cptamelia

[cptamelia]

Viv's rampant retconning can never obscure the genuine pain conveyed when Stella yelled "I can't believe you slept with an Imp! AND IN OUR FUCKING BED!" I know her rage was more specifically the embarrassment of Stolas sleeping with the lower class, but that is true alongside what sounded like genuine betrayal over an affair happening in Stolas' AND STELLA'S bed. For a time, even if unhappily, they were still a married couple who shared a bed, and Stolas went and brought someone else into it.

It blows a hole in the whole "I'd be sorry if I hurt you, but we both know I didn't" nonsense. He most definitely, canonically hurt her by doing this.

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The Dynamics Between the Pre-Show Vees were a delight, especially Velvet. It got rid of all the comments that she was 'the nice one' that floated around at the time. She was impetuous, impulsive and just as violent, if not more-so than Val at points - who at least you could tell when he was upset. Velv did things to others because she could, and because it was funny, which made her all the more intimidating. That's what I miss. The Vees being terrifying together. Even with Vox as the punching back of the other two, he was still someone you didn't want to be on the wrong side of. The fact these three who bickered were going to be the rivals of the main cast? It was intense...then the show dropped and made Val an uwu SA apologist who's an idiot without an ounce of the charisma that made him terrifying before, Vox is just...horny for Al, and Velv is...well, she's not the worst, but making her the most tame of the trio makes her stand out less? The fact she doesn't sing in the end song (because Viv ran out of budget) is telling enough that she's considered the least important despite being 'the backbone' of the team. I miss Instagram days. I miss the comic days. I genuinely think HH would've been better online with more people telling Viv 'no' when she comes up with something stupid - but then again, the same problems happened to HB with ruining Stolas, so maybe it was doomed from the start.

Lost post tonight, but we can't talk about Pre-Murder Family Instagram Stolas without talking about his relationship with Valentino.

But first, a quick rundown for anyone new to this blog, or to these characters...

None of the HH/HB Instagram accounts were run by Vivziepop herself.

Both the Instagram accounts and Blitzo's art streams were crossover events in which the Helluva and Hazbin characters would mingle freely, leading to dynamics such as this one.

It's been speculated that the Hazbin accounts were shut down for legal reasons. This is not true, or at least not the sole reason for it. There was friction between the players and Viv that we will not be going into here.

The Instagram Vees, like Instagram Stolas, were profoundly different characters from the ones who would eventually come to be canon. Instagram Valentino, in addition to abusing and raping Angel Dust, was an animal abuser who routinely used his lover, Vox, as a punching bag.

Instagram Stolas was generous, respectful, and incredibly mindful of Blitzo's consent. There was no full moon deal at this time; Stolas simply allowed Blitzo to use the grimoire at his leisure, his only caveat that Blitzo be responsible with it. When they spent time together, sexually or otherwise, it was purely because they both wanted to.

All of that being said? It should come as little surprise that Stolas despised Valentino. Loathed him, detested him, referred to him as a rat and never missed an opportunity to throw shade at him. The feeling was very mutual, and their interactions were so venomously entertaining that even Vox and Velvette were having a good time.

It can't be stressed enough that Instagram Stolas behaved this way with absolutely nobody else, not even Vox and Velvette, suggesting to both that they could do and deserved better. Instagram Stolas was slow to anger, quick to forgive, and full of good-natured affection for just about everyone he came into contact with, not just Blitzo. The only other time he ever came close to being this disgusted by someone was when a commenter suggested he take advantage of a drunk Blitzo. Here, Stolas pulls no punches, gets Valentino by the throat and throws him around, and he's very good at it. He's classy, sharp, witty, exposing Valentino for the stupid, crass bully he is. He's a prince, knows it, and carries himself like one.

A punk like Valentino who mistreated others, but especially the people he's sleeping with? That was something Stolas couldn't and wouldn't stand.

(There's a blink and you miss it moment where Valentino refers to Stolas as a lonely, thirsty old man, the only time Valentino appears to hit a nerve. One might easily brush this off as a random insult, but Stolas as a character Blitzo's age was actually a very last minute -- arguably too last minute -- plot development that came after Vivzie saw a piece of fanart of the two as children. Instagram Stolas, like canon Stolas at this point, was a lonely older man.)

The last exchange here was posted on October 31, 2020, the day that Murder Family aired. After that, Stolas's characterization on the Instagrams was retconned to align with the character seen in that episode...the one who had no qualms with taking advantage of Blitzo's life being in danger to coerce a sexual bargain out of him. Therefore, it could be said that that reply marked one of the last times this Stolas, the Stolas this blog is about, would appear before his permanent transformation into a character that's often compared to Valentino, and who Instagram Stolas would have undoubtedly loathed.

At a time when Stolas's most defining trait was his patience, his unfailingly warmth and kindness towards everyone around him, and his respectfulness toward his sexual partner, it speaks volumes to his character that Valentino was the only person in the world he truly hated.

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The beginning of August, 2020. Or, that time Blitzo broke his leg.

We begin with Blitzo...well, breaking his leg. Specifically, he breaks it riding a two-headed ride-on hellhorse built for children at the playground, something Loona rips into him for a little harsher than is probably warranted, but that's another discussion. This keeps him confined to the house, throws a damper on his birthday (sidenote: that's Blah Blah the clown, another Brandon Rogers creation, and Blitz is turning 32) and generally leaves him feeling pretty miserable.

Stolas signs his cast and expresses hopes that he'll feel better soon. It's at this point that Stolas shows up with a care package, returning the favor after Blitzo and co. did the same for him a month earlier. A commenter who was present in one of the art streams Blitzo held during this time points out that Stolas was present for this, and assured everyone that he was taking care of Blitz.

Blitzo's predictably surly about it all, but unlike in the series, he's actually shown to enjoy Stolas's presence -- they've been repeatedly shown just spending time together, and as I remind everyone in every post, the full moon book deal that will retcon the Instagrams hasn't come about yet. Because of this, we actually believe that Blitz isn't always sure how to respond to love and care, because this Stolas was so willing to give it.

(In another sweet little moment, Moxxie thanks Stolas for looking after Blitz and suggests he throw out the Furby Blitz found and brought home, and Stolas responds very casually, as anyone might respond to a friend. Instagram Stolas frequently showed interest in the other members of I.M.P., especially Moxxie, but in the series, he's extremely dismissive of them all.)

I know I just reblogged this, but I feel like it bears posting again in light of the most recent episode. It's really the point at the heart of this blog.

Love isn't about grand gestures; it's about being dependably good, dependently kind. It's about showing up every day and being there for someone, even when it's just the small things, and even when it would be easier not to.

Instagram Stolas did this, and he did it even when Blitz's life wasn't in danger. And because he felt safe around him, Instagram Blitzo did it back.

It really was as simple as that.

[cptamelia]

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is on sale for $6

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With Kamala/Walz going up DAILY, I've seen more people talking about voting third party/Jill Stein (EW) and I believe the above screencaps from @three--rings can explain WHY Third Party votes NEVER work NOR is this the election to screw around in.

Everyone....like she says above.....PLEASE LEARN FROM HISTORY!!!

(Because if Trump gets in, he's NEVER LEAVING).

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I cannot help but laugh at the hypocrisy

The game never specifies that Jasmine is over 18 btw.

imagine if Lily Orchard uploaded a video with this title and this subject matter. how fast would people be on her ass and hold it against her forever?

Just seems kind of hypocritical to me…

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Stalkers: "Lily creates an echo chamber in her social circle so no one listens to her critics!"

Lily: "Hey, ya'll. Would you mind watching my stalker's videos and timestamp the talking points so I can efficiently parse through their garbage?"

Viewers: *coming back from the 'callout' videos* "Those were so stupid, I think I need some Tylenol."

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He did that in the original

No he didn't.

Outside of the implicit threat of "There's a fire nation raiding party here" Zuko never directly threatens anyone the way he does in the Netflix show or the film. While he and Aang are fighting, Aang becomes fearful for the safety of bystanders and offers to surrender in exchange for them being left alone, which Zuko agrees and keeps his word. He's been training to fight the Avatar for years, and then accepts a peaceful alternative instantly.

This scene establishes not only Aang's selflessness, but Zuko's honour. During his fight with Sokka, he never once strikes to seriously injure him, only disarm him and knock him on his ass.

Conversely, in both the film and the Netflix series, Zuko threatens to burn the village if Aang doesn't surrender. Rendering the dual establishing character moments of both of them completely worthless as Aang isn't giving himself up out of selflessness, he's doing it under duress. And Zuko isn't being offered a peaceful solution and taking it without hesitation, he's making a threat.

This happened 14 years ago in the film, AND NOBODY CALLED THEM ON IT! Because the idea that Zuko was a "villain redemption" has permeated people's minds, so Zuko being evil at the start isn't questioned. But he's an abuse victim.

"Abuse victims can still do bad things"

BUT HE DOESN'T! Zuko never does anything close to the evil that Zhao, Azula or Ozai do. He's the Token Good Teammate. He shows his unwillingness to hurt the Water Tribe from the moment Sokka first charges him.

This is character assassination. Full stop.

[cptamelia]

Since you covered the nuance of Alastor's vodou and how Vivzie did try to change how he works, I was wondering about your thoughts on Out For Love and how it isn't something Vaggie needed to learn?

Out For Love exists entirely to create a dividing line between violence born of hating your enemy versus violence born of protecting your loved ones. A dividing line that, admittedly, many animated series like to imagine doesn't exist.

The exorcists fight almost entirely out of a love for killing 'filthy demons.' And they're trained for that almost exclusively. They don't know they can be killed, so they split up and hunt solo, often competing with each other for who can get the most kills. Furthermore demons and sinners tend to be "every man for himself" and so don't really bother teaming up and tend to scatter.

The only way to fight harder is to focus on who you love and not get distracted by thoughts of vengeance. So you'll fight protectively, close off your reckless enemy, pick them off with numbers, fight together and as a team.

The first person to kill an angel was protecting someone from harm.

This sentiment is literally mirrored with the fight against Adam. Everyone who tries to fight Adam 1 v 1 either loses or causes a catastrophe because they're trying to win a "Pride and Wrath" contest against the most arrogant and easily tilted motherfucker in the universe.

Though Charlie and Lucifer both jump into the fight to protect someone they love, they let rage and arrogance overtake them, causing them to make mistakes and get sloppy. Pentious is sacrificing himself for his friends, but STILL he's going in alone.

It's only when Charlie and Lucifer work together, moving to protect someone instead of lunge after an assailant after the fact, that Adam is finally thrown into the dirt where he belongs.

Vaggie may not have needed to be told to "fight for love" but she did need to told what that means. It's literally right in the lyrics.

If you're fighting after your loved one is already dead or injured, you're fighting for revenge. The point is "Don't get to that point. Stay together. Protect each other. Watch each other's back."

Don't sacrifice yourself, you'll break your loved one's heart.

The Angels DON'T watch each other's backs. That's the whole point.

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One aspect of therapy that isn't talked about very much is that it can fail people for a variety of reasons and one of those reasons is a fundamental misunderstanding of what therapy is. Therapy isn't a place where you vent and all your problems magically solve themselves.

Your therapist is going to give you insight you never thought about, but they might also give you homework. And some people balk at that because they feel like the idea that they have to fix themselves is denying their lived experiences and putting them at fault implicitly. Sounds too much like "Your problem is you aren't trying."

But I think a metaphor that helps people get past this is that you may not have shot yourself, but that wound has to be bandaged anyway.

There's a reason I always say "If all you're doing is venting, you're just making the problem worse."

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Say something good about this character!

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Mass Effect 2: Legendary Edition (2021) dev. BioWare

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Feel free to ignore this if its too much, but when it comes to abuse, what kind is the worst?

A lot of people answer that kind of question with a specific method of abuse like physical abuse or emotional abuse or sexual abuse, but I honestly think the worst is retroactive. When you realize someone who you thought cared about you was just using you. Especially if you can still remember a time where they meant everything to you.

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You: "Oh I shouldn't message them, I'm probably bothering them."

Them when you message them:

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"noone deserves to die like that" yes the fuck they do. Bilionares aren't people. Fuck rich people i hope they all die. Nothing but vermin. You all talk about "eating the rich" but when a billionaire actually gets what they deserve (and what they signed up for themselves) its "noo omg you aren't compassionate enough :(((" to these people that would not give 2 shits if it was you who died. You do not become a billionaire ethically. You do not those people were evil. The only one i feel remotely bad for is that kid, he didn't even want to go. But the rest of them? Good fucking riddance