#post western energy

[caspira-writes-fanfiction]

Moonlit Confessions

(ao3 link in title)

Blitzø visits Stolas in the hospital, but only when he thinks Stolas doesn't know.

The room was warm despite the evident starlight coming through the draped windows that usually signaled that Stolas should be chilly. He’d been in and out of sleep for the past several days, waking only long enough to eat if prompted or make a few observations about his surroundings. He had been able to relatively consistently remember that daylight=warm. Moonlight=cold, but if asked what day it was or even where he was, Stolas would likely be unable to answer without help. He wasn’t even sure he could answer if asked, he hadn’t spoken aloud in ages.

The magic he had used during the full moon had exhausted him of all his energy. He didn’t fight the sleep when it came, he knew his role right now was to rest: it was the only way he would heal. He also hadn’t tried to fight himself into wakefulness too often. Usually he awoke only to reposition himself or fix the arrangement of his blankets. This time as he awoke, however, Stolas found that he had a much more difficult time moving. There was something in his arms.

With just one eye squinting itself open, only able to see a blur of red with black and white stripes, Stolas reasoned that he was clutching to Impy, his unfortunately named beloved childhood stuffed doll. He still had the doll tucked away with his other possessions. He came out of storage on rare occasions when Stolas needed extra comfort, such as periods of illness. Curious, he thought. Nobody had come to bring him anything, he hadn’t remembered Impy being among his possessions while in hospital. It was with a movement of his good hand up to the imp’s head that he realized he was touching flesh and not fabric. Two more of the prince’s eyes blink open. With increased cognizance, Stolas realized that he could feel the rise and fall of the other’s chest as he breathed. When his eyes adjusted, he recognized the brand mark from the imp circus, tucked carefully under the Goetia’s chin. Blitzy was here.

It almost felt like a dream and Stolas was happy to convince himself of that, but the smell of booze that became apparent as Stolas became more awake settled him into reality. A disorienting reality, one he didn’t entirely know how to make sense of, but one that Stolas couldn’t help but take comfort from in this moment. Blitzy was here, all of the other details were negligible.

Stolas was warm, he realized, because Blitz had pulled the blanket up over them when he’d snuck into bed. He was having trouble moving because Blitz’s tail was wrapped around the two of them twice over. His face was buried in Stolas’s chest feathers and his arms were wrapped under Stolas’s, clutching to his back. While Stolas woke thinking he was holding onto something, he now realized that he was the object that was being held onto. Stolas tried to move, only slightly, but was stopped when he heard Blitz shift protectively and grumble in his sleep.

“No” It wasn’t an angry or upset no. It was quiet, a bit playful, concerned. “Shh, no jus’….no. Don’ move.”

Blitz was still very much asleep. Stolas found the concern that Blitz showed in his unconscious state endearing. He could feel his heart swell, there was no doubt he was blushing. Blitzy cared for him, even if it was just a quiet shushing in his sleep. How could Stolas do anything but oblige?

“Alright.” Stolas’s voice was no more than a whisper. His good hand rested atop Blitz’s head, scratching gently between his horns. He pressed his lips to the other’s forehead and kept them there in a prolonged, tender kiss. Stolas found it quite easy to drift back into sleep with Blitz tangled up in his arms.

Stolas awoke again hours later when the sun was starting to rise. Blitz was trying to sneak out of bed, and doing so rather successfully until he fell out of it. Stolas was still rather disoriented, he decided to stay laying still. He could hear Bliz standing up, he could hear him grumble and brush himself off, then silence for several moments.

“You’re still fucking sleeping” Blitzø’s voice was quiet, and just slightly fuzzy around the edges. Stolas wondered how much Blitz drank before breaking in here to still be inebriated in the morning. He wondered how much time had actually passed.

Blitz stumbled, he sighed. “You should’ve woken up to that. Or this. You should be awake right now going ~Oh Blitzy~ with your big stupid fucking eyes. You’re not supposed to….You shouldn’t...You’re not…” His voice almost cracked, but he stopped and swallowed before allowing that to happen. It was a few moments before he spoke again. “I didn’t know you could get hurt.”

Blitzø didn’t outright apologize, but Stolas understood what he was trying to say. The air hung heavy in the room, the silence clinging to both of them uncomfortably. Blitz’s breath hitched and Stolas could feel all of the air from his lungs leave as his chest crushed in on itself. Blitzy was crying. This was exactly the moment that Stolas wanted to reach out and pull Blitzø back into his arms and hold him, but he knew this was exactly the sort of moment Blitz would never let anyone else see. He knew Blitz would run the moment Stolas showed him affection. Stolas stayed as still as he could, he remembered his breathing, he remained “sleeping” while Blitz regained his composure.

“You look like shit, Birdie.” Blitz sniffed, Stolas imagined he was wiping away tears before they fell. Blitzy never let anyone see him show such vulnerability. Stolas wanted to believe that these emotions were fueled by more than whatever Blitz had taken before coming here. Stolas felt the blanket over him move. Careful hands pulled the blanket back up around him and tucked him in. “You can’t fucking die, okay? That’s an order.” Stolas could feel something hover over his face. He couldn’t tell if it was Blitzø’s hand or his lips. He never learned, nothing ever made contact.

Blitz’s boots click towards the exit. “If you do I’ll….I’ll kill you again.” Three more clicks. “Fuck!” His voice is a whisper, the boots clicked on down the hall. Stolas didn’t hear any more from Blitz.

Stolas didn’t sleep very well the rest of the day. His chest ached in a way he didn’t know how to categorize. He stayed tearful, he couldn’t decide if his tears were happy or sad. Both, he supposed. More of one than the other at times. Stolas had never been more conflicted in his life. How had he gotten here? He knew the answer, it was a reality of his own making, but that didn’t make it any less confusing.

He may not know how things would play out between him and Blitzø, but knew one thing: he was going to stay alive. He had to, Blitz had asked him to.

[ryllen]

do u know that even the size of the different size of vegetables at another country amazed me because from where i came from they are all smaller and scrawnier

[nyxofdemons]

i'm sorry but stolas bound and powerless and tortured to tears still pushing himself off the ground snarling threats at the man who would dare even mention his daughter. the breathless all-consuming fury that striker would dare to speak a word about her. stolas knows striker is going to kill him and could make it painful beyond imagination and the only thing he cares about in this moment is octavia's safety why the fuck aren't we talking about this scene more

[stolasspeaks]

"Maybe you can say mean things to me too the next time you come over" if this man doesn't dig up some self-esteem soon istfg

[ifwebefriends]

Hey so uhhh

You think we’re going to get a role reversal of this in the future?

ID in ALT

[pasta-pardner]

spotify | john marston's revenge quest, set to music from 1960s spaghetti westerns.

Fun detail: the opening cutscene for Red Dead Revolver (2004) features an instrumental version of "His Name Is King". The lyrical version is oddly fitting for John, given that it's a song about seeking vengeance for a dead brother.

[chaifootsteps]

refreshing to see a slow tide turning against Stolas on the HB reddit of all places: https://www.reddit.com/r/HelluvaBoss/comments/1cx8csw/happy_western_energy_anniversary_to_all_who/

fr I hate how we're supposed to root for Stolas and think the way he stands up to Striker is badass (especially after he evaded capture so incompetently that it's pretty embarassing for a powerful Goetian prince)

like he mocks him for being poor and sexualizes Blitzo right in front of him. not to mention I don't think 'Blitzo hurts me way worse in bed than you have while you're literally torturing me' is the own Stolas thinks it is

like no I don't think Stolas should have to be nice or meek to the guy planning to assassinate him, but he sure isn't doing himself any favors that he bases a lot of his comebacks around Striker being poor, Striker having to take a job from Stella (to get money to survive, not that that would ever occur to Stolas) making him a hypocrite, bringing up his sex toy right in front of him. practically the only thing he doesn't say that proves Striker's point is mocking him for his big ego

any other character doing this would get labelled as a jerkass victim & a victim of their own lazy incompetence, not a woobie, but not on The Rich Are Very Sad and Lonely Show

Absolutely crazy how we went from Harvest Moon, with Striker rightfully pointing out that Stolas treats Blitz like a plaything, to Stolas mocking Striker for being poor and being portrayed as the sympathetic hero.

[mintaikk]

Can we please talk about how good Stolas looks in this episode?

[nicosraf]

The weird thing about the debate on Israeli's indigenousness is that "indigenous" doesn't mean... you're From somewhere. You can stop being indigenous; you can stop being indigenous while still existing in the place your ancestors were born. "Indigenous" isn't that you have the memory of belonging to a place or notice little cultural things in your family that tie into your ancestral homeland. I mean, there's a reason we don't call British people in Britan indigenous.

Indigenousness is about perpetual opposition to settler colonialism, which is about the complete uprooting of a pre-existing culture and forcing that land to accommodate an extractivist, export economy. That's what it is. It's not about being from a place or even having a """tie to the land.""" (The "tie to the land" is definitely an element of indigenousness but it's really just a romanticized simplification of indigenousness — a simple answer for why indigenous people are at the frontline of environmental movements.)

When the Spanish came to Mexico, they worked with the noble Nahua people to de-indigenize them. They did this by converting them to Catholicism, teaching them European writing (Latin) and academics, and relying on the Nahua nobility to help enforce the new political system. Fransicans are usually credited with converting Mexico to Christianity, but the ones who did most of the work were the young, Nahua "niños del monasterio" who marched into the villages and burned the idols of the gods — of both their own and other indigenous communities. (Nahua soldiers are credited with being the ones who helped the Spanish conquer the rest of Mexico's native people).

Indigenous/mestizo scholar Chimalpahin wrote about the history of the "Aztecs" by calling every Nahua god a demon, by positioning the Spanish like a good development and by arguing his specific Nahua city was better than the other by appealing to Spanish sentiments. ("But maybe he was just speaking to the Spanish!!!" He wrote in Nahuatl for presumably a Nahua audience.) (Academics don't agree on whether to call him indigenous).

"Chimalpahin and the noble Nahuas were violently forced into assimilating into Spanish nobility; you are sick for trying to argue that they weren't indigenous anymore." I'm not arguing that they weren't, but they were players in de-indigenizing Mexico, and it's important that it was forced.

De-tribalization and de-indigenization are always violent and ugly; you don't lose your indigenousness, usually, because you're evil. Chimalpahin and the noble Nahuas were still victims and horribly traumatized. They were also enforcers of de-indigenization.

Anyway, I'm mestizo and have ties to central Mexico and feel a sense of belonging there, at times. I'm not indigenous to it though. The memory of any indigenousness in my family is just a memory now. We visit, and I eat so so many poblano peppers. But we've detribalized, become borderline settlers by participating in capitalism, lightened our skin through generations, probably intentionally (many Mexicans have heard the phrase that we have to "better our race"). If I wanted to actually reconnect, it would be a lot of work; any reconnecting indigenous person can tell you how much work it is.

I know people get really prissy about how "You can't compare Israelis to white European settlers in America because we actually have a connection to the land!!!! We are actually from there!! >:/ some of us are not even white!"

Well let's think of the majority brown mestizo (mixed) population of Mexico. Are they indigenous because they might have "ties to the land" and because they have lineage from it?? Maybe they were once, but for the majority now — no. Without a mass effort to oppose settler colonialism and reconnect, mestizos are not indigenous and might never be again, no matter how much of their pre-colombian culture persists in our quieter traditions and language. And the Mexican state is happy to co-opt aesthetic representations of indigenousness, to talk about our glorious "Aztec" ancestry, while actively hurting indigenous populations.

So assume some, or lets say all!, Israelis have every possible connection to the land (lets say they love the olive trees and cry over the murder of all the Nile crocodiles), maybe they're visibly non-white, maybe they can trace their lineage to the exact spot where they stand. But if they're on the side of a settler colonial, capitalist state (say it was even forced on them!! say they were even made to move there!!! say they are like the Nahua nobles) — how indigenous are you?

How much longer will you remain " indigenous " ???

[anemicjellyfish]

Okay I have a crippling migraine but I'm gonna try to communicate this as best I can.

Striker. He's a lot of things, but I don't think he's stupid.

He picked up on Blitzø's behavior regarding Stolas in Harvest Moon Festival, and tried convincing Blitzø to join him in taking down those in power.

When he was unsuccessful, he escaped, but not without reminding Blitzø of the power imbalance: "maybe you'll get me next time, Blitzy"

He also overheard everything Blitzø and Fizz said while they were in Crimson's suspended prison cell, including Blitzø's continued insistence that Stolas doesn't care for him outside of sex. As the audience, we've picked up on Blitzø's feelings by now. And if Striker was unsure before, he has to know by this point.

My initial thought when making this post was about Crimson's instructions to Striker: "bring me something of value." Striker sees the plot-convenient fight between Blitzø & Fizz, and captures them both.

Crimson knew about the relationship between Fizzarolli and Asmodeus. It's "the worst kept secret in hell," to just about everyone. Obviously, he's going to go after Asmodeus; that's the big fish.

But I'm spinning myself in circles wondering if Striker ever got the chance to tell Crimson that Blitzø is also of value, and that Crimson could get whatever he wanted from Stolas for Blitzø's safe return. I'm also wondering if Striker would bother to share that information, or choose to keep it to himself to use later.

Now, all of that is rendered almost irrelevant by the end of the episode of course. Blitzø and Fizz escape, Striker is seriously injured, and the fates of Crimson and his mafia guys are undetermined in the collapse/fire at the warehouse.

But... If Crimson survived, he might know of the connection between Blitzø and Stolas. He has a grudge against Blitzø, and he's likely even more desperate than before. Maybe not desperate enough to take on Asmodeus again, but that sad owl might not be as big of a threat. Especially if he can get his hands on Angelic weapons. And especially if the events of later episodes weaken Stolas' ties to the rest of the Goetia.

This is obviously WAY down the line. We already had the trailer for the rest of Season 2, and Crimson seems unlikely to make another appearance.

Striker, on the other hand... maybe?? With Satan in the mix, maybe Striker could show up again. But I'm really thinking this for season 3 or later. Idk. Honestly, I'm just exhausted at this point.

Without wanting to theorize any further, I'm just saying I doubt we've seen the last of Striker. And it does feel like Crimson should have at least one more appearance left before they do away with his character.

[samantha-and-her-chaotic-desires]

watched the helluva boss full moon ep

....what the fuck /vneg

[wonyoungismind]

l'oreal telescopic mascara has been so underwhelming, too wet and just clumps your lashes together.

...or maybe it's that clio kill lash superproof mascara has destroyed all the other mascaras for me

[petitprincess1]

Can i vent a little here about the new Helluva ep? It seems to be well-received overall, but some people are being really harsh on it imo

I agree that the episode had pacing issues, but i dont think theyre worse than Seeing Stars. There was still a little room to breathe here

I also agree that the a and b plots felt kinda disconnected, though if nothing else i still think the b-plot gave Blitz a good justification for not coming to save Stolas.

Ive seen criticism of Striker as ooc, which i dont get at all. You could tell from his first episode that he was a petty, self-aggrandizing jerk who gets irritated when people get the better of him. Western Energy didnt let him have as much dignity as Harvest Moon, because it showed of those traits more. It seems to me to be what people actually dislike, Helluva wouldnt let Striker stay ‘cool’.

But HB doesnt treat any character like that, no one is exempt from being made fun of. Its actually an aspect i appreciate about the show. i think it ironically enough makes the characters more likable

I dont think this ep is perfect, but there’s still a lot to like, im kinda baffled why its getting ripped into this way 😕

I mean, everyone's allowed to have an opinion. Idk if the ep deserves anything incredibly harsh, however. I do agree with a lot of the grievances surrounding the ep, especially with the B-plot and the pacing. I feel like we didn't really need to follow inside the hospital, but it was a little neat seeing the baphomets and the style of Sloth.

Overall, I don't really see what the benefit would be to focus on Striker. It would just be torture porn of Stolas and maybe Stolas saying the same little quips. It'd just be repetitive.

I mean, Western Energy def doesn't hold a candle to Harvest Moon. But, at the end of the day, Helluva Boss is a dark comedy first and foremost. Even dramas have moments of levity in them. I guess it's safe to say that this ep is going to be a mixed bag for everyone. The harshness is a bit much tho.

I just wanted Striker and I got my wish. Plus, I tend to ready myself for something to be slightly disappointing, even if it's something I'm hyped for. Felt the same with stuff like Spiderverse or Puss in Boots and it's probably not gonna change. In my eyes, you can't be disappointed if you're expecting disappointment. Yes, it's an incredibly low bar, but it helps judge something as is rather what it could be.

[hazbinficsandstuff-eyeshadow]

Helluva hotel fanfic(what do you think I take constructive critisims)

Chapter 1:closing

Blitzo picks up the horse standee covered in gems that he had bought a while back and placed it atop a box with other things. Papers filled to the brim with really nothing of importance, mainly random horse drawings and the “research” he managed to recollect after it flew out the window. Millie.moxxie. And Stolas also helped him pack.

”Are you sure you want to give up on this?” Stolas asked. Moxie and Millie looked at blitz with sadness and grief in their eyes. While they hadn't been successful blitz had made a name for himself. They still lived in the low-class. Millie had to lie to her parents about how well freelance was going but nonetheless they enjoyed the adventures they had.

“I really appreciate you all helping, as much as I kid around about you being my family here, I mean it. I mean you all are the closest thing to a family I have so I really hope we all stay in touch. I also want to thank you Stolas especially since you don't really work at IMP unless you count supplying access” Blitz responds.

With happy tears in his eyes as Stolas gives a slight smile the 666 news channel comes on the tv with Charlie and Lucifer replacing the spaces and pushing away Katie killjoy and tom trench as they yell at them.

Charlie whispers a quick “sorry” before looking back at her dad. Lucifer begins hitting a stack of papers against the table while squinting through his glasses, mumbling trying to make out his chicken-scratch handwriting.

Charlie rips the papers out of his hand and throws them back. “ Me and my father have been talking and he originally wanted to force everyone-” Charlie says with a hint of anger and attitude.

Lucifer cuts her off and says “ But we decided that we won't force anyone, although I offered to do it as a form of punishment-”

“ Because we can't force people to redeem themselves they have to choose to and the hotel is to help not punish people, although he did pitch it to me like a parole office or being sentenced to rehab like on earth sense we don't have jail in hell”. Charlie looks at her father knowing he's probably about to cut her off again mainly because he gets too excited and blurts stuff out but he notices the look and keeps quiet while looking at his daughter. “ Anyway we’re getting off track. The main point is that white we are not forcing anyone to come, we highly encourage everyone to give redemption a shot and try to better themselves”.

“Isn't this basically free therapy?” Tom asked from the background right before the broadcast closed.

“Dang it, they're probably the reason we had to close, also why'd that woman sound so much like me?” Blitz asked.

Moxie replied “ Why are you blaming the business’s downfall on the princess again?”

“Because with all the sinners going there I bet no one cares about getting revenge on those who wronged them in the living world, they're too busy worrying about getting he redeemed” Blitz says in his usual all-caps screaming tone.

Stolas pointed a finger up and responded “ Uhmm I actually think her business isn't doing much better than yours although I don't think they actually charge people to stay there so if they're not even trying to profit I’m not sure if it’s still considered a business, it's been quite the topic of discussion recently”.

Blitz trying to find something to pin the blame of the businesses downfall on says “ I don't believe it! I sure they had something to do with us closing, were gonna go there and find out for ourselves”

“If that’s what you want, boss, we'd be happy to come along” Millie says.

“Millie can I talk to you for a moment, ya know in private” Moxie responds. Moxie and Millie head out to right outside the door. Blitz was listening in head against the wall, usually moxie would check but today everything was too hectic to do so.

“ We’re finally able to get away from Blitz, we can finally be alone. I think if we do this one thing with him we'd be stuck with him forever. Him constantly trying to get in on what we're doing” he told Millie. Blitz pupils became almost nothing in his eyes as they shrunk from listening in to what Moxxie had said.

“I love you Mox but, do you remember when we first met? The only thing you could think to talk about was yer best friend, blitz. I honestly thought you and him might have had something going on at first” Millie responded.

“I love you so much too Millie , you're what's important. I only thought he was meaningful in my life because I met him when I was in a tough spot but now that I know you I can see that he's not really of anything of importance” Moxie responded. Moxie then went back into the room with the rest of them. Millie although still seeming not Completely satisfied with the result of their conversation entered with him. Blitz backed away from the door right before they came through and continued packing up as though he heard nothing. Blitz pretended to be fine as he always did. Stolas couldn't hear what was going on I the other room however he could tell blitz wasn't taking it lightly. He wanted to comfort blitz but wasn't sure how especially after all that's happened. He nervously put his hand over blitz's hand trying to console him.

Blitz looked up at stolas smiling “ do you maybe want a hug?” stolas asked.

Blitz looked at his face and was riddled With guilt he immediately teared his hand away and held both of his own hands together nervously “ sorry I…”. Stolas interrupts “ no, no sorry I overstepped…again”. Blitz wanted to say something like “it's okay” but he wasn't sure the exact words. He couldn't hand the guilt. Him and stolas hadn't even talked after what happened. He didn't even know how stolas knew about them closing. He felt bad that even though he had gotten him hurt and then ghosted him he still showed up to help with such a simple task. Moxxie and millie saw them but didn't assume what was going om had anything to do with they Were talking about just another day them.

“Do you still want to go check out the hotel blitz?” Stolas asked.

“YEPPPP” blitz responds sounding super exited to cover up their previous conversation.

Millie with slight anger in her voice Said “I'm going with blitz and stolas you can come if you want moxxie”. Moxxie looks co fused with the sudden attitude but follows anyway

[scribesynnox]

fUCK, man!! The voice acting for that latest Helluva Boss episode, Western Energy? GOD!!! It was some good shit, man!

Like, yeah, yeah, this show is a lot of dick jokes and making light of what should be serious deadly situations because this is hell and everything is fucked and if you fussed about every fuck up, you wouldn’t survive long, so yeah, whatever. Danger? Who cares. Every day is dangerous, it’s not a big deal.

Until it very much suddenly is.

The tone change!! The way you can hear Stolas talking shit to Stiker, not letting the man have his moment and then-!

HISS-! AGGGHH-!

The way Stolas choked out a genuine noise of agony, when he was caught off guard, the way the noise was forced out of him and suddenly, it’s real. Suddenly we’re asking, “oh shit, is he in danger right now?? Oh shit, is he in danger right now???” And once he knows what to expect, other than that initial scream, he doesn’t let out any kind of scream afterwards, and he gets back on track with innuendos and making light of the situation, but we can still hear how strained his voice is. How his breaths get harder and harder to catch. We can see him getting more and more tired as he bleeds out. And we’re all thinking, “oh shit, he’s in danger. He’s seriously hurt.”

And of course we can’t forget Blitzo and the denial you can hear in his voice when he sees evidence that Stolas can, in fact, get hurt, that he can die, just the same as any other hell born demon. A disbelieving laugh and demand, “Stolas got what?” No no, that’s not how this works, Stolas is a Prince, he doesn’t get hurt, he’s above all that, he has it all, he has so much power, he just plays around and he wanted Blitzo to be his bodyguard that one time but it’s not supposed to be serious, it’s not ever supposed to be serious, that was a fucking joke, a poorly disguised way for that perverted bird to ogle his ass in public, because Stolas. Isn’t. Supposed. To. Get. Hurt.

But he did.

“He can get hurt?”

He got hurt bad.

A fucking + for the god damn voice acting because HOLY SHIT. That was a stellar episode.

[charlies-hotel]

Striker observations and theory on a rewatch of Western Energy:

So obviously Striker is wanted after his first assassination attempt on Stolas during the Harvest Moon Festival. The attempt in the cafe seemingly taking place in the Pride Ring. There are "Wanted" posters both there and in Wrath.

So how does Striker get between the Rings? There's no way he'd be able to ride the Hell-evators from Wrath to Pride. At least not without somebody hearing about it. The rings are stacked vertically but Striker instead rides off into the distance of one of Pride's cities.

There's a train in Pride that is also going to Wrath. Presumably to drop off supplies and ores from Wrath and now making a return trip from Pride. Though I'm sure that would also be inspected when it finally docked in the station.

So how does Striker get from Pride to Wrath?

He takes a forgotten old mine-shaft elevator.

And there's a weird amount of focus on that elevator too. Notice Stolas's reaction. He seems surprised. I don't think the show would take a moment to focus on this if it wasn't important.

So where am I going with all this?

Well, its possible this is all a foreshadowing to part of the reason reason Striker hates Royals and the priority they get. Especially out of his home Ring of Wrath.

(Of course, this is all speculation but it's fun to think about regardless of the outcome.)