if we are being actually real, i do not think even for a second that alastor liked vox romantically in the past. and i just know they will butcher his asexuality. in a society that deems sex a defining feature of relationships, where you basically lose friends to relationships, where those relationships are revolved around and prioritized over other kinds, i rlly do think at the bare minimum, he was disappointed in vox for asking more from him. what they had goin seemed good, but as alastor says, vox wont be satisfied. and alastor says something interesting. “lies and deceit are still your specialty.”
i think if anything he saw a possible ally or friend or perhaps someone he could trust or manipulate. but when vox admitted to wanting to work together, in alastors perspective, it looked like ohh. hes looking down on me. he thinks he can use me. he thinks i am a stepping stone. hes lying, and putting on his cult leader act. hes decided to do this to me. bro vox didnt have friends in life. every “partnership” vox had, he used every single one of them as tools. he quite literally doesnt seem to have a moral compass in his killings or search for power.
alastor does have a moral compass. he does have friends, he would hang out with ppl in life, and perform, dance, have hobbies, loved his mom dearly, loves cooking, vox on the other hand only had power and only wanted power. and wanted more and more each time.
its a matter of integral morals and aspects of each respective person that makes or breaks any kind of relationship. and alastor is proven over and over again by vox that he doesnt care for those he calls friends easily. he sees ppl as weakness, proved by alastor who kept repeating that to him. of course alastor was being a hypocrite, bcuz vox doesnt know that. vox doesnt know that alastor is in a deal with rosie, that alastor loves protecting mimzy even if she uses him, he never hesitated in helping destroy those loan sharks, he cares for niffty and husk (them being the only two overlords he spared implies… so much) Like guys alastor was lying. first of all, he lied even when making the deal with vox. he mentions niffty and husk (if they were disposable to alastor.. why not just let them die?) saying “oh how about you leave those.. nobodies- and (hey attention on me now!) i let you have me!” its clear that alastor has made sure he doesnt let ppl know that he does care about certain specific ppl. not just cuz its a weakness or its vulnerable, but bcuz it would endanger them.
so yes he uses them as leverage, yes i like to think he bluffs, bcuz what he says does not line up with his actions. he is hyper independent to a fault.. but he was never alone. lonely at times maybe. while vox was alone. and at that, vox treating val and vel the way he did to prove his power to alastor further cemented alastors point. val and vel are prolly the first actual partnerships vox made. and despite that, he was still willing to throw that away to prove his power to someone who was stronger than him. vox did what he did best, and that was attempt to kill the next strongest, to prove his power.
