I think a lot of my problems with the Hellaverse/Vivziepop Critical community, especially with how they treat Stolas, is how they watch the show with preconceived ideas that they then look to justify, taking scenes out of context (Stolas calling Blitz his âimpish little playthingâ to the DHORK Agents in âTruth Seekersâ) or taking something that a character said or did and interpreting it in the most bad faith way possible (Stolas gagging at Blitz serving him eggs in âSinsmasâ).
Also, Iâd be remised if I didnât mention the flaming owl in the room: Stolas is gay. If I had a euro for every time an anti-Stolas person called him a twink in a way that very clearly implies the word they want to say, Iâd have enough money to fund my own indie animation studio. Itâs actually disgusting the way antis will portray Stolas as the âpredatory gay manâ, claiming that the deal made between him and Blitz was âcoercive rapeâ despite several factors going against that interpretation:
Blitz does not own the grimoire. It is not his to use legally, and it is not required for him to continue his assassination business. Stolas has every right to deny Blitz the use of his property, especially after Blitz stole it from him. We even see a flashback to the early days of IMP, where they didnât have the grimoire and IMP were doing fine. The book is used to expand the business, not keep it afloat.
The entire scene of Blitz seducing Stolas in âThe Circusâ is a classic comedy of errors, where both parties have completely different interpretations of the events unfolding. Stolas thinks his one and only friend has returned to bed him and, being the sexually repressed BookTok boy that he is, thinks this means that Blitz loves him. Blitz, meanwhile, just wants a distraction that lasts long enough for him to get away with Stolasâs grimoire. Itâs not until Stolas unintentionally guilt-trips Blitz that Blitz decides to stay the night. Well, he says he âcan do this real fastâ, but âreal fastâ ends up meaning the entire night. And, as we see in âMission Zeroâ, staying to cuddle.
Stolas is a sheltered rich kid who has never had to deal with anyone other than the other Goetias, so he literally has no concept of how anyone poorer than him lives. This prejudice against the poor, and specifically imps, is something he grew up with. But even then, he constantly bows to Blitz (âOzzieâsâ, The Circusâ), asks him about his job (âOzzieâsâ), and, as Blitz says in âOopsâ, asks him how his day went and laughs at his jokes (which we also see in âThe Circusâ and âSeeing Starsâ). Itâs made very obvious that Stolas cares for Blitz beyond sexual gratification. The only times when Stolas talks down to Blitz (âLittle bitty imps like youâ from âHarvest Moonâ, âMy impish little playthingâ from âTruth Seekersâ), itâs dirty talk that Blitzo rolls his eyes at because âEw, vulnerabilityâ, an intimidation gesture at a different person/people, or an example of Stolasâs flaw of ignorance in regards to his privilege.
Let me ask the antis a question:
If Stolas was only ever after Blitz for his body, because he has some sort of imp fetish, why is that he goes to great lengths to get Blitz an Asmodean crystal? Why does he free him from their deal, no strings attached? If this was always just about his lording his power over someone smaller than him, to get that sexual satisfaction of feeling superior to someone else, why would he let his supposed âvictimâ go?
I think yâall didnât listen to the lyrics of âWhen He Sees Meâ from âFull Moonâ:
âIf heâs only here as a prisoner, what kind of monster does that make me?â
âHe deserves the choice to stay or go, though it scares me to think what Iâd lose!â