The recent fic recs have me thinking about Vox and Velvette's dynamic in canon vs fanon, and wondering why the fandom made the choices it made. And why it decided that their relationship is defined, specifically, by ageism and sexism. Against all canon evidence to the contrary.
Like, sure, S1 only had one episode where they interacted (plus a phone call and Velvette as a silent presence in the finale), so fans had to fill in most of their dynamic. But a lot of common fanon, especially for Velvette, is actively contradicted by S1. For example, her being annoyed by Vox and Valentino's relationship, when she literally spends the Vees' part of Finale recording the two dancing, then taking a selfie with them kissing behind her. She has never been shown to have an issue with them (or with displays of affection, which is another common Velvette portrayal that runs counter to S1).
The only piece of Velvette's fanon dynamic with Vox that makes sense when based exclusively on S1 is her being ageist towards him, because she is canonically (and aggressively) ageist. Except even this falls apart when you consider that she finds no fewer than nine ways to call Zestial and Carmilla old in the span of three minutes, but never once uses such language against Vox. Not in S1, not in S2. Not even when she's mad at him. If she cares about his age at all, she respects him too much to talk to him like that.
In fact, S1 just overall gives the appearance of an affectionate, mutually respectful relationship. Velvette clearly doesn't feel like she has to prove anything to Vox, because she has no problem calling him in to deal with Valentino, and Vox doesn't try to offer help she doesn't need. She rolls her eyes when he observes that she has everything under control in her studio, but she's smiling a little when she does it. And while Vox seems to be on edge about the Overlord meeting, given it sounds like he's checking on her when she arrives, he still trusted her to go in his place (between the importance of the meeting and the fact that it's the first time she's filled in for him, I'd argue some anxiety is understandable here). The call itself is casual and playful on Velvette's end.
And S2 builds on this dynamic of affection and respect. When they visit the hotel, Vox takes the lead conversationally, but he leaves Velvette to do her work as she sees fit. He knows she's good at her job and trusts her implicitly to get what they need. And of course, they're joking with each other and having fun the whole time. And in turn, Velvette doesn't take offense to it when Vox steps in to protect her, either at the hotel or when she and Val are attacked by Alastor. She can absolutely take care of herself, but she seems to know and accept that Vox is just Like That.
If sex/gender played any prominent role in their dynamic, they would not interact with each other the way they do. Vox would not be willing to let Velvette do her own thing with minimal interference while they're working on the same project. He would not be caught dead taking tea with her in a violently pink and purple room. He wouldn't tolerate the way she frequently talks to him like a female friend (frankly, if gender plays any role in their dynamic, it's in the way Velvette treats Vox, not the other way around. And he just lets her do it).
On that note, "fragile masculinity" needs to be put on a shelf until y'all learn what it actually is. Or until you can give me a clear example of Vox displaying masculine insecurity in a context unrelated to Alastor.
In conclusion, the disparity between their canon relationship - even just in S1 - and the fandom interpretation is baffling. I can only assume that it's a result of real world biases against men and women, or people from different generations, being friends and having things in common. Because it has not let up, even six months after S2xE3 aired and gave us a damn good look at their relationship.
Also, it's a popular headcanon that Vox and Alastor can communicate through radio waves, and that it's unique to just the two of them. But no one ever talks about the fact that Vox and Velvette canonically have a seemingly unique method of communicating. So here. Magical video calls.
