B helped solidify One In A Million as the one of the most influential R&B albums of the 90s, redefining the soundscape for generations to come. Almost 30 years, Aaliyah's legacy lives on through this album, reminding us of her unparalleled talent and undeniable impact on music.
Tracklist

1. Beats 4 Da Streets (Intro)
2. Hot Like Fire (Timbalands Groove Mix)
3. One in a Million
4. A Girl Like You
5. If Your Girl Only Knew
6. Choosey Lover (Old School / New School)
7. Got to Give It Up
8. 4 Page Letter
9. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
10. Giving You More
11. I Gotcha' Back
12. Never Givin' Up
13. Heartbroken
14. Never Comin' Back
15. Ladies in Da House
16. The One I Gave My Heart To
17. Came to Give Love (Outro)
18. Are You That Somebody

Brandy - Never Say Never

I'm just tryna be me, doing what I gotta do
Some people think that I'm just sittin' on top of the world
I'm just tryna be me, proving what I've gotta prove
Some people think that I'm just sittin' on top of the world

Ahead of the release of Brandy’s second album, Never Say Never, there were a lot of expectations for Brandy to manage. Her first album, “Brandy,” was a commercial hit in the United States, eventually reaching 4x Platinum certification and spawning three Top 10 US Billboard hits and an additional Top 40 hit. Before her second album was released, Brandy gained additional fame starring as Moesha in the popular TV series of the same name and starring as Cinderella in the film of the same name, which was helmed by the iconic Whitney Houston. Brandy had become a household name due to her successful endeavors in acting and music, and she was even nominated for four Grammy awards and became an official Disney princess, so the pressure was on for her to release a great sophomore album.
Being 19 years old at the time of Never Say Never’s release, Brandy was still a teenager, but she had matured quite a bit since releasing her debut album at only 15 years old. The writing throughout the album reflects the changes in Brandy’s life, with Brandy co-writing and co-producing many of the songs and her personal experiences inspiring the themes of the album. Throughout the album she sings about the extreme highs and lows of love and heartbreak, finding the courage and wisdom to leave painful or simply unfulfilling relationships, the disconnection between people’s perception of her as a famous person and her reality, feelings of loss and conflict, and a meaning for her life and art that is bigger than herself.
The direction of Brandy’s second album was also hugely driven by the involvement of budding producer Rodney Jerkins, best known as Darkchild. Darkchild had worked for other artists such as Mary J. Blige, but Never Say Never was a big breakout moment for him. He produced the majority of the songs, with help from his frequent songwriting team of his brother Fred Jerkins III and the late LaShawn Daniels. The album also featured songwriting and production talents from heavy hitters behind the scenes in the music industry such as Diane Warren, David Foster, and Gordon Chambers. These writers and producers were able to bring complexity to the lyrics of the album as well as beautiful instrumentation that truly complements Brandy’s signature soothing but powerful voice, melodies and harmonies, ad libs, and vocal runs. Brandy and her team were able to come up with a gorgeous album full of R&B, pop, power ballads, and adult contemporary influences.
Never Say Never certainly did not disappoint the public. It ended up being a hugely popular album, reaching 5x platinum certification in the United States (where it peaked at #2 on the Billboard album chart). It spawned multiple internationally successful, chart-topping singles and became a global breakout moment for Brandy. It was one of the biggest R&B albums of the 90s and influenced many artists to come, with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears both citing Never Say Never as an inspiration for their debut albums they also released as teenagers.
Tracklist

1. Angel In Disguise
2. The Boy Is Mine
3. Learn The Hard Way
4. Almost Doesn't Count
5. Top Of The World
6. U Dont Know Me (Like U Used To)
7. Never Say Never
8. Truthfully
9. Have You Ever
10. Put That On Everything
11. Happy
12. One Voice
13. Tomorrow
14. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Monica - The Boy is Mine

I should make a move but I won't,
I know you're probably thinking something is wrong,
Knowin' if I do that it won't be right,
I don't get down on the first night.

And last but certainly not least, we have Monica making her rate debut with The Boy is Mine! Being the youngest of the three, Monica started her career with a bang with 1995's Miss Thang, left many critics in awe of her vocal ability despite being 14 at the time, she quickly established herself as a powerhouse vocalist with more mature image compared to her fellow R&B peers. The album was a success and with her hit songs "Don’t Take It Personal" and "Before You Walk Out of My Life" made Monica the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive #1 hits on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs.
After the success of her debut, Monica would gain a newfound creative control over her material and reunite with Dallas Austin to start work on her second album, The Boy is Mine. In addition, the album also brought in production from heavyweights like Darkchild, David Foster, Diane Warren and Jermaine Dupri. The result is a dynamic R&B album that showcases the singer's powerful vocals and emotional depth, boasting a mix of smooth R&B melodies, infectious beats, and heartfelt lyrics.
Throughout the album, Monica explores themes of love, heartbreak, and empowerment with tracks like Angel of Mine, a heartfelt ballad expressing deep affection, and Street Symphony, a soulful reflection on life's challenges. Monica's vocals shine on every track, showcasing her range and ability to convey raw emotion. Other tracks like "For You I Will" and "Inside" further highlight Monica's vocal prowess and songwriting skills.
And who can forget the album's title track, The Boy is Mine? A song featuring fellow icon Brandy, it became an instant hit and a defining song of the late 1990s. The duet's catchy chorus and dramatic storyline about a love triangle captivated audiences worldwide, earning them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.
The album was natural progression from her debut, showcasing her as a more assertive woman. It paid off immensely, becoming a commercial success and along with Aaliyah and Brandy, established herself as one of the most successful R&B female vocalists to emerge during the mid-to late 1990s. Overall, The Boy is Mine is a timeless masterpiece that showcases Monica's artistry and passion, and while she tends to be overlooked compared to her peers, the album is widely considered a bona fide classic in the genre, forever asserting her spot amongst the R&B elite.
Tracklist

1. Street Symphony
2. Ring Da Bell
3. The First Night
4. Misty Blue
5. Angel of Mine
6. Gone Be Fine
7. Inside
8. Take Him Back
9. Right Here Waiting
10. Cross the Room
11. I Keep It To Myself
12. For You I Will

NOTE: while The Boy is Mine is on both albums, the song will be under Brandy’s album for two reasons: 1) her album was released first and 2) the track on Monica’s album (despite being called The Boy is Mine) isn’t available on Apple Music or Tidal which is just….😭 but rest assured, the song will be counted towards both her and Brandy’s album averages.
But it doesn't stop there! Below is a small collection of tracks that our girlies have either been featured in or have recorded during their respective eras.
Bonus Rate

1. Come Over
2. I Don't Wanna
3. Journey To The Past
4. Missing You
5. Impossible/It's Possible
6. Moesha Theme Song
7. Somebody Bigger Than You And I
8. Slow Jam
9. Ain't Nobody

The bonus rate is 100% optional, but if you enjoyed the main rate, I'd personally recommend keeping the bop train going and try out the bonus rate!
The Rules

• You must listen to every single song and assign them a score from 1 to 10, 10 being the most positive score you can give. Ballots with scores missing won’t be accepted.
• You may use up to one decimal spot in your scores, meaning that you can give a song a 7.8 or a 6.9, but not a 8.472 or a 6.65. If you do use decimals, remember to use a dot ( . ) and not a comma ( , ).
• You have the option to give one song a zero (0) and one song an eleven (11) across the entire rate. These should be reserved for your least favorite and favorite track. Songs in the bonus rate can't be given these scores.
• Use the prepared format found HERE to fill in and send your scores. If for some reason, that link isn’t working, HERE’S A PASTEBIN WITH THE FORM and you can send it to Ambrosia42
• Leaving comments for each song is encouraged but not required. To do so, leave a space after your score and write your comment, like this:

One In A Million: 1 in a ten
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO FORMAT YOUR SCORES ANYTHING ELSE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
ONCE MORE HERE ARE THE IMPORTANT LINKS
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST Note: Journey To The Past, Impossible/It's Possible and Moesha Theme Song are not in streaming, use the youtube list instead.
APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST
TIDAL PLAYLIST
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
SEND BALLOTS HERE
PASTEBIN
Due Date: May 24th
Rate Reveal: May 31st - June 2nd
So what are you waiting for?? Do the rate! Quick! The girls are fighting!!!

“Of course, I like to do everything big,” LSU basketball star Angel Reese tells me. It’s mid-March, a week before the start of the NCAA tournament, and the 21-year-old has just shared her plans to enter the WNBA draft with Vogue. She could have dialed up a sports outlet or simply mentioned her decision in a press conference, but “I didn’t want anything to be basic,” she says, speaking via Zoom from her off-campus apartment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Reese says she was inspired by Serena Williams to break the news with a fashion shoot. (The tennis legend, of course, announced her retirement in the September issue of Vogue in 2022.) “I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” Reese says: “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro—and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I'm ready.”
Reese’s final game with LSU on Monday night, which saw the Tigers fall to Iowa in the Elite Eight round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, capped off an extraordinary college run. To summarize: After two seasons at the University of Maryland—with Reese sidelined for months during the first year with a foot injury—she transferred to LSU to play under legendary coach Kim Mulkey, and a whirlwind junior year ensued. Adoring fans nicknamed Reese the Bayou Barbie—a wink to her signature long lashes, cascading hairstyles, bold manicures, and unapologetic love of fashion. The 6’3” forward quickly became one of the highest-earning student athletes of the NIL era, inking deals with Amazon, Beats by Dre, Goldman Sachs, and more—and her dominance on the court led LSU to the 2023 national championship, where they won the first NCAA basketball title in school history, with Reese named the tournament's most outstanding player. A trash-talking gesture in the championship game, meanwhile—watched by a record-breaking 9.9 million viewers—propelled her to viral fame.
Wales Bonner top and shorts Jenny Bird ear cuff Reeses own diamond studs. Wales Bonner top and shorts, Jenny Bird ear cuff, Reese’s own diamond studs.
“You don't really realize it in the moment,” Reese says about all the attention on her during the matchup, “but obviously the things you say and do can change everything. I literally woke up the next day and I was a celebrity.” In short order, Reese attended the ESPY Awards, taking home the trophy for breakthrough athlete; she graced the pages of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue; she gifted herself a Benz for her 21st birthday and jetted off to Jamaica for vacation; she made a cameo in Cardi B and Lotto’s “Put It on Da Floor Again” video; I profiled her for Teen Vogue.
None of this was enjoyed without criticism. We’re still in the early days of the brave new world in which college athletes can be compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness, and plenty of talking heads have argued that these NIL deals, along with the commitments and visibility that come with them, are distractions—that student athletes can’t compete to the best of their ability while walking red carpets and creating sponsored social media posts. Some saw LSU’s season-opening loss to South Carolina as proof of all of this—but, true to form, Reese was unbothered. “I wrote down: ‘People are going to doubt me thinking I got too Hollywood, I got too big-headed,’” she tells me. “But I said I was going to be SEC Player of the Year, and I was SEC Player of the Year.” Reese ends her college career having set numerous records, including the NCAA single-season record in double-doubles.
“To sum it up, it’s been crazy,” she says of her time at LSU. A self-described “girly girl” who’s also calls herself “a killer on the court,” she relishes the opportunity to be herself. “I didn’t have to be in a box,” she says. A fan of crop tops and mini skirts, Reese’s youthful, splashy outfits are punctuated with designer accessories: Chanel bags, Rick Owens sneakers, Prada beanies, etc. While Mulkey—who herself is known for her high-wattage personal style—encouraged Reese to embrace her individuality, at the same time, Reese says, the coach pushed her. “She gets on me hard, and that’s something I need. We have that kind of relationship where we can bump heads but also be on the same page: We just want to win.”
With another year of college eligibility left, her decision to go pro, Reese says, was not made lightly—especially considering all that she’s leaving behind. She may never experience a fan base like the one she has in Baton Rouge, she tells Vogue; the resources in most WNBA organizations, from the staff down to the locker room facilities, pale in comparison to those at LSU; and flying private, as she has rather frequently over the past few years, will no longer be the norm. Reese, though, is okay with all of that. “I want to start at the bottom again,” she says. “I want to be a rookie again and build myself back up; I want to be knocked down and learn and grow at the next level.”
Reese is also keenly aware of how competitive that next level is. There are just 144 spots across 12 teams in the WNBA, with only 36 new athletes drafted into the league each season. If Reese is among those picks during the draft on April 15, as she’s predicted to be, “I’ll be working with grown women,” she says. “I’ll be working with women that have kids, women that have a family to feed. I’m going to have to work my butt off every single day and grind. And who wouldn’t want that? I don’t want anything in my life to be easy.”
https://www.vogue.com/article/angel-reese-is-taking-her-talents-to-the-wnba

Good evening tributes and welcome back to stories of panem. I hope you all are excited we have a quinquenal quell coming up. I would like to thank as usual Christan Blanco, original writer of tales of the hunger games and Lauren from Panem reborn to which these tales are inspired by. Now if you're ready let's go.
Also use google translate if you have any confusion ;) My French is still workable. District 14 is a mix between Mexico, the Canadian Republic and france.
105 quinquenal quell (141)
District 1 Gravelio P and Mackena P
District 2 Marble TD and dyamnda
District 3 Komeda P and Citronia
District 4 Fresco P and Sienna P
District 5 Solar Moon
District 6 Nevada and Dakota
District 7 unknown boy unknown gir;
District 8 unknown boy and ella
District 9 Cornel and Pancake
District 10 Jason and Natelia P
District 11 Henry and lily
District 12 Arnold and MariebelleP
District 14 Charles and Oria P
With the treaty of treason every 5 years a quinquenal quell would take place. The day before the fourth of July President Mcaine televised a live announcement throughout panem reading the 6th quinquenal quell announcement to panem. “ As a reminder to the district citizens that twists and turns have always played in the capital's favor, the capital assigned tributes to teams of 2.” As curious sounds of surprise surrounded the snow square Camila and Asomedus eagerly chatted and answered with many questions they had.
With the events surrounding Naomi Armstrong and her apparent treasonous activities the reapings in District 14 were conducted with heightened security. Mayor Desadairan greeted a nauseated Aj Carnival and his entourage were given a tour of the Canadian Land. However at the end of the tour an angry mob of French civilians attacked the motor boat Aj was taken on for the tour leading to these hooligans to be pepper sprayed and stunned by peacekeepers. As the rowdy citizens were yanked up Mayor Desadairam gave the yearly mayoral speech in his french accent before welcoming Aj to the stage. Aj spoke about the glories of being a victor and the glory it brought his district pride and glory.
He then walked to the female reaping bowl placing his hand to the bottom of the bowl causing the potential tributes to titter as paper fell. Aj groaned before snapping his fingers as peacekeepers shot bullets into the air causing the citizens to go quiet.
“Oria Lefou.”
A loud scream soon followed as a tall girl with long blonde hair fainted as a patient young lady of 17 walked up to the stage timidly shaking Aj’s hand. Oria’s ebony hair wilting in the hot weather her green eyes even made Aj yelp. Camelia adored Oria’s lycra gown but frowned seeing her grassy pants causing Asomedus to remark “Picky are we?”. Causing the capitol citizens to chuckle good naturedly.
AJ then walked over to the male reaping bowl grinning looking at the surprisingly frightened older boys before picking out the name of 16 year old Franquie Lefoue.
Oria and even the capital citizens shouted in surprise as Oria’s older brother was soon forced up onto the stage. However before Franquie boarded the stage a young lad stepped forward shouting “Je fais du bénévolat en hommage” ( I volunteer as tribute).
Aj cocked his head in confusion turning his head to the front seeing Charles Sao a boy of 17 years of age with light brown hair with a splatter of brown freckles with hazel eyes. Peacekeepers grinned as they threw Franquie back as they took Charles up. After shaking Aj’s hand he wished the district luck as he brought Charles and Oria to the hovercrafts as Aj was brought to district 12.
“Oh mon Dieu, peut-être que le district gagnera, les alliés semblent décents.”
“Oh sorry.”
Charles and Oria turned, seeing their mentor Quinlan Trinket looking at the pair smiling. Quinian was stationed in Normandy during the war serving as a double agent for the capital. As Oria looked forward to their mentor she went into a physiatric trance. Muttering in her french accent “familiar” before vomiting out of a nearby window.
Quinian looked at Charles before replying
“Frele.”
Charles replied “tu l’es aussi”,
Quinian smirked replying “you got guts kid I like that.”
Charles smirked before joining Quinlan at the dining table as a sickly Oria soon joined. Quinian soon pulled up a holograph displaying the tributes that had been chosen. As the pair were flying across north atlantic ocean Quinlan lectured and gave the pair the do's and don'ts Oria soon butted in saying pourquoi c'est inutile, les mexicains ont été anéantis et Panem détruit sont des terres pour lesquelles.
Quinian replied with his own choppy english to “Not say stuff you don't know.” Back in the capital Camelia explained to the younger generations in the capital audience of the meaningness of the great war.
Oria frowned before muttering curses underneath her breath causing Quinian to remark “j'ai entendu cela” much to the capital citizens' amusement. Oria groaned in annoyance as Quinian smirked as before displaying the hologram.
“Oria look”.
Oria did as her mentor asked, looking at her chosen partner. A tall girl with blonde hair with a buff physique named Natelia(10). Oria grinned seeing her potential ally as Quinian displayed Charles’s ally. A puny lad of 12 years named Arnold. Charles grimced before retreating to his own room. Oria had a brief chat with Quinian in french before retreating to her own room resting for the night.
The next day the pair of 14 arrived at Jansen airport. Quinian prepped Ora and Charles, becoming frightened timidly walked out of the hovercraft as Quinian walked out. The rather short amount of capital citizens greeted the pair. Many star struck capital teens immediately swarmed Oria and Charles giving their favorite tributes gifts such as roses and chocolates. Oria whispered “Ils sont comme des aigles mangeant du pain”
This made Charles and even the capital citizens laugh making a good impression with the capital citizens. Charles was soon swarmed by some curious capital teenagers asking him about his employment. He soon shrugged saying he was a bull wrangler causing the capital citizens to shrug before talking to him further until Quinian had to usher him away after an enthralled capital woman thrusted her baby at him.
As Quinian brought the pair to their 14th floor of the accommodation tower there stylist. Ananbellea harcourt came in kissing the pair on each as it was customary in the france section of District 14. Anabellea was highly praised throughout the capital for her role as head commander during the war still learning french, european, spanish in under the 14 years of war. Ariabell displayed two of her designs a lush forest gown with patches of berries symbolizing the berry fields of the sector B and a silver suit with ridged paper creases. Quinian made the final declaration that Ariabell tossed her hands up in glee widely barking orders at her co stylists. As the outfits were later finished the pair from 14 marveled in surprise Quinian displayed the reapings telling them to pay attention as the reapings for district 6 turned to 5 then 4.
Just as Mayor Siesta brought the 6 males and 15 5 females up to the stage she eagerly revealed District 4s reaping games would be a swimming race. The District 4 citizens eagerly cheered the ladies up first. After a brief debrief on the rules 18 year old Sienna Shorevile a young woman with glossy blonde hair made her presented herself to be quite the contender quickly beating her other opponent Gladus summerville by a narrow margin. Once Sienna was crowned tribute for district Gladus jumped on her throwing Sienna into the sand causing a “Beachfront brawl” as Asomedus put it. However as peacekeepers attempted to step in Sienna rolled her eyes saying “back down boys i got this.” Before Sienna punched Gladus so hard in the jaw causing Gladius to fall unconscious. Mayor siesta looked on in surprise before bringing Sienna back up to the stage.
Camelia then remarked about the juicy tidbits that Gladus’s parents had been arrested for apparently harboring pearls and fish from the Mcain harbor. And as an act to get her parents out of jail she tried her luck in the games to win and allow her parents to get a pardon but this did not happen.
As for the boys an all out war began as it was later reported by Mayor Siesta these boys were a part of the district 4 swim team. However as this race appeared to be neck and neck the wild card of this group Fresco Fletcher an 18 yearold male zoomed past the others were surprised as the final lap bell sounded he grabbed on to the buzzer. As the citizens cheered again once more as he got out of the water Camelia remarked “ok Finnick '' causing her co host to snort in laughter.
After Fresco dried off he and Sienna were soon presented as the tributes for District 4 gardening with more applause. After Mayor siesta drooped the tributes off they were permitted to meet with their families. Sienna was visited by her uncle and little brother (Donny). They congratulated her on winning the volunter games however Donny started to cry. As this scene was being revealed in snow square many capital lights were dabbing at there eyes with Camelia remarking in a sympathetic tone “Clearly he’s gonna miss her.”
Sienna gave Donny a big hug before telling him about the hidden money just in case she was unable to return. Donny smiled as he nodded in determination before wishing Sienna luck.
As for Fresco he was visited by his elderly grandparents and 3 older siblings They all wished him luck also stating that “The Fletchers are long overdue for a victory.” Back in the capital Asmodeus remarked to the capital audiences about Fresco’s Great Great grandfather Jonah that had won the 42nd games 99 years prior, tragically Jonah committed no air after the 3 year anniversary of his wife Fresca’s death Fresco’s aunt.
Fresco gave a few more words before going to the train quietly smiling at Sienna as the pair were soon spooked by their mentor. A young adult of 35 years of age named Larry Sherlock with perfectly quaffed red hair replied “Boo!”
Larry soon greeted the pair, inviting them to the table dining upon the assortment of roasted vegetables and a wild boar covered in seasonings of pepper and salt. Before the pair began to eat their mentor asked them in a rather blunt tone why “The district had a losing streak”. Fresco rolled his eyes asking “Why are you complaining?”
Sienna soon looked over to Larry breathing in annoyed tone before Larry snapped his fingers as Avoxes soon dismissed Fresco. Fresco’s mouth dropped in surprise as he angrily ran to his carriage room and slammed the door. Larry turned around to Sienna replying “I don't tolerate immatureness.”
Sienna smirked saying “neither do I”
Larry chuckled before talking to her about her career allies before showing her assigned ally. The boy Gravelio from district 1. “At least it's not an outlier.”
Fresco soon screamed in anger that he was assigned Mariebelle from District 12 causing Sienna to laugh.
“Do they have to be a part of the pack?”
As Larry nodded Sienna frowned before finishing her food up. After briefly telling Larry about her place of employment at the Manx jewelry shop. Sienna was in charge of making the jewelry and was also known for finding quite the rare material getting quite the profit. Larry grinded before replying “any weapons?”
Sienna glared, replying “Hooks”.
As the train arrived in the capital Larry hastily brought Fresco out of his room as Sienna disembarked from the train. Immediately many star struck capital men quickly ran up to Sienna helping her out of the train. She smiled as she was soon swarmed by many reporters from golden 24 treating Sienna as if she was an Anderson fashion model. Even Fresco was swarmed by reporters. Camelia jokingly remarked “Ok captialwood couple slay!.”
Fresco and Sienna were soon told to finish up as Larry thanked the capital for their time as the pair were ushered to their accommodation floor tower. The pairs stylist Orivile Rainstorm entered the pair in the tired heep. Larry brought Fresco and Sienna to the table as Orivile displayed his potential designs before Larry declared the one he liked most: a seashell suit covered with the seashells from the district.
Sienna twirled in her outfit as if she was a model adoring the craft as Fresco frowned as he soon continued to talk to Larry about his other allies. Oroville ushered the 3 down to the parade hall.
President Mcaine made the executive the decision to allow only the tributes and stylists to be down in the hall as the mentors were being brought up to the bleachers. Ariabell gave some last minute advice on putting up a strong face. Oria looked timidly on as Charles calmed her down before thanking Ariabell as she cheerfully said “bonne chance” before joining Quinian in the audience.
Sienna was soon approached by Gravelio and Blanche from 1 greeting them. She smiled curiously at the pair before asking Blanche who her ally was. Blanche frowned before pointing at Komeda from 3. Sienna snigred before replying “My partner has a 12.”
Blanche laughed as the pair then had “Lady chat” with Dymanda from 2. Fresco soon befriends Marble from 2 as well. He recoiled while talking saying how much he hated having a 12 as their partner. Marble laughed before pointing to the boy from 5 recounting to Fresco that “We gotta practice with them it doesn't mean they gotta (Stick with us.)” Fresco’s eyes winded for a second as Marble’s sinister grin remained as Fresco nodded as he walked back to his carriage stroking the horses as the pair from 1 and 2s stylist Picey Creed and Argetnus Creed ushered there tributes back to there carriages as the parade begun.
The carrers made a better impression than last year's tubcoil. Once the pair from 4 rolled out Sienna eagerly waved and caught many flowers and even a pair of alcohol bottles were thrown. Obviously the offender was ‘removed’ by peacekeepers. Foreantutly for Fresco he had the same attention as his district partner toward the end the pair were nearly drowned in roses. For once Nico Anderson was at a loss for words; he gave high praise to Oroville causing Oroville to nearly faint in shock.
Toward the end of the line up Oria and Charles were distressed timidly waving but after remembering Ariabella’s words Oria waved as Charles looked on. Camelia remarked that they looked like the world's most “mismatched pair.”
After the end and president McCain's speech Nico Anderson was welcomed up to the stage with much fanfare. As per usual Nico congratulated the districts before crowning the pair from 5 Solar and Moon were crowned Anderson fashion best dressed for their zodiac inspired outfits.
Back in the District 4 apartment Oroville and Larry apologized for their tributes upset attitudes saying “They still looked splendid.”
Fresco sighed despairingly before walking to his room as Sienna soon joined her own. Quinian soon yelled at the pair for being too “ mouse-like.” Oria sighed despairingly however as Charles began to yell at Quinian a large fight broke out between the men. Ariabell quickly ushered Oria to the balcony as the boys “Sorted there issues” out as Camelia put it..
As peacekeepers spertaed the men Ariabell calmed Oria down; the pair hada brief dinner before Oria went to bed.
The next morning mentors hurried the tributes down to the training hall as they waited patiently for head master fling. As Arcadian soon trialed down from a near by spiral staircase . After a brief greeting and reading of the rules he then ordered the tributes to pair with there partners. As a breif scuffle formed and a breif peacekeeper aid to followed the 26 tributes were parried.
Sienna Gravelio Fresco Anabell Komeda Solar Blanche and the carrers all worked together in spear station. Many near by trainers recounted on how strained the carrer allies looked. Even Marble from 2 slapped Solar in the face after shooting Marble in the foot on accident after a stray arrow fell.
Marble was declared to be in condition after some bandging as Solar was repermeded by Head master Fling as he was put in an isolation pod for the remainder of day 1. Sienna and her other carrer allies surprisingly helped there allies Camelia later remarked “At least there trying.”
Oria and Charles surprisingly did not stay with each other. Oria did her best to talk to Natelia from 10. Belwderemently even after being beckoned by both Quinian and Bianca Natelia spent most of the few days training teaching Oria how to wield a pitch fork but as the third came to end she quit training by herself much to Quinian’s great disappointment. Charles tried his hand the sword throwing station trying to ignore the 12 year old ARnolds attempts in small talk leading Charles to also have an “Unproductive training.”
As usual the game maker elevations are usual kept secrets but what we do know is that Sienna hurled small knives and spears at targets earning her a 9. Fresco hurled tridents scoring a 9 as well. And with Oria from 14 she tried her best with throwing pitchforks ultimately dropping one landing on her foot causing her to hop on one foot swearing much to the game makers amusement scoring Oria a 5. Finally Charles threw many spears with “respectable” precision scoring him a 7.
Larry congratulated the pair on there high training scores as Orivile quickly made the pair there interview outfits as Larry drilled the pair on interview questions. Picking on Fresco in particular telling him to fix his posture and Sienna to speak up. Ariabell congratulated there pair on there middle training scores.
“How is a 5 a good score.”
Ariabell nodded as she soon begun asking the tributes questions that Camelia would typically ask as she soon displayed her “Interview creation” for the interview.
Camelia Ravenstil gracefully walked into the interview room with her new latest creation. A sapphire sleeve less dress with hints of magenta in her blonde hair. After casually chatting with teh audience she welcomed Blanche from 1.
After the first set of carrers and the rather “Intresting pair from 3” Sienna was welcomed to the stage. Sienna was adorned with a sandy color suit with hints of light orange and purple and red making her look like a walking sunset. AFter some banter with Camelia she asked Sienna on her thoughts on her assigned partner (Gravelio) and the larger carrer pack and even Fresco. As a mischievous grin crossed Sienna’s face as she whispered into Camelia’s ear “Fresco cheated on me with everyone in the district the games are my (revenge).” Camelia and the audience both gasped as Camelia responded “Go get that win honey best of luck.”
Sienna chuckled before gingerly waving to the cheering crowd of capital citizens. Fresco was soon welcomed to the stage in a sleeve less suit showing his muscular arms and many tattoos. Camelia her self even swooned as she requested for a water bottle to be brought to the stage even her husband Balthuzar groaning in annoyance. Fresco seemed to be quite the lady’s man and as he and Camelia were daring each other more flirtatious Camelia shooed him off the stage completely relizaning her husband was in the audience.
Further on in the line up Oria was welcomed to the stage. Her brown hair was put into a bun following her lilac green dress trialing down. Unforeantutly Oria was quiet timd even causing Camelia to answer the questions for Oria before shooing her off the stage. Charles was soon brought onto the stage next with a brown suit with patches of lycra all over. However the interview took an odd turn with Charles eerily mutteruing “quelle blague.” Citizens in the interviews soon jeered Charles off before welcoming new head game maker Amelia Devcote.
Amelia was welcomed to the stage with triumph applause she gingerly waved and then hugged CAmelia before sitting down for the interview. After the occasional banter game maker Devcote slipped a hint about the arena. A large statue of President Mcaine surrounded by flowers. Curious sounds of “Aww” and “oooooo” went across the stage as game maker Devcote bowed as capital citizens clapped as Camelia bowed and ended the interviews on a high.
Larry and Orivile congratulated there tributes on there succesful interviews. However as Fresco and Orivile went to bed Sienna asked Larry to chat. Larry was bemused but agreed and asked Sienna “Whats up?”
Sienna soon revealed more of Fresco’s past and once she mentioned her daughter Larry’s eyes winded before replying “He doesnt know you gave birth to her.”
Sienna grinned saying “I rose her by myself plus he doesnt deserve to see her.” Larry nodded before relazing the darkness in the conversation before whispering in Sienna’s ear to “put up the act since he appears to forgotten you.” Sienna grinned before saying “revenges a bitch.” Larry chuckled before sending her to bed. After Sienna went to bed Larry soon went to bed as well.
Charles soon bolted to his own room apparently loosing the will to talk to Quinian. Oria asked Ariabell if she did ok in the interiews.
“You tried thats what matters.’’
Oria smiled weakly before wandering to her room resting for the games.
The next day all mentors brought there tributes to the launch rooms. They were told to dress in the formal wear provided which greatly confused the mentors in particular. Larry visted both Sienna and Fresco after he had finshed with Sienna he muttered “sponsors are on there way.”
Quinian visted Charles the boys didnt say much besides Quinian saying “dont be an egget in the arena” causing Charles to snigger. As the boys shook hands Charles stepped into his tube. Oria was visted by Ariabell. Due to Oria’s nerves skyrockting to a record high heart rate of 205 Ariabell made her repeat the phrase “je peux faire ca”. After she repeated this a total of 15 times she gave a hug to Ariabell as she reciprecated as Oria walked into the tube as the tributes were risen into the garden arena.
This years games took place in the Mcaine Garden
Day 1
Once this year's tributes rose into the arena they appeard to be transfixed on the breath taking arena. Camelia eagrly began the tour of this luxroius arrena. The cornocpuia was under the grand statue of president mcaine with many feilds of flowers following. The arena was in fact in square shape with many green houses that featured rat poison garding scythes and if tributes “new where to look” flame throwes.”
Immedtaly captial citzens were supprised to see that the tributes that we paired together. Sienna was suprised to see Gravelio smiling and replying “hello”. Sienna grinned before holding onto Gravelio for dear life as Fresco’s partner Mariabell nearly fell of her there podium as Fresco caught her she smiled and thanked him. Oria grinned seeing Natelia from 10 on her other side of the podium gving a bemused grin. As Charlie looked his right he noticed Arnold slightly watching Charlie. Imedtaly Charlie screamed as Arnold begun pushing Charlie of his own podium Charlie nearly fell of his podium Game maker Devcote imedtaly exploded Arnolds tracker. Arnold screamed as Charlie looked back at Oria worryingly. After the final 10 second Game maker DEvcote wished the tributes luck as the games begun.
Sienna Dymanda and Mackena Imedtaly barrled into the corncopuia grabbing a set of knives each and fruit packages before watching out for there allies as they quickly dispatched of near by tributes. For the boys they stabbed Cornel from 9 Citrona from 3 “Mistakenly” through a knife into Solars brain. Marble looked and gave a guilty grin before going back in the crannage.
Oria and Natelia and Charles barrow there way into the corncopuia avoiding knives and scythes being hurled unforeantutly Charles was hit in the back with a scythe thrown by Mackena from 1. Oria yelped as Natelia picked her up and placed her on her shoulders as the pair ran away.
As the pair ran the corncoupia soon quietned down with the partners soon running away besides 2. Dakota and the boy from 7 ambushed the carrer pack with Ella from 8 and Pancake from 9 following. Luckily Sienna and Mackena threw there knives into the boy from 7s heart and Ella’s back and Pancakes back as well. 3 cannos soon sounded as Gravelio hurled his scythe into Dakota’s arm she screamed in pain as Fresco and a very petrfied Anabell finshed her off sounding the 9 blood bath cannons.
The carrers Mariabell plus Komeda quickly took inventory of the remainder of the supplies the six “actual carrers taking the weapons.” Komeda asked Mackena serveal times if he could use the scythe 15 times. Marble soon screamed at him to “Shut the hell up”. Komeda snarled back before taking a swing at Marble before Sienna stepped in and knocked Komeda out. As Komeda still had a pulse the carrers stooped at the near by lily’s patches watching for tributes as the boys conteplated on further action with Komeda. During the talk Malcom shouted “Hey Dynma wheres that boy from 10.” Dymanda chuckled saying “I didnt bother to check”. Sienna sniggered as the girls soon spotted Moon from 5 shouting for Lilly from 11. Mackena soon twirled her scythe and knives later joined by Sienna hurling there weapons slamming the girl from 5 into the ground sounding her cannon.
The sudden thud of the girl from District 5 hitting the ground echoed through the arena, sending a chill down the spines of the remaining tributes. Moon's desperate cries for Lilly were abruptly silenced, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
Lily screamed as she saw her fell to the ground as she nearly was also slain by Dymanda. Once the girls returned to the flower patches Komeda apoologized to Mackena for being “Annoying.” Mackena grinned as she nodded contently before the carrers did a little more traversing soon taking shelter in a green house eagrly dinning into sponsor gifts of food and bread before sharing night watch.
After the chaotic blood bath the girls barrled into a near by greenhouse. Oria eagrly spooted one of the few flame throwers in the arena. Natelia snatched the flame thrower before hearing the boy from 8 meansingly calling out “Hey there Hennry I think I found mi some rats.” Nattelia swore before hurling a knife into the boy from 8s arm causing him to swore as she grabbed Oria by the arm running toward a far away to the near by lake. Henry swore but noticed his ally whimpering in pain he annoyingly watched the girls running away, Once evening rolled in sunset turning to a calm evening with a light rain Natelia offered to take the first watch as Oria nodded sleeping in a pile of rose petals as horn of plenty played featuring the 11 fallen tributes.
Citronia from 3, Solar and Moon both from 5 Dakota from 6 the boy from 7 Ella from 8 the pair from 9 Arnold from 12 and Charles from 14. Leaving 16 tributes remaining.
Day 2
As Tributes were not given a nights rest. Early in the morning Game maker Devocte gave her new and signature “Good morning sleepy heads.” She soon instructed if tributes wanted to have there skin to run to any near by green houses to avoid a thorny end. As the tributes awoke in there groggy states the carrers made a rush to the near by green house. As the rose bushes soon turned into a thorny mess Komeda screamed as the carrers quickly slammed the door he screamed for them to open the door however as the carrers did not do this Komeda cussed them out as he was soon impaled through the back by a way ward thorn vine.
Natelia and Oria soon also found themselves in a pickle as Oria fell into a mud ditch she screamed in fear as Natelia looked back and appeared to be in two minds about leaving or saving Oria. Natelia swore before picking the girl up and running to the near by Green house slamming the door in the last second.
Camelia dubbed this the Floral uprising as this event soon claimed Nevada from 6 and the girl from 7. After the 10 minutes was up Game maker Devcote congratulated the 13 suriving tributes before declaring it safe to come out.
Due to it being 4 am most tributes went back to bed Oria was happy to see a sponsor gift flying down. She eagrly jumped up and read the note The note read: " and bandages for her woundon her leg. She soon applyed the bandage on her leg before going back to sleep. As most of all the tributes went back to sleep and didnt awake till 2pm 1 cannon did sound. Henry from 11 and his district partner Lily were encountered teh arena’s brand new bear mutts. Lily manged to out run the bear mutts but unforeanutly for Henry he was clawed in the chest sounding his cannon instantly.
As for the carrers Mariabell grew quite frightened as Sienna and Marble were on night watch she “Attempted” to steal the remaining ration packs but Sienna caught her at the last second hurling her knife into the back of Mariabell’s neck sounding her cannon. As Fresco and teh rest of teh pack woke up Fresco angrily slammed Sienna into the green house wall threatning that “he’d get her next.” As Sienna put her hands on her hips saying “Is she gonna be your next thing.” Mackena looked on before snickering before joining in. Sienna soon added in “You forget about Shell?”
Fresco angrily slammed a knife into Sienna’s shoulder Sienna soon sniggered saying “I guess shell wont meet her real father.” The next scene was noted be one of the most replayed in captial as Fresco screamed “you bitc” but before he could finish his sentence Gravelio and Sienna both kicked Fresco so hard he flew down the flower fields crashing into a near by statue sounding his cannon. As evening turned into night Dymanda took care of Sienna’s bruised shoulder. As horn of plenty soon played at midnight showing the 6 fallen tributes.
Before Oria and Natelia went to bed a loud ruckus soon followed. Apparently unknown to the tributes the bears had “An alegric reaction” blindly wandering around the arena until the game makers had remove the bears. Natelia was surprised seeing her district partner Jason quickly running up to the pair. Camelia revealed to the audience that Jason was on the verge of starvation begging Oria and Natelia for food, Natelia shuddered before allowing him to stay with the pack. He weakly smiled before drinking nearly all the water the group had. As both the girls groaned the pair slept for the night.
Day 3
With the previous day of floral rampage pleasing the capital the game makers allowed for a rest day. Only the boy from 8 died from malnerushment and dehydration.
Day 4
As the next day dawned Game maker Devcote wished the tributes a good morning as she declared a feast would take place in the early afternoon in the rainbow field of flowers equadiesdently from the corncpopuia. Eagerly adding the twist that the feat bags would be hanging from the trees surrounding the arboral flowers. Comedicaly adding “This wil be best for the naturely inclined.”. The carrers eagerly awaited this contemplating plans as they ran to the flowers Mackena and Sienna had lady chat while Marble and Dymanda both shouted quietly at the pair to be quiet. Mackena did not take kindly to the interruption before slamming a knife into Marbles heart. Causing Dymanda to shreak in annoyance before charging at Mackena. Marbles cannon sounded as Sienna and Gravelio angrily yanked the pair of squabbling ladies away.
As the feast bags soon raised up Mackena apologized to Dymanda saying that “it would of happened soon.” Dymanda nodded as the pair ran ahead snagging the sponsoor gifts for District 2 and 4. However as Mackena through a spear into the incoming Lily’s head. Lily yelped before running a way with her feast bag in fear. Mackena yelped and asked “Why are the 2s so arrogant.” Gravelio screamed at Mackena to watch out unforeantutly she was to late as Mackena spluttered blood as Dymanda laughed saying “Primadona.”
Gravelio sighed beofre running with Sienna away to the near by feilds. As the “Feast tree” was about to return to the ground Camelia and Asomedus eagerly continue to conduct the live feast events. Oria screamed seeing Dymanda meansingly smiling from above taking aim with her new bow and arrow. Jason climbed up teh tree taking 5 arrows in thei arm as he tried to grab his bag he fell 20 feet sounding his cannon. From what was now dubbed as the Floral banquet Natelia looked at the frightened girl from 14 she smiled running up the tree and tossing the bag for Oria down. As Oria tried to also climb the tree Natelia said “she’d get the phsyco out the tree.”
Camelia and most of the audience in snow square shouted in suprise as Oria nodded as Oria ran away viewers in snow square were given an epic fight between the girl from 2 and girl from 10.
As Game maker Devcote announced the feast to be over Dymanda grinned as she hurled her final arrow into Natelia’s heart. Her cannon sounding quietly paying respects to the detrmined girl from 10. However Dymanda did not reliaze that the tree had started to go down. She mis judged her footing as she soon screamed falling out breaking her back instantly with the cannon following.
Gravelio and Sienna soon returned to the corncopuia apparently realizing that tomorrow would be the final day of the games. Horn of plenty played featuring the 5 fallen tributes. Mackena from 1 Marble and Dymanda both from 2 Jason and Natelie from 10. Leaving final 4 Gravelio from 1 Sienna from 4 Lily from 11 and Oria from 14 remaing.
Day 5
As the next morning came into play Gravelio and Sienna causally chatted at the cornoxpuia before Game maker Devcote made an announcement. She congratulated the final 4 for making it this far in the games declaring in 5 minutes tributes would need to be back in the corncopuia or risk tracker denoation.
Lily did not make it back in time her tracker denoting sounding her cannon. As Oria made it back in time but fell into the “rats Nest’” as Asmodeus put it.
“You want her or should I.” Gravelio asked Sienna.
Sienna shook her head as Oria hurled her scythe into Gravelios shoulder. He swore as he chassed after Oria. Citizens in Snow square were screaming at there favorites to win at a deathing level even causing Camelia to jokingly tell Asomdeus “My my they’re as jumpy as a race horse.”
Oria suprsingly put a strong fight but before she oculd delver the finshing blow Sienna slammed her fist into Oria’s jaw causing it to break before Gravelio stabbed Oria in the chest. Her cannon sounded before Gravelio grinned at Sienna. Viewing square grew a deadly quiet.
“Didnt expect it to be us remaining.”
Sienna grinned before appologizing as Gravelio looked on and did the same an epic fight soon took place. After furious punches and whacks and hair pulling Sienna got the upper hand holding her knife to Gravelios neck.
“You did good kid.”
Gravelio smiled as he thanked her. Sienna gave a sympathetic smile before asking Gravelio to “Say hi to Mackena for me.” Gravelio smiled as he nodded as Sienna soon slit Gravelio’s throat the final cannon sounding.
Sienna got up and in a kind jesture she moved Gravelio’s body to a near by rose field just as Game maker Devocte crowned Sienna Shorevile of District 4 to be the victor of the 105th hunger games.
Sienna gave a warm smile to the camera before allowing the peacekeepers to take her on the hovercraft.
After games
Sienna was loved through out the captial and even in the districts she was hailed as a hero. She was adorned in a rose gown with hints of light blue purple roses all over her blonde hair was tied into braids as for Camelia she adorned in a gold dress with embellishments of yard weeds all over. These outfits Camelia wore were always known as odd hints to many feature games. If you would like more information see story 19 Wardrobes of hints.
Imedtaly Camelia asked Sienna on the “Baby Bomb” refering to when Sienna mentioned this to Fresco after they’re argument. “The boy dated nearly every girl in the district plus I didnt see him remembering me anyway.” Camelia sniggered and laughed replying “Clearly he didnt.”
As the interview continued on Sienna appeared to enjoy her nickname “The flower queen.” After a little more bantering Sienna was cheered of the stage as Game maker Devcote was soon brought. Amelia was given cascades of cheers many citizens throwing flowers to the clearly star struck game maker. Game maker Devcote soon begun chatting with Camelia even allowing a hint to Camelia eagerly only saying the 1 hint and nothing more.
Camelia soon thanked Game maker Devcote for her time as the pair took hands and bowed.
Sienna returned home to district 4 the following day to much fanfare. She moved into the victors village with her brother and uncle and her daughter. She was given a offer to teach at District 1 or District 2s training academy. After careful consideration she taught at District 1 and her own districts training academy specliazing in weaponry.
After Sienna’s victory our historians have later recounted of how in the following decades of the surge of volunteres in district 1 2 and 4 giving more victors to the carrer districts. she would later move to the capital marrying her husband Harlem snow having 2 more kids. She and her husband would later go on to open a jewerly store in the capital specializing in flower themed jewerly/ It is not just here that Sienna Shorrivle storey ends she is fezatured quiet promently in our later stories we encourage you to theorize or even look further into Sienna Shorrvile’s long and succesful life.;
And thats it for story 105 I hope you all enjoyed. I think this one was one of my better tales. Likewise I hope you all enjoyed and 106 will proably be up in a week or 2. Since I dont have much left to say I hope you all have a wonderful day night or afternoon or what ever time it is for you. And as always say Panem today Panem tomorrow Panem forever.

part 1
part 3
Here come the indies! Let's start with my first descent into fragrance madness - Zoologist. Was really intrigued after reading some of the reviews here and loved the concept of basing scents of a particular animal/their environment. Loved the artwork and NEEDED to know if T-Rex was really the worst thing in the world, or if Snowy Owl did in fact smell like someone's getting murdered in a remote cabin in the wilderness. Overall was pleased with the whole house and found it really fun and exciting to try such unique scents, but ultimately felt like many of them were more "special occasion" over every day signature...Id like to think I got slightly better at describing things with time, but probably not by much! Here’s some notes that I took to remember which I liked (or really didn’t like):

• Koala: getting kinda Vicks vaporub off the bat but then settles into a fresh and earthy scent. Reminds me of incense you’d smell in a hippy store but minty? Leans a bit masculine but def unisex. Prob wouldn’t wear this but it’s not offensive... 4/10 UPDATE: love love love love the dry down - still has a subtle fresh green note but waaay toned down into this soft warm kind of musky scent so 6.5/10 would consider buying FB but prob wouldnt
• Penguin: smells ??? Unsure. Kind of rubbery upfront but not in a bad way, almost like new shoes or something? Or a sherpa coat with some leathery undertones? Really confuses me. Don't hate it. Honestly impressed by how much I'm like wtf is that? This is what I was expecting from zoologist! I like Koala dry down better, but like the top notes on this more... 5/10 wouldn't buy FB
• Harvest Mouse: a bit of a roller coaster! Has a mix of like warm cream and baby powder (maybe clay?) but sweet and mixed with woodiness and smoke. Really really like this one off the bat. Smells a little too much like an old woodshop bench on the top notes but I'd wear this in the winter fo sho. Makes me feel cozy... 6.5/10 UPDATE: actually don't like the dry down much its too heavy on the hay/balsam IMO and gets to a weird marshmallow-y scent so 6/10 final rating, would consider a FB but prob wouldnt buy
• Snowy Owl: first reaction was woooooah! A very minty everygreen pine needle up front but I'm also getting strong cucumber? Or something kinda fruity? A cold cucumber. Smells familiar somehow like a store I've been in or a theme park ride or something that I can't put my finger on. I like it, I think its unique and kinda fun! Fresh, earthy, a little fruity and equal parts weird/unique and wearable... 8/10 would buy FB
• Squid: This is the one!!!! Well not my signature, but my clear favorite from the house. Sort of vanilla-y with a leathery/suede element upfront, like a fancy new belt. Leans masculine, kinda salty/soapy. Fiance liked it a lot right away and I LOVE it on him. My dog wouldn't stop licking him and I feel that tbh. Dry down was so lovely, warm and inviting and sexy. 10/10! Would buy a FB for sure.
• Northern Cardinal: first scrubber : ( smells chemically to me and waaaaay too much spice, I'm getting like burnt basil? Hated it didn't even wait for the dry down absolute NO... 0.5/10 absolutely would not buy and looking to give away
• Hummingbird: flower bomb. Roses, roses, roses right to the face with a lotion sunscreen-y scent. Sorta salty but mostly powdery. What coppertone baby's diaper smells like. Not awful but won't be coming back unless dry down is great... 3/10 UPDATE: after it settles actually kind of a nice beachy scent to me, could see myself wearing on summer nights like 4/10 wouldn't buy FB
• Cow: Yum! Sweet and fresh and fun, I'm a big sucker for Apple in my teenager years and upfront its 95% apple. It's a little too in my face right now and giving yankee candle, even dry down was still a strong strong apple scent and its just too on the nose. 4.5/10 bit disappointed, would not buy
• Elephant: definitely getting a lot of incense but mixed with something earthy and warm maybe tonka? Not quite as bad as corner store smoke shop incense vibes, but does get stuck in your nose in a somewhat unpleasant way. A bit spicy, girly cologne feels, but does settle to a nice sandalwood. Nothing special on the dry down otherwise, prob wouldn't wear much... 4.5/10 wouldn't buy
• Seahorse: Second favorite from the house, Squid's little sister. A bit peppery/spicy off the bat (maybe the cardamom note?) but its somewhat floral and more feminine than squid. Still salty, briny, but more bright and beachy, really nice and gets more prominently beachy on the dry down. A tropical and fruity-er aquatic. 9/10... UPDATE: Keep coming back to it, have tried it on other people and I like it more and more each time. 9.5/10 final rating, would buy FB
• Chipmunk: Liked on first sniff, smoky, woody and maybe a bit green? I'm guessing sage or pine right away, but I think it was the pepper note that made me think smoky/firewood. Smells EXACTLY like a sauna to me. Dry down is crazy on this one - you get zero pepper, zero spice, its like a complete 180 to a nice subtle warm musky scent, even gets a bit more feminine IMO. Really really like and would wear, 8/10 would consider a FB.
• Nightingale: had my dog pick this one out out of 3 options to try, and the notes should've been right up my alley but NO!!! I REALLY REALLY don't like this one - second ever scrubber. Big hit of plum blossom then you get a weird plastic-y note that together scream funeral home mixed with dirty diapers. REALLY dont like.... 0.5/10 would not buy - giveaway!
• Dragonfly: keep coming back to this one for some reason. Maybe cause its really wearable and I like to layer it... Fresh, a little floral and just a hint of spiciness. Pretty subtle compared to the other, def a clean scent. Would wear day time/at work. Not super new, novel or interesting, but a non-controversial, pleasant scent. Longevity is meh... 7/10 would consider buying FB but prob wouldnt.
• Panda: sort of fruity up front with a light tea scent underneath, feels green, fresh, bit floral. Certainly leans more feminine IMO. Subtle and smells high class to me. A bit sweeter than dragonfly, though I think dragonfly is blended more seamlessly if that makes sense. I do kinda prefer this one though... 7.5/10 would consider FB but prob wouldnt
• Rhino: fan favorite from the men in my life! Very masculine, feels like a grown up version of chipmunk i.e. take that woody sauna smell and take it up a notch. Woody, spicy, warm, a little earthy, a little smoky. I'm a big fan! Sexy fall/winter scent for a man, def get more of the whiskey/leather as it settles. With how much all the men I've tried it on go nuts for it, dare I say this is the ultimate guy scent???... 9/10 would buy FB for my fiance, prob not for me
• Tiger: Has the spiciness of rhino but without the warmth, definitely also masculine. Don't love but still like, kinda gives Replica Jazz Club did-a-predator-in-the-club-overspray vibes. Dry down is a bit more fresh/clean than Rhino, but its not great. Not bad, not great.... 4.5/10 wouldnt buy
• Chameleon: this was low key one of my favorites but I was disappointed with the performance. However, fiance was like "what if that's the point... it blends in like a chameleon?" :0 cue mind blown lol. Anyway, definitely tropical and a little fruity, floral, but behind that is a strong vanilla base. Smells luxurious like staying at a fancy island resort. Reminds me a bit of one of my middle school faves G by Harajuku lovers. Leans feminine, would be great in the summer... 9.5/10. UPDATE: not sure if I just undersprayed, but can hardly smell it after an hour or two, so I'm bumping down to an 8.5. Would 100% buy a FB if performance was better.
• Beaver: light, a little floral at the start but more green/fresh than anything. Something unique in it that I cant put a finger on, but feels like a new take on the green woodsy scent. A bit too car air freshnecleaning supplies initially but the heavy leather and wood notes on as it settles are nice. Seems unisex and subtle... 7/10 would consider FB but prob not
• Rabbit: WOAH ok very sweet like a dessert and a little earthy. Carrot cake! But heavy, decadent sweetness, not an in-your-face childish cotton candy kind of sweet. Don't get a lot of fruity notes, but definitely get a hint of floral/green. I kind of appreciate how different it is for the others but its a bit much for me. Warm and comforting for fall/winter... 5/10. UPDATE: this is too much the dry down is even more cloying wtf no longer a fan 3.5/10 wouldn't buy FB
• Dodo: first thought was wot in tarnation!? another confusing one! You get something like rosemary up front but its a really unique green kind of fruity smell, then the peppecardamom come in but its not spicy in the way strong colognes tickle your nose. Really interesting and unique scent but part of me is also getting a musky BO-ish scent underneath? Or like a fruity weed? Not in a bad way though weirdly. Unisex but gets more masculine as it settles. Dry down is musky and nice with a little fruitiness still there... 8.5/10. UPDATE: tried a few days later and all I'm getting is celery seed. If you have celery seed in your spice rack go smell that its ALL I GET CELERY SEED TO THE HEAD, literally considering scrubbing off wtf... dropping to a 6/10 lol most likely would not buy FB
• Macaque Yuzu: a hint of fruitiness/citrus right away that quickly fades to a very woody/green smell. Leans masculine and is a nice fresh scent with a bit of spice. Subtler than other scents like it, but nothing special here. Its fine, not amazing, maybe Macaque apple will be more my speed... 5.5/10 prob wouldnt buy FB
• Moth: comes out very smoky/alcohol-y then VERY quickly fades to a powdery scent like baby powder on steroids. Feels like I'm getting baby powder and bengay, with a bit of leather. Not really getting any of the notes they listed unless the florals are making me think powdery... 2/10 not for me, would not buy FB
• Bat: this is nice! Definitely masculine but you get a heavy hit of fruitiness to start then it goes heavy on the incense notes. Seems to get more green as it settles and gives a sort of dark manly vibe you get with squid but more of green/woody over salty/musky... 7.5/10 prob wouldn't buy in full but would consider.
• Civet: sleeper scent! Didn't expect much but its a pleasant warm and sort of vanilla-y scent for a second before also coming in hot with the incense. Smells like a witchy bookstore, like old pages and leather and candle smoke. Salem, MA's signature scent... 7.5/10 UPDATE: dry down is really nice and warm and musky, this scent is sophisticated and fancy feeling bump up to 8/10. Would consider buying in full but prob not.
• Bee: was a bit nervous to try cause I'm not big on other sweet perfumes or most gourmands, and read that some people feel like theyre drowning in honey with this one. But I really like it (granted I sprayed THE tiniest amount)... sweet but in a soft, warm way not in a cloying way like rabbit. You get a little citrus then its a powdery honey scent surprise surprise. Feel like this is what moms should smell like, just moms in general. If I was gunna wear a sweet scent it would probably be something like this... 8/10 would buy FB
• Dodo Jackfruit: super interesting masculine leaning scent. Smells fresh and clean and a tough fruity with a bit of peppery-ness. Feel like I would LOVE this on my fiance, it does start out a little WTF am I smelling but after settling down its pleasant. Don't know if I would really wear it but I do keep going back to smell it on me every other minute, so super intriguing and want to give it a 10 but would need to test it out a few more times... 9.5/10 but gotta come back to it after the OG Dodo Celery Seed incident...
• Macaque Fuji: leans masculine, a bit spicy but mostly woody. Do get a small hint of apple at the start but not very strong nor sweet. Think its ok, but gives me bathroom cleaner at a fancy hotel vibes. Theres something in the base notes I don't like... 4/10 would not buy FB
• Musk Deer: didn't expect it, but LOVE this one! Dark, warm, wintery, definitely musky and woody too. Smells like sitting beside a fireplace in a log cabin without the smoke. A little powdery but very comforting and the more I smell it the more I like it... had it at 7.5 originally, but I'd bump to an 8.5/10 would definitely buy FB for fall/winter.
• Hyrax: meh, don't really like. Hit me with Jazz Club vibes right away like smoky and SO SO leathery smells like a footlocker stock room + cigar lounge. No leather listed in the notes but I swear to god it smells like a new pair of sneakers not in a good way. Don't get the florals but maybe its animalic scents that come off rubbery to me? Either way, dont like, want to scrub but forcing myself not to... 1/10 would not buy
• Sacred Scarab: definitely unique and I don't hate it. Feel like you get a lot of citrus for a second then its floral + green. Smells like fancy hand soap? Also a little powdery. Leans feminine, maybe better for warm weather... 4.5/10 would not buy FB
• Cockatiel: REALLY don't like this one upfront, fiance says it smells like the powder from baby bottle pops. Kinda fruity and light but something in the undertones is giving rubber + milk thats about to go bad. Debatably a scrubber I am really not a fan... 1/10 would not buy
• Sloth: A lot going on here! I'm not getting the BO vibes other people have mentioned, I'm getting very green without being fresh kinda mossy I guess? Slight floralness to start and a lingering note that smells like fig maybe? or a christmas fruitcake? I kind of like it though, reminds me a little of koala. Not sure if I'd wear much but I do find it suprisingly pleasant. Unique no doubt, very unisex IMO and probably good for spring. Dry down is kinda giving irish spring but more mellow, really growing on me... 6/10 prob wouldn't buy FB but maybe
• Camel: fiance says this smells exactly like Derek Jeter's cologne from the mid-aughts which made me chuckle. Fresh pine-y/green opening, sorta smells like generic mens shaving cream with a bit of smoke or incense in the background. I actually don't mind and was expecting worse but don't see how this fits with a Camel's environment at all... 5/10 prob wouldn't buy full
• T-Rex: saving the most controversial for last... HOLY SMOKE lol. This is like an actual campfire on your body for the entire opening, you get a little peppespice but overwhelmingly SMOKE SMOKE SMOKE SMOKE SMOKE. Honestly not as bad as people make it out to be, I am a fan of the campfire kinda smell and the tiniest spritz of this could be nice under a different wintery scent. But holy shit it's like you just sat in front of a campfire for 30 minutes. Really strong even spraying a tiny amount... 4/10, wouldn't buy but gets more hate that it deserves tbh.

So while I had a ton of fun sampling these and found a few I really like, none of them ended up being a good signature for me. So the hunt continued...

Hello!! Fairly long time lurker who has loved reading everyone else's reviews here, so figured it was time to share the outcome of my lengthy journey of finding a signature scent. I've always had a few gifted bottles on hand that I'd spritz here and there but never really loved any of them, so over the last year or so I've really been diving into the world of fragrance on the daily and taking notes... Buckle up, I've been SNIFFIN!! Here is part 1 when I was still figuring out how to describe things, and before I went crazy with the indies : )
part 2
part 3
Early Days: Short Reviews of an old Sephora Sampler from a Clueless Newbie...

• NEST Citrine EDP: fresh, light, really nice! Citrus to the face but I'm cool with it... 8/10
• Versace Bright Crystal EDT: also fresh but very floral, moderately old lady vibes tbh... 4/10
• Gucci Guilty Pour Femme EDP: warm, kinda masculine like a girly cologne, I'd wear this out... 8/10
• Kat Von D Saint EDP: too sweet and almost sugary not for me at alllllll... 2/10
• Kat Von D Sinner EDP: old lady but this time make it spicy... 3/10
• Chloe EDP: kinda a floral but not super sweet, almost a little spiciness at the end, feels ~mature~... 5/10
• American Eagle Break Free EDT: axe body spray. Nope... 1/10
• YSL Black Opium EDP: warm, vanilla-y but feels night time... 8.5/10

The Search Continues: Revisiting FB I Own and my First Sample Set (Replica by Maison Margiela)

• Commodity Moss: gifted a FB and loved it right away. Green, fresh, earthy but also dark and sort of sexy. My winter date night go-to for a while. Good longevity, not super girly, feel like its underrated... 9/10 would def buy FB again.
• Dior Pure Poison: blind buy for christmas. Dry down is nice, definitely sexy date night vibes, & very musky which I'm here for. I don't really fuq with heavy white florals, feel like this one has geranium maybe? I like the citrusy top notes but florals overtake and it's a bit much. Don't get the hype, also kinda hate the bottle... 6.5/10 wouldn't buy FB again.
• Lancome L'Idole: bought abroad thinking THIS IS IT! THIS IS MY SIGNATURE! Wore it for a bit then was like eh, not in love here lol. Definitely rosy and floral, feminine but not overly sweet. Good for everyday/office as it's low key enough, projection noticeable but not in your face, good longevity (esp on clothes). Love the warm vanilla-y dry down. Bottles cool but also annoying and falls over all the time... 8/10 still would buy FB again.
• Mugler Angel Alien Goddess: love! warm and vanilla-y with a lil floral and citrus up front. In theory low key enough to wear to work if you don't over spray, but can also be a date night vibe. Stays FOREVER and would be a 10/10 for me if the dry down wasn't a bit powdery for my liking. Feels like a unique spin on the citrus->floral->vanilla scent... 9.5/10 would buy FB.
• CH Good Girl: really similar to angel goddess but a bit more in your face. Roller version was straight up rubbing alcohol at first but I prefer this dry down (more vanilla, less powder). Def date night scent, bit much for day time... 8.5/10, would consider FB but given it's similarity to angel goddess, I'd prob get a FB of that instead.
• Replica Jazz Club: waaaaay too much, too much spice. Smells like an old book mixed with a guy trying to corner you at the nightclub who doused himself in cologne for the big night out... 2/10 upfront but after a few hours mellowed out nicely into a warm spicy smell that I'd give a 4? Not a fan, least fave from replica.
• Replica Sailing Day: really nice, reminded me of D&G Light Blue. A lil spicy, fairly masculine, but clean, light, crisp at the same time. I'm a sucker for aquatics... 6/10 prob wouldnt buy FB but would consider it.
• Replica Lazy Sunday Morning: Love! Really light and clean, smells kind of like a wool & amber candle I have. Most subtle opening, lovely dry down. Relaxing, feminine, a bit floral, not too over the top... 8.5/10 would consider a FB.
• Replica Autumn Vibes: mid. Don't love it, thought it would be more cinnamon-y? Doesn't do much for me, very meh... 3/10 wouldnt buy FB
• Replica Beach Walk: LOVE!! Probably my 2nd fave from replica. So soft, does actually smell like the beach in a sunscreen and ocean kind of way, not in a fishy, overly briny way. I feel like rich people's beach houses smell like this. Wore in the cold days to brighten my mood... 10/10 summer scent would buy FB love love love.
• Replica By the Fireplace: This is what I thought autumn vibes would smell like!! A little smoky, a little spicy, kinda woody. Like this for winter but it is a bit cloying esp on clothes... 7/10 prob wouldnt buy FB.
• Replica Bubble Bath: Favorite from Replica! Fresh, light, crisp and soapy, with a kind of sweet floral behind it. Similar vibes to LSM but sweeter and less "laundry". Wasn't obsessed at first but keep coming back to it over and over and over... originally was a 9/10 but I'd bump to a 10/10 I'd buy FB.
• Replica When the Rain Stops: this is like a more masculine and slightly peppery take on LSM or Bubble Bath, but more green than aquatic or powdery. I like it, but nothing to write home about... 6/10 would not buy FB

Next up - Zoologist full collection, a few from Carthusia, Maria Candida Gentile, ELDO, Vilhelm, and other indies...

I love Prog Rock. I have two favorite bands, one that no one's really heard of because they're Canadian, the other is called Genesis (listen to their album "Invisible Touch" if you haven't already).
Anywho... I wanna make my own Prog Rock, but my hands are too girly to make 7th chords... Can I still get a Prog Rock sound by using obscure time signatures like 3/4? As far as gear goes, I'm playing an Ibanez Gio through 15 boutique pedals, so toan is not a problem.