soulfulazrael

[soulfulazrael]

"Media literacy" in HB fanbase. OH MY GOD is r/HelluvaBoss dumb. Also Vassago.

I made a mistake

Well 2. One of them is using this gif given recent... funny things with certain VA, but the other, relevant one is visiting the dreaded r/HelluvaBoss

Now I do not engage in discussion there. It will lead nowhere as most of you will realize the moment you will see what I have to show you, but first let's talk about a spectacular case of confused character writing that is Vassago.

I wont discuss who he is in Demonology. That is kind of irrelevant because this show barely follows any of it anyway. What is important is their appearance in Mastermind as the sole defender of Stolas's honor and all I can say is... Who the fuck are you?

And let's be honest. If none of us watched promotional material we would also ask ourselves the same thing. Who is this guy?

And it makes sense because suddenly at a very high point in the story this character is thrown at us as if we are not only supposed to know who this is, but also be amazed at that he defends Stolas. His one friend... brother... lover... someone who comes to his aid among all the other Goetias.

And there was no build up to this character, there was no name drop of him before, no flashback, not even a peep that would relate in ANY way to his character and all we are left with are questions and not the good kind. Why is he for instance speaking spanish in between english? Why is he so important? Why is he the only one in Stolas's corner? Why is he in this pivotal moment that is meant to cap off the entire season's story?

But not to worry because bright people from a beautiful place that is r/HelluvaBoss come to our aid to help our 'media illiteracy'

Do I even have to say anything? I mean I do, but still... come on.

Let us first address top comment "He will be important later". I am sorry, but what kind of justification is that? When is that later? 3rd season? Because if so then this is terrible way of introducing character that is going to be important in 3rd season. Because this show already presents him as if he has been part of the story for a while and gives him a prominent role (as prominent as like 5 lines are) like there was some kind of foreshadowing towards him being the only one to defend Stolas.

There was not. Vassago is put in a role that would be more fitting for character like Ozzie. You know. Actually important character that was given previously some screentime and has established relationship with the main cast who can stand in this proceeding and do SOMETHING aside from looking down at his phone like an average 12 year old today during Christmas Dinner.

And that is the thing. Such a role in an episode should NOT be given to completely new character. This is a role that should be given to already pre established character that AT LEAST is mentioned by word. Like I dunno. With Stolas maybe wondering how Vassago is doing or how maybe at some point he mentions him. SOMETHING. Dropping this character so suddenly in such a crucial moment of the story is just very strange. In a way same goes for Satan who also had about nothing about him besides I believe Verosika episode having him mentioned... one line... that is the level of foreshadow we are doing here.

And then there is that other comment that talks about "media literacy". You want to add a new character? How about do it ANYWHERE ELSE than a crucial part of it. Because those moments are not good for introductions of new parts of main cast without any prior mention of them. Those moments are meant to be culmination of everything that came before. Leave intros for before and/or after.

And then we have some of this

I love those people man. All talking about "media literacy" or "anti-intelectualism". Just... AAAAGH! God. Yeah. You are so smart. You understand writing so well.

Let's just put it into perspective. This is as if Verosika's first appearance would be in Apology Tour as one of the people Blitzo hurt and we are suddenly supposed to care for her even though she never showed up or was mentioned before. That would be STUPID right?

Well that's what they did with Vassago. Apparently VERY important character to Stolas introduced haphazardly during climax of the Season in a prominent role of being the only one who defends him even though not only is this part better suited for other character that is there, but also this role is absolutely wasted because he has about 5 goddamn lines. And it is telling how much in that first image the long comment does mostly just theorizing because we know absolutely NOTHING about this character and people are already supposed to be hyped for him despite that he was introduced so quickly. Also take a load of this.

Yeah. Because a character introduced at the very start of the book is the same as goddamn Vassago. In fact this is like Gandalf being introduced in Moria. Wouldn't that be just dumb? And you know what's sad? This.

Those people actually bring up good points. And they either no attention or get downvoted. Why? Because critical thinking is a sin on that subreddit. The first one especially (upvoted by me now BTW). Just... ugh...

This is the state of people on r/HelluvaBoss. If you value your braincells do NOT go to that damn place. There is about as much critical thinking and praised "media literacy" as there is on ragebait thread on twatter spouted by some idiot talking about how "west has fallen" because woman.

It's stupid. And makes me dumber just thinking about it. Jesus. This fanbase man. It's amazing.

Now there are smart people in this fanbase. There are good people in it. There are very much great, talented people in it. And some of those people who I mentioned who's comments hurt my brain could be talented and could be smart, but are just not about this part of HB. But considering what they are saying... I needed to vent about this because this hurts to see.

And the worst part is that Viv probably likes that this fanbase is like this. No critical thinking or doubts. Just spouting insults. Making headcanons to counter criticism and refusal to leave their echo chamber.

It's sad. Because not only I feel bad for them, but I feel bad for the show, because with fans like those how could it EVER improve? To many of those probably the only time to say anything critical is when it's all over. But at that point... who cares?

Also do not think I am some pillar of 'media literacy' or 'intellectualism'. I am not. I am really not. I am just passionate about writing and those people cause me headaches.

[soulfulazrael]

Sarcastic Chorus leaves HB... Ain't that a kick in the head?

And besides the fact that yea. HB is kind of screwed if big content creators are sick of it and in many ways prefer to not engage as much with it anymore. I must say, this one part of this video perfectly sums up many of my gripes with this show as a whole in terms of it's writing and how it deals with 'flawed' characters.

It always softens every blow. It never really wants to challenge it's viewers and is far more concerned with it's characters being 'likeable' instead of 'interesting'. It's an 'adult' show that refuses to treat it's audience as such.

It's a big shame. Also here is the video of his. It's pretty damn good. Nice goodbye video. Thank you and goodbye Chorus.

Sad to see someone who was genuinely able to call out many flaws of the show go, but tbf I do respect that he wants to move away from critiquing it. I do not blame him. It will definitely make Hellaverse community even more of an echo-chamber and I already see them either treating him like a nobody they never knew or insulting him, but it's not like this fanbase was not going in that direction already, this just accelerates it.

Well... Ain't that a kick in the head?

[soulfulazrael]

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Dunno if anyone here reads my shit or cares, but I thought of doing a Merry Christmas thing. Many people here probably some of my complaining things about HB or stuff about my fic. This time it is about the fic! Something positive.

As this time I decided to put out a small prelude to Chapter 18 featuring a fun little story that leads up to chapter 18 proper. Further exploring certain ideas and parts of the culture of Hell as a whole and delving into the races within it and how lives of certain demons look.

Merry Christmas to all of you. To everyone who read this story up until this point I thank all of you for it. I appreciate that you took time from your life to read what I have there. And to everyone who doesn't know about it... I hope you will check it out if idea of a strange full of bizarre worldbuilding story that is somehow about Stella/Moxxie crackship is something that appeals to you. Me personally lately I got VERY fed up with HB, but stuff like that keeps me still somewhat close to it. And in a way I do owe a lot to HB and world Viv made. Check it out if you want. And happy new year and all years to come for all of you! This is a story that means a lot to me and if it means a lot to someone else then I can't ask for anything better.

[soulfulazrael]

What it feels like when you publicly diss Stolitz as a ship

Accurate representation considering my recent posts and some reactions to it. I also I just love this video and I like posting it.

To everyone here. I do not like Stolitz... at all. But I do see it has potential and I do get why many people are drawn to it. It's just how it's written in the show itself and some of it's... weirder fans are what I have problem with. It's just pure cringe that feels like it kills my braincells.

I may make a post about how I would make it and what it could explore later on. I mean I myself include it in my stories to explore what it could be. But for now have this post.

[soulfulazrael]

Stolitz is a disease

Last post for today dedicated to this mental illness.

Because yeah. Somehow a character who may I remind you all was open to the idea to having SEX with Octavia in episode 2 surely will be (or maybe even already is) a great dad to Octavia despite that the only time they shared screentime together was when Stolas brought Blitzo for the day Octavia was meant to have her mind off of the fucking divorce this imp contributed to.

But it's okay. Her mother is an unrelenting piece of garbage that deserves no sympathy and Blitzo is in fact SO CARING about a girl he never shared a word or two with.

Ship whatever you want. I get why you ship Stolitz, it has potential that is pretty much thrown into the trash in this show, but for the love of God. DO NOT try to push this idea that Blitzo somehow already is "a great dad" to Octavia. This is fucking weird. On so many levels. And my brain just makes me think of this whenever I see people like that

Appropriate reaction if I do say so myself. Stolitz fans like that and this ship as it is in the show are a disease that poisons the mind of anyone who witnesses it. I would beg God to save us, but there is none to be found here. Only despair.

I feel bad for Octavia. Not only because of the circumstances I can relate to, but also because of THIS being the fanbase her character will have to endure. Good luck little owl... peacock... thing. This will be one helluva year for you. Fucking kill me.

[soulfulazrael]

There is no reality where I do not hate these people who keep gushing over how good of a dad Blitzo will be (or even is like WHAT!?) for Octavia. What are you talking about!? Blitzo is a turbo fuck up who in the second damn episode was open to idea of having SEX with her. Just... holy shit are these people weird. NO! Please God No! But something tells me Viv is agreeing with these people which makes me just... GOD! This is awful. Genuinely. What the Hell is wrong with those people!? Stolitz is a mental illness. Straight up.

Stans Don't Understand Why A Child Wouldn't Be Positive Towards A Guy Who Cheated With Her Dad

These people are so narcissistic and devoid of understanding of other people's feelings. Octavia might be fictional but they can't really think that a girl whose home life was broken by cheating would just readily accept the person her father cheated with. That is just trash.

[soulfulazrael]

HAHAHAHAHA! OH MY GOD THIS THING BROKE ME!!

Oh my God! Please Viv. Scream more to the people in the back how evil she is! Come on. I AM SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO EARS OR EYES ARE STILL NOT GETTING THE FULL PICTURE NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WILL SMASH IT INTO THEIR HEADS!!!

I am broken! I am actually broken... by that and Awaria game which I beat on Hard Mode. Don't play it like that. Enjoy your life. It's not worth it.

But that gave me something to say... I write better than Viv. No more BS about different interpretations or points of view. No.

This is garbage and I feel insulted that this even left whatever piece of shit writing room. Really? You expect me to believe Octavia would choose this absolute shitheap of a character? Really? Just... Your audience is kids. You want to deny it and say how they should not watch your show, but this is who you write for. But worse, because those fucking shows had decency to TRY! I want to beat myself with a stick for even implying you are comparable to Gravity Falls, Scooby Doo Mystery INC., Courage The Cowardly Dog or Over the Garden Wall. Jesus Christ.

I write better story than this in Hellaverse. Called Song for the Quiet Bird. Yeah. I am no longer afraid to say I am a better writer. You can check it out here if you want and tell me if you agree or not. I will accept it if you do not agree. Always nice to hear that.

This shit broke me. It broke my mind. I don't care about this show. Crash your head against the wall a few times Viv, maybe then you will discover some standards!

FUCK!!!!

I broke... I really did. I don't care about this show's story and if you care about your own mental health, stop caring for it as well. Not like it will help, I am pretty sure there will be lots of morons arguing how this is good writing... And I don't care because I will only get dumber from that. Just... hire an actual writer Viv. For once.

[soulfulazrael]

The new Amazing Digital Circus episode is probably the most painful so far

Despite other episodes having their own fair share of sad moments and those that felt rather painful like one with Gumigoo being popped or with Kinger. I think this one hit me the closest because of how it was written. And I think the best example of it was this moment

I feel like a lot of people probably can tell this feeling. And I must say this was handled very tastefully. It definitely felt respectful and it reminded me of times I had This happen to me. It's a place I've been, I don't want to return to and I know I will return to.

It's been lots of places like that. Like when I failed college. I kept failing my driving exam. I lost a job. My grandma lost more and more of her mind before she died. Seeing family members die. Always going somewhere away and letting those bursts in those small moments (sometimes I screamed so loud and hard I went blind for a moment) all the while you harbor that feeling of being worthless. Like you are dragging everyone down. Like your mere presence is like poison to others. Those are feelings I know. And it makes me feel really terrible for Gangle.

And that moment with the truck... it was also familiar.

That sudden moment of joy and happiness over something. Small feeling of freedom. Of fulfillment... and then you want to throw yourself under a car. That is also familiar. Because those small bursts of joy or happiness do not solve a problem. They are something you also let out and then you go back to feeling terrible. You cannot be free from this. Not really. Not like this.

I am still going through such issues. I want to go to psychologist. Maybe get some help for what is going on with me. But I feel a lot of pain from watching this episode because I felt every moment of it somewhere in the back of my mind.

But... those moments and that feeling. It doesn't last forever. It never does. I did get a job... before losing it again, but I keep trying. I and many other of my family are still here and I love them. I finally passed my driving exam. I went far in my new school. I do accomplish things. I do something good and worthwhile... At least I hope so. I still fail and I will keep failing, but I will keep doing something well... I hope.

Life is never steady like this. It never gives you such consistency. There is no blessing of that. Both good and bad times eventually end and change. Life always changes and best you can do is go with it's flow. The most important part is, is to not get stuck in a moment of when the life gets low because it will go back up. It's a path that will never stay one way forever. And that's okay. What's important is how you handle what life gives you.

Okay. This went a bit sad. But I have some funny trivia to share too!

In Polish dub. Gangle makes a reference to a very good Polish movie named "Dzień Świra" or "Day of the Mad Man" in English. A movie about unfulfilled poet who is very bitter and hates his life and everyone around him. It's a very fitting reference. It's a hilarious movie that spawned a lot of memes in Poland.

Translation -> This is my own Day of the Mad Man

Translation -> And I am about to roll out a sequel for you!!

Pretty hilarious reference

The movie is really good BTW. But in Polish

Also in Polish dub at the end Caine was about to say "Jestem Zajebisty" where "Zajebisty" is a curse word meaning "Fucking awesome" and he starts glitching in that moment. That was funnier than OG I must say. This is really one of those GREAT Polish Dubs. Also Gangle's VA in Polish Dub absolutely killed that scene I mentioned first in this post.

Hope this was an interesting read. A bit of personal one for me. This episode hurt, but it also gave me some level of comfort and I appreciate it a lot. It's definitely my favorite episode so far and I hope Gangle will get better. As I hope I will too. Also Jax suffering brings me life.

[soulfulazrael]

Something I remembered I found about Viv and HH pilot cast. Also repeating situation of not properly crediting her artists. Or at least one here I am aware of.

It is something I got reminded of when I listened to this video by MrBooone

And I got reminded of something funny... or rather sad and disturbing.

Goodbye song by HH pilot crew again and I realized those pics below I made of the comment section. The song BTW is this lovely one where OG crew sang their hearts out as goodbye for HH.

And here are fun comments. Remember. This is by OG cast of HB and this singing voice of Alastor

Viv had nothing to do with the cast change... fun. Bosco would have his role as Striker jeopardy if he sang in this what is essentially goodbye song. That's worse... And OG cast were not invited to the premiere... Yeah all of this combined... that's awful. Beyond awful. Actually so awful I have no clue how in the fuck everyone just forgot about this. Why? Shouldn't that be a bigger deal? Eh... Maybe that's just internet, but man. Also another one

I guess this just further twists the knife here. And for all here that say "Well it happens. Show biz and such and they seem to be okay with it and have bright futures."

Well there is another issue among countless others where she also goes on to NOT credit her artists... at all. Well she does AFTER the fact, but in closed captions... you know because that's proper way to do this... yeah. Also she did it twice or three times I dunno. Have it below.

BTW this Salem person is actually VERY talented. Give them love and follow or something. They really nicely shoot those scenes and add a sense of tension and movement even in those stills and shading they make really adds to the atmosphere and cinematic feel. I say the script of Viv is way below their paygrade. Then again, not like Viv disagrees with me I guess given how reluctant she is to crediting them. Funny. And really, really... sad. No idea if this already was covered to death here. I am no experienced social media guy, but I thought I want to share my thoughts on it. I guess this is a post for those who are not that in the know of this shait either.

But in terms of Viv I guess she practices what she preaches and I assume she REALLY is the God of Hellaverse.

Vivdamn perfect ain't it?

[soulfulazrael]

This is actually so true. I personally also made a post talking about this and other stuff in the show about how it treats accountability and being a good person and it seems like they keep doing the same mistakes.

And what Bojack says here I say is not just fitting for Stolas, but writing in HB as a whole. In terms of writing you need to be CONSISTENT, if you want your characters to be complex you need to try in EVERY MOMENT. You cannot just make one scene where they act deeper than any other and suddenly they are a deep character. One act of kindness doesn't erase mountains of garbage, one apology does not erase every other shitty thing they did to the person they hurt. You cannot put all your stocks into singular moments. You need to make those moments your story.

I personally for a while now have no real faith in HB writing. And I laugh when I think of that Viv wants to make Stella like Beatrice. It's just... dumb with how everything was depicted up until now. Because characters like her despite being in a cartoon never felt like a cartoon and never told you SO MUCH what to think of. Shows like Bojack tell you to THINK.

@pinkandpurple360 posted this in light of the most recent episode of Hellu The Stolas Show and it's both incredibly fitting and just kind of important in general.

[soulfulazrael]

Haven't watched Mastermind episode (and wont), but will talk about stuff I saw from it and heard about it

So... I as you who follow my ramblings here probably know (all 2 of you probably). I do not watch this show anymore because I don't care about it's story. Apparently this new episode is BEST OF THE SEASON, but since rest of the season at best gave me a feeling of pure apathy and at worst INCREDIBLE disdain and lack of faith in humanity I say good middle ground is talking about pieces I saw because at this point I don't think I can stand watching this show for longer than 5 minutes at a time.

I make my own story for HB/HH so I will make some comparisons to my own story and plans... Maybe one day I will do bigger post about how my versions of Sins and other things look. No arts though... no talent on my part. Eh... Or maybe... Eh we will see. Probably not, but... Maybe... I dunno.

Comparisons will be mostly about Sins. And the thing I reference is a fic called Song for the Quiet Bird that for now is center of my AU where I make things of Hellaverse in my own way.

So first off. Stella moment. Probably the first thing I saw from it when I heard about it. When I saw that scene I was like: Wow. Actually proper moment where Stella shows more of a character and maybe nuance aAAAAAAaaaand the smirk...

You are amazing at failing every expectation aren't you HB? YOU KNOW SHE LE EVIL!? YOU KNOW SHE BAD!? YOU KNOW STOLAS GOOD!?

Yes I do. I am deaf from the amount of SCREAMING you are throwing at me about this every other minute. Thank you. I am not a 5 year old. She evil. What you do with it? Also apparently NOW she has a brain compared all other times besides season 1 where she had more of a peanut there? What is it? Also incest with her brother? Great... Keep on going with this. I am sure at some point even completely blind AND deaf people will understand how evil she and Andy Magic are. I sadly missed the part where I am supposed to find them interesting. But HEY at least it gives such a great explanation of why Octavia sees Stella as better parent than Stolas which is clearly shown in some of that promotional material... entire one scene... that is not a minute long even and has no dialogue between them. No chemistry or anything... Let's be honest though. For most fans that's probably enough. Just slap one or two scenes later of Andy Magic and Stella saying how bad Stolas is and you are golden... Fuck my life as it is not even a joke. Jesus.

Okay. Besides that... tragedy? I dunno. There is also SINS! Leviathan and Belphegor...

Well... that's just amazingly underwhelming. You know there is a problem when I cannot tell if a character is even meant to be someone special. Because what the Hell (get it? HELL!) is this? They look like about nothing Demons. They are barely more interesting visually than any other shmuck we saw in this world. Ozzie keeps being the best design out of all of them with most distinct and accurate one and I am starting to feel like it is only because Viv took years in making it before hastily making ones for everyone else. Seriously, would you even be able to tell they are meant to be important characters? Because they look like everyone else in this world.

Now funnily enough I have my own concepts for those in my AU. Not exactly more interesting visually as again... not an artist and it is still more concept thing as I keep figuring things out, but this is the current form I want to get them across. I think they do the job on some level in terms of what they are meant to be. One is Leviathan. It is... interesting to portray it with 2 heads... a reason for that kind of eludes, but who am I to judge? But I know in my version it will just honestly a large beast swimming across endless waters of Envy. A giant sea monster that keeps itself in a giant form among domes of Envy where cities are with immeasurable wealth and power, a creature meant to be envied. But also a creature that envies deeper than any other over the loss of their partner at the hand of God, not being able to be close with anyone or even be understood. A creature who's deep resentment and pain created entire Ring around them.

If I made a scene like that with 'sins' meeting I think it would be with a High Demon that serves as a high priest/priestess of the Leviathan faith. As all very high rank demons like Sins, certain Goetia Kings and other VERY important figures have their own religion that Hellborn MUST adhere to, in a way choose their deity and in this case it would be a Demon from said church of Leviathan that interprets them... cluelessly.

While Belphegor would not be much different as a creature that also is a larger than life being. But this one being like a giant, anthropomorphic crocodile like being similar to SCP 682, but more... static. Basically giant center point of a garbage heap that is Sloth in my AU. In some ways beautiful, but also incredibly toxic and dangerous to everything wasteland. Very bottom of Hell. Horrible place where you can be killed by some horrifying monsters with no real mind that prey on the helpless. As Belphegor itself (dunno if it even has gender) exudes aura of sloth where most Demons that come to sloth will be at some point forced to lay down and stay in place. "Bask under non existent sun" which is a term used in that version of Hell a bit to call someone lazy and it comes from that which can spell someone's horrid death.

Those are my ideas for those. But next one is the big boy himself. The Big S. Adversary. Satan.

He looks alright. Nothing you would not imagine a Satan to be. He looks dragon like, buff (even if he skipped leg day) and has funny horns of Imps. Also he has little therapist... which is funny because in my fic I also have a trial with the main judge there (in that case Lucifugus or Lucifuge Rofocale) who also has his own little therapist thing (alongside some other annoyances... and far more misery). It is funny how I guess both me and Viv kind of agree people in high political power in Hell would have their own therapist. In my version though he keeps them deep within the tower he resides in. But either way. Can't say his design or personality is something I did not see coming.

As for my version I will go with... yeah it will be quite different. Better or not. Your choice. A centaur like being that has 4 big arms, molten lava in his veins and skull on top of his body looking like a goat or dragon like being (still thinking on that). A demented monstrosity who's head went awry due to their perpetual rage who can now think of nothing, but drowning everything in so much blood that he will one day swim on that tide of gore to the Pearly Gates and smash them open in ultimate showing of their superiority over all of creation. Something his kin the Imps for the most part also believe and praise. A promise of sea of gore and glorious war. Not the kind of creature that would hold a trial. In that world it's more of a Lucifuge thing... or Lucifer if he is mood for jokes and tormenting some poor souls for their amusement.

Also I hear Stolas lost all his wealth and power over... NOT the shitty things that he did, just that he was forced to lie for the sake of I.M.P.... Eh... The avoidance of responsibility continues. Even when characters face consequences it can NEVER be over their own actions. It has to be something that can be proven wrong and goddamn will that probably be true with Via as well. Because let me tell you they are most likely going to make her be in the wrong for hating poor little Stolas baby and I hate it already. I know making assumptions is not good, but by GOD were they good at making those expectations of nuance low so far...

Actually what expectations? I don't watch this show anymore. But I am passionate about it's ideas... and that hurts me. A lot. I made this entire post because of those... and make a fic that has now few HUNDRED THOUSAND words. Damn. No idea if my version is better or worse... but it is one I prefer. It is different definitely. Even though in certain ways it's weirdly similar.

[soulfulazrael]

Stolas and Stella. Shallow conflict that could be so much more. Conflict of two Hells and torment of the immortal.

So... another post that probably will be another long Yap fest of a weirdo who has only the brainpower to make threads on a cartoon. Eh. Could be worse. My drive to make this post was sparked by this one image (or well... two).

Great... Very subtle... Deserves a medal don't you think? Ah well. Today's subject as you can tell from the image presented here is RELATIONSHIPS! Or rather one set of relationships that has been bothering me and inspired me to do better in my own work based on this show. This disaster that is the Stella/Stolas/Octavia dynamic is one huge problem in my eyes and I will explain that below with some thoughts of mine and why this particular image sparked such vitriol in my peanut brain.

I think the biggest and most noticeable problem that can be seen straight away in this one picture and entire show that... it is just so damn simple. Way too simple and 1 dimensional which this show tries to parade as something meaningful and deep. I mean one look at it and you can see all of the problems. Stella is made into a laughing all evil bastard. Octavia FOR SOME REASON is just angry at Stolas and makes a mean face which makes no sense given how they interact. And Stolas is presented as some tragic, deeply hurt figure when he is in fact the architect of most of his own miseries, but the show seems to believe in that horseshait.

And at first one who only has this picture as any sort of context may say that "It's okay. The wife is obviously an evil capital B, but the daughter in this whole equation adds to the complexity and the feeling of that the dad also screwed up heavily".

Except to anyone who actually watched the show this makes no sense because Octavia has literally NO reason to ever side or ignore her mother's stupid and malicious behavior. It's one thing where you want to include a complex dynamic where the sides are more blurred and another where you make one side so obviously WORSE. Not to mention stupid and seemingly unable to hide any of their douchebaggery.

And it's another issue of the show as a whole where it just cannot for the life of it have complex antagonists and most of them are pretty much the same damn archetype. Both shows do that in fact. Because both HH and HB work in the same way. They all have the same kind of snickering abuser who loves to torment their victim and they are about as smart as average Twitter Blue buyer. I mean can you tell me ANY sort of difference between someone like Val, Stella, Crim or Mammon? Any of them? Besides their designs and people they abuse? You probably have to think it through and I think it goes to show how all of them are so damn similar to each other. To the point where they are all almost exactly the same boring character.

And funny thing is? It didn't have to be this way. And this second image feels like more of an insult for two reasons.

Still not perfect, but it's better somewhat And the reason for that is... it feels like actually a bit subtle. You have less cramming in of how terrible Stella is. Octavia being a more oblivious child and Stolas while caring for her being more absent minded. That creates an interesting dynamic and Stella has some air of mystery to her where she can be taken in many directions.

They just chose the absolute dumbest one. And that's why this image makes me mad. It shows they COULD do better, but choose not to and that this art serves no other purpose than just to say STELLA LE BAD. And they have no other agenda with it. No other way to interpret it because of that second stupid one. It narrows and destroys so much potential. Almost as much as that picture of baby Stella from Circus.

And I think another big issue I kind of mentioned before is this parade of complexity. It wants to put on facade of being complex and having something to say, but it really doesn't. It provides a very simple and dumbed down story with clear good and bad side where one side is cartoonishly evil to the point of being moronic while other one is paraded as a victim to end all victims and they put in a dress of sad crying scenes and the daughter being pissed for no reason at clearly good party because the idiotic plot demands it.

And other big issue... Is that this does not explore ANY interesting ideas. No interesting dynamics. No interesting implications or provides any sort of value to the world or explores anything in this world of HELL. Where you can make the world feel wild and interesting and the ways this world shaped those people. The ways those people are broken. The ways you can expand on this conflict beyond the surface level idiocy.

And I want here to present an example of a story rather similar... that did this right. So right it's almost comedic. I am talking about a story of Bloody Baron from Witcher 3 so for all people who did not play this almost 10 year old game (holy shit W3 came out almost 10 years ago... Can you slow down time?) then I must warn you. For the rest who did play or don't care. Enjoy.

Seems appropriate. Bloody Baron questline is probably one of the most impactful, complex and interesting conflicts I've seen in any game. A story of abuse, trauma and pain in a family of Bloody Baron, his wife Anna and daughter Tamara. amazing writing, great voice acting, great characters all that good stuff. But let me tell you why it's so good.

First off. The characters. They are all very well written and are very believable. Bloody Baron especially is a sad mess of a man. An ex veteran, drunkard and abuser who tries to find his wife and their daughter she took with her when she escaped from him after their recent fight. A fact Geralt is not aware of, one of many he and us by extension are not aware of.

This may already sound rather familiar and stay with me because it gets better. What works so well with character of Bloody Baron is that while he is at first a completely unlikeable person that gets worse over time as you discover more filth in his story, he is also extremely human. He is no caricature and you can tell why he became the way he is and you can tell he is full of great regrets and despite his actions still holds a lot of love for both his daughter and wife. He is someone who did terrible things to his family, someone very rash and very brutal, but he is not a total and complete monster. He watched his own other child die partially as a consequence of his own actions. Lost his family. He lost almost everything besides an army of men that couldn't give less of a shit about him and a home in a dreadful swamp full of monsters. His character greatly explores the mind of someone very broken, someone who lost himself to alcohol and ended up making a ton of terrible mistakes and now tries to atone for them. But we also see in flashbacks that he can be also a caring man as he helped Ciri and little girls she saved. He is no less of a terrible person because of it, but it adds humanity to him.

And other two characters in this do not fall far behind as well. Anna especially is also a very broken shell of a person. And despite what one may think she is also not innocent in all of this as she is someone who first cheated on the Baron after he went out to war. Leaving him for some other man as he was putting his life on the line for them (while also falling to alcoholism as well). And when she was confronted about it and when her lover got slaughtered by Baron she broke and started to try to kill him and herself which started the abuse from Baron who only found this to be a good way to calm her down and Anna herself was a clearly traumatized woman who was now in a cage with the Baron.

And in between all of that was a young, very scared child of both. Tamara who saw only the abuse her mother received and felt like it was all her father's fault for everything breaking apart around them and eventually devoting herself to group of Eternal Flame as a way of handling her situation. She still received lots of love from her father, but could never see him as anything less than a monster.

All of them in this scenario... probably feel oddly familiar. And it's funny because in many ways they ARE like Stolas and Stella and Octavia. But roles are somewhat moved and the conflicts feel far more real. Tamara is not for some reason seeing the abuser as lesser evil seemingly. She sees the abuse, but doesn't know a full story much like Geralt or anyone else. Baron in this case is in many ways like Stella. He is someone who abuses their partner and goes into violent rage when they leave them, but unlike Stella you can tell there is this lingering love for his family that further fuels this abuse and brings more pain to everyone while Anna is a broken mess of a woman who cheated on her husband and paid terrible price for it and kept paying as... she sold her upcoming child to terrible witches. Or rather she wished for it to die and for it sold her soul.

And this I think is what makes this story all the stronger. It's not just the tragedy or realism. It's how it ties into the world of Witcher as a whole where we are introduced to some of the most harrowing set pieces of the game and some of the most disturbing villains in the game who also simply act upon their nature as deal makers with Anna and simply know something about Geralt's own daughter Ciri (who they tried to eat). It expands the world and uses it in a meaningful way and pushes more interesting ideas like the side of Anna caring for children at the swamp that are meant to be devoured by witches. Another Hell that ends either with her complete breakdown or death, but also either suicide of the Baron or redemption as he tries to save her and no longer drink or abuse her. While Tamara no matter what has to also face her own consequences of having to forever be tied to Endless Flame, but also putting faith in her father in the good ending and possibly ending with their relationship beginning to heal.

And all of that feels natural. This kind of story definitely can be told anywhere, this kind of story doesn't need this setting, but it further enriches it. And I think another big part of this story I like is that it doesn't try to paint any side as being in the RIGHT. Because in this kind of situation NO PARTY is in the right... And as someone who did went through similar thing... I respect that. And that is why I cannot accept what HB does. In this situation there are no good guys or bad guys... Just people who keep making mistakes (and don't worry, family may be a bit broken, but I still love both my parents no matter how far one may be).

And it is funny because story of Bloody Baron in many ways is how the whole situation with Octavia and her family SHOULD look like. A very harrowing story where there is no place for good or bad sides. Where you have to choose FOR YOURSELF who is more at fault. And the game leaves that decision to you. It does not tell you what to think. It tells you to think. One of the writers who made that whole story said once "I do not like likeable characters. I like interesting characters". And I think that is also where the writing suffers. It tries to paint one side as "likeable", but because of that it removes so much complexity from the character by excusing all of their awful behavior or painting them as ultimate victim. And do not try to tell me also that because Stella is so easy to hate then they are well written. That's not true. Making hateable character is the easiest thing in the world. Just put everything bad in them and make them not like protagonist and oppose them. That's it. It's lazy.

And that also makes me so mad about HB because they were CLOSE to making something good. Not exactly the same as Bloody Baron, but something of it's own that could also be good.

I personally make a fic called "Song for the Quiet Bird". There I partially explore characters of Stolas and Stella and Octavia and I try to paint the entire situation in a more gray light where each side is not truly in the right. Where both of them are in their own ways broken people. And to do so I also try to use something I wish Viv used which is Immortality of Ars Goetia which could have been a thing, but Viv decided to make Stolas like 30 because then you have cute Stolas and Blitzo arts as kids.

In my version both have lived already for 800 years. They lived already for a long time and there is eternity waiting ahead and both cope in their own ways that were taught to them by the world of Hell to not lose themselves to eternity. Stolas is a selfish hedonist who cares the most about his own pleasures and even though he cares for Octavia it is very easy for him to lose himself in his own desires and pleasures as he mostly cares for himself the most and anything that is extension of him. Meanwhile Stella is a cold, distant and very duty focused character. Someone who while trains Octavia for the longest time does not involve herself too much with her own daughter, barely seeing her as one. Someone entirely focused on the prosperity of the family as a whole, someone who does not believe in value of individuality or personal joy and instead focuses on the good of everything else solely. This good being judged by her and her views that value subjugation and order compared to Stolas's love for chaos and selfish freedom.

In this case both sides are very broken. They both have to live through their own Hells made by their own choices that add to the fact they were born into the world of Hell. Neither one can really truly coexist with each other and both long ago abandoned any hope for true understanding. And in all of that the only real victim and good party you can find is Octavia. A person who suffers because of this clash of ideals and has to cope in her own way with suffering both she and her parents go through. All of them suffering.

That's at least how I write it. Something where you cannot pin to one side being terrible or evil. Just everyone being broken in a terrible world you have to fight with to make something better and both in a way... gave up. Until of course Moxxie comes along there for Stella and his presence helps her develop... but that's another thing.

I also have some quotes below from my fic to show my approach to both Stella and Stolas as characters. First one is Stolas and Octavia having a chat in the most recent chapter.

And here below is a scene between Stella and Moxxie where there is some discussion about theatre plays of Hell and difference between human and hellish ones delving into also her own view of the world (this IS a Stella/Moxxie crackship fic... just a big slowburn). From one of the earlier chapters.

Both I think probably show their own deep flaws and ways of coping with their own realities.

Now I don't say I want my ideas to be in the show, but more complex ones. Ones that are not just this... thing we've been fed for all of Season 2 and partially in Season 1 which could have been taken in a better direction, but it never was and just like one image here ruins another, here season 2 retroactively ruins the 1st one. Stella/Stolas/Octavia dynamic just has potential to be so much more than... whatever HB is now.

Well that was stupidly long and I can't imagine many people getting here, but hey. I wrote it and it's already too long to not post it. To whoever came this far I thank you and hope you will leave your opinion on this manifesto. Hope it was entertaining at least.

[soulfulazrael]

A small scene I wrote for my own version of Angel Dust. "Fantasia. Was it worth it?"

Okay. This may seem random, but I had this scene in my mind for a while and I want to feature it in a fic of mine of some kind.

It's my version of Angel Dust who is... a bit different as a character. Someone far more deeply disturbed mentally due to drug abuse and after certain events and some tries at self reflection comes across a tape with a movie he remembers from time when he was alive. Last movie he saw with his family at the back then still fresh and new cinemas.

"Fantasia."

Angel sat down in his apartment. Nuggets was sleeping soundly in his little bed and Angel did not know if he could lay his head down on the pillow yet. Thoughts of the recent events still lingered in his mind. The high of his drugs slowly wore off and he was left with feeling of cold and isolation permeating through his fur and bones of long dead sinner. For a moment he wondered if he should just get himself excited and was about to reach out to his toybox, but instead his hand almost instinctively seemed to avoid it. As if it was repulsed by it. Instead it wandered off into the box below the desk he had in his room. Angel forgot what was there and with curiosity opened it.

As he looked through it he found among the trash inside it one single tape with now almost entirely gone title on top of it "Fan----ia". Angel wondered if it was maybe a fan video he decided to keep for some... Can he even say 'God forsaken' anymore given where he is? Wasn't everything here forsaken? That was of no matter. He looked over at the tv he had next to the doors of his room across from his inflated bed and at the VHS player he had connected to it. Bought from some pawn shop in here when some sinners came down in the 80s. He placed the tape inside the recorder and lowered the volume enough to not wake up his sweetheart. As the video started though and he saw bunch of musicians preparing their instruments against the blue screen he remembered. Fantasia. He remembered watching this movie in a theatre when he was alive. His sister brought him, their brother and father to see it about 3 times.

He decided to watch it. If only because it may offer him some peace of mind. The words of the conductor did not matter to him, but soon enough the music started. He enjoyed the imagery in this movie. From simple lights across the screen to change of seasons or dinosaurs killing one another. It was an eventful movie.

It brought him back to the first time he went to see it with his family. The sound of the music coming from every direction of the theatre, something he never experienced before. It made it feel like he was there at the concert. Then he realized this was an "uncensored" version and the sight of Sunflower brought up a chuckle in him. He tried to ignore it, but this was pretty ridiculous to see from such a movie.

He remembered how much his father loved the first parts with dancing colors and changing of seasons. Not much meaning, just pure imagery of dreams. He himself never truly understood such fascination with simplicity. His brother though always was the most awake at the parts with Dinosaurs and Greek myths. Such stories were more up his speed. Always wanting to take part in such stories. Angel had more of a preference for making one of his own choices. Not be part of someone else's... Funny how that ended up...

But soon enough the part he liked the most started. Night on Bald Mountain. A moment when he was excited to no end and his sister next to him found it hard to even look at the screen. He wanted to comfort her, but he was too enthralled by the animation and Chernobog, it was amusing to see how Hell is imagined to be and what it really is. But it made him for a moment nervous that he knows better. But then that thought went away with a single

*DING*

A ring of a bell, a flash of light. Chernobog started to waver in his performance. And then again:

*DING* *DING*

With sound of the bell the Hellspawn retreated to their domains.

"Hmph. You wish it was that easy."

Angel said to himself.

*DING* *DING* *DING*

And so all of the Demons and the Dead returned where their belong and Chernobog hid from light of sunrise and so begun the part that bored Angel all those years ago. But as he watched the little figures and candles walk across the hills he looked to his side and saw her. His sister stopped hiding and started smiling. Warmth on her face brought a smile to spider's face. She was happy, father looked and smiled, brother while distant was far more relaxed. All of them felt joy when she did. But he did the most out of them all. Her joy was his. It was unlike anything he had ever known. He wanted to reach out, but he only saw his reflection in the mirror on the table in his room. A demon from hell... Where it belongs.

*Ave Maria*

Angel looked at the screen and saw a pillar of light in the center of darkness. The music continued and colors filled the scenery and all Angel could think of was the reality of what he was... where he was. He will never see her again. Never to see this light with her. And for what? What was this all for?

A small scene I decided to write. I wonder how all of you feel about it. This idea came to me first when I thought about Angel being alive in the 40s and that he would probably see Fantasia. I wanted to do something of this sort because in HH proper it is often times hard to tell what time period anyone is from and something like this I think would help ground those characters in their own way to reality they are from. Make them feel more unique and authentic.

And also to add to the despair and regret a sinner would feel when stuck in Hell. All of the regrets over their choices and their eternity that they will spend in such horrible place. No hope. Only everlasting pain of what could have been. Lingering feeling that it could have been different.

Hope this turned out okay and maybe if you read all of it hypothetical reader then tell me your thoughts.

[soulfulazrael]

Stella being Beatrice of Helluva Boss is pure idiocy at this point in the show.

Hello there. I am posting something. That's a new. Reminded myself "Oh yeah this site exists" and decided to post some shait about HB. Why not?

Drawn by wholetthemonst1

There was something I came across some time ago in Helluva Boss community and that is the idea that Viv wants to make Stella into a character reminiscent of Beatrice Horseman from Bojack Horseman. And as someone who loves Bojack and respects Bojack and I can probably say now HB is my Becker (wink, wink, nudge nudge WATCH BOJACK IF YOU HAVEN'T) I have to say my piece about it.

But first let's start with Beatrice Horseman herself (careful, there will be spoilers for the 4th and 5th season of Bojack Horseman if you are still going through it). So... Beatrice Horseman. Who was she? What was her deal? Well she was a horse born in 193- okay, okay I am not doing that whole bit. Sorry. Let's get into it. Beatrice Horseman. She is probably one of the most despicable and yet complex characters in the whole of Bojack Horseman. A show known for complex characters and stories. It's a show that many people would say is unfair to compare to Helluva Boss, but given that apparently Viv wants to compare one of her characters to the ones from that then it's free game, wild west baby so let's get on with it already.

Again. Beatrice. Despicable, abusive, terrible, terrible person that is contributor to the kind of man Bojack is in the show. There is no beating around the bush that she was a horrid person that one could say at first glance is not too disimilar to the Stella we know and boy isn't that just the perfect test for who watched that show and who didn't. Because I did and I can say for certain if they were doing that from the start, it's already a complete failure for two reasons.

First off. The photo from The Circus. If there is something Beatrice wasn't, it was being terrible from the start. She was not, everyone who watched the show will tell you with 100% certainty that she never begun as this terrible person. She went through a lot, doesn't excuse the abuse she put her own child through, but we know for certain she did not start like that and this is a big problem with the photo shown in the Circus.

Because nothing speaks sweet and nice than a complete psycho strangling puppies. Yeah I am not going to sugar coat. This photo single handedly made me about 90% done with Helluva Boss. I could see everything that was going to happen the moment I saw and so far I was not too far off. And this is a major failure on HB's part. Making Stella a psychopath who strangles puppies from early childhood. And I get that it's supposed to be funny, but Bojack itself never sacrificed narrative coherency for some dumb unfunny comedy. Especially did not sacrifice depth of the character that Beatrice was.

And one may say "Well the first times we saw Beatrice she was a despicable one note villain as well" and to that I say... no. First time we see her is where she is clearly dissatisfied with her marriage with Butterstoch who seems to be even more terrible than she is at that point and nothing points towards her being some terrible Satan like figure. We do see pieces of abuse she put Bojack through, but she never enters the realm of being so horrid that it becomes too cartoony. Aside from some obvious things like the argument of hers with Butterstoch (I still have I'M EXITATING live rent free in my head). But those moments never made Beatrice into someone who is just evil for the sake of being so. At least there was always this lingering feeling that she is the way she is not just because this is simply how she is. There were already reasons for it given to us in the very first season.

And you know what. They actually started it okay. In first season we saw Stella being more passively dismissive if not just uncaring about Octavia's crying, but it was not something that got across her being some terrible monster, just someone very tired and someone who probably is not there of their own volition. Makes her still terrible, but you can work up from there, but HB never did. I say what they gave her in Season 1 while cartoony in many ways like her screaming so much and hiring hitman did not kill the potential for her to be complex as much as that photo of hers did in Season 2 which again, I think already sank any potential for her to be complex.

But some other people will say "Well we do not know the context of that photo". What context? You want to add context to a girl strangling and beating puppies? Really? Because let me tell you no matter what you do, it will NEVER work. Adding any sort of context to make this kind of photo feel like it makes sense for any sort of complex character will result in laughable at best results that will make it feel like this show doesn't know what the hell it's doing.

Because you do not make this kind of photo for a character you want to be perceived as complex. It just doesn't work.

And there is a second issue beyond that photo. Her motivations, big part of which we saw in Western Energy. Because as far as we see she only wants to bring torment to Stolas, she keeps saying that, she keeps being shown to be too dumb to think of any other reason or how that can screw her over and that also destroys any semblance of chance that this character could be complex. Because Beatrice while terrible had a very good reason for why she was like this. Having your lobotomized mother at such young age telling you to not love anyone will definitely screw you in the head and even then what we see in the show despite such morbid origins is nowhere near as stupidly 1 dimensional as Stella was for 2 seasons already and in Season 2 of Bojack we already saw her being more complex too. Something this show only destroyed further with Stella. Kind of going in the opposite direction of starting in more complex manner and gradually destroying those illusions of depth Stella could have had.

And honestly I do not know if I have to add anything beyond those two reasons. No matter how you look at it Stella doesn't feel remotely as a character designed to be complex. And just so you all know before you start typing essays comparable in length to this horse shait. No, complex doesn't mean redeemable, doesn't mean a character is good or worthy of redemption. It means they can feel like actual PEOPLE! Not some caricatures. Because so far Stella is just that, a caricature. A hate sink. And NO, it is NOT challenging at all to make a character like that and her being so easy to hate is not sign of good writing, it is LAZY.

And this makes me really feel like Stella was NOT planned to be this complex Beatrice like character and in fact I feel like what is going on now is a response of Viv (one of many) to the criticism (at least she listens to them this time I guess... progress?). Basically I think she saw people dunk on Stella's character for being pretty much equivalent of a wall with some mean things sprayed on it, she now starts to go in completely different direction without any semblance of idea of how to make this work. Purely reactionary action.

And to me that reflects another issue I see when compared to Bojack. Here is the clip from it that I think describes this issue I have. This one being from Free Churro. My favorite Bojack episode.

This I think is what ticks me off about the writing of HB as a whole. They think big gestures in writing like giving this one character a le sad backstory will make them sympathetic and complex and oh so well written. That this one act of non douchebaggery makes that POS already well on the path of being better despite them doing the same garbage all over again. That one moment of complexity that you repeat over and over again is enough to make the show complex. That this small piece of text or scene makes a relationship great or make sense. No. Writing doesn't work like that. Stories don't work like that. You need to be consistent, you cannot just throw one scene and immediately expect that people will eat up that this character or this story is more than it is. You need to put in the effort for more than one minute or one episode. You need to try your damn hardest to make your story complex if you want it to be so. It is not something you get participation trophy for. It is something you need to commit to. Or hire a better writer. That helps as well.

Okay. That got a bit derailed. Sorry for that. It was pretty long rant and yet somehow I feel like it wasn't long enough. Stella Goetia. Who is she? What is her deal? She is a victim of terrible writing that made her into a hate sink when she had so much more potential and now that this ship is well on it's way to Davy Jones's locker only NOW this crew of misfits and not very good writers try to salvage what I will say is already unsalvageable. Stella is not Beatrice, she will never be Beatrice. She could have been. She really could have been, but the direction they went with in Season 2 was equivalent of dropping a bomb on a baby and trying to see if it's alive... The best you will find is ashes. But I guess they will be of some reminder of what could have been.

Honestly I don't know why I wrote so much for it. I don't even want to watch this show anymore. I watch shorts, but... they are short. I write my own version of this universe as well, but it's something I do now because like Bojack once said in this clip

And I feel the same thing. This show had all the right pieces right there, but it can never put them together and it bums me out to see and leaves me only with passion for what it could have been. It really depresses me. Because I want to love this show and I already spent around 5 years watching it and pouring my heart into work about it, but now... Now I feel empty. And it feels bad.

I don't like Helluva Boss and everything is worse now.

[soulfulazrael]

TALK MORE ABOUT LUCIFER IN YOUR REWRITE I BEG OF YOU, he sounds so interesting.

In my version Lucifer is definitely not a good being. He is a monster that genuinely hates humanity all over his own shattered pride. A being that wanted to prove his superiority, to prove he is worth more than those humans God has made. He was the perfection, the light bringer. And he EXPOSED humanity for what it was...

But he was cast out all the same. He crashed and became a charred remain of an angel he was, but yet still wears a guise of what he used to be. Out of delusion of him still being this perfect being or maybe out of denial of being in the wrong.

He is someone who doesn't really love anyone except himself. And maybe his brother Michael who he due to his own choices is now destined to be killed by, but even with that he keeps refusing that he was wrong, that what he did was terrible, that he deserves to be punished. So he wears a smile wide and bright, never letting go of this visage of endless joy and causes as much chaos and pain towards all that end up in the realm of Hell and all of the Demons that follow him learn to follow their own desires and see how they deserve that which they want. Recognition, pleasures, riches.

His realm is pride that he cannot let go of because to do so is to face reality of him being now a completely broken being that is no longer what it was. And due to that he lashes out on all of humanity. Instead of facing reality he plunges himself deep into chaos and insanity, to always feel joy of being the one above all. What he wants is for humanity to suffer.

That's kind of the gist. A prideful being refusing to accept his own wrongdoings that lashes out on those it keeps blaming for all it's woes and teaches others to live in similar delusions of self importance and selfishness.

[soulfulazrael]

Why does everything in this damn show has to be about sex?! It's honestly getting on my nerves.

A while ago I remember someone pointing out how Viv makes all of her “tops” bi/pan (Blitz, Ozzie, Husk, Chaz, etc.) and many (but not all) of her “bottoms” gay twinks (Angel, Stolas, probably Fizz? etc.).

She just liked a tweet basically saying Stolas and Fizzarolli are too feminine to ever like women which like, fair I can’t see either genuinely being into girls because they’ve never showed canon interest, BUT, I think it just continues fo prove the point she fetishizes gay men as “the woman” because they are solely attracted to men, and for some reason they’re all effeminate. Again, I love my femme bois, but Viv seems to refuse to believe gay men can be anything other than “twinky bottom” and bi/pan men as anything other than “dom protector.” Why can’t we also have a buff hyper masculine gay character, or an androgynous bi one?!? The fetishization and heteronormitivity is off the charts.

It might not be about fetish, but I think it’s a way to project onto male characters in a gay relationship as a woman. You don’t want any girls threatening the ‘bottom’ status, cause it’s a fantasy. And people have this idea that “if you’re a gay top why not just top cis women too? Any (redacted) is a goal!” And that is actually just homophobia. Like I refuse to believe she isn’t into her fair share of yaoi, and I’m not shaming her for that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. But tropes like that feed into your work. It happens to all artists and writers super into anime. The tops are masculine so attracted to femininity of any gender, all the men are into men, any men can be shipped together, and all the women are into men, but they get in the way and compete with the bottom. That’s your traditional yaoi formula.

It comes down to power, thinking attraction to men means submission to them, and attraction to women is about dominating them. This is why a basic level feminist education is so important. It can really help free you from being confined into concepts like this. Sometimes “gay is okay” “kink is so crazy and funny!” isn’t enough to leave that heteronormative conservative mindset. You have to go deeper.

Idk. To me Asmodeus is our buff masc gay, and Angel Dust is our fem bisexual. To me that makes sense.

Stolas is effeminate? How? He wears grey, red, suits, capes, all very typical royal wear. He’s not feminine at all he’s vibrant and masc, but just very pathetic and wimpy. That’s sortve okay for me, i feel stolas’ story makes more sense if he’s queer and is still questioning, Angel I don’t mind either way, fizz I think his story has more of a dark layer with the robots if he is gay. And probably had to pretend to be bisexual to cater to a wider market. He is the only one who’s shown discomfort/disgust at women coming on to him (if you count those gross robot clients) and good for him. Gay men deserve empowering stories too.

And do you also notice how…Angel is fine with sleeping with women for a twenty and has before, Stolas had to sleep with a woman, fizz robots are abused by women while conscious. The heck is that about.

How would Viv react to meeting a straight femboy I wonder. Do you notice how lesbophobic that is too? Liking women and not being feminine have zero requirement to go hand in hand. Some trans men are effeminate and straight. Some gay couples are fem 4 fem and masc 4 masc. There are femme 4 femme lesbians. That heteronormative way of thinking and obsession with monogamy is so Christian core and is so outdated.

They have to fit the fetishistic formula of twinky maiden and dom masc protector? Idk where you’re getting that anon /s

[soulfulazrael]

My Hellaverse Religions and Marriages. Or how my Asperger made up some odd worldbuilding over the dumbest reason imaginable.

We all know this shot. We all hate this shot (well... I do)

And it's for one, big reason... what the hell are marriages in Hell? Well. I was wondering that too and honestly the answer is very simple... Who gives a shit? Viv wanted a contrived story with forced marriage where Moxxie looks like a total bitch so she did it as well as she could and since she could not do it well it came out how it did.

But it did made me think at least. What would marriages in Hell look like? And that lead me to a downward spiral of thinking up in a few hours how it works and why it works. And here is the result. Ladies and gentleman and all the inbetweens (I don't judge) I present my first rewrite post which I mostly do for myself as a note for future in case dementia catches me like it did with my grandparents. One is dead, the other is dying, but enough about my happy life. Let's get into autistic rambling.

So, before we get to the marriage system I have in mind, first let's delve into another thing. God. Or in this case. Deities. As in my version of HB/HH I write about in my AU there are several of them. All of which are different High authority figures of which the main ones are five and I will name all of them: First one is Lucifer

Who in this version is... not as nice. In fact he is very, VERY cruel being. One that has little qualms about lives of anyone else. A being of Chaos from the times of the Rebellion in Heaven which he lead against God after he corrupted humanity to prove to The Almighty of his superiority, of that he is deserving of love much greater than mortals. Cast out from Heaven alongside all those that took side with him.

Now in Hell he embodies Pride that shaped the top layer of Hell. He is a Deity that preaches ultimate freedom. He preaches the idea of that you deserve all that you want. That every feeling, every desire you feel is correct and that you alone are deserving of those no matter what anyone says, no matter who it hurts. All that is important is you. That is the crux of those who follow him. Hedonists, narcissists, cruel, chaotic beings of pure selfishness who believe in righteousness of their desires and standing up against any authority that wants to keep them away from fulfilling their dreams and when all dreams become reality, there is no other outcome than Chaos which Lucifer adores.

They are called Light Takers. For Lucifer is one who brings light and those who follow him, take said light and all that they want.

That is Lucifer and now let's get to the Deity right under him that sides with him more so than the other one, another creature of Chaos (also be mindful that this is just short summary of those things, I can go more in depth about each one in other posts). Satan:

I don't have a better image as my idea of how he looks is pretty different. I imagine him as a centaur like being with a lower body similar to a bull, more human like torso, a head similar to one on this app with mighty wings and 4 arms. A brutal, relentless deity, one who's philosophy is to spread death and prepare for fight against the Heaven. To drown the world in the blood of his enemies and for the bodies and blood to rise so high so that he can approach the Heaven's gates.

His followers are mostly Imps. Many of them sharing to lesser or greater extent this philosophy of slaughter. It gives them meaning to kill and make their own trail of Blood as they follow in the hoove steps of the Lord of Slaughter. Followers of Blood they are called. A numerous force of berserkers devoted to mindless murder and Chaos.

With all this Chaos there has to be a balance point though right? You'd be correct. As on the opposite end of the Chaos spread by Lucifer and Satan is The Lord Governor:

Lucifuge Rofocale. He is in my version very similar to this depiction, although he very rarely smiles. He is known also as Bitter Governor for his rivalry with Lucifer in which he is mostly ignored by the latter as he tries to gain control over the Chaos of Hell.

He is the creature who values Order more so than anything. He is the Lawmaker. He is the lord of Laws that he writes into his Great Book, many laws there are, some of which contradict each other, some forgotten, other irrelevant. All his. He is the cruelty of order and subjugation incarnate. His name itself Lucifuge is one that was given to him after rebellion in which he took side of Lucifer in order to create a perfect society of his own. A society that was never to be. He who runs from Light for he was a Throne Angel of greater light than any other, a Light so strong he could never know even a smallest shadow. Light that he hated above all and could never fully rid himself off of it's taint.

When he came to Hell his Pride alongside Lucifer's shaped the Entire Ring. Lucifer controls the Central parts where Pentagram City is located and Lucifuge controls outer rings of Pride where his 5 towers on borders of Pride spreading to the blood sky surround the Chaos of Lucifer. His desire of control made manifest. A control he spreads with his Emissaries. Those who follow him and his laws faithfully and spread them with unmatched zeal. And his most faithful and powerful servant is the 4th of the Main Deities. The Silent King of all Ars Goetia.

King Baal. His version in my AU is based on this picture. A creature with lower body of a Spider and torso of a man with head of a King with long hair at the top. Which ever direction he looks, his face changes shape, if to his right it takes form of a cat and left is the frog. Among the deities he alongside Satan were born in Hell and were since time of their Hell's manifestation bitter rivals and his beloved is Queen of Gluttony Beelzebub which is often a target of mockery. A spider who beds a bug instead of eating it, but no care to those words are given, no words... Only silence. Pride was originally meant to be his as it would embody his silence, but it was not to be as the Fall happened and Pride was born from the quiet grounds.

He was named an Ars Goetia by Lucifuge to whom he pledged allegiance to in Silent Promise and ever since his invisible web spread across skies of Pride, woven from threads attached to every life among Ars Goetia and to cut it is to be a Heretic condemned to suffering at the hand of Silent King. Baal's Faithful who are his followers are mostly Ars Goetia. All believing in Hell's security to be utmost priority. To make it safe at any means necessary. To make sure that Hell will be eternal and all who fall into it's flames will never escape it's torment. He is the one who keeps the Ars Goetia in check to follow the laws Lord Lucifuge laid out. For maybe side of Chaos has numbers and ferocity, but Order has power and stability.

A balance that is most crucial to never ending conflict festered by the most enigmatic and possibly most terrible of the Five. Mephistopheles.

Who's looks are as everchanging as interpretations of how he looks. A Demon who fooled the world into believing he was, but a made up Demon in a story about Faust. Always cloaked in shadows creature, that despite looking a lot of times like the most basic denizen of Hell, is anything, but. As his nature is a mystery to all who inhabit it. A creature of Darkness that remembers the time of the first words that is alien to both Heaven and Hell. One that gave Hell it's currency made of Souls it caught with contracts they make on earth. A Creature that always maintains the balance of both sides. Making sure there is never a conclusion to this bitter conflict and flames of Discord never fade. Something that is cherished by his Brethren in Dark.

To be Mephisto's Brethren in Dark is to commune and listen to Mephisto's words. You are what you are. There is no change to that. So live your life as you see fit. Make of your life anything you want. Be it for order or chaos. Be it for your desire or duty. What is important is to know who you are and to believe in his words. It is to be on the side of yours and his and all that you must have will come to you, but the price will have to be paid, but it does not have to come from you now has it? No... You use others as much as you are used. You know that very well. You always will. For you are rotten, but so is everything else. So is that so bad?

There are many other deities. Such as King Paimon, by many considered as one of the if not the mightiest among Kings. A being who's promise of seeing his Labyrinth makes many shudder at the mere thought. Or the Sins who's patronage seek those who live on their rings. But the choice is up to the Hellborn... aside from mostly Hellhounds, who mostly only reside and do labor for the Beelzebub. A Cerberus insect of endless hunger.

But there is one more path. On the side of neutrality is also another side. Hell. To listen to the will of Hell.

Listeners of Hell are those who feel the very wind among the bloody streets. To know intimately the desires of the ground you walk on. To serve Hell as it's listener and to reinforce it's will. This is path for those who seek a different path from all other deities. But to do so is to give all that you are to the home you have. Not to protect, but understand it. Breathe with it and to be a true part of it. Closer than many others.

These are all the paths Hellborn can... or rather have to choose. Because atheism is not possible in this realm. Hellborn have to believe in something otherwise it means they are a traitor to the Hell itself. Whatever one believes in it is up to the Hellborn in question. But the choice it is one Hellborn MUST make.

Now... after this little mythology lesson where does this lead in terms of marriages? Well. The marriage in itself is also a deal between deities. Each side has their own contract that has to be signed by the priest of their respective deity. And each priest is of different kind. Emissary is a political for the most part. Mephisto's Brethren could be of any kind. A soldier of Baal. Hedonistic royal of Lucifer. Berserker of Satan. If both sides worship same deity it means less issues, but both contracts are still required.

Both sides need to sign their respective contract and then place their cut hands on those contracts as they are connected by their blank sides. Letting their blood seep into them as both of them touch them. Letting their blood, believes and word to connect them forevermore, for them both to be servants together. That is unless one has a change of faith which may require redoing of the process at the chance of being shunned by everyone around. For it is a shame to be someone to turns away from their God.

So yeah... This is how I would personally write certain part of Mythology of Hell. I know I did not elaborate on certain other things like Paimon or Sins, but I think this is a good enough of a starting point to the mythology I want to make with 3 sides here. Chaos, Order and Neutrality. All with their own strengths and weaknesses. All with their own stories and people who worship them. All with their own traditions, beliefs and personalities... All of it... because I was iffy by the fucking Exs and Ohs priest. I need serious mental help. This is just sad to look at. Then again if you read this far, I guess we all lost here. Or maybe you liked it. If so then please leave a comment or something. I cherish those. And maybe think of who you would choose to follow.