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velvette-hussle · 2 months

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I don’t really subscribe to the idea that Valentino is more powerful than Vox - more outwardly aggressive sure, but those things aren’t synonymous.

It’s just— Vox is essentially all of capitalism banged into one competent mess of a man. In comparison Valentino only has dominion over a portion of what Vox does, and while I think all of the Vees feed off of one another, at the end of the day both Valentino and Velvette are still blanketed under Vox’s influence. They’re parts of his machine no matter that they have the most power within it over everyone but Vox himself.

I do think that from a certain “average sinner” perspective a lot of people would assume that Valentino is the main aggressor due to how publicly antagonistic he acts (because he usually is - and because Vox’s image can’t be too rough or else he won’t be able to gain the masses’ trust in order to manipulate them) but while Valentino physically or verbally domineers nearly every character we see or hear him come into contact with he’s only able to truly rile Vox up once, and it’s mentally. He also doesn’t dominate Vox when he sends him spiraling by dropping the news of Alastor being back the way he does, he only manipulates him. So Val is far from powerless in their dynamic but he’s not easily more powerful than Vox, he himself can barely pivot Vox’s priorities on his own without giving the overgrown tv outside incentive.

EDIT: The fact that he needs Vox to be on board at all is telling enough; if the issue was just Val’s alone Vox never would’ve cared or co-signed it with what was at stake (ie: getting tangled up with Hell royalty), but Val was able to get what he wanted to some extent by manipulating him around the idea. The hotel being sabotaged as a whole ensures that Val gets Angel back dependent on only him, but now in a Vox approved way that seems more like Vox’s plan than Val’s because Val can’t make big moves without some amount of permission.

The Vees’ power dynamics and ingrained feedback loop is so interesting to me. I just wanna naw on it all day. Also want to point out that Valentino never dominates Velvette either; he does piss her off and he does pivot her slightly by proxy due to pivoting Vox, for one, but also by presumably forcing her to change up her show since he tore up her lead model just because he was in a mood.

#I don’t know I was just thinking #does this make sense #vox #valentino #the vees #I swear to FUCK I’m not a Vox simp even if I kind of sounds like it #he’s at the bottom of my three tiered list okay? I like him but I’m not just giving him props to give him props #hazbin hotel #velvette #hazbin hotel thoughts #hazbin hotel vox #hazbin hotel valentino #hazbin hotel velvette #hazbin hotel the vees #hazbin vox #hazbin valentino #dive #i speak bitches *mwah*#me•

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yanderederee · 1 year

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ClinicVisit

March29th, 2004

Before… › here! › next! › …

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✦

Baji jerked awake suddenly, the sound of his home phone ringing unusually loud. He’d been waiting for the sound all weekend….

… what for again?

He lay there spaced out, gathering his barings after the third ring.

“Ah shit, the vet!” He grumbled, and ran to the phone, hoping it didn't go to voicemail before he made it.

“Baji Keisuke, hello?” He quickly uttered into the phone after pressing the answer button. Still gravely from sleep, he felt a little embarrassed for how he’d sounded.

Waiting, he realized it took a lot longer for them to respond than he thought it would.

“Hello?” He spoke more clearly.

“O-oh.. Uh, Hey, Baji…!” Spoke a meek voice, nothing like the middle aged women he’d left the stray cat with a few weeks ago. It took him a second, not recognizing the voice over the phone.

“I-It’s y/n… Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” You replied to the silence with more composure.

“Oh… Uh, no problem. What’s up?” He yawned, scratching his scalp with vigor. He’d been having his hair slicked back more than usual these days, now that your study sessions were becoming more frequent, what with midterms next month.

“Right, so, I was kind of bored, and went shopping,” You began to explain, a little rustle could be heard in the background, making him guess you were fiddling with a plastic bag. “And I found these Adorable little cat sweaters! And, there were these limited edition flavored treats, so I picked some of those too!”

Baji found himself smiling warmly at your excited voice, the rush of adrenaline from waking up too quickly began to easing. Peace immited the empty apartment as you spoke in his ear.

“So… Have you heard anything back yet? A-about Songo’s recovery?” You asked, seeming to shrink your voice after realizing that you’d been talking for two and a half minutes straight. Earning a little chuckle, Baji replied honestly.

“I’ve been expecting a call for a few days now, nothing yet though. I was thinking about checking up at the clinic after breakfast.” He noticed the little plate of rice and salmon his mom had fixed before work.

You seemed to perk at the mention of visiting the little feline. “Oh, can I come?! I’d really like to see her!” You beamed. why was his face suddenly so hot? “Uh… Sure, I guess.” Baji looked at the time. Barely 7. You really Did call early. He heard you giggling over the phone and his heart squeezed again.

“I can drive by in half an hour to pick you up?” He asked, starting to take off the wrap from his breakfast.

“Drive?” You asked, obviously confused.

Shit, he thought.

Still, you hadn’t seen him for what he was; a delinquent. He had yet to reveal anything about himself, behind his thick rimmed glasses and slicked back hair.

Of course you didn't know he drove a motorcycle. Sure, he associated with some questionable classmates, but you never looked further into it.

He struggled to think of an excuse, it's not like he wanted to lie, but maybe admitting he drove a motorcycle was too soon.

Wait, why was he so focused on keeping any of this a secret from you? Sure, it was a more approachable appearance, but he wasn’t meant to be. Why worry so much over how You saw him?

Oh.

He thought to himself, prolonging the silence plaguing the phone call. ‘I don’t want her to think poorly of me,’ to get scared of him like any other girl who spotted him crossing the street.

“Baji? A-are you there?” You asked, worried.

“Oh, sorry, I misspoke– Or uh, no I… I mean, I can meet you at that one intersection in half an hour, that okay?” He asked, cursing himself with a furious blush taking over him. How and why the hell did he mumble so much?!

Before giving a verbal reply, he was graced with your chiming giggle once more. “Yeah, I’ll meet ya there! Oh, I’m just going to dress casually, it’s a weekend after all.” You mentioned, almost as though to insinuate he should do the same. Was he reading that right? He wasn’t sure, Chifuyu was the one who got these kinds of things, hell, even Ryusei.

“Right. See you later.” He gruffed, hanging up the phone immediately, screaming at how fucking awkward he felt.

—------

True to your word, you stood by the intersection that split your home direction from Baji Keisuke’s.

You were indeed dressed casually. Not in the usual cute school uniform he was used to seeing you in. Appropriate for the weather, you sported a trendy sundress and sandals. He loved the way your hair also matched, done just a little different than usual.

You were so cute.

He couldn’t tell until he got closer, but you also had something tightly gripped in your hands.

“Looks’ like you made lunch for an entire sports team, for christsake.” Baji found himself leisurely jabbing. Gripping the furashiki tighter, you readjusted the bento boxes in hand.

Deciding he wasn’t ready to give up the image you have of him in your head, he made sure the fake thick rimmed glasses were clear of all smudging, and hair pulled back without its part this time.

His closet was a little on the alternative, he noticed today. He knew he had a style in the works, but not a lot else.

So, a pair of summer shorts and a fitted black t-shirt and some tennis shoes later, there he stood.

Once you’d noticed his arrival, you go ahead and blind the poor guy with a sunshine like smile, a happy chuckle, to credit his jab, no doubt.

What the hell?

What was that light?

Why is he spacing out?

You wore your hair differently?

The neckline of your dress was lower than your school uniform, earning a innocent view of your collar bones.

Your collar bones.

“Baji?” Pupils wide and still recovering from the shock, Baji found himself thrown back into reality. Now face to face with your resting curious face.

“Sorry, sun caught… In… the glasses.” He replied.

…

Silence.

…

‘HOW LAME!’

Baji Keisuke screamed in his head so loud he was sure his head would explode with how loud it was. That's why his face was getting red, right?

It was so painfully obvious that he was simply starstruck by your more relaxed form. Unlike Baji, you were one to read situations, and move on ..with a bit more confidence.

“Well, I was doing some research on what kinds of food are good for cats, and what helps them with recovery…” you lugged the awkward shape in your non-dominant hand. You had at least four bento boxes worth of food, all neatly wrapped with no wrinkles or edges.

“I was bored so I kinda made some. It's all good for both humans and cats alike!” You gave a thumbs up, clearly proud.

Baji seemed unimpressed. “Why’d you bring all of it though?” He asked. “It’d be less trouble to have brought her just one box? There’s no way she can eat that much.”

Scrunching your eyebrows, you gave half an eye roll. “Well, I thought some of Sango’s new kitty friends might appreciate a home cooked meal as well, don’t you think?”

Baji laughed, your reasoning seemed sound but it was obviously not the whole truth. “And what if they don’t accept outside food? Vets have to be careful what they feed their patients.” He teased gently. You made it so easy for him, too.

“Well, I guess I have no choice but to eat it; won’t I? A picnic wouldn’t sound too bad.”

“So what, you wanna join me?~” you offered.

“For a picnic?” He asked. You nodded, earning a more thoughtful expression to ghost over Baji’s features.

Baji’s never had your cooking before. Realizing this may be the opportunity to do just that, he shrugged. “No harm in it, I guess.”

Keisuke gracefully slid the furashiki’s handle from your hand into his own—-another trick he learned living with an overworked single mother. You almost looked like you were going to protest, but you were quickly stopped by the grin on your classmate’s face.

Composing yourself within a matter of milliseconds, you asked, “Baji, have you thought about getting contacts? I’m sure it’d make you look more mature.”

“And speaking of,” You continued, glancing at the wavy black hair pulled tightly into a low half bun half ponytail. “Your hair’s so healthy looking, wearing it up all the time is bound to give you split ends.”

Now, Baji has never been a fan of being lectured, but it was kind of hilarious how ironic it was. He purposely disguised himself from the very things you encouraged.

He just couldn’t help himself when he laughed, stifling it as best he could. “Hey! What’cha laughing at?” You pouted again, bumping his arm with your elbow.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✦

The vet was close by. Baji knew it well, since he’s been a regular in their rotation of stray felines. The current vet said so himself, that Baji could make a good vet one day. He kind of liked the idea, but how lame.

Baji knew he was going to do something awesome, like professional motorbiking or something.

Once he walked in, he held the door open expectantly for you, another gesture he didn’t remember doing before, even for his mom. “Morning Kei!” Smiled the middle aged receptionist, coming to a stand. “Good morning.” The two middle schoolers greeted her in unison.

“Well aren't you cute! You finally got a girlfriend, oh I knew you would, such a kind boy like you–” Baji interrupted her with a rudely loud grunt. “She’s the classmate of mine who found the long hair calico,” He announced, as though he’d told the women about you before.

Sensing his embarrassment, she let out a gentle ‘ope’ and retreated.

(You almost thought you heard ‘nosy hag’ being whispered under a breath, but surely not Baji.)

“Well, amazing news Kei! It looks like Sango here has made a complete recovery!” Announced another familiar worker, sporting a lab coat and gloves.

“Sango!” You chirped once seeing her cleaned and conditioned fur. “She’s so beautiful!”

The vet, you assumed, paused at your words, struck. “Oh you must be Keisuke’s girlfr–” “Classmate.” Baji corrected naturally, the air awkward, but laughably so. “Right, well, I’m happy to say not Only has she made a wonderful recovery, but Sango is also taking to the faux legs like a fish in water!”

“She’s already tried them out?” Baji stepped closer; the close proximity of his presence behind you suddenly making you feel small and– a flush took over your face and a shiver was sent through you. Weird.

“She sure has, wanna see?” The vet asked, not giving either of them a chance to reply before displaying the faux legs, which seemed more wheel-like, but smart design made so there was a functional joint to switch between laying down and standing.

Inspecting the advancement of modern tools, the two of you marveled as the vet sat Sango’s nubbed lower half into the seat, strapping her in snuggly.

Like a dog excited to see its owner, Sango swirled in circles toward Baji, pressing her cheek against his waiting hand with a loud purr.

You both watched as Sango ran back and forth between you two, the vet, and random toys. “She’ll need some time to get used to the balance difference, and has one last round of antibiotics. After that, she’s off to the races.”

The relief almost made you cry. You cradled the affectionate little cat to your cheek, obviously over the moon.

“By the way, has she eaten yet?” You ask, gently reached for Baji’s wrist, attempting to will it closer for access to the folded bentos. Baji internally screams again, your soft skin against his feeling starkly different.

He was having a stroke, right? He felt like he was going to puke, what the hell—

“I made a bunch of nutrient rich cat meals and treats!” You admitted, pulling out one of the– Wait, Baji had miscounted the last time he looked, there were definitely— Eight boxes. “I thought we could share with Sango’s friends!” You asked, expectantly.

Unluckily, not many animals actually were kept in clinics.

“Guess I did go overboard.” You laughed, seemingly unfazed. Yet, how come Baji took notice in a little look of disappointment. The expression went completely unnoticed, otherwise.

It was only then he started to notice how closely he hovered over you. It must be uncomfortable for you. He cursed himself before adding some space for your sake. “Say, if you’re looking for a bunch of cat friends to have lunch with, I know a place.” Baji attempted to tease.

Obviously thrilled by the invitation, you were curious where he meant.

“Sango should be ready for domestic life by tuesday!” the vet said happily, with a farewell gesture. “And Kei!” Sang the receptionist, giving the boy a thumbs up. “Let your hair down, stop bein’ such a stiff!”

Baji was baffled by the insult, he seriously Almost barked at her.

Upon leaving the clinic, you happily twirled around to face him,

“So, where’s that place with all your cat friends?~”