#mothdust

So every time I see this tweet I think of Vox, but despite thinking of Valentino as his perfect 50s housewife I do Not think this particular tweet fits him because quite frankly he doesn’t seem like a lithium guy + truly in my heart of hearts don’t think Vox would call him “bitch wife” with intent.

Angel fawns and moulds himself to appease his loved ones so they won't leave him. "I got so good at telling you what you want to hear." He's a star, he's THE Angel Dust and as long as he sells out his real self to be what everyone else wants him to be then that means he's loved (no matter how superficial that love is) and that unhealthy habit grows and poisons him because of the abuse he receives from the man who supposedly "loves him."

Meanwhile Valentino claws for a scrap of control so that his loved ones CAN'T leave him. He doesn't trust them to stay, he needs that safety net that he's in control and he croons and swoons and dotes on them and gives them presents and makes himself the sexiest in hell and helps them and provides for them because he knows he himself is not enough for them to stick around. And when his services aren't recognized or thanked he takes that as a personal betrayal and blows up. In that scenario he's the victim and therefore his "retaliation" is vindicated (also, Joel once said in one of the cons that Valentino doesn't see himself as the "villain" in his mind). He puts all that time and effort to get someone to fall for him and when they show the slightest ounce of disloyalty he sees that as all of his effort having been for nothing. He INVESTS in people hence why he treats them as his possessions. He isn't just a volatile control freak, he is emotionally invested in his relationships especially with Angel Dust. His obsession derives FROM his love. That ugly toxic love that REEKS of his insecurities.

If I said this is lowkey vent art would yall believe me?

I really appreciate how Valentino is written in Hazbin Hotel, he is Angel’s abuser yet he is still humanized in the show and not framed as just an absolute monster.

I think it is important to show that abusers are human like everyone else, because it shows how abuse can be done by anyone, Valentino having his own arc and issues makes him 100% a better character if he was written to be just Angel’s abuser.

I drew Angel and Val having a good comfortable time together because this is how it felt a lot of the times when I was in an abusive relationship, that guy was my best friend and the person I loved the most in my life, we had a lot of good moments and memories. I still remember the daily video calls we had and our many conversations, I remember all the times he calmed me down from episodes. I still remember the abuse and how terrifying he was to me, yet we shared lovely moments.

I wanted to draw Angel and Val having genuinely good moments because it makes their dynamic real, and it means a lot to me.

"I just don't get why you stay with that hijo de puta!" Valentino's voice, full of biterness and slightly slurring from the alcohol, rises over the cacophony on the background. It doesn't seem to bother him. "You're worth so much more than this dirty second-rate club, and yet you let them sell you for fucking pennies!" He shakes his head, antennae swinging with the movement, and someone is slammed into a nearby table, earning a dirty stare from the moth before going back to ignoring it.

Taking the last swing of his drink, he grabs his cigar and lights it, taking one long swig before exhaling the smoke in hearts, voice turning sweeter.

"I could treat you so much better than that pendejo, baby. You could be a star, put you in front of a camera like you deserve. You and me, together." His words are sweet as honey, not the first time he's extended the hopeful offer to the spider sitting next to him.