"A Blast from the Past"

As the evening wore on, Astoria found herself growing increasingly anxious. She couldn't shake the feeling that her guests were still reeling from the revelation of her blonde past, and she couldn't help but wonder if they'd ever be able to see her as the sophisticated, 1930s-inspired siren she was trying to be. As she mingled with the guests, Astoria caught snippets of conversation that made her cringe. "I mean, I love her, but she's just not the same with that blonde hair," Angel Dust said to Charlie, her voice laced with disappointment. Charlie nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the room for Astoria. Vaggie's voice was barely above a whisper, but Astoria's keen ears picked up on the conversation. "I don't know, guys, I kind of miss the old Astoria. She was so much more... edgy." Rosie's expression was sympathetic, but even she couldn't hide the hint of nostalgia in her voice. "I do like the new look, but I have to admit, I miss the fiery spirit that came with her red hair." As Astoria made her way through the crowd, she caught glimpses of her guests' reactions. Some of them were smiling and laughing, but others looked like they were struggling to adjust to her new persona. Valentino Velvet's eyes sparkled with amusement as he gazed at her, but even he seemed to be holding back a hint of criticism. "You know, darling, you're still beautiful, but you're just not the same without that fiery mane of yours." Astoria's face grew hot with embarrassment as she realized that many of her guests were still clinging to her old image. She felt like she was losing her grip on her new persona, and she didn't know how to regain control. Her eyes dropped, and she hid behind a mask of polite smiles and laughter, desperate to deflect attention from her growing insecurity. Carmilla, however, seemed to be one of the few guests who genuinely appreciated Astoria's new look. "You know, Astoria, I think you look stunning," she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. "The blonde hair suits you perfectly." Astoria's face lit up with gratitude, but even Carmilla's praise couldn't erase the doubts that were creeping into her mind. As the night wore on, Astoria found herself growing more and more withdrawn. She was hiding behind a veil of propriety, desperate to avoid discussing her past or her new look. But as she glanced around the room, she realized that her guests were starting to notice her absence. They were looking for her, searching for the vibrant, fiery spirit that had once defined her. And Astoria knew that she had to find a way to reclaim that spirit, to prove to herself and her guests that she was more than just a pretty face and a vintage hairstyle. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenges ahead, and stepped forward into the spotlight, ready to face whatever lay in store.