To be honest, most of all, when talking about the friendship of Vees, or rather about their discord in the second season, I don't like the way many people somehow absolve Vox of responsibility for the betrayal of Vees.
People say that "he didn't behave the way he usually does, and Valentino and Velvet understand that" "Alastor manipulated him, Vox doesn't usually behave like that!"
But Vox's problem was identified back in the first episode of the second season BEFORE Alastor, where he said "Trust ME" and not "Trust US" for the first time
Alastor's manipulations really have a significant effect on Vox, it's obvious to everyone. But Vox is an intelligent, adult man who is responsible for his decisions.
The feeling when I see that some part of the fandom justifies Vox is something like this, I'll give you an example:
A guy and a girl are in a relationship, and the guy is cheating on his girlfriend with another girl. And society begins to blame the mistress, not the guy. For the fact that she "stole" the guy, who has a relationship. But the problem is that the guy is responsible for his own decisions, and it was his decision to commit adultery when he knew he was in a relationship.
I feel about the same vibe from this whole situation and the fandom's reaction to this situation.
Because it was Vox's choice in the first place - he treats Valentino and Velvet terribly throughout the season, and even actively plans to leave them, as he said "I won't need a squad" in one of the songs.
Yes, Alastor influenced him, Yes, Alastor is a very strong trigger for Vox, yes, Alastor is the main psychological trauma for Vox.
But that doesn't excuse him. It was his decision to betray Vees. He chose to betray their friendship, he chose to ignore them. There is no such thing as "deep down he didn't want this, he appreciated them and loved them as friends, it's only Alastor's fault that Vox behaved inappropriately!"
Vox was adequate enough to work tirelessly, it was adequate enough for public speaking, plans, propaganda, manipulation - Vox was adequate enough for all this.
He had a real breakdown only in the final episode, and even then it can hardly be called a psychosis when a person is not responsible for their actions. It was a terrible, incredibly strong emotional breakdown, but Vox still hadn't crossed the line where a person wasn't responsible for their actions.
Vox was aware enough of his actions to think it over and decide that he could treat Valentino and Velvet like trash. And the beginnings of this behavior were even before Alastor surrendered.
Of course, the Vees still have every chance to restore their friendship, they have been business partners and friends for many decades.
But there is no need to justify Vox by saying that it was Alastor who manipulated him, Vox still independently made the choice to reject and betray Vees. That was his opinion, he said with his own mouth, "I won't need a squad." It wasn't Alastor who forced it on him. Alastor aggravated all Vox's existing problems, he brought him out on emotions - but you can't say that Vox didn't have his own head on his shoulders.
In order for the entire supposed arc of reconciliation between the Vees and the development of their friendship in the future to be meaningful, we all really need to admit that there WAS a betrayal, and Vox and only Vox are fully responsible for this. Alastor's manipulations pushed Vox, but he was still sane enough to be responsible for his actions