#stolas is a notch in his bedpost

[eldritchcreatureofwords]

Better then Blitz Guy has a Goetia Symbol on His Arm.

And the half-black of his spade makes it look like a broken heart with the black forming the jagged edges. Ya'll I'm very worried.

[pterobat]

A few Hellaverse things, Helluva Boss version:

**It might be a hard sell for your adult cartoon to star two single gay nomhuman dads, and I’m glad Helluva Boss went for it.

**But while I enjoy Helluva Boss becoming the Stolitz Show, I don’t like the slide towards making Stolas virtually innocent; it’s just not necessary for making a character sympathetic. I’m still keeping the faith that Stolas is also meant to be at fault for how rocky things became between him and Blitz but the show’s execution has made me paranoid that it will take the path of least resistance, as it did with Stella.

**I knew Stella would be a shallow antagonist from her first speaking scene, but I expected her to be enjoyably bitchy. I didn’t know how hard they’d go, where not only is she evil, but she’s also incredibly stupid, not at all fun, and has her brother pulling the strings—even Mammon is at least fun.

I really hope that the intention is not what that the fandom has latched onto: that Stella’s relationship to Stolas is a powerful expression of the way men can be abused and that everything between them must be viewed with utter seriousness.

**In fact, a major problem I have with Helluva Boss is that you can never tell when a one-off comical moment is going to be retroactively taken seriously despite the initial comedic framing. Like, just with “Ghostfuckers”, Blitz’s visions of trauma included the nutkick from Loona in “Seeing Stars” which it was framed for comedy initially. The fire in “Loo Loo Land” was played for laughs but now a vision of toasty Millie haunts Blitz.

With all that happening it’s no wonder people have, say, the interpretation of Stella mentioned above, or, say, Stolas’s butler getting tossed around as weighty evidence of Stella’s abuse instead of a Looney Tunes gag. Who knows, it might be.

It also kills a lot of the momentum in Octavia’s anguish, if all she has to do to improve her life is to understand Stella is irredeemable and Stolas was 100% justified. Not all of the momentum, but most. I’m still holding onto the faith that Stolas won’t be a creator’s pet, but my interest in Octavia’s story is tanking.

It still works in the Hellaverse sometimes—the foreshadowing with RoboFizz was a good example, and in general it’s a good beat to strive for. Comedic moments should often derive from characterization and perspectives should shift with the telling. But again, when it’s done badly it feels overindulgent.

**So do the many instances of comical Hellaverse characters having secret angst, witj all their quirks being tied to their tragic backstory. While this is delicious when done right, it’s difficult to *get* right and often feels like wanting to tell every kind of story with only one character. Blitz is the most successful example. Not 100%, but in the lead.

**I’m still against the fan theory that Blitz is part incubus—because Tilla was tall and he banged Verosika and has Stolas pining—because not everything in a story needs to have a detailed explanation and boy do I hate fantasy bio-essentialism.

Especially when the show is trying to push back against that, sort of. If Blitz has a "special" genetic background then his ability to run his own business from Hell’s lowest tier turns bleak.

Besides, only “Apology Tour” shows Blitz had a lot of bedpost notches (and it doesn’t prove his heritage and if it offers insight should have been mentioned before).

But then again, I didn’t think Striker was a hybrid because imp appearances are so varied that I expected the artists had just further bent the rules and stylized one of them to fit a western motif/make a Rango reference. I still think it might undermine Striker’s issues with class and superiority but maybe they’ll surprise me.

(And Striker wasn’t nerfed, because it’s not a surprise that the guy who sang "Sweet Victory” has a statue of himself with a boner. And pretty much no Hellaverse character is played entirely straight.)

…and I also didn't want Moxxie to secretly “not” be from Wrath because not fitting in where you’re born is a solid story beat, but look how that turned out. Thanks for keeping the clarification confined to tweets by the way, love that.

**Also, much as I love Richard Horvitz, he doesn’t make for a threatening mob boss.

**And I have to say that evil dads bother me less than sainted, dead mothers.

**Though I think his mom enjoyed Moxxie learning to shoot--and *I* enjoy it when Moxxie shows he has ego to spare instead of being a woobie. I stick to my interpretation that he’s fine with the shooting and killing as long as it’s the right people, and the contrasting parts of his character make him more appealing.

**Shame about the Millie problem. I’m glad she's finally getting focus, and I hope it’s not because the fandom had to point it out, though production time makes that unlikely

**I wish we could have directly seen Blitz and Verosika’s dating life and breakup. You can infer all of it, but if it’s such a big thing, well…

**”Succubi” becoming a gender-neutral term in the fandom is very odd, unless it’s the inverse of “mankind” and refers to the collective species as well as the women alone, but then you have people saying “male succubus” and uh.

**I love Asmodeus' design, and how it translates the artwork from the Lesser Key of Solomon into the series’ style.

But it’s hypocritical of Ozzie to say lust isn’t about force when he’s got succubi and incubi around, and because Helluva Boss often takes the path of least resistance he probably isn't intended as hypocritical, or even a Screwtape Letters bit where things are still sinful even if there’s no immediate or overt damage.

HOWEVER, I’m reluctant to come down too hard on the issue because of my Being genuinely upset at Ozzie's line and that the Hellaverse demons aren’t “demonic” enough brings out my inner contrarian because of the moralistic dimension to their feelings: that the concept of demons and the danger must be treated with respect and fear or it’s somehow immoral. If Ozzie’s words make those sorts of people mad, then I can't be too put out at the softening of demons.

Yet, it was oddly satisfying for “Ghostfuckers” to include a demon who was actually torturing humanity when it couldn’t be written off as "fun" (like Verosika's crew) or adult cartoon shenanigans (like IMP).

(Though it was kinda goofy to theorize that Leviathan, leader of the Envy ring, would suddenly be the antagonist of one sleazy hotel just because said antagonist was aquatic.)

(Stolas in “Truth Seekers” perfectly represents how satisfying it is to show these goofy abrasive characters can be actually scary hellspawn, but the other full-demon forms are a bit of a letdown.)

**Meanwhile, Beelzebub is great. The unapologetic self-indulgence of making her both a sparkledog and a homage to the creator's own Die Young video is just incredible. I don't think there's meta-commentary involved in choosing Gluttony to do this with, but it's a pleasant coincidence.

**And yeah, Mammon is a hate sink and the most sinful Sin in a way that sticks out, but he’s _fun_, and way more effective at being both a comedic character and also a personal threat to the characters/ representative of a societal ill than Stella is or might be.

However, “Two Minutes Notice” would be more satisfying with a few more episodes making clear how shitty he is to work for and how insecure Fizz is. Introducing and then solving the problem in the same episode is too rushed.

In general, the newer sinner designs of HB, following the generic Ohio sinner and Ms. Mayberry, are better at communicating the idea that a sinner’s form suggests their past life and death. Rita is a particular favorite.

**Each Ring having a color theme and themed species is also great stuff, and so is the choice to have so many hybrids and make Hellhounds resemble all domestic dog breeds.

**The imp variation and trans imps are also neat, though I still am confused why viewers think AFAB imp horns have "thin white stripes" rather than those "stripes" suggesting goat-like horn grooves as they do in every other cartoon.

**I realize the Hellaverse is a place where all nonhumans act like 21st century Americans, but I love it when it flirts with xenofiction, like the redneck imps of Wrath looking down on the use of guns.

[bluewithpurplepolkadots]

Honestly technically as an adult show for adults Stolas x Blitzo doesn’t actually… have to be good and healthy or what have you guys. Like at all. Not even a little bit.

It doesn’t have to be a Moral Lesson akin to Steven Universe or what have you because the audience is adults, not children. Can you imagine if iwtv was written that way? Like for kids? If they tried to sand off the edges for Louis and Lestat? It would be insufferable.

It’s kind of weird though because (I dropped the show three eps into season two) I’m getting the impression from what I’m hearing is that show… thinks that it is. Healthy I mean. Or is Trying to Impart a Lesson like said kids shows. Or is at least ignorant of the actual issues contained in the relationship as portrayed in season one: and deciding to blame Blitzo for Stolas’ issues?

Like it’d be actually cool if they actually explored the fact Stolas clearly festishises imps. Like I have said before it could contrast his wife’s own bigotry with regards the hierarchy in hell.

Instead of the boring childhood friend obsession you could have this just be a thing for Stolas. Blitzo is just another notch on the bedpost. Stolas could even be known do this sometimes. Perhaps he scouts the lust ring a lot. He knows Asmodeus well in this scenario. Perhaps instead Stolas focuses on a singular imp for a while as his affair partner and then dumps them with varying degrees of subtlety. Everyone is aware whichever way it is. And yet maybe he does in fact catch feelings this time around for Bltizo. But it’s not enough. He can’t be trusted. Even if the feelings are real how the hell can anyone believe it?

Honestly when Stella was screaming at Stolas about the motel I (at the time) thought he was fucking someone other than Blitzo! I wasn’t sure if it was the servant Stella was throwing around but I wouldn’t have been surprised.

This is a show for adults for gods sake why are you being so limp handed about this. Season two has a big increase in Stolas content and set about making him boring. It’s kind of like the show tried to go for this weird middle ground between adult and child show and didn’t even quite hit the teenage area either because it just doesn’t jive with what came before.

[ambrial-blog]

The Dancer and The Assassin

He listened to the creaking floorboards and heavy footfalls approaching, Blitzo came to a halt, his pulse quickening in his chest. The shape of a man emerges from the shadows. As a pair of maralavent eyes pierce through the veil of darkness. Blitzo gasps, taking a feeble step backwards as their eyes locked.  There was a bitter coldness to them, a hard disdain, that  reflected in the Cowboy's eyes. Sickly yellow eyes, swirling with embittered rage, shone brightly with an evil intent.

“Oh there you are sugar-cube"  , you had me worried, I was wondering where you scampered off to anyway, I thought I told you to stay put Blitzy?”

The snake hissed, “Who was that you were talking to?” He looked around the room.

“You can tell me darlin, I promise this time I won’t hurt you. I just don’t want you running off, or having some cheap tramp think you up for grabs” he hisses.

“You don’t know what kind of filthy vermin are running around, selling their bodies just to survive.

“you and I are a superior then most of our kind, I wouldn’t want to tarnish that gorgeous body of yours with a walking disease”

Blitzo backed up, the top of his hip hitting the sharp edge of Johanna’s vanity. His body was trembling, for once not in fear but in rage

“Your one to talk you took everything from me, I have no friends, no family, why would I surrender her name to you” snapped Blitzo as he continued, “You put Stolas into a comma and framed me!, making it difficult to show my face out in public.

“I caught you mimicking my voice telling M&M to piss off that I no longer needed them!”

“You called Belphegor and left an anonymous tip, concerning a roaming hellhound sleeping on the streets. I’ve had enough of your shit! I want out of this partnership!.

With a harrowing look from Striker, Blitzo’s voice drops and patters off,  as he peers down at his boots then back up into Striker’s eyes.

He knew he had crossed the line when he saw those cold, uncaring eyes size him up.

Blitzo gulps, listening to the snake imp's claws dragging across the doorframe, with the flick of his tail he slams the door shut.

Blitzo knew he couldn’t take it back,  as the door slams shut  behind the cowboy.

“I can’t remember the last time I had any sort of contact with the outside world” Blitzo quickly says trying to diffuse the situation.

“She is just a friend”

“No she is liability Blitzy”

“I’m just trying to get to know her better”

“I don’t think so, sugar-cube, your spoken for”

“I’m still allowed to have friends, right? Or are you planning on taking that away from me too?.

Striker growls, needing to nip this in the bud. “How long has it been since I’ve spoken to either Moxxie or Millie?”

“They’ve moved on, like we’ve moved on!” Striker snarls, “You don’t need them you have Me, what more could you possibly want darlin?

Striker punches Blitzo in the face as he lunges forward. Blood gushes from Blitzo's mouth and nostrils as he doubles over, letting out a feral hiss.

Which only riled the serpent even more.

As the Cowboy tears up Johanna’s dressing room.

Striker Stop! Blitzo cries out as the outlaw grips him by the neck and hoists him up off the floor. Before slamming his body down upon the wooden surface, causing it to splinter and break. Sending tiny wooden shards spewing across the room. Striker then wrenches Blitzo’s arm behind his back and shoves him into a nearby dresser, smooshing his face against a splintered mirror.

“Don’t do this, not here” Blitzo begs.

“She is only a friend, not even that!”

“I doubt that she’s only a friend, because you don’t have friends, Blitzsssy,” he hisses.

“You only have notches on the bedpost, but I’ve stopped that cold, haven’t I?" Striker growls, forcing Blitzo onto his knees.

“Should I keep you home from now on?”

“You’d be so lonely without me Bossman” he purrs.

“I told you to wait for me!, I don’t know how much clearer I can be. The only reason I brought you here was to help take out Valentino.

“So you can pin that on me too!”

“Now you're catching on partner, I’d never turn you in though Blitz, you're too much fun,”

Blitzo growls under his breath as Striker grips him by the neck, “Now, how are you going to fix this? I can’t have you running around and sleeping with fleas’

I just wanted to let her know I admired her dancing, and that her performance on stage was hypnotic.

Striker hisses, cursing Johanna’s name as he pulls Blitzo closer to him. His eyes flickered with hunger as a dark rumbling came from his chest.

As the snake imp searched his eyes, he sought any evidence that the former boss imp was lying. Without warning, he slams Blitzo against Johanna’s dresser, forcing him to look in the mirror. Blitzo winces as a tiny shard of glass Knicks his cheek.

“The next time I see you here, Blitzy I  want you to remember this moment. His hot breath coasted along Blitzo’s slender neck as the snake imp’s hand slid beneath the hem of his waist. Blitzo’s eyes widened as he knelt down. He felt goosebumps run down his arms.

As a single clawed finger trails down the spine of his back, and plunges into Blitzo's hole.

Striker smirks. Blitzo felt uncomfortable as another digit was added.

“Don’t do this, not here! Blitzo cries. As a forked tongue slid out. “consider this light punishment for disobeying me this evening’ Striker purrs before sinking his teeth into Blitzo’s Shoulderblade.

“I love you, no one else does”

“Fizz left your sorry ass alone in a hospital”

“Your father continues to sell you and uses you to fill his pockets full of green”

“Your sister is so disgusted with you she’d rather be in rehab than deal with your sorry ass!

“You burn bridges, Blitzy, look at Verosika and Stolas.

“Moxxie and Millie believe you’ve abandoned them” “

“That Mongrel of a daughter never cared. All she cares about is herself.

“I’m the only one who sees the good in you, and one day you’ll return stronger than before”

“But you can’t go around creating false hopes. That silly bitch doesn’t know who you belong to”

“Take a long look in the mirror boss man, you know I’m right”

Blitzo had tears in his eyes.

“let’s head home, sugar-cube” Striker whispers in his ear. He winces as Striker extracts his fingers one by one and makes Blitzo suck them off one by one.

Striker skimmed his phone and redirected Blitz’s messages, while Blitz remained silent. The scarlet devil follows Striker out, with a deadened look in his eyes as they made their way outside toward Bombproof.

Blitzo and Striker head home in silence. Blitzo’s ass is throbbing, his head resting against Striker’s back"

[canon-fcdder]

So angel how's stolas in bed?

{ ☆ } ❝  Oh, baaaaaaaby~  ❞ Angel unabashedly begins, arms outstretching above his head as he lightly squirms on his bed, just the mere memory of the owl’s touch— amongst other things —managing to turn him on. Legs crossing against one another, a dazed and sincerely content grin stretches across his face as he continues through a languid sigh, ❝  Trust me when I say- you have not had a goooooood fuck ‘til you’ve fucked THAT guy. I don’t care what assholes you’ve notched yer bedpost with... NO ONE—  ❞  

Eyes slit open, glinting mischievously with newfound boldness since he’s currently alone in his room, ❝  —an’ I mean, no one comes even close ta th’ kinda lay my Dirty Birdy is~  ❞ Of course, if anyone ever quoted him on that, he’d be forced to dance around the sentiment. To slip and glide and grind around the answer as if it were a pole, just to avoid from bruising any dangerous egos. But despite that, as someone who’s been around, Angel is pretty confident in claiming himself as a master of the subject. Stolas? Best Fuck. 10/10 would recommend.

Perhaps because Angel has never had HIS needs valued so highly— if at all —before. { ☆ }