Vox certainly knows how to appear harmless. He hover around you, lull you into a false sense of security, and then strike when you're least prepared.
It's a tactic that works for him. Even now.
He approached this girl offering her everything she could possibly want. He told her everything he saw in her, like her potential, and everything he would help her achieve. Then he discarded her when he had nothing left to take from her, leaving her so trapped that she had no choice but to return to him.
Hazbin Guarantee/Trust Us is the song where they show us that Vox was a cult leader and that his methods work.
And no, it's not something he learned after his "breakup" with Alastor.
Vox was using the same methods. But the biggest difference between that girl and Alastor is the difference in power. The girl is what he might consider a follower, so projecting confidence, power, and self-assurance is essential to gaining him followers.
Alastor is a follower Vox wants, but he can't use the same methods because Alastor can't just be another member. Vox believes Alastor should be higher in the hierarchy, perhaps only below him, the leader...or at most, beside him. Therefore, his approach needs to be modified.
He seemed harmless, a follower of someone powerful, someone he admired and found inspiring. He imitated him, giving the impression that Vox wanted to be like Alastor. But it's manipulation; he makes sure Alastor is paying attention to him, he wants Alastor to feel heard, seen, appreciated. Vox doesn't see potential in Alastor because Alastor has already reached the top, but he has a power that, according to Vox, Alastor isn't using correctly. That's why Vox offers his influence, so that together they can reach their full potential, which for Vox is ruling Hell. Being a god.
But then, as always, Alastor breaks the mold.
"Does my flattery bore you?"
It's not working; his usual method isn't giving him the results he expect. I want to point out that, despite the sweet smile, Alastor's ears are pinned back throughout that whole scene... he's already suspecting something.
Flattery doesn't work, so move on to the next step.
"I'll get straight to the point. I'll tell you everything you can get by my side"
That doesn't work either. Alastor laughs in his face when he offers him a partnership. "With your power and my influence". Alastor has the power; he doesn't need Vox's influence. It's useless to him because, for Alastor, this isn't about a power trip, but about freedom, and Alastor won't accept another leash.
Since that didn't work, Vox is trying another step.
"I thought we were friends"
Normally, when you're close to someone, appealing to their pity and showing hurt feelings often works to get them to change their mind, back down, and at least acknowledge they did something wrong. This is very important in a cult: the idea that every decision is wrong unless the leader approves. If they're friends, Alastor should at least apologize, right?
"There are no friends in hell, Vincent"
Every step prior to the attack, to the trap, was successfully avoided by Alastor. He is not interested in being flattered, he is not interested in ruling, and he is definitely not interested in having "friends" who want to use his power.
Of course, even if Vox did have feelings for Alastor, that wouldn't stop him from using his usual methods to ensure this target stayed on his side. But it didn't work, nothing worked, and he received what was probably his first and most brutal "NO".
It's not just that Alastor "broke his heart", he also destroyed his pride, his ego, and made him question his methods.
He couldn't get what he wanted, who he wanted, and after 70 years, he's still obsessed with someone he can't have.
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