Okay, I watched the Valentino drawing video, and... it's adorable. I've been thinking about it on and off since I've seen it... and I wanted to talk about something that nobody has really mentioned:
How drastically different Vox is in it?
Like, Val being actually sweet and wholesome with Vox and Velvette-- its a side of him we've seen glimpses of and he still has that god awful villain side of him wanting to see a guy getting run over, but his disposition with Velvette is so sweet? You can see why they're friends, and how well they get along with one another.
And that brings me back to VOX. Like, I knew he cared for the Vees. I knew he truly thought well of them, and looked out for them. But I was NOT expecting Tired Caretaker Husband Vox to walk in and start asking Val what he wants to eat. Like, his tone and disposition was so different, I didn't recognize who was speaking at first. I thought Val had a side dude he was fucking that walked in, until Vox said Val's name in that 'Vox is annoyed with him' way he does in season 1! Am I the only one whose jaw dropped as I listened to their wholesome and domestic banter?? I feel like this side of Vox is huge-- because it's (as the fandom has dubbed) 'Vincent' interacting with Valentino.
There is none of that usual posturing, none of the cavalier attitude he puts on for the audience, no facade, no manipulation- just raw and unguarded ease and comfortability. He literally sounds just like your average heteronormative boyfriend that just came home and found out you didn't eat all day.
He's tired, had a shit day, just wants some greasy ass food, but he's not going to go get anything until he's sure your ass is taken care of first. Vox literally starts fussing at Val that he needs to eat more, and points out he only nibbles on food before he gives it to the pet. Like- I feel like I'm going insane at this direct opposition of what we've been getting so far??
I can SEE the man Vincent could have been on Earth if he hadn't had his psychotic break; hell, the life he could have been already living outside of his Television Studio. I can see the wife he could have had, the little kid running around. He's so used to being a provider that taking care of his partner and keeping them on task is second nature to him. And I mean, he died around the 50s; the man being the core household provider was just the accepted norm back then.
Through this small little glimpse into the Vee's daily lives, we get to see how Vox probably was during those 7 years when Alastor was gone. Calm, chill, maybe a little grumpy, but he's a provider- and hell, he's GREAT at it?! He may have whined at Val at first, but he literally comes back with nachos AND wings for Val to make sure his fussy boyfriend eats. That's literally ridiculously thoughtful of him, for someone he's technically not even dating!
So, with this new side Vox... what is it about this 'strawberry-looking-pimp' that makes Vox lose his ever loving mind?
Because this difference that comes over Vox when Alastor is even mentioned is now actually terrifying with this comparison. Vox goes from a pretty chill guy and fantastic significant other- to a literal deranged psycho. It's so intense!
I know that Vox had deep feelings for Alastor in the past, and Alastor more or less shattered him into a million pieces... but it's just. It just makes no sense. One person holding so much power over you to nearly change your entire personality is just literally insane. Mind boggling; baffling. It just makes Valentino's little Yearning Wife moment is episode 7 make a little more sense.
Val is used to a man who... kinda treats him right? But when he's around Alastor? Oh no, he's racist, abusive, controlling, and neglects him and Velvette to completely focus on the weird red deer.
Val handles all of this... with a lot more grace than a lot of people would have, especially with how we KNOW his temperment to be.