I did a pretty cohesive job with tagging this post, so please look at the tags before reading so you know exactly what you're going into.
Listener
Since Verosika started to hang out with Loona and Octavia, her perspective on a lot of things changed.
Verosika, although rude and cold-presenting, turned out nuanced and compassionate in a personal environment. When the time came, she listened carefully when the girls vented about the abuse taking place, and while she wasn't surprised about Blitzo's actions, the wholesome image Stolas had been building up for years shattered in front of her eyes.
At first, the woman didn't want to believe it, as one does. But looking at Loona, clutching onto Octavia's shoulders as the Goetia cried, made something in her gut turn upside down.
After all, creatures can lie. And that's exactly what they do, most of the time. All the time.
Was everything she ever knew about a friend a lie?
Well... friend. It's what the woman used to call him, when in actuality, her interactions with him always felt a little uneasy. Even with Verosika's skewed perspective due to sympathy toward the Goetia demon, there was just something. Something that stopped her from getting too close. This uneasy feeling inside. It may leave when intoxicated, but when sober, it always stayed.
The sole fact that he was absolutely in power to end her life, career, or any relationships she had on the spot, but chose not to. Because they were friends. Right?
The woman was too busy brushing it off, or ignoring it. After all, Stolas was a father, and a wholesome boyfriend, and whoever he was. But now, with this image shattered, all that's left is to ask:
"What else did he lie about?"
Because if his "I love Octavia so much" was just self-pitying slander, what's stopping him from faking more?
Who knows what was going on behind closed doors with Blitzo, who, although a horrible man, was also not immune to abuse; with his wife, with her brother.
Loona's fists are clenched on Octavia's shoulders. She is pulling the bird into the hug as hard as she can before the girl starts crying. The hellhound's expression tells of agonizing pain, regret, anger, and maybe something else the woman wasn't able to identify herself. Her ears are flat against her head, the immediate reaction to stress.
The Goetia slowly stops crying, but she is still in her girlfriend's hug, strong arms wrapped around her back. Slowly, Via starts to breathe steadily again, silently, but everyone in the room hears it clearly as silence falls on every shoulder.
Verosika looks into nothingness with the horrified expression of silent shock as she understands — she never actually saw Stolas being a good boyfriend, father, or even a decent person, really. However, here she is, witnessing firsthand the damage his behavioral patterns caused.
Tell her that Stolas was capable of any of that two months ago, and she would have laughed it off, called it ridiculous. But now her head, although completely silent, is stuck on one repeating thought:
"Who is he really?"
