Base Notes

 When I was done it made me want to get a new perfume so when I found something nice on Fragrantica I checked the price and you know what I get why Vic did all this.
The POV character is absolutely amoral and has a very high opinion of themself, I'm down for pretentious prose in general and here it emphase their arrogance skillfully. However, I did find Vic's relationship to class and gender, as in desperate to and only able to express their identity through a refined aesthetic that are way out of their means, somewhat relatable. They're a dark mirror for dipshit trans guys who should have moved on from dark academia.
The intrigue itself was a bit more meh, I wasn't all that invested in where it was going and while it dragged on the conclusion was quite rushed. The ending itself was good though, it felt the right conclusion for Vic and their sinister class complex.