Okay, but because the Vees might totally vanish/perish after S2 and the show certainly won't have time to focus on it, I wanna talk about how fucked up Valentino's concept of love probably is.
IMPORTANT: I'm not naive. I know that there are some people out there in the world who are just plain abusers and that Val probably is one of those. I know that they get off on the power trip of control and misery they bring on to others.
However! I also don't it's a hard stretch to consider that a pansexual (who leans towards servicing men in romantic/intimate situations), Latino man in the 70s has probably seen his fair share of abuse in the sex industry. I don't think we will be getting information about Val's human life or past aside from maybe how he met Vox because it's just not integral to Hazbin Hotel as a whole.
That said, Valentino's concept of love seems to be based around it being conditional.
It's a give and take. He showers a subject like Angel in love and affection, overwhelms him with this Loverboy persona that he plays up until they're wound around his finger and in total need and dependency of his time, shelter, or affection.
That's why when the lovebombing doesn't work and instead, Angel pulls away from Val's control, Valentino switches to physical abuse to keep Angel under control, to rattle his mind until Angel can chase away his support network (Charlie).
And Valentino is uncomfortably good at what he does and how second nature it is to him. It's his entire business for him and his souls to be lusted after and desired, after all.
Does Valentino love Angel? No, I don't think he does *love* Angel. I think he's obsessed with him and to Valentino, I think that feels like love in his warped mind. Otherwise, why would he text Angel constantly and leave him these lovebombing voicemails in between his usual manchild temper tantrums? I do think Valentino is obsessed with the control he has over Angel and interprets that as some sort of misguided true affection. There's a clear high point during the Poison song sequence where the two consensually have sex and it's addicting, but the rest is overflowing with Val's need to use Angel for all he's worth and Angel unable to escape from it.
But on the other hand, there's Valentino's on again and off again relationship with his business partner, Vox.
Now there's a lot to say about these two. They argue and fight and are clearly toxic, but at the same time, they dance, kiss, and hold each other in these soft moments of tender gazes.
It seems like Val may actually be in love with Vox. And I think he is!
However... look at what's normalized in Vox and Val's relationship.
Valentino's room is filled with cameras, about six and counting according a thread on Twitter that counted the frequency of Vox's cameras in the show. They're in Angel's dressing room, Valentino's directing space in the tower, and even following him in his favorite clubs. Vox is always watching Val and considering he can zap through the cameras in a moments notice, Valentino is never out of reach for Vox.
And Val knows this, according to the final episode of S1. He acknowledges the camera and seems into it, given that he flashes it a smile. It's normal for him.
Beyond that, Vox talks down to Valentino, infantalizes Val to his face. He doesn't take Val's tantrums seriously and ignores him, texting on his phone until Valentino grabs it and breaks it. Now one could perceive this as more physical violence from Val. After all, before that, he threw his glass at Vox as well. But Vox merely steps aside in silence and continues to ignore him until he believes for a moment, Angel has quit. Which you know... prompts an excited remark from him.
Furthermore, to stop Val's rampage, he roughly grabs Valentino and shakes him, even turning up his screens brightness to temporarily mesmerize the moth and stop him in his tracks.
And again, all of this is just... normal for Valentino. He doesn't question it. He doesn't resist it. Valentino is dependent on Vox. It makes sense. He's his business partner, he uses his technology for his work as the Overlord of Porn, and he relies on Vox for comfort and intimacy.
But Vox has all this control over Valentino and Val simply doesn't seem to question it. Ultimately, once again, this points to Val having normalized love being a form of control. It doesn't bother him how Vox keeps this form of control and lack of respect over Val, because why would it? Val does the same to the souls he owns.
Why would it be any different in the sex industry, in a cycle of perpetual abuse?
Anyways, this was just a few of my thoughts on how Valentino may just approach or reconcile love in his mind as an abuser and possibly a victim in the cycle given his likely origins in the sex industry both in his human and afterlife. I just wanted to muse a bit and I'm not sure where I was going with this.
Why Vox hates Angel and why Valentino doesn't hate Alastor, an analysis by Grish
Did I JUST make a massive post about this exact subject? Yes. Am I doing it again because episodes 3 and 4 gave me even more evidence to support my point? Also yes. Also this time I'm including Vox and SCREENSHOTS
Disclaimer: I know Vox and Valentino are toxic as fuck, this isn't meant to be an 'ugh see their relationship is terrible and that's why it's a bad ship!', it's just analysis on exactly how they're toxic and fucked up, and YES I am a Valastor shipper and I might be a little delusional, but I also think I am capable of being unbiased and seeing what is actually being shown to us.
Content warning for discussions of physical and sexual abuse regarding Valangel and the cuck chair scene.
Continue if you want to have your mind blown
First, let me start by saying Vox and Val are both obsessed with EACH OTHER, while also having separate obsessions (Valentino with Angel, and Vox with Alastor), while they clearly enjoy and encourage the obsession they have with each other, they do NOT like the other's obsession with Alastor/Angel, for Vox this seems to be straight up hatred of Angel Dust and for Val he just seems more indifferent when it comes to Alastor
Starting with the very first scene we get of them together in season 1 episode 2
It opens with Vox clearly not wanting to interact with a pissed off Valentino, and acting very uninterested in the conversation, right up until this moment
This poor idiot is SO excited at the possibility of Angel finally being gone, only to have his dreams crushed seconds later by Valentino's jealousy, he destroys Vox's phone because he's pissed that Vox isn't focusing his full attention on him while he rants
(Side note, the way Vox stares at his empty hand is one of my favourite moments in this show)
Moving on, I have SO much to say about this little exchange, it's an absolute goldmine
The fact that Valentino KNEW about Alastor being back and at the hotel and just sat on that information for at least A WEEK instead of sharing it with Vox? Incredible. (Timeframe being an estimation because in Adam's song he says 'I know it's just been a week, but we'll be back in six months, and episode 2 looks to be a direct follow up) As to how Valentino even got that information in the first place, he was quite clearly using Vox's drones to spy on Angel at the hotel.
This is also why I believe that while Valentino isn't particularly pleased with Vox's obsession with Alastor, he doesn't resent Alastor for it in the same way Vox resents Angel
Not only do we have Valentino EXPLICITLY saying 'Killing Alastor is YOUR kink', we also have this follow up moment of Valentino using Alastor as a way to TEASE Vox (AFTER he gets pissed at Vox for ignoring him, that is)
(Side not, Valentino's smug face is one of my favourite expressions of him)
This next chunk is a LITTLE off track to the main point here, but I just can't not talk about the relationship between Alastor and Valentino/Velvette, because I think it's SO interesting
Stayed Gone is amazing in the way it shows Vox and Al's beef/obsession being entirely about THEM
This moment could be interpreted as Vox just being fucking obnoxious and that's why they both look annoyed, but based on things we see further along in the season, I think it is also a good example of Valentino and now Velvette not giving a single fuck about Vox's obsession
Another great shot showing how Val and Vel aren't involved with the beef, Alastor compliments them and they both have SUCH smug looks about it (And Alastor even repeats this point in season 2 episode 4, but getting into that more takes us WAY off track)
BACK ON TRACK
The next instance we see of Valentino's uninterest in Vox's obsession is during the Adam VS Alastor fight
Vox says he's hard, Valentino is POUTING, famously horny PORN OVERLORD VALENTINO is POUTING at Vox saying he's hard, because it's not about him, it's about Alastor.
Valentino cracks a smile after when Vox is laughing about Alastor's suffering, but it drops again IMMEDIATELY upon Vox saying 'this is better than sex', he then goes back to grinning when Alastor runs away and Vox throws a tantrum
Valentino then smiles and jokes when Lucifer makes an unintended innuendo
Valentino likes Vox's enjoyment of suffering, he likes VOX's suffering, he HATES Vox showing sexual interest in anyone that isn't him. He doesn't care for Vox's obsession with Alastor, but he CAN take some enjoyment from it when he sees Vox having fun, and when he can use it to annoy Vox, he does NOT like the implication that Vox wants to fuck Alastor. Its okay for Valentino to make sexual jokes though, because he's Valentino and that's his thing.
In the finale song, Val does go on to reference Alastor's disappearance and does sound happy about it, but the song is more about the Vees taking control of Hell than it is about Alastor himself
ON TO SEASON 2, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE IT REALLY GETS GOOD
NOW, I don't think Vox has a problem with Valentino being interested in anyone else EXCEPT when it comes to Angel, the only reason he had a problem this time is because they were about to discuss top secret plans. However, put another tally in the 'Valentino thinks only he has the right to be horny whenever and with whoever' column
NEXT, the hitting Angel thing
Vox LOVES watching Valentino abuse others, but he hates Angel in particular because of Val's obsession with him. Going back to my very first point in this thread about how excited Vox was at Angel potentially quitting. Vox can get enjoyment from Valentino abusing anyone, it doesn't NEED to be Angel Dust (I'm sure there's a vicious cycle there of Vox getting extra pleasure from Angel's abuse because he hates him while simaltanously hating that he takes up so much of Valentino's attention in the first place)
(This is also explicitly spelled out to us in episode 2 by Angel himself, but more on that a little further down)
Vox seems surprised by this accusation for some reason like he doesn't have six billion cameras all over the Porn Studio and Val's clubs and Val's penthouse (And Valentino is smiling because he LOVES Vox's obsession with HIM)
While this brief moment appears at first glance to throw a wrench in the 'Valentino only likes when Vox directs innuendo at him' concept because he's unhappy about that 'I'll try to go slow' line, I don't think it does, here we see Valentino's obsession with Vox and the fact he just wants him to shut up so they can fuck, while Vox is way too invested (Obsessed) with his plan to overtake Heaven, he isn't paying the proper attention to Valentino that he needs.
In season 2 episode 3, Angel explicitly says that Vox gets off to watching people suffer
Vox is so needlessly cruel to Angel in this episode and it COULD be because he's just an asshole who treats everyone like shit, but it could ALSO be because he hates that he's Valentino's other obsession
(There is that moment from the trailer where Vox is attacking Angel and I hesitate to mention it here bcause we don't have context, but I would be VERY surprised if that scene had nothing at all to do with Valentino)
And NOW we come to the greatest episode in media history, season 2 episode 4
VOX LEAVING MID SEX TO FIGHT ALASTOR??
Valentino pissed off that Vox LEFT HIM MID SEX, and then Vox annoyed that's he's trying to flirt with his eyes LOCKED ON ALASTOR. Val and Vox ARE obsessed with each other, but I think it's very clear their other obsessions (Alastor and Angel) overshadow that.
NOW, is Valentino fighting Alastor when I just swore up and down that he doesn't care? Yes, BUT LISTEN. Alastor attacked first, it's self defense and we already know Valentino likes shooting things, so yes he does engage in this fight, but you know what DOESN'T happen during this fight? Valentino seeking revenge for his damaged antennae because ALASTOR DIDN'T DO IT. They are LITERALLY FIGHTING and ALASTOR IS WEAK, and Valentino makes a ton of innuendoes and DOES manage to strike Alastor. But there is no rage or pure hatred the way there is with Vox and Angel because Val! Doesn't! Care! About Vox's obsession the way Vox cares about his.
WHAT GETS ME, is Alastor doesn't say a SINGLE WORD to Val, come on baby, TELL US HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HIM
AND WHAT'S THIS?? VOX EXCITED AS FUCK ABOUT CAPTURING ALASTOR WHILE VELVETTE LOOKS UNIMPRESSED AND VALENTINO HAS THE BIGGEST BIG BABY POUT ON HIS FACE!!!
We do see Valentino happy and smiling on the parade float, but I think that can be explained by the fact that he likes having the attention of a screaming crowd on him, BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME WE SEE HIM
WHAT!!!! THE!!! FUCK!!!! IS!!!! THIS!!!!!!!!
LOOK ME IN MY GOD DAMN EYES AND TELL ME THAT VAL AND AL DO NOT LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME HERE!!!!!
Valentino is TIED UP and UNIMPRESSED.
Alastor is TIED UP and UNIMPRESSED.
Now I'm not saying that Vox assaulted them BOTH here, but I AM saying that we are ONLY seeing the AFTERMATH of this particular scenario, and none of the before, and the AFTERMATH is showing that SEX OVERLORD PERPETUALLY HORNY VALENTINO did NOT have a particularly good time here. And I have a couple theories as to why. One being that we know Valentino ONLY bottoms for Vox, which means that's quite a vulnerable position to be in, I don't think he wanted Alastor to be a part of that, but he also isn't one to say no to sex. ALSO. AGAIN. VOX BEING HORNY FOR ALASTOR, AND VALENTINO HATES THAT. Vox is canonically bisexual, but as of right now, we ONLY know of him having sex with Val and being sexually obsessed with Alastor, I don't think Valentino likes having to share Vox's male attraction, I think he wants to be the only guy Vox is interested in.
LASTLY, the very last point I have to make here
VALENTINO IS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO MAKE SEXUAL INNUENDOES, NO ONE ELSE!!!!!!!!!!
tl;dr Vox and Valentino have a shitty, toxic, obsessive relationship with each other and also both have obsessions outside of that relationship (Angel Dust and Alastor) They like each other's obsession WITH EACH OTHER, but Vox HATES Valentino's obsession with Angel and also hates Angel Dust himself, Valentino ONLY likes Vox's obsession when its strictly violent and he can tease Vox about it, he HATES being reminded that Vox's obsession with Alastor is also sexual in nature (Unless Valentino is the one making it sexual, because only he is allowed to do so) but doesn't appear to hold any hatred towards Alastor himself
everything about this scene is just so!!! vox fucks val in front of alastor as if to taunt alastor how he's a god who's winning at life and fucking someone hot and powerful, like a reminder that alastor could have had all this sexual prowess turned on him if he hadn't rejected vox. and alastor immediately counters by trying (and succeeding) to embarrass vox in front of val about how vox was besotted and rejected by alastor. alastor and vox both use val for a power play against the other. val didn't seem particularly enthused about the sex part ("uh huh, sure babe"), tho i'm sure he didn't mind it lol he wouldn't have done it if he really was against it. and val is shown to be interested in what al has to say about vox in the past.
which is why it's really funny that in the end, val just wants to see alastor and vox fuck it out LMAOOO he really said "enough of this dick measuring contest, lemme watch y'all go at it" and i support him!
If Vox's body can't regenerate so easily especially now that he's not as powerful anymore, then Valentino ripping his head off is such a powerful statement to how much he loves him. Valentino, a pimp whose entire career and personality are built off of sex and attraction, didn't even blink before discarding his boyfriend's body to save him. He genuinely loves Vox for who he is. I am unwell.
I love the Vees so much. Val would've been in the fucking right to leave Vox here. He neglected him, insulted him, said he was playing house with him and Vel and tried to fucking kill them. He rightfully blew up at Vox but he stayed. He didn't have to but he did.
Vox might not be appreciating the family he has right now but Val does. Val will not let his family fall apart. No matter what.
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