#You thought stolas being repressed and depressed was something

[a-hell-of-a-time-archive]

"You do control your own life, Andre. No one else does. How you choose to live it is up to you."

The words came to him as he stared at the half empty bottle of wine atop his desk. It was easy for Vassago to say such a thing; he was a prince with a title, power and privilege that far exceeded his own. He was, in Andrealphus's mind, given more leeway and freedom from his own than the marquis's own parents ever afforded him. The same was true for Stolas, as well.

He reached for the bottle, filling up his glass while trying to ignore the frustration and hopelessness welling up inside. Why could a prince live as he chose with little to no repercussions while he was chained by, and due to his lower status. Why could they get away with living how they want while he had to tow the line so carefully that it felt like he would break at any second.

Why couldn't he be as free as them? Why did he have to suffer the whims of his family, including the sister he still had to babysit to this day while Vassago and Stolas did not? Why were they not shackled in a similar manner, given that their titles and expectations were also greater than his?

Why was he the odd one out and expected to suffer quietly?

Why?

He downed the glass in one go before filling it up yet again. It was going to be a long night, but fortunately there were more bottles than where this one came from.

[bibluebutterfly]

One thing I appreciate Helluva doing is how it establishes Stolas as a good, sweet person but doesn't excuse his actions.

A lot of people have been saying for some time that Helluva turned Stolas into a sad owl boi, which true, but at the same time it still works as that is who Stolas is at his core. He's depressed, repressed, and is dealing with some shitty stuff at the moment.

HOWEVER, even though he never means to hurt anyone, it doesn't change the fact that he still does. The show in season one held him accountable as a loving father to Octavia, still held him accountable when he unintentionally ignored her discomfort and not wanting to be there.

In the new Music Video it does the same with Blitz. We now know why he pursued Blitz, why he was so comfortable cheating on Stella, and why he was so forward with his dirty talk. But misunderstanding or no, it doesn't change the fact that Stolas still screwed up during his arrangement with Blitz. Even if he didn't mean to and thought it was something they both wanted, it doesn't change the fact that he still took advantage of a power imbalance and ignored the hints that Blitz may not have been as happy as he was.

And the show makes him take accountability for that. It has him address the fact that he was wrong, and that he's going to do everything in his power to make amends. Even if that means never seeing Blitz again.

I think that's such an important lesson in media. That even if you don't realize you hurt someone until it's too late, it doesn't change the fact that you still hurt them. You can be a genuinely good person who means no harm, but if you hurt someone you hurt someone and you need to take responsibility for that.

(Also it must be said that Blitz screws up too. He doesn't comprehend that Stolas can get hurt in any way, so that leads to him thinking he can do whatever he wants with and to Stolas and that Stolas will still be there. He doesn't think he needs to worry about Stolas's feelings which can and will probably cause problems in the future. Also it has to be said that even though Blitz does see Stolas as unreachable and above him, it doesn't change the fact that Blitz too took advantage of a married mans attraction to him in order to steal from him. Also Stolas wasn't Blitz's ONLY option to the human world, it was simply the EASIEST. But Blitz has been being called out by other characters so I think that's why the fandom is easier on him.)

Basically, both Stolas and Blitz are equally as guilty. But I love how Helluva sets them both as sympathetic, caring characters and yet still holds them responsible for their actions.